Chapter 7
Sara decided to head out early. She'd gotten Neal's message telling her that he had an unscheduled rendez-vous and asking her if she could pick up both of the kids on the way home. Neal had sounded animated and energized, the way he got when he could smell a big score. She was just glad that this was all it took to get him excited these days. The first few years of marriage had been difficult for Neal as he continued to struggle with his primal urges but he had made a promise to Sara to stay clean mostly for his baby daughter's sake and he had managed to keep that promise. Some nights, he would get quiet and Sara would wonder if she had somehow robbed him of who he was by luring him to this side of the street; but Neal had come along willingly and when he laid eyes on his daughter, she could see the absolute wonder in his eyes as any residual doubts melted away.
Over time, Neal had confided to her that it was getting easier and although he sometimes took pleasure in working the planning stages on some of Mozzie's capers, he no longer felt the need to be an active participant. The threat of ending up in the slammer, for good this time, was enough to keep him on the straight and narrow. Luckily, he had been able to get his thrills working with Peter on some high profile cases - sometimes undercover which always got his blood pumping - and more recently by being in close proximity to some of the most amazing pieces of art imaginable.
The after-school program at Ridgeway Public School closed at 5:15 so Sara decided to head to the school first to pick up Hope. Although her daughter was usually enthusiastic at the sight of her mom or dad, Sara noticed that on this day, Hope was particularly quiet as they made their way to the car, hand in hand.
'So, how was your day honey?' she asked as she took her seat behind the wheel
Hope, who'd been silent, began to cry softly, taking Sara by surprise.
'What is it Hope? What's wrong?' asked Sara as she turned in the car to face her daughter
'That man said you were going to go live with him' she blubbered
'What man?' asked Sara, already suspecting the dreaded answer
'That man from the grocery store. He talked to me in the schoolyard today and said you were going to live with him and that I could visit you if I wanted' Hope continued, obviously confused and upset
'Oh my God!' Sara said, under her breath as she realized Craig had done it again
'Oh, honey! Of course I'm not going to move in with him' she said
'But why did he say that?' asked Hope, her breathing beginning to return to normal
Sara stepped out of the driver's seat and made her way to the back seat of the car to sit next to her daughter. She wanted to make sure to establish eye contact while she tried to explain the strange and not so wonderful world of Craig Williamson's consciousness.
'Hope, I knew this man a long time ago before I met Daddy. He used to be my boyfriend. And then he got sick' Sara began
'Did he have cancer?' Hope asked
Ever since Sara's bout with ovarian cancer when Hope was just a toddler, the child seemed to equate illness with cancer, every time. It had been an unforgettable period in her young life as she watched her mom struggle for the better part of a year and now, anytime Sara or Neal announced that someone was 'sick' Hope automatically assumed that it was with cancer.
'No, no. Let me explain. There's physical illness when part of your body is sick – like when I had cancer or when Daddy had the car accident and injured his head. But there's another type of illness called 'mental illness'. It's when your brain is sick and people who suffer from those kinds of illnesses need medication otherwise they might start to behave in strange ways' she explained patiently as Hope listened carefully
Hope was a smart girl and she listened intently trying to link what her mom was saying to the behavior of the man earlier in the day. Sara had learned over time that children always understood better when you could equate whatever you were explaining to them with something they had experienced themselves and she began to try to liken the situation to something Hope could relate to.
'You know how sometimes you can make up stuff in your head like make-believe stories or fantasies of things you wish might happen?' she asked as Hope nodded 'Like when you made up Patricia, remember?' Sara asked referring to Hope's imaginary friend
'Well, people who don't have a mental illness, like you and me...they know those things aren't real and they just make them up because it's fun to pretend but Craig... he doesn't know the difference and he truly believes that I want to be with him and so he's behaving as if he and I are going to live together'
Hope frowned. 'But you're not?'
'Of course not, honey. I love Daddy - and I love you and Liam and I'll always be with you' Sara said unequivocally
'Then why is he saying those things?' she asked
'Because his mind doesn't work properly and even though it isn't true, he really believes it'
Hope nodded as she started to understand the explanation. Suddenly, she reached up and laced her arms around Sara's neck, pulling her close.
'I love you, Mommy' she said, slightly breathless
'I love you sweetheart' Sara responded, hugging her fiercely
WCWCWC
Neal stepped out into the sunshine. It was most definitely mid-November and the air was cool and crisp but there was no wind on this particular day and the sun was still warm on his face. He pulled up the collar on his overcoat and began the trek to his clandestine meeting. The rendez-vous point was all the way in Brooklyn and he walked a couple of blocks just to clear his head before he finally flagged a cab to take him across the river. The blood was coursing through his veins, a familiar rush similar to the one he used to feel when he embarked on a con; only this time, it was excitement at the possibility of recovering a lost treasure instead of the prospect of stealing one.
