Chapter 8 Summary

Detective Sweeney is having a bad day. A hangover, a root canal, pouring rain and a partner who hates him (although the feeling is mutual) are just some of his problems. He's also under investigation by Internal Affairs for getting paid to look the other way while a drug dealer was murdered. Sweeney is guilty but he knows IA has no concrete proof. His wife left him, taking his son with her. Before she drove off, he threatened to kill her if she ever tried to collect alimony or child support. He hasn't heard from her since.

Despite office gossip, Sweeney denies being a drunk. Not yet, anyway. He says he's just tired of dealing with all the scum littering the streets of Chicago. Privately, he admits using the booze to dull his night terrors. When that doesn't work, he dreams of early...