“I told him before we met that I was not going to discuss anything about the NOPD operations or what role you may or may not have had — or even confirm that there was any role. He agreed to meet on that basis. It was not a long meeting; maybe 20 minutes. He just wanted to know about you and how you responded under difficult circumstances.”
“I didn’t confirm that you were involved in anything that could be classified as a difficult situation. The only thing I told him was that I would pass along his number to you the next time I saw you. But I didn’t make any promises other than that. It’s up to you whether you want to give him a call or not. Here’s his name and number.”
Wade took the piece of paper he was handed and asked, “Do you think I should call him?”
Jake replied, “I don’t think it’s a big deal one way or the other. I think it might be interesting to hear what he has to say. Just listen and don’t say anything. I had him checked out. He’s a real government agency employee having nothing to do with the FBI or our undercover operation.”
Wade thanked Pisano and said he would think about it. After Jake left Wade remained nursing his cup of coffee. He had a lot on his mind. He missed a lot of school while on active duty. St. John’s, like other schools, was good about giving students on active duty time to make up classes and even provided tutors if the students needed them. He would have to deal with that. He also had to deal with Ed’s death.
Wade had a brief discussion with his father about his mother’s worsening condition. His father wanted to take Wade to dinner, just the two of them. He thought the overture from his father was unusual but agreed to it.
Wade wanted to meet with Ed’s parents and wanted to check on Jamie. He didn’t know what to do about this Jenkins guy. Wade really started to feel Ed’s absence. He thought about how close they were and how close he, himself, had already come to being killed. He thought it was dumb mysterious luck that he was not in the grave next to Ed. He thought about how easy it would be for him to be hit by the gang in the same way if Coletta gang members saw him around town.
A week later Wade was back in school, attending his make-up classes and really hitting the books. He felt good that he was starting to get caught up. He called to set up a meeting with Ed’s folks. When Wade arrived, the door opened. Ed’s mother and father were standing there with tears in their eyes. They hugged Wade, and Ed’s mother said, “Please sit down”, pointing to Ed’s favorite chair. She asked, “Can I fix you anything?”
Wade said, “No thanks, I’m fine.”
Ed’s mother told him, “I always fixed you and Ed something whenever you came over.” She started crying.
Wade said, “I was on active duty in the Gulf. That’s why I didn’t attend the funeral. I’m so sorry this happened.” Wade now had tears in his eyes.
Ed’s mother and father both said, “It’s okay.” She continued, “You know, Ed always looked up to you. He thought you were exactly the person he wanted to become.”
Wade replied, “I always looked up to him as well. He was a great friend.”
His mother said, “He should have never gotten into this gang thing.”
His father added. “It was those guys that did this.”
Ed’s mother said, “Ed knew better.”
“He was trying to get out,” Ed’s father defended his son. “They wouldn’t let him out.” His father continued, “You know my two stations were always going to be Ed's; nobody else’s. He could have made a good living with them. Sometimes he was so hardheaded. But they were always going to be his. He just wasn’t ready to manage them yet. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I can’t even go to work. When I see the tools Ed used, I start crying. Everything reminds me of him.”
They talked a while about old times, and Wade said. “I want you two to know something. Ed was getting out of the gang. He told me that several times. He just had to do it slowly. I don’t know who did this to him but I know Detective Pisano will find them.”
Ed’s mother said, “Detective Pisano is such a nice man. We met him at the funeral. He told us the same thing you just said. That makes us feel better. I wish Ed had met the detective when he was younger. You were so smart not to get involved in those gangs.”
Wade said, “I was lucky, not smart.” Wade continued, “I want you to know that Ed was helping the police when he was murdered. He was doing good work when he died. His death was not in vain. The police are very grateful for the work Ed did. I just want you both to know he was getting out and was doing the right thing when he died. His death was not for nothing. He died trying to do the right thing.”
His mother replied, “We understand.”
They all cried together and discussed old memories of Ed. As Wade was standing to leave, Ed’s mother said, “If you ever want to go by his grave we’ll take you.
"I would certainly like that.”
Ed’s mother and father cried as they hugged him. Wade quietly left.
That same week, Wade met his father for dinner at Monroe’s, one of his father’s favorite restaurants just off Napoleon Avenue. Wade’s father had ordered a table in a small private room in the restaurant so they could talk. He and his father both ordered the house specialty and Wade’s favorite appetizer. Since Wade was a child, the combination shrimp and crabmeat appetizer with remoulade sauce was his favorite. His father started the conversation by asking Wade to tell him about his active duty.
Wade replied “I can’t really talk about it.”
His father joked, “Top Secret mission?”
Wade didn’t reply. His father asked, “What about the school you missed?”
Wade replied, “I think I’m going to be okay.”
He continued, “The school has a special program for those serving on active duty. I’m taking the make-up courses now, and they’re going well. In fact, I’m learning more with the make-up classes than I learned in regular class.”
His father seemed satisfied and said, “I want to talk to you about your mother. While you were gone her condition got worse and she had to go into the hospital.” He looked up at Wade and said, “I don’t know how long we are going to have her around. I just felt you should know that instead of hearing it from another relative. We’ll have more nursing help around the house, but it doesn’t’ look like the doctors can do much more for her. You might take that into account when you deal with her. At times she comes across tougher than she really is.”
Wade replied, “I understand.”
His father said “You may want to take this time to be with her a little more”.
“I will.”
On the outside, Wade seemed to take all the news since his return in stride. On the inside, he was full of anxiety and confusion. His best friend was dead, and now he was losing his mother. He was behind in school, and he was still looking over his shoulder for retribution from the mob.
30
It was now approaching Christmas, and school was closing for the holidays. Wade had really applied himself to the books and was almost caught up for the time he spent on active duty. Some of his time pressure was off for the moment, and he started thinking about unfinished business. He often thought about his friend Tom in SEAL Team Two and wondered if he had made it. He had promised to call Tom’s wife, Cheryl, and he hadn’t done that. He found her picture and phone number and called.