He'd learned over the years that the fleeting feeling he used to crave while planning and carrying out a con could be replaced with other more lasting forms of exhilaration – the thrill of holding his newborn son for the first time, watching in wonder as Hope painted alongside him, looking into Sara's adoring eyes as they made love, sharing a chat and a beer with Peter. Collectively, those moments more than made up for the ephemeral thrill he used to think he could never live without. But this type of mystery, going out into the unknown to meet a snitch who might give him a lead on some treasure was a wonderful feeling and he smiled as the endorphins kicked in.
He arrived in Bushwick, a most undesirable part of town but one, alas, that he knew all too well from his years on the bad side of the law. He wasn't familiar with the exact location of the meet and he had the driver drop him off on Rush Street, in an older commercial part of the city. It was quiet at this time of day; stores were beginning to close and darkness was beginning to slowly settle on the borough. He wanted to get his bearings before he found the exact location and he still had ten minutes to go before the arranged meeting time. He walked purposefully, becoming aware of his surroundings as he passed a homeless man sitting by the front of a pawn shop. The man made a noise, putting out his hand and Neal slowed and handed him a ten dollar bill – nobody should be this hard on his luck. He turned the corner, realizing that the exact location where he'd been instructed to meet the snitch was the back alley of a bunch of storefronts – it wasn't surprising that a snitch would choose such a place for a meeting – it was discreet and most definitely out of the way. Neal looked around one last time and leaned against the building to wait.
WCWCWC
Peter came down the last few steps of the staircase on DeKalb Street with a spring in his step. It was unusual to be home in time for dinner and he appreciated the fact that he and Elizabeth would be having a 'normal' evening for a change, a nice dinner with some cuddling in front of the tube followed by even more cuddling upstairs, if his luck held out.
'Honey, how can I help?' he asked as he made his way into the kitchen and came around the island to hug his wife
'You can dress the salad' she said as she smiled, pleased as punch to have her husband home at a decent hour
'Mmm, mmm, mmm. Lasagna!' Peter exclaimed as he took in the wonderful aroma emanating from the oven
'Well, that's what happens when you make it home on time – dinner is actually waiting for you!' said El with a wink 'So, any news from Neal and Sara?'
'I talked to Neal this afternoon. The phone number Sara gave me was a dead end. There are way too many Craig Williamsons to make any search worthwhile unless we find out something more about the guy and - nobody by that name has a police record' he answered, summing up his research in a brief sentence
'Sara was really feeling guilty about the whole thing' said El as she took a sip of wine
'Well, I don't see how she could have known this guy was trouble. He behaved pretty normally at first' said Peter
'It must be terrifying to see your child just out of your grasp in some stranger's arms' added Elizabeth as she made her way to the oven to check on the casserole
'Yeah, well I'm not sure how we're going to get to the bottom of this. Sara wanted to bait him and meet with him but Neal wouldn't hear of it and frankly, I really don't think that's a good idea; he sounds too unpredictable' Peter said as he carried the salad over to the table
'Why don't you put a wire on her and just back her up?' said El, sounding like a seasoned FBI spouse who'd heard her husband talk about his job for almost twenty years
'I suppose we could if it came down to it but I'm worried the guy could turn violent if he doesn't get his way. Plus, knowing Neal, he'd put up a fight – he doesn't want his wife to go anywhere near this guy. I'm going to go over all the notes Sara gave me after dinner and see if there is anything that can give us even a hint of where we could find him'
Elizabeth stopped suddenly and turned towards Peter, placing a soft kiss on his lips.
'You are such a good man, Peter Burke' she exclaimed
'If you play your cards right, Mrs. Burke, after dinner, I might just show you just how good I can be' said Peter with a twinkle in his eye
WCWCWC
Craig Williamson called Sara's office number one last time as he headed up Rush Street in Brooklyn. She still wasn't taking his calls but he knew that once her precious husband was out of the way, she would willingly run into his arms and that he would welcome her and take care of her.
'Sara, honey, please pick up' he said into his phone, his voice pleading 'You know this is totally unnecessary. No one needs to get hurt if you'll just come with me. Sara, please' he begged
He waited a moment as he always did in the hopes that she would pick up but alas, nothing.
'Look, I'm sorry to have to do this but it's the only way. Please call me. I love you' he said as he disconnected the call
He pulled the woolen cap snugly over his head and nervously touched his back pocket once more, feeling the knife and making sure it hadn't somehow hopped out of his jeans while he rode the subway. He didn't like violence but he realized that he had not been given any choice in the matter and he took in a deep breath as he took the last few steps leading to the alley.
TBC
