Chapter 30

           AlbertNerisatinhisBronxapartmentandcarefullybrushedthebluesergeofhisoldpoliceman’suniform.Heunpinnedthebadgeandsetitonthetabletobepolished.Theregulationholsterandgunweredrapedoverachair.Thisoldroutineofdetailmadehimhappyinsomestrangeway,oneofthefewtimeshehadfelthappysincehiswifehadlefthim,nearlytwoyearsago.

           HehadmarriedRitawhenshewasahighschoolkidandhewasarookiepoliceman.Shewasshy,dark-haired,fromastraitlacedItalianfamilywhoneverletherstayoutlaterthanteno’clockatnight.Neriwascompletelyinlovewithher,herinnocence,hervirtue,aswellasherdarkprettiness.

           AtfirstRitaNeriwasfascinatedbyherhusband.Hewasimmenselystrongandshecouldseepeoplewereafraidofhimbecauseofthatstrengthandhisunbendingattitudetowardwhatwasrightandwrong.Hewasrarelytactful.Ifhedisagreedwithagroup’sattitudeoranindividual’sopinion,hekepthismouthshutorbrutallyspokehiscontradiction.Henevergaveapoliteagreement.HealsohadatrueSiciliantemperandhisragescouldbeawesome.Buthewasneverangrywithhiswife.

           NeriinthespaceoffiveyearsbecameoneofthemostfearedpolicemenontheNewYorkCityforce.Alsooneofthemosthonest.Buthehadhisownwaysofenforcingthelaw.Hehatedpunksandwhenhesawabunchofyoungrowdiesmakingadisturbanceonastreetcorneratnight,disturbingpassersby,hetookquickanddecisiveaction.