The Keeper

Cal’s neighbor Mart is sticking his fluffy gray head out of the door of Seán Óg’s pub, which is conveniently located next to Noreen’s, in case people need some fortification after their shopping. She left her car, so she can’ta gone far if she’s on her own, but there’s an awful lotta ground to cover all the same.” Cal doesn’t ask whether they’ve called the police. And that’s why Lena’s been asking around, to find out who else knew.” Cal realizes that his whole body is ready to punch someone in the face, and that it probably shouldn’t be Bobby. Cal coaxes him, and in the end he slinks close enough to sniff Mart’s hand, and then his face and chest, lip drawing back at the wrongness in the scent. “That’ll do,” Mart says, and Kojak folds to the ground, into the curve of Mart’s body. “About fuckin’ time,” Mart says.