Ice Run by Steve Hamilton

leave that family alone?”
    “I actually was, yes.”
    “Then what the hell were you doing there?”
    I started to feel dizzy again. I closed my eyes and waited for it to pass. “Chief, I went to the hotel and I asked about Chris Woolsey. He was the doorman that night, the night Mr. Grant died. I had no idea that he was the man’s grandson. Then later, I stopped by his parents’ house—”
    “Why did you do that?”
    “I told you, I just wanted to talk to him.”
    He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “Okay, and then?”
    “I figured I’d just go to the funeral, to pay my respects. That’s when I found out Mrs. Woolsey was Simon Grant’s daughter.”
    “Then the Grant brothers beat the living shit out of you.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    “I know those boys,” he said. “Believe me.”
    “Yeah, well, now I know them, too.”
    “Listen,” he said, “did it ever occur to you that maybe I was looking out for you when I told you to stay away?”
    “No. Not really.”
    “I’m serious, McKnight. I know you think I’m just a hard-ass, but for once in your life did it occur to you that I was trying to do you a favor?”
    “No, Chief.”
    “Look at you,” he said. “God damn it. Nobody deserves to get beaten up like you did, McKnight. Nobody.”
    I didn’t know what to say to that. He was starting to sound almost human.
    “Did they say anything to you? Did they give you any reason?”
    “I’m trying to remember. They were saying something like … Like, how’s this, not the same as roughing up an old man, eh?”
    “They said that?”
    “Something like that. It’s a little fuzzy.”
    He shook his head. “So the two Grant brothers and who else? Their sister’s husband, was he there, too?”
    “How did you know?”
    “I’m just assuming. If he was at the funeral, I’m sure he got into it.”
    “So now what?”
    “What do you think, McKnight? I’m going to arrest all three of them.”
    “Chief—”
    “We arrest people for aggravated assault, McKnight. Even if it’s you who gets assaulted.”
    “I’m touched.”
    “Just stop,” he said. “Okay? I’m not in the mood. I’ll bring a complaint by later so you can sign it. You might as well, because I’m charging them no matter what.”
    I hesitated. Here’s where the young version of me would have protested. Hell, even the me of ten years ago. Don’t cooperate, tell him I’m not really sure who was there. Wait until I get better and then go find them myself. Get back my own way.
    I didn’t know if I had gotten a little wiser, or if I was just too tired and sore. If Maven was really gonna go out and arrest them, I didn’t feel like stopping him.
    “I’ll sign it.”
    “Good,” he said. “Then you just get better and you go home, all right? Stay the hell away from them. In fact, you know what? Doesn’t your friend own that bar in Paradise? What’s it called?”
    “The Glasgow Inn.”
    “That’s the one. He’s got beer there? And good food?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So you’re all set,” he said, putting his face close to mine. “There’s no reason to ever leave Paradise again.”
    I tried to smile. But that hurt, too.
    “I’m going,” he said. “Goodbye.”
    “Nice talking to you.”
    He paused at the doorway. “Have you seen yourself yet?”
    “What?”
    “You know, in a mirror. Has somebody shown you what you look like?”
    “No.”
    For the first time since he had come in, he smiled. “Just wait a couple of days,” he said. “You’ll be able to sell tickets.”
    The next forty-eight hours passed like slow death. Leon stopped in to see me. Then Vinnie. Leon was happy to hear that Chief Maven was on his way to arrest the three men. Vinnie wanted to cut out the middleman and just go find them himself. I told him to back off for now. When the time came, I’d let him know.
    I tried to watch television, but that made my eyes hurt. I couldn’t read anything at all. I sure as hell couldn’t sleep. They