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Dalton File #5

I headed back to the police station with Lydia the next morning. I was hoping Hank had the day off. Yesterday I had actually prayed he’d have the day off. We walked through the door and, no such luck, Hank was on duty again. Doesn’t this clown ever take a day off? It wasn’t really the right thing to pray for anyway. I should have prayed for the patience and the grace to deal with Hank properly. I did that now.

I had warned Lydia on the drive over here that Hank could be a little gruff at times. She assured me she would be okay.

We walked up to the desk, Hank saw me with Lydia and said, “I see you went to vice after all.” I started, “Hank, that line is get–” SLAP! It happened so fast I didn’t even realize I had hit him, and I looked over at Lydia to apologize. That’s when I realized I didn’t hit him. Lydia had slapped him across the face. Hard.

She looked just as shocked as I was and she was rubbing her hand because it stung a little. That’s how hard she smacked him. She told me she knew it wasn’t the right thing to do but he had pushed it too far. Lydia wasn’t even sure if the crack was meant about Mary or about herself, but she was having none of it. “Watch your manners,” she said to a stunned and suddenly quiet Hank. For once Hank’s mouth was shut and it was fantastic. Silence really is golden.

A smile came over my face and I was laughing inside at the irony. I was pretty sure that’s not what Lydia meant when she said she could handle Hank, but she sure did handle him. I couldn’t hold back any longer and asked Hank, “Will you turn the other cheek so she can hit that one too?”

Hank already had a red hand mark starting to form on his cheek, and his eyes were starting to water. “If you are through now, can you let Barbara know we are coming to see her? We are going to look at some mug shots.”

As we walked away Lydia said to me, “That Hank is a very fresh young man.” I quipped, “He’s not that young…” She giggled. When we started down the hallway to the Records Department Lydia apologized to me, saying it wasn’t a ladylike or a Christian thing to do. I comforted her, “Lydia, I struggle with this every single day. I know what I am supposed to do, but sometimes it is so hard. It shows you are human.”

Inside I was feeling a little better about my slow progress as a Christian because I realized that if a woman who had been a Christian as long as Lydia can still slip up, that it can happen to anybody.

“I just lost control for a second, I should go back and apologize to him.”

I knew she was right, but I still thought Hank deserved it so I changed the subject, “You are really going to like Babs. She was my only friend from my police department days.” I had filled Lydia in, just a little, about my testimony on the drive over here.

I knocked on the door and Babs opened it up and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. This time I remembered to wipe off the lip rouge before I left. I introduced her to Lydia and she closed the door behind us. I told her what we were there for and she got out the mug book. “Would either of you like a coffee?” she asked. I told her I’d take a black coffee, Lydia asked for one with cream and sugar.

Babs brought over the coffees and Lydia started going through the mugshots for most of the morning. Finally, Babs asked us if we would like to break for lunch. That sounded great to both of us, so we headed to the local Automat for a quick bite. Of course Hank was there. He turned his head and pretended he didn’t see us. We did the same.

After lunch we headed back to the Records Department and Lydia pored over the mugshots until about 3:00. She finally stopped on one and did a double take, “This is him! I’d know that face anywhere!” I said, “are you sure?”

“Absolutely! But he doesn’t look so handsome in this picture.”

I looked at the name and couldn’t help but smile, of course it was ‘Handsome’ Dan Donovan. Why wouldn’t it be? With a name like that a person is destined to go places…on a five-to-ten stretch. Hopefully that’s where he is now, that will make him much easier to find.

Handsome Dan Donovan is in all the gambling rackets and more, and unfortunately he is out on the street. I told Lydia we had one more department to check, and we both hugged Babs and said thank you. Lydia said, “God bless you Babs, is it okay to call you Babs?” She said, “Of course it is, and God bless both of you as well.”

“God bless you too,” I answered.

As we were leaving, Babs reminded me not to forget my promise to her, she still wanted to hear my testimony. I gave her the thumbs up, “It’s still a date.”

Lydia and I headed to Bunco, passing Hank on the way. “We’re going to Bunco Hank, not to vice. Is that okay with you?” He didn’t say a word. Lydia took the high road and apologized to him on the way by. I have a feeling she wouldn’t have slept if she didn’t. She’s a bigger person than I am, I still have a ways to go. Hank’s pride was still hurt and he didn’t acknowledge her apology.

At Bunco we found out that Handsome Dan Donovan was still operating some back-room gambling outfits. Bunco knew where they were, but didn’t have the goods to move on him. They gave us three addresses and told me to be careful. He is a dangerous character. Finally something to go on. I might be starting to get somewhere, at least I have something to go on now.

I drove Lydia home and thanked her for the help, “You have been extremely helpful. For the first time I am starting to feel a little hopeful.” I got out of the car, walked around the front of it, and opened her door. I took her arm and helped her out of the car. We walked to her apartment door and I thanked her again and said, “God bless you.” Lydia responded, “May God bless you and keep you safe. I am praying for you and for Mary. Please promise me that if you find her you will let me know.”

“Of course I will. And when I do find her, it will be because of you. Thanks again.”

It was a long but productive day. I went home for the evening to get some rest. Tomorrow I would head out on the road to find Handsome Dan Donovan…

Coming July 25th: The Dalton Files: Finding Donovan