Page 100 of Fury In Death

“Do you have the note?”

“Yeah. I kept it. I brought it.” He hitched up, pulled out his wallet, took out the folded note. “It’s Steve. He’d sometimes draw something out, calculate whatever, trying to explain how something worked, so I recognized his writing. It’s from Steve.”

“Okay. We’re going to need to keep this.”

“I broke my word.” Mitch stared into his coffee again. “And I don’t feel good about that. I broke it because you’re looking for him, and I know those two men who were killed worked with him.”

“When he came to you, when he stayed with you those nights, did he say anything about them, about the company, about his work?”

“He said he hadn’t protected Ari or his son, the daughter they should have had. He said there were people, if they knew he’d come to me, who would hurt me or mine. That they could and would hurt his parents, his sister. I asked what he was talking about, but he wouldn’t say. He said he’d be back when he was ready, then everyone would know. Honest to God, I didn’t think he was all the way right yet.

“Maybe whoever he was talking about killed those two men. Maybe they’re after Steve. So I broke my word. You’ve got to help him. If they’re looking for him, you’ve got to find him first.”

“Where would he go?”

“I swear I don’t know. He hasn’t come to me, except to leave the envelope. Look, Lieutenant, Detective, if he hadn’t helped me out all those years ago, I wouldn’t be what I am, wouldn’t have what I have. I’d tell you if I knew because I want to help him. I don’t know why anyone would want to hurt him, but he must have.”

“You kept your word all these years because he asked you to. You’ve broken it now because you want to help him. And you have.”

“Should I tell his family?”

“We’ll do that when it’s appropriate. You did the right thing today, and we appreciate the trust.”

“I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“Neither do we.”

They walked him to the elevators.

“My office,” Eve said.

“You were right, right about Redman going to someone who’d keep his secret.”

“Asked for help, told Rosenthal enough, but not the whole story. Not what had been done to him and why, or what he planned to do about it. Print out Rosenthal’s ID shot. Let’s get it on the board.”

Peabody used Eve’s comp to do so.

“He paid back the loan,” Peabody commented. “He didn’t have to do that. Ten thousand’s a good chunk.”

“Yes, he did. He’s got a code. His mistake, if we call it that, was believing everyone lived by one, too. He used some of the money to get out of the city, and then he hitched rides. At least some of the time. Got far enough away where he could work on building back up, physically. Mira said that would take months of physical therapy.”

“Since he paid back the loan, he must’ve gotten some work.”

“Enough to live on,” Eve speculated. “Likely odd jobs, off the books, under the radar. Save some for the repayment, and for what he needed.”

Eve studied the updated board. “He went to someone he knew wouldn’t talk, because he himself hadn’t. And could afford the loan. Rosenthal had a solid career, plenty of endorsement money.”

“You’d still think he’d have gone to family. They love him.”

“No, not family. Keep them out of it, away from it. The same way he turns away family photos when he kills. More? He protected his family by staying away from them.”

“Should I contact the other friends, interviews?”

“No, no point.” Eve checked the time, found it dripping away. “I’m going to run up to EDD, check on their progress, get bitched at for checking on their progress. Then we’ll head to Chu’s memorial. You write up the Rosenthal interview, copy everyone on the list for it. And send a copy of the case file to Morris.”

“Morris?”

“He’d like details. I’d say after these three bodies, he’s earned them. I won’t be long.”