Two weeks later, things were not so well. Bobby's mother was losing touch with reality. Lewis was doing what he could, but he wasn't Bobby. Whether or not she even let Lewis in the house was always up to chance. Lewis did his best to make sure she was eating and didn't hurt herself, but there was only so much he could do. And William Goren had managed to land up in the hospital again. Bobby grimaced as he thought about the toll this would take on his finances. If only his father would try, just try to take care of himself! And to make matters worse, the weather was colder and Goren's head cold was moving to his chest.
He coughed on the bus back to Gavelli's neighborhood. Tutuola said it wouldn't be long, now. He'd been in for 3 months because they were waiting for a bigger fish. In the meantime, 3 officers had been made, beaten within inches of their lives, and Goren wondered sometimes if his days were numbered. Tutuola had caught him on one of his morning journeys, told him it was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard of, and that he was asking for it.
Goren agreed wholeheartedly, but it was the best he could manage. Frank was a junkie. Bobby was all his parents had. He coughed again as he climbed down from the bus.
A familiar voice called out, "The man who never sleeps."
It was a man in the gang called Lynch, and he eyed Goren suspiciously.
"What's it to you?" Goren spat back.
"Weird. Stay out to three, four a.m. and you're out traveling the city at seven? Seems a little suspicious. Like something a cop might do."
"Go fuck yourself," Goren told him. He shoved the man with his shoulder as he walked past.
Lynch drew a blade on him, and the two squared off. "I take my business seriously," he warned, "And you're a risk. Where the fuck did you go?"
Goren rolled his eyes and frowned. He put his hands on his hips. "A man needs some loving now and then."
"Got plenty of that around here."
"Maybe I'm not interested in gonorrhea."
"Fuck you."
"No, fuck you. Stay out of my fucking business." With that, Goren backed a few steps, turned, and walked away. If he could settle down, he would try to nap a few hours before meeting Tutuola for lunch.
He was almost asleep when Fin pounded on his door. Bobby checked the peephole and let him in. Thankfully, he was alone.
Fin kept his voice low. "You're Dad's in the fucking hospital?"
Bobby shrugged. He turned a little, avoiding eye contact.
"Why the fuck you still here?"
"He's in good hands."
Tutuola frowned. "You've been calling him. On your little morning trips."
"No, I've been calling my mother. And checking in on the old man." Bobby was irritated. He rubbed his eyes and flopped onto his bed. "I need some sleep."
"Cap said to get you out."
"No."
"Cap said."
"I don't wanna go. Look, my old man is fine. The hospital will take better care of him than he can manage on his own. This, it's… better than things have been the last three weeks, okay? Tell Cap that."
"What if he dies, Goren?"
Bobby shrugged again. "I guess that's my problem."
Fin looked around, then lowered himself to a chair. He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Look, Goren. I lost my Dad a few years back. It ain't easy."
"Like I said, my problem."
Tutuola stared at him for a minute. "Suit yourself. Let me know if you change your mind." He got up to leave.
"Lynch saw me this morning," Goren admitted. "I told him I went to hook up with a girl."
Fin soaked the new information in and nodded. "It was a good lie. Get some rest. Gavelli's bringing in the big dogs sometime this week. With any luck, this job is over."