"I didn't know they had her cell phone. Did they find anything in the call log?"

"He mentioned that. Nothing of any significance."

We wrapped it up. Sabrina was going to reserve the tickets for the next morning, and I was going home to pack. I was happy that I had an ally, and that we had recovered some information, but there was still too much we didn't know.

I approached my house deep in thought, wishing that something would happen that would break the case apart.

The bullets missed my head by inches and I heard three loud pops. I dropped to the sidewalk. Three bullets had embedded themselves in the side of the house. I heard a car speed off, squealing its tires. Slowly I got up. My right hand was bleeding from scraping it on the sidewalk, and I could see a small blood spot appearing in the knee of my pants.

Seymour opened his window and peered down. "You okay?" He said it with genuine concern.

"Yeah, I think so. I didn't get hit. Just scraped myself when I fell." I could hear a police siren.

"What the hell did you get yourself involved in?" asked Seymour.

"I wish I knew."

I may not have known what it was all about, but there was no question about that message. I was meant to join Izzy in death.

Chapter 9

I called Sabrina before the police arrived and let her know what happened. I suggested she call her detective. I didn't want to have to explain everything to the cops who showed up, since it was obviously related to Izzy's murder.

For the next few hours, my street was a crime scene, crowds behind the yellow tape taking pictures with their cell phones. I think in general though, they were pretty disappointed by the lack of blood. I could show them my knee if they really wanted to see blood. I already had a Band-Aid on it though.

Sabrina's detective, Detective Marsh, arrived on the scene about fifteen minutes after the first cops showed up. I didn't hold anything back—but I didn't go into great detail either—and let him know whatever I could. Unfortunately, that wasn't much. We were pretty much flying blind. Until we had a few more answers, we still had no idea who these people were.

Mo showed up in the middle of it all, gave me a hug, and asked if I was okay. I heard nothing else from Seymour, but that was expected now that there were throngs of people about.

I kept Sabrina updated by phone and warned her not to venture out alone. She informed me that we were booked on the 8:30 a.m. flight from Logan to O'Hare. We'd meet at the airport. Mo offered to drive me in the morning before she went to work.

I slept that night with my gun next to the bed.

*****

I didn't sleep well and got to the airport dragging. Sabrina, as expected, looked wonderful. She was signing an autograph for a fan who recognized her. As the fan walked away, Sabrina came over and hugged me, letting me know how relieved she was that I was okay. Again I smelled the strawberries. Sigh.