It was already dark outside on that December night when Jim Sanders came around the corner at O’farrell and Mason and entered Corbino’s delicatessen.

Vinny and Josh were finishing their food. Behind the counter, Luigi Corbino was handing change to an elderly woman leaning on a cane who had bought a pound of fish. Regina was helping a customer find something on one of the shelves. Jim’s silver police badge glistened under the ceiling lights.

“Evening Lew,” said Jim, waving to Luigi as he walked into the shop. “Evening Regina.”

The owners both waved and bid good evening as Josh spun around in his chair at the sound of his father’s voice. “Hey Dad!” he shouted.

Jim walked over to the table where the boys were seated. He looked intently at Josh. “I thought you’d be here. I phoned home a while ago and your mother said you didn’t come home for supper like you said you would.”

“It’s my fault, Mister Sanders,” said Vinny. “I suggested we come here for something to eat after the football game ended.”

“Yeah, I was going to phone mom but I forgot,” said Josh.

“Who won the game?”

“The Bears, by seventy-three points,” replied Josh.

“Difficult night for the Skins, but they’ll be back next year.” Jim went to choose a beverage as the boys finished their food.

It was then that a man in his thirties entered the deli. He wore a long, heavy overcoat, dark pants and sneakers. His face looked swollen, and somewhat bruised, as if he’d been in a fight. One eye was half-closed. His hands were buried in the pockets of his overcoat as he walked over to the counter. Luigi recognized him and began to smile.

“Hey, how are you? You don’t look so good.”

“I want some food,” the man demanded.

“Take your pick.” Luigi pointed to the food in the display case.

“Gimme that ham. All of it.”

“You want the whole thing?”

“Yeah.”

As Luigi wrapped the ham Jim Sanders came walking toward the counter carrying a bottle of Coca-Cola.

“Three dollars, forty-five cents,” said Luigi.

The man whipped a hand gun out of his pocket. “I don’t have any money. I’m hungry. Gimme it! And the money in the register!”

Luigi handed the package to him and opened the cash register. The man reached across the counter, grabbed a handful of bills from the register and started to run toward the door. Jim Sanders shouted “Chuck!!”

Chuck Nagel stopped and looked over at Jim. “Don’t try to stop me!”

“It isn’t worth it Chuck! Put the money back! I’ll pay for the food,

but give him back the money!”

“Food ain’t enough no more!” Chuck Nagel turned and ran to the

door.

“Chuck stop!!” Jim Sanders drew his gun. “Drop the gun!”

Chuck Nagel spun around and fired his gun at Jim. Jim fired twice as

he fell to the floor. Chuck Nagel fell clutching his stomach, as the money lay scattered across the floor. Josh and Vinny ran over to Jim as Luigi came running out from behind the counter. The two men lay sprawled on the floor, a river of blood between them, their lifeless arms outstretched, only inches apart.

Josh fell to his knees beside his father. “Oh my God!! Dad!! Dad!!” He cradled his dying father in his arms. “Quick, phone an ambulance!!”

“Yes, I phone!” shouted Luigi as he ran back to the counter.

Regina and Vinny knelt on the floor beside Josh and his father. Vinny held Jim’s arm and felt at the wrist for a pulse.

“His heart?” asked Josh, his voice choked with emotion.

Vinny had tears in his eyes as he slowly shook his head. Josh glanced over at the other man. “Chuck Nagel.”

Hours later, when the phone rang, Susan Sanders, who had always been a light sleeper, awoke immediately. She reached across the bed to the night stand and picked up the receiver.

It was the precinct commander. His voice began to crack as he told Susan what happened. She sat up on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face. A few moments later Josh came home, his face grim and tear-stained. He walked slowly across the apartment and into his mother’s room. Without a word said, he sat on the bed and put his arm around her.