ANOTHER WEEK PASSED before Danny heard from the detective, this time by phone.
“Mr. Callaway, we got our prints. They’re Kevin Green’s. We’ve issued an arrest warrant.”
Danny’s heart stopped. Through the roaring in his ears, he barely heard DeVino’s next words.
“We’ve got our motive. This Green’s held a grudge against you all these years. Listen, if he should contact you, don’t try to handle it yourself. We’ve got a dangerous man on our hands. It might be a good idea to hire some security guards.”
With nerveless fingers, Danny replaced the receiver. His worst fears were realized. Though Kevin Green had been the instrument, Danny had ultimately caused Cathy’s and Sean’s deaths. If he hadn’t have been so selfish, they’d still be alive. From the start, he should have given Cathy up. She’d never been meant for him.
Guilt overwhelmed him, making his head pound. He’d destroyed a beautiful human being. Also, he’d killed his own child just as surely as if he’d set the bomb himself. He should have known better. He’d longed for a beautiful world, a happy life, but wanting it couldn’t make it happen. Ignoring evil didn’t erase it.
Danny sunk his head into his hands. Crushed with remorse, he couldn’t move.
As darkness fell, he sought relief. Hey, he was a weak, worthless person, so he decided he may as well act the part. This hotel had been so honored by his presence that they’d provided him with a well-stocked bar. He’d ignored it before, but now it would serve to drive away the pain.
Blindly he reached for a bottle. He gulped down the liquid, ignoring the burn. He drank more. No matter how much he swallowed, the thirst consumed him. The Jack Daniels was almost gone before it dawned on him. He had a mission. Why was he wasting time? He needed to get out and find Kevin. He grabbed another bottle for the road.
He’d not hired the security guards the detective had suggested because a face-to-face encounter with Kevin would suit him just fine. Too bad his gun had been blown away in the explosion. He’d have to get another.
Ignoring his spinning head, Danny stumbled into the night. Monroe Street was lit not only by street lamps, but also by blinding headlights, which all seemed to be aimed at his eyes.
His enemy could be lurking around any corner. It was up to Danny to discover where. He headed east toward Michigan Avenue and the lakefront. It was as good a direction as any. The lake breeze blew briskly, making him shiver. With trembling fingers, he twisted the cap off the bottle, then gulped down another swallow. The whiskey warmed him some, yet now he had other problems. The sky and ground wanted to meld together. He’d have to ignore that.
Before long the crashing of the waves grew louder. Mesmerized, he followed the sound. As he moved in the direction of the beckoning wetness, his feet sank into the sand. He could easily disappear into the darkness and the pain would end. No one would be the wiser. No one would care.
Wait a minute…didn’t he have something to do first? Why couldn’t he remember? Suddenly everything blurred. He slid down onto the sand’s cool softness.
DANNY AWAKENED WITH gritty eyes and grainy shoes. A fragment of memory surfaced. Like a glass shard, it punctured his heart. Cathy and Sean were dead. It had really happened. He ached so badly he could barely breathe.
He must set things right. Kevin must pay.
Balancing precariously on one foot, then the other, he tried to empty the sand from his shoes. It obstinately stuck to his socks, so he gave up.
His mouth felt cottony. A merciless thirst consumed him. He reached for the whisky and finished it off, then threw the bottle into the lake. Years from now someone might find it and wonder how it had gotten there.
He turned away, intent on completing his task. Stumbling, his body wavered weakly, yet his will remained strong. He forged ahead, only to discover he was traveling in circles.
He couldn’t think straight. His head vibrated so much he couldn’t tell where he was going. He decided to head away from the lake, down Madison Street and toward the train station where the bums and the homeless hung out. That would be a perfect place for someone as lowly as Kevin Green. He congratulated himself on being clever enough to figure that out.
He trudged on and on, not knowing where he was or how long he’d walked. His stinging eyes barely made out a sign on the corner of Wabash and Madison. Surprisingly, he hadn’t gone far, though it seemed as if he had. The sun was hot, yet he continued on.
It wasn’t easy, but he made it to State and Madison. It was a start, but not his destination. He must keep going. He took another step, but his legs crumpled beneath him. His forehead slammed onto the cement.
The next thing Danny knew, he was lying face down on the ground. His head clanged. A rancid odor of perspiration clung to him, making him nauseous. From a distance, he heard a young boy’s wondering voice. “Daddy, look. That man’s sleeping on the sidewalk.”
“That’s just a bum. Don’t pay any attention.”
Was the man talking about him? He wasn’t a bum. He was a basketball star who had lots of money. He had to let him know.
“Would you like an autograph?” he mumbled.
They looked at him strangely. He couldn’t blame them. For all they knew, he may as well be a bum.
Again the welcoming pain gripped him. He deserved to be punished. Flat on the ground was exactly where he belonged. His thoughtlessness had caused the death of his wife and child. He was no better than dirt.