The Judge made another abrupt change in direction. “There have been some developments this morning that bear on your situation.”

“You mean my visit with the Queens District Attorney’s Office?”

“Indirectly. You will find that they have lost interest in you.”

Ted didn’t trust himself to say anything. The Judge noted his silent surprise but did not pause. “While you were being interviewed, the main witness against you recanted, under questioning by the FBI and an AUSA from the Eastern District. Cheryl Rubiano”—the Judge pronounced the name “Sheryl”—“has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to a single charge of soliciting a bribe. She will serve a year in a minimum-security federal facility. Mr. Petronelli was not consulted.”

Was this their plan B? What carrot-and-stick inducements had they used to persuade Cheryl to change her story so dramatically and abruptly? What was the going rate for falling on one’s sword?

“And Councilman Pak?” Ted asked.

“There is no case. He is with the prosecuting attorney now, answering questions.”

Ted let the sarcasm flow. “She operated alone? Demanded cash for access? And her boss had no idea this was going on? The media is going to tear that story to pieces.”

The Judge let show a touch of his frustration with Ted’s attitude. “And despite the fact that there is ample evidence that you were her coconspirator—and quite likely her lover—you will not be prosecuted, nor asked to give testimony.”

“Only none of that is true.”

The Judge laughed again. “Facts? You’ve been watching Law & Order again.”

“What about the Russian gangster?”

“You mean the man you attacked in the hospital?”

“Twice he tried to kill McKenzie Zielinski. Prior to that he and his partner assaulted me and another friend, and he would gladly have killed me if I hadn’t fought him off. What’s his deal? Will he have to spend a few months raking gravel in one of those minimum-security facilities? Or does he get to walk?”

“The case against him may not be as strong as you might wish.”

“I caught him in the act of administering a potentially lethal dose of insulin to a comatose patient.”

“It seems that your Russian is actually from Belarus and is here on an expired visa. As soon as he is strong enough to travel, he will be repatriated. He will not threaten you or anyone else again. That is a solemn promise.”

Ted wanted to see the man in court being sentenced for his crimes. He wanted to see that arrogant face sag in defeat as the man realized that he was about to serve a decade or two in prison. He wanted to be able to tell Kenzie that he’d watched him being sentenced and led away.