The Missing Person Page #4

to their house, their apartment,

shut the door and turn on the

TV.

To me, that's dropping out.

Right.

I've never felt myself as a

civilian.

This kind of life, being

missing, it suits me.

It all changed so fast.

One day I was one person, then came the

explosions, then I was another person.

Some things are too terrible to

be true.

Explosions?

Didn't they tell you?

No. What? Tell me what?

I worked in the World Trade Center.

I barely made it out in time.

I ran down those steps out of

the north tower.

I haven't seen my wife since.

You were a missing person?

I am a missing person.

I thought of calling home and trying to tell

her I was all right, but I couldn't do it.

I didn't know why. The next day it occurred

to me that she probably thought I was dead.

I was relieved.

She'd always think of me as a

hero of sorts. A reluctant hero.

How the hell do you do that? How

do you leave your wife like that?

We lost a child, Megan and I.

A kidnapping.

It changed everything. Nothing

was right after that.

Well, I'm sorry. That's

terrible, but still... still...

Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll

look outside your window,

you'll see the lights of New

York City coming up.

We're about a half hour outside

of JFK. The weather is beautiful.

Baby, what floor are you on?

We're on the fiftieth floor.

Fiftieth floor?

We have seven people here, and

we can't get out.

Babe, don't worry. The guys are on their way

there now, and I'm gonna' be running up there, too.

You're gonna' see me before you

know it. Okay?

Okay, baby.

The line's on Broadway! Bryant

and Broadway, Doug!

Stand back! The tower is coming

down!

The towers are coming down!

They're coming down!

The second tower is down!

Does my wife know what I've been

doing?

How much is she paying you?

Hey, do you have any idea what it's

like to be abandoned by somebody?

I have an idea what it's like.

Hey just shut the f*** up!

I'm tired of you.

Excuse me.

Can I have another bloody mary?

Sorry, we're on our descent.

Better make it a double.

Charley!

I didn't know you'd be

accompanying us. Terrific!

Trust me, it wasn't my idea.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

The Seymour Hotel, midtown.

That's not what the lady said,

boss.

Well, are you gonna' listen to the

lady or are you gonna' listen to me?

What are you up to?

You cannot smoke in here, boss.

It was a long flight. Give me a

break, Kit-Kat.

I thought we were going straight

to my wife.

Why the Seymour?

There's some business to take care

of. I want to make sure it goes right.

Sorry boss, you cannot smoke in

here, boss.

Okay.

I'm glad you're here, Charley.

I could use your help. Closing out the

ninth inning has never been my strong suit.

I'm still trying to find your

strong suit.

Oh, but I forgot. You never

played baseball.

If you insist on smoking, boss,

I will have to ask...

No, okay, okay. See?

Thank you, boss.

Oh, you're most welcome. And please stop

calling me boss. I am not Bruce Springsteen.

You can drive now.

So, this your first time in New

York, buddy?

Who's there?

Who? Whooo? Don't cry.

It's just me.

Yeah.

They made you a lieutenant?

Lieutenant Pappy?

Yeah. It's crazy, huh?

It's crazy.

Do my eyes deceive me?

Gus.

Harold.

The homecoming gets larger.

How did you know?

Little birdie.

Lana sends her love.

What love?

I know, I owe you an explanation.

Give me a drink, will you?

I was responsible for you, John.

You were my recommendation, so I

had to send Lana down to keep an eye.

Oh, she learned some weird

stories about you.

I had to make sure you were still

compis mentis. You blockhead.

God, it's good to see you!

Why are you so serious? Move

along. Shove off, sailor.

Who's Lana?

You weren't in on that?

No. Who is she?

This lady. She dropped Gus's name, I didn't

see a connection, so I did some googling.

You found out that Gus worked on

our case, the kidnapping.

I did.

And then Gus called me and volunteered

to help out when we got to New York.

It didn't work out the way we wanted,

but Gus was a good man. Throughout.

I still have some bad nights

about that, Harold. You know I do.

I'm sorry it's going down like this,

but Miss Megan, she's beside herself.

And then she finds out you're still

alive, I mean, you can imagine...

What are you doing here, Gus?

I'm gonna' baby sit you, Harold,

while John and Miss Smiley over there

take care of some business.

Whose side you on?

Whose side am I on? I'm on your wife's side.

Don't you think she's been through enough?

Besides, I got a soft spot for

New Yorkers who stay in New York.

Hey, Miss Charley.

Yes?

Do me a favor?

Yeah, well.

Hello?

Mr. Rosow, I presume.

Sit down, please.

I'm sorry about the darkness.

I'm afraid I've become quite a bit of

a cave dweller over the past few years.

Please don't smoke that in here.

I'm sorry.

No, that's all right. It's a

nasty habit, I should quit.

I like your place.

It's very nice.

Thank you. Can I get you

anything? Some water? Coffee?

No that's all right. I don't

think your maid likes me very much.

What makes you say that?

I was just kidding, I guess.

I'm sorry. I'm not sure I got

your joke.

I've never had any dealings with

private detectives, Mr. Rosow.

I've seen them in Bogart films

though.

Was that one of those kind of jokes?

Those dry and sardonic detective jokes?

It was my sad attempt.

So you make jokes and you smoke

cigarettes.

Do those ancient customs make

you a more efficient, detective?

Probably not, but I'm not really a

detective on this case anymore, am I?

I'm more what you'd call a

delivery boy.

Don't underestimate your value,

Mr. Rosow.

How did you find out Harold was

alive?

A friend ran into him in Mexico.

Of all places.

Some small village on the west

coast of Mexico.

Impossible, I thought.

She was certain.

She swore it was Harold despite the fact that

the medical examiner had just ruled him...

Where is he?

Where is my husband?

He's close by. He's ok.

But I gotta' tell you...

Why is he not here? With you?

That was the agreement.

It's about the money.

We can arrange for more.

I don't want more money. I want what

I'm owed, up front, now, beforehand.

Paid on delivery is what I

understood.

Mrs. Fullmer, Harold's not the

same man. He's different, you know?

I mean, I didn't know him

before...

Everything is different. Of

course Harold is different.

I just want to make sure he is okay. And

I know when he sees me, he'll remember.

He'll remember himself.

So I'll write you a check.

I understand you. I really do, but sometimes

when you try and make things better...

I know you do understand.

Because they told me about you.

Oh.

About your wife. They told me about her

and, Mr. Rosow, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Yes, thanks.

Sorry.

You know, thanks.

Whatever my chances are,

I need to take them.

Could you make the check out to

cash?

I'll deliver Harold tomorrow

morning after this check clears.

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