Summary - Frank and Joe captured Shark. Frank's car and condo were destroyed. Now the brothers are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.
FRANK - THE HOSPITAL HALLWAY OUTSIDE EXAM ROOM 4
"Frank?"
"Phil. What are you doing here?"
"Figured since your Lexus was destroyed, you needed wheels. Biff drove Joe's Mustang here."
Nobody drives Joe's Mustang - except Joe.
"You drove Joe's Mustang?" I ask.
"Yeah, I lost the coin toss," Biff says.
"Where is Joe?" Dr. Tager asks, as he walks into the exam room.
"I don't know."
Why can't I ever assume Joe is out for a walk? Or doing something peaceful? I will not freak out.
"Uh oh," Biff says.
"Joe can take care of himself," I say.
"Not really. He is wearing a foot cast," Dr. Tager says. "And he seemed off his game."
"Officer Brown report to Exam Room 4 immediately," Dr. Tager says, into the hospital wall phone over the PA system.
The one time I try not to freak out, Dr. Tager does it for me.
"You called," Officer Brown says, as he walks through the door.
"I've got a missing patient. I need to see the hospital surveillance footage in this hallway from twenty minutes ago."
"I can't do that. You have to fill out a form and get the authorization committee's ok. They meet next Tuesday," Officer Brown says.
"Not sure you'll be out of your cast," Dr. Tager says.
"What cast?" Office Brown asks.
"Your body cast, after I tell Nurse Roif you replaced one of her patient's urine samples with apple juice," Dr. Tager says.
"You can't. She'll kill me. You will never find my body."
Does anyone not pull pranks on Nurse Roif in this hospital?
"Find my patient and I'll forget everything," Dr. Tager says.
"What am I looking for?" Officer Brown asks.
"A blond male. Early 20s. He is wearing a walking cast. His dad is in law enforcement. He could be a target," Dr. Tager says.
I watch in amazement as the mention of our dad being in law enforcement and Joe being a possible target cuts through all the red tape.
"Vince, I need to you fast track something," Officer Brown says, into his radio. "Check the footage outside Exam Room Four. Got a police officer whose kid is missing. Blond, male, early 20s, foot cast. Somebody may be targeting the kid."
That's been the story of our entire lives.
"Hold on Brown, I'm pulling up the footage," Vince says, from Officer Brown's radio. "Yeah, I see him. He limped out of the Exam Room and walked out the front entrance."
My worst case scenario. Joe is missing and hurt. I have no way to find him.
"Brown, I switched to the hospital's outside security camera. The kid got in a yellow cab at the front entrance."
"Vince, can you get a license plate?"
"No. These cameras are crap. I can't even make out the cab company. Maybe the front desk knows."
I run to the front desk. I'm about to speak, when someone pushes me aside.
"We've got a missing patient," Officer Brown says. "Blond guy with a foot cast. He got into a yellow cab waiting out front. Did you see anything?"
"No. We've been slammed all morning," a woman, with red hair says. "But I think the yellow cab is out front now."
I run to the cab and stop at the open window on the driver's side. Officer Brown pushes me aside.
"I've got a missing patient," Officer Brown says, though the driver's open window.
"Why do I care?" A young guy with a beard asks.
"Accomplice to murder is why you care," Officer Brown says. "Imagine spending fifteen years behind bars."
Brown is a little creative with the facts, but I don't care. I just need Joe's location.
"Did you give a blond guy with a foot cast a ride somewhere?" I ask.
"Yeah," The driver says.
"Where?" I ask.
"Bayport Cemetery," he mumbles, so only Officer Brown and I can hear it.
Iola. Joe only goes there when everything has fallen apart.
"Where is Joe's Mustang?" I ask loudly.
"I'll pull it around front," Phil says.
"What's the plan?" Biff asks
"I get Joe."
"One Mustang car with an attitude," Phil says, as he opens the driver's door. "I found the cats in Joe's car."
Tang sleeps in the passenger seat. Bats sits next to his brother and keeps watch.
"Great," I say sarcastically.
Bats hisses at me.
I want to say something, but I can't. At least he knows where his brother is.
