Douglas Dorow - The Ninth District

“Is she OK?”

“She’s got a hole in her leg. She’ll be OK.”

Julie reached over and touched Jack’s arm to get his attention and to get him to stop. “How about you?”

Jack stopped. The kids were up ahead peering through the cement railing of the bridge, looking at the boats on the river. He turned, took off his sunglasses, and looked at Julie.

“I’m OK.” He thought about telling her about the swim in the river, being shot at while he treaded water by the lock doors. “All I could think about was that if he knew me and where I was he might go after you and the kids too. I couldn’t let that happen.” Jack slid his sunglasses back on, turned, and walked towards the kids.

Jack stared at Julie’s profile. He wanted to hold her hand, but he didn’t know if he should try to or not. He rubbed his palms together and then wiped them on the front of his shirt. Not yet. Not with sweaty, clammy hands. He felt like a teenager on his first date. Was she jealous of Patty?

Things seemed to be getting back to normal, whatever normal was, but he didn’t want to push it. The trip to the Minneapolis Fourth of July celebration on Nicollet Island was one of their traditions since coming to the Twin Cities, so he was glad they were there together as a family again. Leaning on the fence next to Julie, Jack relaxed and looked around. Training and years of experience had driven the habit into his DNA. Wherever he was, he looked around at the people and the surroundings, searching for what didn’t belong, his self-conscious logging anomalies, escape routes, numbers of people. This sometimes caused an itch, a feeling that something wasn’t right, but his conscious couldn’t see what it was. This feeling was constant lately as his brain worked to process clues, details, and feelings as he tried to catch the Governor.

Jack refocused and watched the kids ride the ponies. Lynn had a look of resignation and a forced smile on her face as they slowly walked by. She had let them know she was too big for pony rides. She stuck her tongue out at Jack as they passed. He feigned he was shot in the heart, bringing his hands up to his chest and lowering his head. Then he stuck his tongue out at her. Willy had a death grip on the saddle horn and a beaming smile on his face as he rode by. Jack gave him a thumbs-up, which Willy couldn’t return without loosening his grip.

Jack snuck another glance at Julie. She had a smile on her face, a look of comfort. She looked at him with the smile still on her face, winked, and then reached over and squeezed his hand and released the grip before her gaze returned to the kids and the ponies.

The smile on Jack’s face broadened as he turned from Julie to the kids. He wanted more than a hand squeeze, but that would do for now. Things were getting better. It wasn’t his imagination. Everybody was smiling. This was a great day.

When the ride was over, the kids ran over to where Jack and Julie were standing by the fence. “Can we go do face painting next?” asked Lynn. “I want a unicorn on one cheek and FBI on the other.”

“Me too. I want FBI painted on my cheek,” Willy said.

Jack picked up Willy and looked him in the eye. “They can’t paint that on just anybody, can they?”

Willy frowned. “Can you show them your badge?”

Jack gave him a quick hug and laughed. “I’ll show them my badge just to make sure they copy it and get it right. Maybe I’ll get one too. Let’s go. You guys lead the way.”

Jack put Willy down and the kids took off running. Julie took off after them. “Last one there’s paying, Jack.” He looked up at the sky hoping that the great day would continue and end with the fireworks before they went their separate ways.

“Please don’t rain,” he pleaded skyward before he ran after his family.

After face painting, cotton candy, hot dogs, lemonade, and balloon animals, they sat in the shade of the old oak trees and looked across the Mississippi River at the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. An old blues tune wafted through the air as a band played on the patio of one of the restaurants behind them.

Jack rubbed his belly and lay back in the grass. “I don’t know about you guys, but I couldn’t eat another bite. Where do you guys put it?”

The kids each lay next to him and looked at the sky. “I’m saving room for popcorn,” Lynn said.

“I’m looking for animals in the clouds,” Julie said. “I see a cow’s head.”

Jack joined in and gazed up at the sky. Another thing the family used to do on picnics on sunny afternoons. “I think it might be the other end of the cow.”

“Jack.”

The kids giggled.

Lynn pointed to the west. “Those big white clouds are called Thunder Heads.”

Jack looked where she was pointing, past the skyscrapers downtown. “Really? How did you get so smart, Junior Agent Miller?”

“We learned it at the Science Museum this week.” Lynn rolled over and looked at Jack. “They’re really called cumulonimbus. It means they’re big cumulus clouds with rain in them. Maybe hail.”

“Forget the FBI.” Jack looked at Julie. “This one could be a meteorologist on The Weather Channel.” He looked at Lynn. “Let’s hope you’re wrong because I want a clear, dry night for the fireworks.”

“I think it’s going to rain, Dad,” she said.

“Well, Junior Weatherperson. I guess we’ll find out later. I’d be more worried if you predicted a nice evening since the weather people always seem to predict the opposite of what happens.” Jack propped himself up on one elbow. “How about we take the trolley ride next?

“Can’t we get some ice cream cones first?” Lynn asked.

“Me too,” Willy added. “Then we’ll go ride the trolley with you.”

Jack looked at Julie and she shrugged. He dug in his pocket and handed four ones to Lynn. “Hold hands. One scoop each and come right back. Mom and I will wait here for you.”

Lynn grabbed the money. “Thanks, Dad. Let’s go, Willy.” They both took off running for the ice cream stand.

“Hold hands!” Jack yelled after them. He watched as they grabbed each other’s hand and slowed to a fast walk to their destination. Julie reached over and covered his hand in the grass. He pulled it away at first, not sure what was touching his hand, but when he saw it was her, he smiled and put it back where it was. “I didn’t mean you had to hold my hand, but you can if you want to.” Jack said.

“Thanks for arranging this today. We needed this. All of us.”

Jack snuck a glimpse at the kids waiting their turn in line. “How are they doing?”

“They’re doing fine. And I’m doing better.” Julie squeezed his hand again. “You and I need to talk about us. What happens after today.”

The Governor walked among the crowd on Nicollet Island. He wore a Twins baseball hat, sunglasses, and a grey tank top, smiling and nodding at the curious children who approached him and asked if they could pet Vince. While Vince absorbed the affection, the Governor scanned the crowd and kept an eye on Jack and his family.

The atmosphere of music, food, and games was intoxicating. Agent Miller seemed to be relaxed. He smiled and laughed as he played with his kids. The Governor also caught him staring at his wife when she wasn’t looking. His family was keeping him busy as they explored the activities so the Governor felt a little safer and confident that his plans would move forward. He still wanted to create a distraction for Agent Miller, to show him that he was still in control of events.

Two Minneapolis police officers were walking towards the Governor, scanning the crowd. The Governor felt exposed, standing in the open alone except for his dog. He turned and walked forty feet to the end of the concessions line without looking back. Vince stood patiently at his side, panting in the afternoon heat. The Governor gently scratched the top of Vince’s head as he plotted the path of the officers in his mind, trying to figure out when they would pass and he could feel comfortable to turn around and watch Agent Miller and his family again. He counted down five, four, three…