THE SHOOTING HAD brought the mayor down to the hospital. Logan Brettly was in his fifties, average height with a barrel chest and curly white hair. He came into Tyler’s room just in time to intercept Jack McAdams’s wrath, which had been previously bestowed on Decker, Mike Radar, and of course, his son. Tyler had listened wordlessly as his father heaped insults without pause. The senior McAdams was a tall, good-looking man in his fifties: dark curly hair, big chin, flashing blue eyes, and a foul mouth. He ranted endlessly about being surrounded by idiots, morons, and cretins. Then came the inevitable mention of lawsuits.

“Dad, I’m not suing anyone.” Somehow, Tyler had managed to interrupt his diatribe. “And even if I wanted to—and I don’t—I have no case.”

“Oh, shut up. If you would have gone to law school, you wouldn’t be in this mess right now.” The senior McAdams turned his fury on the mayor. “Logan, you assured me that this job was a cakewalk, a mere formality so the kid can pass a couple of years doing something other than jerking off. What the hell was that all about?”

“Jack, nothing like this has happened in this town in years. I know you’re upset—”

“Of course, I’m fucking upset. I’m pissed off!” He pointed to the bed. “Look at him!”

The nurse walked in. “Sir, this is causing quite a ruckus.”

“Get out of here!” Jack snapped.

The nurse turned wide-eyed. The mayor nodded and she turned tail and ran. The room fell silent, but not for long. Big McAdams launched another tirade. Decker had enough. He didn’t mind having his ass reamed, but the man’s berating wasn’t doing Tyler any good. “Your kid is lying in a hospital bed, having been shot by God only knows who. Can you dial it back, please?”

Jack turned on him. “I damn well know what happened. And let me tell you something. You’d better have good representation right now, Old Man. I hold you responsible for sending my son out in the line of fire.”

Decker said, “I will take full responsibility—”

“You’d better pray that your pension is untouchable because after I’m done with you, you’ll be lucky to get a job as a guard at an old age home, which is where you belong.”

“Dad, enough!” Tyler got out.

“Shut up!”

“I’m serious, Dad. That’s enough!”

“Fucking moron!”

“We’re all idiots and morons: I get it!” Tyler blew out air. “Can you cap it for a second so I can catch my breath?”

No one spoke.

Tyler said, “Dad, I’ll be in Boston by August, ready to join the ranks of all the fine minds of law who came before me. So it’s all good, okay?”

For the first time, the senior McAdams had managed to lower his voice. “I’ve heard that before.”