He was now fully aware of the treachery and deceit that had taken place. As his thoughts swirled, he watched children chase after one another in the late-afternoon heat while vendors hawked hot dogs, soda, and knishes to passersby, and panhandlers worked the crowd. His attention was drawn to a young couple lying on the grass locked in an embrace and then turned back to the man who sat defeated in the chair across from his desk with his head down. “I get you anything, Richie?” Karp asked. “No, I’m good, thanks, Butch,” Bryers replied, his voice subdued. Karp nodded and wondered for what must have been the hundredth time that day that of all the people in the world who would crack open the MIRAGE case, it would be an old friend from high school. He and Richie Bryers had played basketball against each other for rival schools in Brooklyn; although fierce competitors on the court, they’d both admired each other’s game and were designated co-captains of the elite All-City Basketball Team.