"Uh, the gas pedal is kinda sensitive," Biff says.
I touch the gas pedal. The speedometer goes from 0 to 60 mph in ten feet.
I hit the brakes. The car jerks to a sudden stop. Bats falls off the seat. He takes a swipe at my leg and rips my black dress pants. The Mustang stalls. When I turn the key, it won't start.
"Joe is in trouble! If anything happens to him, I will drive this car to the scrapyard and personally crush it into a small, metal cube. Before that I'll drop both of you off at the animal shelter!"
"Uh...Frank are you threatening Joe's car?" Biff asks.
I ignore him and roll up the window.
I put my foot on the gas, the car slowly drives down the hospital parking lot and turns onto the main road.
I turn on Joe's radio. It's set to KLOVE.
*Been a hard season, it's been a broken road
All the dreams I was dreaming, they went up in smoke
But I keep on believing there is a reason for this hard season
My dream was to spend my life with Callie, but she didn't wait for me. She married somebody else. How can I still love her when she hurt me so badly?
I've been brought down to my knees, but I'm too weak to pray
So God, I hope You can hear the words I can't say
Do You know what I'm needing, are You still holding me in this hard season?
Feels like things will never get better. If God exists, why did Callie leave me? Why did Iola die?
I lift up my eyes where my help comes from
I fall in the arms of the only One
Who knows the reason for every hard season
Lord, You wrote the story that I can't see
So even in the dark, my heart will believe
There is a reason for every hard season
Joe told me he still has doubts. He told me the only way he gets out of bed in the morning, is believing he will see Iola again.
When the tears and the trials, too many to count
When my last bit of faith starts to give way to the waves of my doubt
It may feel like I'm drowning, but I know I'm not alone in this hard season (* "Hard Season" by Matthew West)
I pull into the cemetery. I usually feel alone. Do I believe in God? I don't know. I hate how I only pray if Joe's life is in danger. I'm like the friend who only calls when he needs to borrow something.
I open the door and step out of the car. Tang jumps out of the car and runs down a row of headstones.
Bats and I look at each other.
"Your brother, your problem," I say.
Bats jumps out of the car and runs after Tang between the headstones.
I watch Tang chase a red squirrel. The squirrel turns and chases Tang. Tang runs behind Bats who puffs up his fur and hisses at the squirrel. The squirrel does not back down. The last thing I need is an injured cat that has to go to the vet.
I toss a stone so it lands inches from the squirrel. The squirrel runs off. Tang starts to chase it, but Bats gives Tang a hard paw to the head. Tang runs off in a different direction. Bats follows his brother.
I walk past rows of headstones to a white mausoleum in the back of the cemetery. The Morton farm is successful but there is no way it paid for this marble building. My gut tells me Dad gave the Mortons money. Blood money. Dad feels guilty Iola paid the fprice when someone put on a bomb on his car.
Part of me wishes the Mortons had scattered Iola's ashes at sea. I even looked it up to find out why they didn't - apparently your ashes have to end up someplace sacred - like a Catholic cemetery.
I walk up to the white marble building. The white columns in front make it look like a Greek temple. Two columns mark the front of the building. An angel with wings guards each side of the wrought iron door. Carved flowers decorate the outside of the mausoluem. I hate coming here. It means Joe's world has fallen apart ...it means my brother is in a world of hurt...it means I failed to protect him.
I stop outside when I hear Joe talking to Iola.
JOE - IOLA'S MAUSOLEUM
Iola's crypt of white marble stands inside the mausoleum. It is a poor substitute for the woman I love. I put my hand on the crypt and sink to the floor.
"You always understood, Iola. I feel so disconnected. I'm ashamed. I didn't know the bank foreclosed on Tony's pizzeria. He didn't tell me, cuz I had so much going on."
"Scared I'm not a good friend. I always felt Dad didn't have friends - except for Sam. I'm not sure Sam counts, cuz he is Dad's partner. Seems like Dad was so busy saving everybody he didn't have time to make friends. What if I'm the same way?"
