Chapter 78 first quarter

It was raining when Decker arrived in New York, a constant downpour.After he got used to the dry weather in New Mexico, the downpour made him realize how alien Manhattan was to him.The moisture was almost palpable, and he was not used to it.After 15 months at an altitude of about a mile and a half, he came here to feel the atmospheric pressure, which intensified his inner emotional pressure.He was used to visibility for hundreds of miles, and the skyscrapers oppressed him.People also made him feel oppressed: New Mexico's total population is 1.5 million, but in Manhattan, there are as many people living in 22 square miles, and this does not include the hundreds of thousands of people who use long-term bus tickets to commute to the island. It made Decker aware -- something he hadn't realized until he had experienced the tranquility and openness of New Mexico -- how loud and crowded New York was.

Esperanza peered fascinatedly through the windows of the taxi as rain washed away. "Never here?" Decker asked. "The only big cities I've ever been to are Denver, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The houses there aren't very tall, and they're spread out. Here, all the buildings are crammed together, on top of each other, and each building is taller than the other." "Yeah, we don't have open spaces anymore." They got off the cab at the Essex Street Market on the south east side of Manhattan.The sprawling brick building is closed.Decker's headache intensified as he moved his travel bag under a porch for shelter from the rain.He'd had a little sleep on the plane, and though it wasn't enough to lift his fatigue, it was mental strength that sustained him -- his worry about Beth gave him strength.

Esperanza glanced at the empty market, then at the store across the street. "Is our hotel in this area?" "We don't have a hotel to stay in. Didn't get a room in time." "But you made a phone call at the airport and I thought you were making a reservation." Decker shook his head, which made his headache worse, but he was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the pain.When the taxi was out of sight, he stepped out of the market porch and headed north in the rain. "I was making an appointment with someone." "Is it nearby?"

"A few blocks away." "Then why not have a taxi take us directly to him?" "Because I don't want the taxi driver to know about me. Hey, I'm afraid I can't explain a sentence or two. There's a lot to explain, but there's not enough time." Decker said impatiently, "You've been a great help." Busy, canceled my New Mexico police surveillance. You took me through security at the Albuquerque airport. I couldn't get here without you. Thank you. I mean it, really. But you have to understand— This is the end of our partnership. Get a car and go to town. Have fun in the city."

"In the rain?" "Go to a show. Have a good meal." "I'm a little skeptical that red and green sauces are probably not used in New York cuisine." "Take yourself a short vacation. Fly back tomorrow morning. People in your Bureau must be wondering where you've been." "They won't know I'm gone. I told you it's my day off." "What about tomorrow?" "I called in sick." "You don't have law enforcement here," Decker said. "Do yourself a favor and go back to New Mexico as soon as possible."

"No." "You can't follow me. In two minutes, you won't even know how I got rid of you." "But you wouldn't do that." "Oh? What made you think that?" "Because you're not sure if you need me."