Seeing George wavering, Alvin patiently used his silver tongue to keep persuading him, practically brainwashing him. He knew exactly what a girl's father wanted to hear: safety, focus, and quality teachers. Those were all things Community School could provide.
Matt had finished eating and came over. "I can guarantee that everything Alvin said is true. I don't think any student who graduates from that school would fail to get into college."
Matt's mouth twitched after he said it. A school more like a concentration camp would turn its students into nothing but study-and-test-taking machines.
Matt wondered: if he'd gone to that school, he wouldn't have ended up at Columbia University Law Department. He'd have gone to Harvard Law School instead.
Matt rarely went out of his way to back him up. In high spirits, Alvin decided he could keep him on welfare for a few more months.
After taking care of business, Police Commissioner George had another beer and took his leave. He didn't seem to have a driver, but probably no one in Big Apple City would be stupid enough to give the police commissioner a hard time over driving drunk.
After George left, Matt looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't quite bring himself to. Alvin pulled out two cigars, handed one to Matt, and led him outside the Restaurant.
Once he'd lit his cigar and exchanged a friendly greeting with Thor and Dom, Alvin smiled. "Matt, go ahead and say what's on your mind."
Matt thought it over carefully. "If what Chief George said is true, then there are Vampires in Hell's Kitchen too. And I may have dealt with one of them."
Alvin was surprised. Vampires in Hell's Kitchen? Why had he never heard of them?
Alvin's expression turned serious. "Where? When?" He couldn't tolerate anything that dangerous near his school. Those things were completely outside the rules.
"About six months ago, I heard something going on several times and rushed over. The victims were already dead. I didn't know how they'd died, but there wasn't much blood at the scene.
"The last time, when I got there, the thing hadn't left yet, and the victim was still alive. I drove it off. Before dying, the victim said, 'Vampire.'"
Matt carefully recalled and described what had happened. Since he was blind, he had to rely on his hearing, and there were many details he couldn't explain clearly.
Alvin rubbed his chin. "How strong was it? Was it easy to deal with?"
Matt thought for a moment. "It was hard to deal with. That thing was almost impossible to kill. It was fast and strong."
Alvin wasn't sure if these Vampires were the kind he knew about. But he'd soon find out. He got in touch with his Crows and told them to watch for suspicious people at night, especially anyone who took someone home in the middle of the night and never went out during the day.
Matt hadn't said he'd encountered one recently. Either the thing had left Hell's Kitchen, or it was feeding somewhere hidden.
When they'd finished talking, the two of them went back inside.
Ginny was giggling as Foggy entertained her. Alvin went over and picked up his precious girl, then kissed her. Looking at Foggy, he said, "If you don't have anything going on today, stick around. Dinner's on me tonight. Nick found his father, so we have to celebrate. There'll be plenty to drink."
Foggy cheered. "Fantastic! Alvin, you're a great guy. This really is worth celebrating. I'll have to get drunk. I haven't even had enough money lately to get myself wasted."
The Peace Hotel closed early that night. Its official dinner service didn't start until eight.
Two long dining tables had been pushed together to make one big square table. Jessica, Ginny, Nick, JJ, Frank, Matt, and Foggy were seated around it.
Alvin stood up first and raised his glass. "We're having this dinner because Nick finally found his father, Frank. I'm glad our family has another member."
Alvin tilted his head toward Frank. "I don't care whether you consider yourself one of us. You're Nick's father, so I'll consider you family. My family has only one rule: don't betray your family."
"Cheers!"
Jessica was thrilled to have earned her place in the family. She downed a big glass of beer, her face turning red, then looked at Alvin with a silly grin. "So you're my big brother?"
Alvin smiled and patted Jessica's head. "Silly girl. I'm your boss and your big brother, and you're my waitress and my little sister. Nothing can change that."
Jessica was a little confused. "What does that mean?"
Big-mouthed Nick called out snidely, "It means Alvin's still the boss and you're still a waitress. Jess, you're so dumb. You'll have a hard time finding a boyfriend someday. Nobody likes a dummy!"
Nick didn't get another word out before the furious Jessica grabbed his ear. He yelped in pain.
Alvin raised his glass toward Matt and Foggy. "Guys, you're my best friends in Hell's Kitchen. May our friendship last forever!"
"May our friendship last forever!" The three of them clinked glasses and drained them in one go.
"JJ, you bastard, when are you bringing Temple back? Then we can have one more member of the family. And starting tomorrow, get your ass next door. Make sure you clean out the storeroom before you go."
"Thanks, boss!" JJ pretended to wipe away a tear and clinked glasses with Alvin. Alvin clearly saw the guy crying, though he still tried to make a face to hide it. Fine, he wouldn't call him out.
Alvin looked at his precious daughter Ginny, holding a glass of apple juice, and said, "Oh, of course, there's my precious girl too." He clinked his big beer mug against her little cup, and they drank together amid laughter.
Ginny looked happily at Alvin. "Daddy, happy. Ginny, happy. Hehe."
That girl was so thoughtful, far better than that silly boy Nick. His real dad was right there, watching him get beaten up by Jessica, and he couldn't even complain.
After putting the foul-mouthed Nick in his place, Jessica sat beside Alvin, pouting and refusing to speak.
When a woman acted like that, a man was better off admitting he was wrong and making it up to her. Otherwise, the consequences could be serious. That was the hard-won lesson of a man who'd been married.
Alvin ruffled Jessica's hair and smiled. "No matter what you think, I've always considered you my little sister. You've always been family to me. You stayed by my side when things were hardest for me.
"This world has been cruel to us. It took away the family we were related to by blood. But it's also been fair. After that, it brought us together."
Alvin's heartfelt words brought tears to Jessica's eyes. She lowered her head, not looking at him, and murmured softly, "I don't want to be your little sister."
Alvin pretended not to hear and patted Jessica on the shoulder. Just as he was about to turn and have a drink with JJ, Jessica suddenly threw her arms around him and planted a hard kiss on his cheek. Alvin just smiled and said nothing. It wasn't as if he'd lose a chunk of flesh from being kissed by a beautiful young woman!
Nick was about to put his sharp tongue to work again when Frank quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. He had a feeling that if his son caused trouble now, he'd lose his other leg too.
Seeing Jessica kiss Daddy, Ginny decided she had to kiss him too. Alvin picked her up and let her plant a big kiss on him, then kissed her back, satisfied. He felt his life was complete.
Before you continue