"I don't want to be Dad. I know he saves people, but he was never around. Scared I don't have what it takes to be a detective. Yesterday just fed those worries. The guy we caught yesterday, it was sloppy. Dad always says you need backup, but I didn't have any. I was so busy trying to help Tony and Biker, I almost got Frank killed. Maybe that's why Dad doesn't have friends."
"Remember in high school, when that woman told me I was gonna hold Frank back."
"I still have nightmares about that. Am I holding Frank back? Iola, he is brilliant. Me, not so much. I prayed God would keep Frank safe, cuz I knew I couldn't."
"Wearing this cast triggers me. What if someone attacks me? I can't defend myself in this thing. I'm trapped. Frank told me I had to get a cast. Logically, I know he's right. I'm just so used to being a target, feels like I'm stuck in flight or fight mode. This stupid walking cast means I can't fight or run."
"I barely let Dr. Tager put it on my leg. I don't know how I'll last wearing it. Now I'm a bigger target. An easier kill."
"I'm not ready for another case. I don't know if I'll ever be ready. And if I can't, I'm gonna lose Frank, just like I lost Dad."
FRANK - Behind an oak tree near the Mausoleum
"Seems like Dad was so busy saving everybody, he didn't have time to make friends. What if I'm the same way?" Joe asks.
I smile and consider the evidence. Joe somehow saved Tony's pizzeria from foreclosure. Everybody wants to be Joe's friend. I have never had that problem.
"I don't want to be Dad."
That one catches me off guard. Dad is a famous detective. But solving all those cases had a price. Dad was always working on a case somewhere else. Sometimes I feel I'm half older brother and half dad to Joe.
"The guy we caught yesterday, Iola, it was sloppy."
True. Not our best work. I don't mind losing my condo or my car. I can replace those. But I almost lost my brother. That would have destroyed me.
"Remember in high school when that woman told me I was gonna hold Frank back?"
What?
"I still have nightmares."
What happened to Joe in high school? How did I miss this?
Joe mumbles something about his cast. I lean closer.
"Now I'm a bigger target. An easier kill."
Joe is right. I need to stay close.
"I don't know if I'll ever be ready to work another case. And if I can't, I'm gonna lose Frank, just like I lost Dad."
That will never happen.
I try to figure out how to let Joe I'm here. Knocking on a marble mausoleum feels wrong. Maybe the wrought iron gate will squeak when I open it.
"Joe?" I ask quietly.
The gate slides open without a sound.
Joe is on the ground sound asleep. His hand is on Iola's crypt. I pick Joe up and carry him to the Mustang.
I hit the passenger door handle with my foot and pry open the door with my leg. I put Joe in the passenger seat. He does not bat an eye. I am glad Joe can sleep through anything. Finding him here makes me feel like I've invaded his privacy.
Tang jumps on Joe's lap and curls into an orange, furry ball. Bats jumps in. He jumps on Joe's lap because there is nowhere else to sit. Stiffly he curls into a ball and uses Tang as a pillow.
When I pull out, I see a black car on the side of the road. Officer Brown is behind the wheel. I nod as I drive past. I make sure he does not follow me as I drive back to Bayport.
Where do I go? We are homeless. Biff is fixing up an older home in the country. Joe would love being out in the country, but the place has no security. I need to give Biff time to finish the renovations on Joe's beach cottage.
Phil lives in the penthouse of the 25-story Bayport Chateau building. Chateau is French for mansion. Joe and I designed a state of the art security system for the building. It has an underground garage, two doormen (who are really a top-notch security dressed as doormen), bulletproof windows and discreet cameras in all hallways and elevators. It's safe, but it will feel like a cage to Joe.
I sigh. Security trumps comfort.
"Hey, Siri. Call Phil."
"Phil, ok to hide out at your condo?" I ask.
"Definitely. Stop at my office first. We can hide Joe's Mustang under a tarp in the garage."
"See you in five."
Phil has the warehouse door of Cohen Technology open. I pull in and follow his directions to a back corner.
"What about your security cameras?" I ask.
"I turned them off. If anyone asks the cameras are down for a few hours while we upgrade the computer system," Phil says.
"So how do we get in your apartment without being seen?"
