After leaving the Diner, Demond drove around the city for a while then went straight to the airport. He had to return the rental car and take the shuttle to the terminal. The flight was not full. Only after he was seated in the plane did he realize that he had forgotten something in the rental car — the package of cannabis cigarettes he had bought for Owen. It was too late for him to do anything.

Two days after his return to Brooklyn, the New York Daily News had a news item about the suspicious death of a well-known pediatrician in Miami. The story on the fourth page said:

“Dr. Owen Martin, a noted pediatrician, was hit by a car as he ran in the Pine Crest neighborhood, a Miami suburb. The driver sped away. Dr. Martin’s neighbor, who was walking his dog, noted partial numbers from the license plate of the car. Dr. Martin was taken to the Jackson Memorial hospital emergency room where he died a while later. It is suspected that the person who killed Dr. Martin was from out-of-town, but the police could not confirm this.

 Dr. Martin had gained reputation when he was listed as one of the top 50 physicians in Miami. He is survived by his wife Agnes and daughter Sylvia.

 The investigation continues.”

 His eyes swelled up with tears. He didn’t want Alicia to notice him crying and he also didn’t want her to read the news. He tore the page, got up and threw it in the garbage. He went upstairs to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He was sure that sooner or later the FBI would trace him down.

That afternoon Demond collected whatever cannabis supplies he had stacked in his home, without Alicia’s knowledge, and took them to his auto dealership to hide them in a far corner in the parts department. It was not the best place to hide, but it was safer than his house, in case he got raided by the police or the FBI.

Ever since his return from Miami, Demond had been lost in his thoughts. Alicia noticed that he was without his usual bubbly demeanor. During dinner he didn’t tell her about his day at the dealership, nor did he ask her how her day was at the hospital.

Alicia had been worried about Demond lately. He was complaining about heartburn quiet often. She had asked him to stay away from spicy food, but it bothered her why he should get the burn and not her when they ate the same food. Demond had ignored her pleas to go see a doctor. She had finally given up, hoping it was something that would go away over time.

“Should we go to a movie this weekend?” Alicia would ask.

Demond would respond with a no, suggesting that they just stay home. Once in a while he would get up, walk over to the window facing the street and keep looking outside.

“You expecting someone?” She asked once.

“No, no. Just looking at the people walking arround. I wonder what they are up to. Are they all going shopping perhaps or to the subway to go to Manhattan?”

Alicia was not convinced. She thought perhaps he was unduly pressured by his boss to increase sales. He would get over it, she thought. She left it at that and went about doing chores in the house or planning an event in her church. But she was not a happy camper. She hoped Demond would get back to his old self soon.

For Chaptre 13 click here: Chapter 13