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not knowing if Dino had tracked him down. It was through Maria that Sheldon had learned of Dino’s death. Maria was still in touch with someone from Ultimate Fitness who had given her information the few times she called.
    “I know you are. I was praying for you. For both of us.’’
    “I’m grateful for that. The prayers were definitely answered.”
    “Mmm hmmm. As tragic as the situation is, I feel happy that I no longer have to watch every step I take. It’s all worked out for the best.’’
    Maria had stayed in Florida, but moved farther north. She was still relatively close to her family, so she didn’t mind. Plus, she had met another man and was happily involved with him.
    “Were you able to find out if Dino’s body was actually taken up north?” Sheldon asked.
    “Yeah. It was. He was buried in New York, next to his mother and some other relatives. So that’s the end of that.’’
    “All right.” Sheldon had hoped to pay a visit to the grave if it was in the area, almost as if he needed to see for himself that Dino was really dead, but it was probably best this way. With Dino dead and buried, he could put this whole issue to rest once and for all and get on with his life. “At least that’s finally finished. A miserable chapter in our lives that we can close the book on.’’
    “Yes. Thank God.’’
    Sheldon suddenly realized that he didn’t have to call Maria from pay phones, for safety reasons, anymore. He could really get back to living his life the way he once had. Have a cellphone in his name, a job in the area. No more running around and watching his back.
    “You know what’s weird?” Maria asked. “I feel like I know you so well, yet I’ve never met you.’’
    “I know what you mean.” They had talked often enough on the phone, and the situation had made good friends of them.
    “I hope we can meet one of these days. I bet you’re as cute as your brother was.’’
    “Cuter, of course,” Sheldon joked, but his chest tightened at the words. He supposed it always would when he thought of Dwight and how he’d died so tragically.
    Maria chuckled softly. “Well, if you ever get up to West Palm Beach, call me. And you should give me your number. I’ll be heading down to Miami much more often now.’’
    “That’s a great idea. I’d love to meet you.’’
    “We can go for coffee or something. Or a health shake. Whatever you want.’’
    “I’m staying with my mother for now. I haven’t gotten a cellphone yet, but I will soon. And maybe a place of my own. I’ll see what happens for me.” Sheldon gave her his mother’s number.
    “And what about joining the police force?’’
    Sheldon ran a hand over the back of his neck. His entire life, he had hoped to have a career playing basketball. But a shoulder injury in college had killed those dreams. Ultimately, Sheldon had started working as a fitness trainer, because it was the one area he loved. But after Dwight’s death and his year in Kansas, he had felt compelled to get a job that would make a difference in people’s lives.
    In Kansas, he had started mentoring a neighbor’s teenage son. Soon after that, he began working at a youth center. The kids looked up to him, and he’d had some serious talks with a few of them who had displayed behavioral problems. But it was thirteen-year-old James’s arrest that affected him most. The cops had gone to his house and dragged him out screaming and crying.
    Sheldon had tried to intercede, pleading with the cops to treat James like the kidhe was, but ithad been to no avail. It was a memory that still haunted him.
    After witnessing that, and after hearing a few other horror stories from the teens he mentored, Sheldon had come to realize that this country could use some sympathetic cops who related to teens—especially in the black community.
    To Maria, he replied, “That’s something I still want to do.’’
    “You didn’t get around to it yet?’’
    “Not yet. I’m basically