"I'm putting you in a wooden box labeled Cohen Technology. The doormen are used to me bringing equipment home. I'll ask for the key to the freight elevator."
An hour later, Phil pulls the nails out of the large wooden crate that secretly transported me, Joe sleeping on a beanbag chair and two cats into his penthouse.
"Hey, good to see you guys again," Phil says, as he lowers one of the wooden walls of the crate.
"Phil, I owe you," I say.
"I can't believe Joe is still asleep."
"He is exhausted. I should have done a better job on this case," I pick Joe up and set him on Phil's couch. I put my hand on his forehead, no fever.
"Frank, you guys caught an internationally wanted criminal. The FBI publicly thanked you. There was a big reward, right? Sounds like you did ok?"
"I was sloppy."
"Where did you find Joe?" Phil asks.
Breaching Joe's privacy about his visit to Iola's grave is not going to happen.
"He wasn't too far away."
Silence. I distract before Phil asks more questions.
"Thanks for letting us stay here."
"You need anything?" Phil asks.
Tang jumps on top of the saltwater aquarium and paws at the fish.
"Cat food."
"I grabbed a few cans of cat food from the warehouse. We have stray cats who patrol for mice."
"Thanks." I pop the metal top off a can of cat food. Tang jumps off the aquarium, runs to me and sticks his nose in the can before I put it on the floor. I open a second can for Bats. He slowly walks up and waits for me to place the can on the floor.
Suddenly Tang stops eating, he runs around the room meowing.
"What's wrong?" Phil asks.
Tang jumps into a plant, runs under the couch and finally jumps into Phil's bin of paper to be recycled.
An unpleasant odor appears.
"That's disgusting," Phil says. "I've got to find a box."
I toss a blanket over Joe. I can't find a single symptom of syphillis - no hair loss, no circles on his hands, nothing.
"I found a cardboard box and some styrofoam packing peanuts," Phil says. "Think they can figure it out?"
Tang runs over to investigate the box. He jumps in, paws a packing peanut on the floor and takes off chasing it across the hardwood floor. Bats steps into the box, does his business and steps out.
"I think half of the team can figure it out."
"I'll be back in one hour," Phil says.
"Thanks, Phil. I didn't know who else to call."
"No problem."
Phil leaves the penthouse. I find a dozen eggs in the fridge. Ten minutes later, I have a frying pan of scrambled eggs, a pile of buttered toast and two glasses of milk poured. Years of experience have taught me the smell of food is the best way to wake Joe.
"Where are we?" Joe asks, as he stretches and yawns on Phil's couch.
"Phil's penthouse. Hungry?"
"Yeah. This place feels like a cage."
I put half the scrambled eggs and toast on Joe's plate.
"If you ever get tired of being a detective, you have a real future in food service," Joe says, as he limps to the kitchen table.
"Thanks."
I put Joe's phone on the table.
"Good news or bad news?" I ask.
"Good."
"We don't have to talk about anything related to Shark."
"Bad."
"You left your phone at the hospital. The Bayport Community Clinic called. You have syphillis."
"Frank, I..."
"If we caught it early enough, all you need is one shot. The clinic can even send anonymous texts to your partners to let them know they need to get checked."
"Gonna be a short text list," Joe says. He stuffs a huge forkful of scrambled eggs in his mouth. Looks like my brother is stalling for time.
JOE - PHIL'S PENTHOUSE
I will kill Biker. I can't rat him out, but Frank won't let this go until he knows I'm healthy.
"Joe, this happens to lots of people. The important thing is you get treated."
Maybe the truth will work.
"Frank, I took a friend to the clinic. They wouldn't go alone. They put my phone number down on the intake form."
I see Frank struggling to think this over. Will he believe me?
"Look, you have every reason not to trust me. I'm never where I say I'm gonna be. I forget to check in. But Frank, I'm telling the truth."
I guess I'm gonna have to tell him the whole truth.
I close my eyes. If I'm gonna spill my guts, I need privacy.
"After Iola died..." I swallow hard. Amazing how hard those three words are to say. "I'll never forgive myself for flirting with another woman in front of Iola. I hate myself for how I treated Iola. I changed. I know you want me to date, but I can't. If I couldn't protect Iola, how can I trust myself with another woman's life?"
