Vanish

yourself. You’d sell out anyone else.”

“Bob!” she yelled at her cameraman. “Get this guy outta my face!”

“Back off, mister!” The cameraman’s heavy hand landed on Gabriel’s shoulder. Gabriel shook it away, his gaze still fixed on Zoe. “If anything happens to Jane, I swear-”

“I said, back away!” The cameraman again grasped Gabriel by the shoulder.

Suddenly all Gabriel’s fears, his despair, ignited in a blinding moment of fury. He twisted around and charged straight at the barrel chest. Heard air whoosh out of the man’s lungs, and caught a glimpse of a startled face as the man staggered backward and fell to the ground, landing on a viper’s nest of tangled electrical cords. In an instant, Gabriel was crouched above him, his fist raised, every muscle primed to deliver the blow. Then his vision abruptly came back into focus, and he registered the man cowering beneath him. Realized that a circle of bystanders had gathered to watch the spectacle. Everyone loved a spectacle.

Chest heaving, Gabriel rose to his feet. He saw Zoe standing a few yards away, her face alight with excitement.

“Did you get that?” she called to another cameraman. “Shit, did anyone get that on tape?”

In disgust, Gabriel turned and walked away. He kept walking until he was well away from the crowd, away from the glare of klieg lights. Two blocks from the hospital, he found himself standing alone on a corner. Even on this dark street, there was no relief from the summer heat, which still radiated from sidewalks that had baked all day in the sun. His feet suddenly felt rooted to the pavement, melded there by grief, by dread.

I don’t know how to save you. It’s my job to keep people out of harm’s way, but I cannot protect the one person I love most.

His cell phone rang. He recognized the number on the digital display, and did not answer it. It was Jane’s parents. They had already called him while he was in the car, right after Zoe’s newscast had aired. He’d quietly endured Angela Rizzoli’s hysterical sobs, Frank’s demands for action. I can’t deal with them now, he thought. Maybe in five minutes, or ten. But not now.

He stood alone in the night, struggling to regain his composure. He was not a man who easily lost control, yet moments ago, he’d almost slammed his fist into a man’s face. Jane would be shocked, he thought. And probably amused, too, to see her husband finally lose it. Mr. Gray Suit, she’d once called him in a fit of irritation because he was so unflappable, while her temper flared hot. You’d be proud of me, Jane, he thought. I’ve finally revealed I’m human.

But you aren’t here to see it. You don’t know that it’s all about you.

“Gabriel?”

He straightened. Turned to see Maura, who had approached so silently that he had not even noticed she was there.

“I had to get the hell away from that circus,” he said. “Or I swear, I would have wrung that woman’s neck. It’s bad enough I took it out on her cameraman.”

“So I heard.” She paused. “Jane’s parents just got here. I saw them in the parking lot.”

“They called me, right after they saw the newscast.”

“They’re looking for you. You’d better go to them.”

“I can’t handle them right now.”

“I’m afraid you also have another problem.”

“What?”

“Detective Korsak is here. He’s none too pleased that he didn’t get notified at all.”

“Oh, Christ. He’s the last person I want to see.”

“Korsak is her friend. He’s known her as long as you have. You may not get along with him, but he cares a lot about Jane.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “I know.”

“These are all people who love her. You’re not the only one, Gabriel. Barry Frost has been hanging around here all evening. Even Detective Crowe dropped by. We’re all worried sick, we’re all scared for her.” She stopped. Added: “I know I’m scared.”

He turned to look up the street, toward the hospital. “I’m supposed to comfort them? I’m barely holding it together myself.”

“That’s just it, you’ve taken it all on yourself. It’s all been on your shoulders.” She touched his arm. “Go, join her family. Her friends. You need each other right now.”

He nodded. Then, taking a deep breath, he walked back toward the hospital.

It was Vince Korsak who spotted him first. The retired Newton detective came charging toward him, and intercepted him on the sidewalk. Standing under the streetlamp, Korsak looked like a glowering troll, bullnecked and belligerent.

“How come you didn’t call me?” he demanded.

“I didn’t get the chance, Vince. Things have been happening so fast-”

“They said she’s been in there all day.”

“Look, you’re right. I should have called.”

“Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn’t cut it. What the hell, Dean? You think I’m not worth calling? You think I wouldn’t want to know what the fuck is going on?”

“Vince, calm down.” He reached toward Korsak, who angrily batted away his hand.

“She’s my friend, goddammit!”

“I know that. But we were trying to control leaks. We didn’t want the press to hear that a cop was inside.”

“You think I’d have leaked it? You think I’d do something that fucking stupid?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then you should’ve called me. You may be the one who married her, Dean. But I care about her, too!” Korsak’s voice cracked. “I care about her, too,” he repeated softly, then suddenly turned away.

I know you care. I also know you’re in love with her, even if you’ll never admit it. That’s why we can never be friends. We both wanted her, but I’m the one who married her.

“What’s happening in there?” said Korsak, voice muffled. Still not looking at him. “Does anyone know?”

“We don’t know a thing.”

“That bitch popped the secret on air half an hour ago. There’s been no calls from the taker? No sounds of gun-” Korsak stopped. “No reaction?”

“Maybe they weren’t watching the TV. Maybe they haven’t heard they’re holding a cop. That’s what I’m hoping-that they don’t know.”

“When was their last contact?”

“They called around five, to set up a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

“They want a live TV interview. In exchange, they’ll release two hostages.”

“Then let’s do it! What’s taking so long?”

“The police were reluctant to send in any civilians. It meant endangering a reporter and a cameraman.”