Mike was in the mother of all moods. Scott had sent a copy of his PRIMUS ID so he could go to the bank and get money. Mike still followed the itinerary, but Teddy could see he was on the edge of blowing up. People crowded into their space–it was expected in New York–and it pissed Mike off even more. Anyone who got close to him, he would either shove or set the sidewalk around them on fire.
Teddy knew something was wrong when they didn’t have sex. Mike slept on the queen-size couch in the living room area. Teddy had the whole bed. Finally, Sunday morning, over breakfast downstairs, Teddyhad to ask. “Is it me?”
“Is what you?” Mike said, buttering toast.
“Are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t go after those guys.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Mike said the words flatly, like he was trying to hold back from exploding. Mike didn’t look at Teddy as he spoke, either. Teddy hunched his shoulders and tried to look small. Mike didn’t notice.
As they drank coffee, and Mike was looking out the window, pondering, two men came up to them. One was heavy set but tall Hispanic, the other white, more trim and of the same height. The heavy set man had curly black hair, the trim man had brown hair. “Good morning,” the trim man said. “I’m Detective Charlie Malley and this is Detective Jay Cardona. Are you Mike Lebonte?”
Mike turned to face the men. “Yes,” he said.
Cardona pulled a plastic ziplock bag out of his coat. “Is this yours?” he asked.
“My wallet,” Mike said. “Where did you find that?”
“In a mailbox in the Row.”
“Do you know who put it there?”
“No, we were hoping you would know.”
Said Malley, “What exactly were you doing in Skid Row, Mr. Lebonte?”
Teddy looked from the detectives to Mike. Mike was calm as he set his coffee cup down. “I got lost.”
“It’ kind of difficult to get lost in the Row,” said Cardona.
Mike said, “It’s the first time we’ve been to New York. I got lost, that’s the honest truth.”
Malley turned to Teddy. “Are you his son?”
“Yes,” said Mike.
The two detectives looked at Teddy’s dark coloring and compared it to Mike’s lighter complexion. “He’s my ward,,” Mike said, and motioned to the wallet. “Is his wallet in there, too?”
“Were both of your wallets stolen?” Malley asked.
“Yes,” said Mike.
“Pickpockets?” Cardona flipped open a reporter’s notebook while Malley spoke.
“Two men attacked us, and a man hit me from behind.”
“Why were you in Skid Row?”
“I told you. I got lost.”
“You weren’t looking for drugs? Prostitutes?”
“No. In broad daylight?”
“When did this attack happen?”
“About 2:30 on Tuesday.”
“Two men attacked?”
“They were going to attack, but I was going to hold them off. Until I got hit by a two-by-four.”
“Are you certain it was a two-by-four?”
“It could have been a tire iron for all I know. Whoever it was hit me in the back of the head and I went down. Teddy stayed with me until I could get up.”
“Did you go to the hospital?”
“No.”
Malley looked to Teddy. “Did you call 911?”
“They took my phone,” Teddy said, very quietly.
“No one came to help?”
Teddy shook his head.
Malley turned back to Mike. “Have you been there since?”
“No. I don’t think I could find my way back there.”
“Mr. Lebonte,” said Cardona, “We’d suggest that you not go back there.”
“Why’s that?”
The two detectives looked at each other. Malley said, “tourists have a way of ending up dead, especially when they’re in Skid Row at night.”
Mike raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Cardona handed over the ziplock bag. “We ran your PRIMUS ID, Mr. Lebonte. We know you’re a superhero. But if a well-placed tire iron can take you down, so will this killer.”
“You haven’t found him yet?”
“Or her. We do know one thing. It’s most likely a vampire. Possibly with a gang, we’re not sure.”
Said Malley as Mike stiffened in his seat, “So please, Mr. Lebonte. We don’t want to be fishing you out of the bay.”
Teddy paled.
Mike said coldly, “It takes more than a vampire to kill me.”
Cardona sighed.
“But I’ll do what you say.” He turned to Teddy. “In fact, we’ll leave tonight.”