"It wasn't your fault."
I lose it. I'm so tired of people telling me it's not my fault. I know it's my fault. I'm the reason Iola is dead.
"Liar! If Iola wasn't dating me, she wouldn't have ridden in Dad's car to the mall! If I wasn't flirting in front of her, Iola wouldn't have run out to Dad's car! If I'd run faster I could have caught her before the car exploded!"
"If I hadn't pulled you aside, you could have caught Iola," Frank says.
"What?"
"I grabbed your arm. I told you to stop flirting in front of Iola."
"Yeah, that was a good thing."
I see the pain and guilt in Frank's eyes.
"Joe, if I had keep quiet, you wouldn't have seen Iola die. You wouldn't have almost killed yourself trying to save her. I always wondered when you would blame me for Iola's death."
I never knew Frank blamed himself. I'm too shocked too speak.
"If I hadn't lectured you so long, you could have caught up with Iola while she walked to Dad's car."
"Frank, I don't blame you for Iola's death. I never will."
"I blame myself," Frank says.
"Iola wouldn't want that. That's what you always tell me."
I watch Frank digest what I said. I have to stop discussing Iola before I fall apart. I need to distract Frank with the most powerful truth bomb I have. So I force the words out of my mouth fast before I lost my courage.
"Frank, I don't have syphillis. I'm a virgin."
Frank stares at me. His mouth falls open.
"If I make love to a woman, it's gonna be after I marry her. That's what Iola and I planned. It was our wedding gift to each other."
My phone rings. I hit the speaker button.
"What?"
"Did the clinic call?" Biker asks.
"Biker has syphillis?" Frank asks.
"Why does Frank know I have syphillis, before I do?" Biker asks.
"You put my phone number on the clinic paperwork!" I shout.
"Yeah."
"Frank answered my phone when the clinic called. He thought I had syphillis."
Biker laughs.
"Biker, you need to get treated at the clinic," I say.
"I'll think about it," Biker says.
When I was young, I brought my GI Joe to Frank, so he could fix the leg that fell off. I imagine I looked at him then, the same way I'm looking at him now.
"Your hair will grow back in three to six months if you get treated," Frank says.
"Ok, I'll do it," Biker says.
"You need to let your partners know, so they can get tested," I say.
"Nobody told me," Biker says.
"Maybe nobody told them."
"Biker, people with untreated syphillis can end up blind or paralyzed. A pregnant woman can end up with a stillborn baby."
"I'll think about it."
I hate myself, but I look at Frank again pleading for him to fix this too.
"Biker, the clinic will send out anonymous texts to your partners saying they need to get tested for syphillis," Frank says. "Nobody will know it's you."
"Fine! I'll do it, but I don't like it!" Biker shouts.
"Guys, let's never talk about this again," I say.
Frank nods. Biker hangs up.
Tang chases a packing peanut around the wooden floor.
FRANK LOADING PHIL'S DISHWASHER, WHILE JOE RINSES OFF DISHES AND HANDS THEM TO HIM
I hear a key unlock Phil's front door. Tony and Phil walk in.
"What is Tony doing here?" Joe asks.
This is the hard part of my plan.
"Phil and I have to check on a few things," I say.
Specifically the beach cottage I hope we can move into tomorrow.
"What things?" Joe asks. "We designed the security system for Phil's building. Why is Tony babysitting me?"
This isn't going to be easy.
"Tony is here because I asked him to be. I want you out of that cast ASAP, that means you rest your leg. I want my partner back. I need to tie up a few loose ends."
"Fine," Joe says.
His tone tells me there is nothing fine about me leaving him behind.
"Bring back food," Tony says.
Phil and I step into the elevator.
JOE AND TONY - IN PHIL'S APARTMENT
"How did you get up here?" Tony asks. "Bayport News is offering a 10,000 reward to anyone who calls in your location."
"Wanna split it?" I ask.
"No. I just wanna know how you Houdini-ed yourself up here."
"Don't know. I slept through it. Does Frank know we have a bounty on our heads?"
"Dude, everybody knows. They announced it on the radio station."
