Lyndsay comes into the room at that point. She and Boot frantically remove Haverty’s uniform shirt and discover a hole in his chest just below his right armpit, an area the bullet proof vest does not cover.
His breathing gets worse and, while Lyndsay and Boot both beg him to hang in there, both promise him over and over that he’s going to be okay, he slumps over. His last words are to Lyndsay.
“When you ... write your ... your article ... tell it ... like it is. How it ... it really is out here.”
She promises him that she will do so.
The next scene is Haverty’s police funeral, the twenty-one-gun salute, the bagpiper on the hill, the formation of police helicopters flying over, his wife receiving a folded flag.
As the credits roll, Lyndsay’s voice begins reciting the article she penned. She tells it like it was, praising the men and women of Chicago PD who put their lives and, more significantly, their sanity on the line each and every day.
The credits finished up and the lights came up. The applause that erupted was not the polite smattering that had followed the premier of The Northern Jungle five years before, but genuine, heartfelt applause. The audience stood as one to give an ovation. Many (Jake, Laura, and even Obie included) were wiping at their eyes.
As Jake filtered out of the theatre portion with Laura on his arm, the Nerdlys and Obie and Pauline trailing behind, he heard the murmurs of the other attendees, discussing the film. He heard the phrase “guaranteed Oscar nominations” tossed around more than once; and not in a sarcastic manner.
“What did you think?” Jake asked Laura as they emerged back into the lobby area.
“That was a very powerful movie,” she said. “I felt like I was immersed into being a cop.”
“That’s right,” said Obie. “It made me think about what cops actually go through. I think I understand now why they beat my ass that time.”
“It was an interesting point of view,” said Pauline. “I wonder what Dad will think of it?” Their father was a retired ACLU lawyer who had been involved in multiple lawsuits for excessive force against police agencies.
“I would be very interested to hear his opinion on it,” Jake said.
“Did anyone else find the sex scenes a little awkward?” Laura asked. “I mean ... that was Greg’s bare butt we were looking at. Greg’s mouth sucking on Mindy’s boob.”
“Maybe a little,” Pauline said. She then smiled. “He does have a pretty nice ass though, doesn’t he?”
Laura cast a guilty little glance at her husband, who was waiting to hear her thoughts on this matter, a small smile on his face. “It’s not bad,” she finally squeaked. “If you’re into nice butts, that is.”
“Was it nicer than mine?” Jake asked.
“Nobody has a nicer butt than you,” she said diplomatically.
The group went to the bar and got a fresh round of drinks. They drank them standing in a corner of the room, watching the celebrities and other guests mix and mingle. Laura then declared she needed to use the facilities. Pauline and Sharon elected to accompany her there and the three ladies headed off.
“Well,” said Nerdly to Jake and Obie. “I’m going on a quest. Would either of you care to join me?”
“What kind of quest?” Jake asked.
“According to the credits, Ryan Mantelshelf was the musical director for the film. I wish to speak to him about some of the mixing levels in the score and how they can be improved.”
“Uh ... well ... I would, Bill,” Jake said, “but I think maybe I’ll make my way over to Greg and talk to him for a bit.”
“Yeah,” said Obie. “And I need to wait for Pauline to come back. She’d be pissed if I started talking music levels and didn’t pay enough attention to her.”
“Very well,” Nerdly said, a little disappointed. “I don’t suppose either of you know what Ryan Mantelshelf looks like?”
They did not. Nerdly simply nodded and then headed off on his mission.
“Well,” said Obie. “I hope this Ryan Mantelshelf creature has a good sense of humor.”
“Yeah, me too,” Jake said. “Or we might be breaking up a fight in a few minutes.”
“And, on that note, I guess I’ll go score another hit of this bourbon,” Obie said. “Care to join me?”
“I’m still good,” Jake said, hefting his half-full glass. “I’m going to go talk to Greg, like I said.”
“Suit yourself,” Obie said amicably. He wandered toward the bar.
Jake headed toward Greg, who was talking to a group of men and women. Before he got there, however, Celia found him. She was carrying a glass of white wine in her hand and it seemed apparent that it was not her first one.
“What did you think of the flick?” Jake asked her.
“I think it’s the best thing he’s ever done,” she said simply. “The movie itself was incredible and Greg’s acting was on point throughout. He’ll definitely be nominated for Best Actor for his part; and he might even win it.”
“A lot different of a conversation than when we went to The Northern Jungle premier, right?”
“Night and day,” she said. “They gave a standing ovation at the end! That was incredible.”
“I’m happy for him,” Jake said. “I was just heading over to tell him how much I liked it.”
“He’ll be pleased if you do that,” she said. “He respects your opinion a lot, Jake. He honestly considers you to be his best friend.”
“I do kind of grow on people after a while, don’t I?” Jake asked with a chuckle. “Kind of like a yeast infection.”
“Now that’s just gross,” she admonished.
“Sorry,” he said with a laugh. He then turned serious again. “How has it been ... you know ... talking to Mindy tonight? Awkward?”
“Weird actually,” she said.
“In what way?”
“She’s been so ... so nice to me,” Celia said. “Not that I was expecting her to be a bitch to me or anything, but I thought she’d be aloof, that she’d come across like she’s better than me or something. Instead, she’s been chatting with me like we’re old friends. She even said she wants to get together with Laura and I for a girl’s night sometime.”
Jake’s eyes widened in alarm. “I really think that would be a bad idea,” he said. “On several different levels.”
“I know that,” Celia scoffed. “There is no way in hell I would actually do something like that; and I’m pretty sure that she was just being polite when she offered ... but that’s the thing. She’s being polite and nice. I don’t know what to think. Is it real?”
“Probably not,” Jake said.
“What could her game possibly be?”
“Only Mindy knows that,” Jake said. “Trust me though, there’s a game afoot.”
“What if she really has turned over a new leaf, Jake?” Celia asked. “Isn’t that possible?”
“Anything is possible,” Jake said. “That doesn’t mean it’s likely though.”
“I suppose,” she said thoughtfully. “They’re flying to Chicago tomorrow afternoon you know.”
“Greg and Mindy?”
“And the directors and the producer and a good portion of the supporting actors. They’ll be attending the premier there and then flying to New York for the premier there. After that, they’ll be visiting Baltimore and then New Orleans for promotional appearances.”
“And you won’t be going with them,” Jake said. It was not a question.
“I have a whole gaggle of violinists coming in for auditions tomorrow,” Celia said. “And after that, we need to start rehearsals if we want to be on the road the first of the year.”
“Does this worry you?” Jake asked. “Those two flying off together while you stay home?”
“Not at all,” she said. “If nothing happened between them while they were filming the movie—especially those sex scenes; Madres de Dios, that was graphic, wasn’t it?—then there is no reason to think anything is going to happen now, right?”