reluctant to even offer the plan. Hannah was a twenty-year-old woman who he did not know very well, he was an ex-convict, and Danni was a retired cop. It didn’t seem feasible that she would trust him to walk off with her daughter. But she’d asked. She’d even persisted. And he was convinced that he could protect Hannah.
“Do you really want to do this, Henry?”
“I do, Danni—for me and for Jack.”
“Leave Jack out of this,” she said. Then she looked at Hannah.
“What do you think, honey?”
“I don’t want to leave school,” Hannah said. “But if I have to, this sounds like another type of learning experience. I’ve never been to New York City. And Harlem—wow!”
“You’d be living with real black people, too,” Henry added with a smile.
“That’s the best part, Henry,” she said, smiling. “A new cultural experience.”
“You’re sure?” Danni asked Henry again.
“I’m sure. Are you sure?”
“I can’t explain it, Henry, but I don’t think I’d trust Hannah with anyone else but you. Hannah, are you sure?”
“Yes, Mom. I feel the same way.”
“Then it’s settled. Henry, I’m going to write you a check for a thousand dollars. It should cover the first week or so.”
“No, ma’am.”
“‘No’ what?”
“No, I won’t accept any money. We’ve all got some amends to make here, and I’ve got to do it my way. Besides, I’ve got a lot more money than you do.”
Henry smiled when he said it, causing Danni and Hannah to smile as well.
“When are you planning on leaving?” she asked.
“Right away. We need to get out of here.”
“But I need to pack and, Mom, you just got here,” Hannah said.
“I know, honey, but we’ll have plenty of time when this is over to enjoy each other’s company.”
“Would you take her to the apartment and help her pack?” Henry asked Danni. “If he’s watching the place, I don’t want him to see me. If he doesn’t know that I exist, Hannah is a lot safer.”
“Sure,” Danni replied. “I want him to think she’s coming home with me anyway.”
Hannah walked ahead as they left the coffee shop, giving Henry an opportunity to say a few words to Danni alone.
“I know you’re going after him and that’s why you’re leaving her with me. Don’t make me feel like I made the wrong decision again. Be careful.”
“I will, Henry. I’m going to make that son of a bitch come to me. And when he does, I’m going to be ready for him.”
Chapter Forty-One
Ron had been banging on the condo door for almost five minutes before he decided to use his key and just open it. He’d been calling Jack for hours before that to no avail so he decided to drive over. Jack’s car was outside, but he wouldn’t answer the door. Ron was worried. He’d heard the news about Sam Jeffries’s daughter—it was everywhere now—and he knew that Jack would take it hard.
Once in the apartment he looked around but didn’t see anybody. The place was a little bit of a mess but not too bad. Ron spied two bottles of Jack Daniel’s side by side on the kitchen counter.
“Jack, are you here?”
No answer.
He checked out the two bedrooms and the bathroom. Nobody.
“C’mon Jack, where the hell are you?” Ron yelled, knowing that Jack could have gone out for a run or a bike ride or a plain old walk. It just didn’t seem like he would after getting this news though. And the bottles of Jack Daniel’s were a pretty good indicator that he was temporarily off his training regimen. Then Ron saw the curtain fluttering by the open sliding glass door leading out to the patio. He headed that way. Jack was sitting outside, a cigar in his right hand, an empty shot glass on the table in front of him, and a half-full bottle of Miller Lite in his left hand.
It was a tall table with tall chairs, and Ron’s first thought was that Jack looked so unstable that he might fall off his chair.
“Jack, didn’t you hear me calling you?”
Jack ignored the question. “Sit down, Ronnie.” He slurred the words. “No, better yet, why don’t you walk out to the kitchen and get the full bottle of Jack and a couple of beers from the refrigerator. I’d do it myself but I’m a little under the weather right now.”
Ron figured it wasn’t the right time for a lecture, and if he wanted to get Jack to open up and let the poison out, he was going to have to sit with