"Gotta love my hometown. Such a friendly place."
"Hardy, that money would come in handy for Father's Day."
Is Dad alive?
"Joe, got any gift ideas for my Dad?"
"Maybe a tie with pizzas on it?" I say.
"No. I have to score major points this year. Remember, I got the family pizza foreclosed on."
"But you saved the family business. What does your dad do? All I remember him doing is working in the pizzeria."
"That's cuz all he did was work in the pizzeria. He worked so many hours he didn't have time for anything else. No hobbies. No life. He hates retirement."
"You could take him to a football game."
"Hardy, are you listening? I don't want to spend time with him. He hates retirement. He hates life."
"Prito, your Dad must do something all day."
"He eats. His doctor wants him to lose weight, so Mom yells at Dad for eating. Then Dad stomps downstairs and pretends to fix stuff in the cellar."
"How do you know he pretends to fix stuff?"
"He's been fixing the same toaster for three years."
"Prito, that's a long time without toast."
"My relationship with my Dad rots."
"Same."
"No way."
"Tony, my dad usually turns up, stays for a week and then disappears again. I kind of got used to not having him in my life. So I'm kinda jealous you know where your Dad is - even if he is pretending to fix a toaster."
"Sorry, Joe. I didn't think."
"It's cool. I hate Father's Day anyway. Remember when we were in second grade and went to the Father Son Picnic in the Park."
he Father Son Picnic in the park when we were in second grade?"
"Yeah. You fell in the plastic pool full of water balloons and had to go home early."
"No. I jumped in the pool so I could get out of there.."
"Keep going."
"Dad took me and Frank. I was excited to see him. Real excited. Dad asked Sam to be my partner for the kiddie events."
"Well, there were two of you and only one of him."
"Prito, Dad and I had been butting heads all morning. When he gave me away to Sam, I was crushed. So while Dad and Frank won the three-legged race, I jumped in the plastic pool holding the water balloons. Figured if I was wet someone would have to take me home. Ever since I give my Dad the only gift he really wants for Father's Day - to be left alone."
"I don't think one picnic proves he doesn't like you."
"It's not one picnic. Dad and I always get on each other's nerves. Maybe we're too much alike. I don't blame Dad. If I had to choose between me and Frank, I'd pick Frank too."
FENTON - The Bayport Astor Office Building - Penthouse- A few minutes before Joe and Tony's conversation.
"This is a bad idea," Sam repeated.
"I need to know Frank and Joe are ok."
"You could call them."
"Sam, their phones could be tapped. My sons have a bounty on their heads. I don't want to tip off the press on their location."
"Nice try. You're scared to talk to them."
"No. I'm being cautious."
"Scared."
"Shut up, Sam."
"I can't believe you stole that listening device."
"I didn't steal it. I forgot to turn it into the NSA when I finished working for them."
I point the device toward Biff's penthouse apartment. If I taught Frank anything, he knows this is the safest place to hide. Sam and I planted a camera in the building's parking garage. Phil took a large box of computer equipment up to his apartment on the freight elevator. That box hopefully contained Frank and Joe.
"Nothing good is gonna come of this, Fenton."
I ignore Sam. He isn't a dad. He doesn't understand.
I hear pounding noises. Then a thud.
"Hey, good to see you guys again," Phil says.
"Phil, I owe you," Frank says.
That's my boy. Played it just like I would have.
"They are ok," I tell Sam.
"I heard. Now you can turn off the listening device."
"How can I help tif I don't know what they are planning?"
"Icarus, you are flying too close to the sun," Sam says.
"Shhh."
"What is Tony doing here?" Joe asks.
"Phil and I have to check on a few things," Frank says.
"What things?" Joe asks. "We designed the security system for this building. Why is Tony babysitting me?"
"Fenton, I have a really bad feeling about this."
I ignore Sam.
Joe never holds back, he always tells you how he feels.
"Tony is here because I asked him to be. I want you out of that cast ASAP, that means you rest your leg. I want my partner back. I have a few loose ends to tie up," Frank says.
What's wrong with Joe's leg? I know they captured Shark. The entire intelligence community knows they captured Shark. I've never been so proud. Are my sons safe?
