“Detective, I think he’s going after Joey. He bought a gun to defend himself, and now…” Zack doesn’t bother explaining more. “Detective, the police assured us Joey’s being watched. Can you find out where the stakeout is? Where Joey is? ’Cause I think that’s where Steve is gonna be.”

“Sure…but obviously you should let the stakeout cops handle it.”

“I don’t know if there’s time. Steve could be there already.”

“My friends at the precinct can tell me where Joey is. But they’ll ask why…” Lopez pauses. “I’ll have to tell them, Zack. I know you don’t want Steve getting in trouble or hurt again. But it sounds like Steve is armed. I have to tell them that.”

Oh, Jesus. Zack imagines multiple scenarios playing out on the street—Joey, Steve, weapons, stakeout cops. “Sure. I understand.”

Lopez puts Zack on hold but he’s back in a minute with an address.

“Joey’s staying in a rented room at 301 West 122nd. The cops will watch for your friend.”

“Thanks, Detective Lopez.”

“I’m sorry this isn’t over, Zack.”

“Me too, Detective. Me too.”

Zack hangs up. Tries one more text. They’re staking him out, Steve. You’re not in any danger from Joey. You’d be crazy to try anything.

Again, no response. As Zack figured. Steve has gone silent.

Please, please…not silent forever.

49.

49.

On West 122nd, Zack begins to look around. He quickly sees what must be the stakeout vehicle. Unmarked sedan. A white guy and a Hispanic guy in the front seat. If Zack sees it so easily, so has Joey.

And probably so will Steve.

The unmarked sedan. The Rooms4Rent front door. Being back on the street.

He experiences the same panic, the same anxiety that he felt with Joey chasing him. But this time it’s exactly reversed, of course. Joey is the one being hunted. Hunted by Steve, who is somewhere. Anywhere.

Zack is beginning to think about where to wait and what to look for when Joey Richter comes bursting through the front door of the Rooms4Rent and heads down the street.

Joey Richter on the street. Zack on the street. A sick feeling goes coursing through him.

Does Joey have a gun on him? Zack can’t tell.

Zack sees the unmarked sedan begin to slowly pull out, starting to follow Joey from a distance.

It’s all happening in some different measure of time. Outside of him. All too fast. All too slow. All frozen. All too fluid.

And then Steve materializes. Out of nowhere. A narrow alley next to the building.

Falling in behind Joey. Heading down the block behind Joey.

Five seconds later, Steve pulls the gun from under his shirt.

Oh Jesus.

“Hey, Joey.”

Joey hears his name and turns.