"Fine," Joe says.
His tone says nothing is fine about it.
"Bring back food," Tony says.
"Got what you needed?" Sam asks.
"Yes. Follow Phil. Be discreet."
"Fenton, I've been tailing cars longer than Frank has been alive," Sam says.
He slams the door on his way out.
"How did you get up here?" Tony asks. "Bayport News is offering 10,000 to anyone who calls in your location."
"Wanna split it?" Joe asks.
I crack a smile. I have missed Joe's sense of humor.
"No. I just wanna know how you Houdini-ed yourself up here."
"I fell asleep. Does Frank know we have a bounty on our heads?"
"Dude, everybody knows. It's on the radio. Ten thousand dollars would come in handy on Father's Day. What are you getting your Dad?"
"Prito, I don't know where Dad is or when I'll see him."
Guilt hits me. I feel like a deadbeat dad. But instead of money, I've cheated my sons out of time. When I'm on a case it all feels worth it. When I get back home, I always feel I made the wrong choice.
My phone rings.
"I'm missing a listening device," the Gray Man says.
"Sounds like a you problem."
"Actually, it is a you problem. You're using it as we speak," Gray says.
"What do you want?" I growl.
"Someone is sniffing around. Trying to figure out who brought down the Yicama Drug Cartel."
"I did my job. Sounds like you need to do yours."
"I erased everything. Destroyed all the equipment. But somebody is digging. If they find out it was you, you are a dead man walking."
I hang up. I have to leave to protect Frank and Joe.
"Prito, your Dad must do something all day," Joe says.
His voice makes me smile.
"He eats. Mom yells at him for eating cuz his doctor wants him to lose weight. Then he goes in the cellar and pretends to fix stuff."
Did I want a life like that?
"How do you know?" Joe asks.
"He's been fixing the same toaster for the last three years," Tony says.
"Prito, that's a long time without toast," Joe says.
"My relationship with my Dad rots," Tony says.
"Same," Joe says.
What?
"No way," Tony says.
"Tony, I have no idea where Dad is or if he is even alive. He usually turns up, stays in Bayport for a week and then takes off again. I kind of got used to not having him in my life. So I'm kinda jealous you know where your Dad is - even if he is pretending to fix a toaster," Joe says.
What if I die before I can fix my relationship with Joe?
"Sorry, Joe. I didn't think."
"It's cool. It's just Dad is never around for Father's Day. I kind of hate Father's Day anyway. Remember the Father Son Father's Day event in the park when we were in second grade?"
That was a bad day. Sam and I had worked on a kidnapping case. The family paid the ransom, but the hostage was killed. Sam and I figured out the Mom was in on the kidnapping. We caught her and her boyfriend boarding a plane to Switzerland. Mom didn't know her boyfriend had killed her son. When she found out, she raked her nailed across the guy's face.
"Yeah. You fell in the plastic pool full of water balloons and had to go home early," Tony says.
"No. I jumped in the pool when no one was looking," Joe says.
"Keep going," Tony says.
"Dad took me and Frank. I was excited to see him. Real excited. Dad asked Sam to be my partner for the kiddie events," Joe says.
"Well, there were two of you and only one of him," Tony says.
"Prito, Dad and I had been clashing all morning. When he gave me away to Sam, I was crushed. So while Dad and Frank won the three-legged race, I jumped in the plastic pool holding the water balloons. Figured if I was wet someone would have to take me home. Ever since I give my Dad the only gift he really wants for Father's Day - to be left alone," Joe says.
I can't believe Joe remembers that picnic. I was reeling from destroying my client. He hired to find his son. I bought him home a dead son and proved his wife was in on the kidnapping.
"I don't think one picnic proves he doesn't like you," Tony says.
Good point, Tony. I've always liked that boy.
"It's not one picnic. Dad and I always get on each other's nerves. Maybe we're too much alike. I don't blame Dad. If I had to choose between me and Frank, I'd pick Frank too."
The NSA device slips from my hand and falls to the floor. It splinters in a million pieces. Just like my relationship with my sons. I hate it when Sam is right.