Near the end of the book, during the height of the Boston
Police Strike, Danny goes in pursuit of Tessa Ficara, an Italian anarchist who has shot
Steve, Danny's old patrol partner. While Danny is able to kill Tessa, he is shot by one
of her partners, standing on a fire escape. Luther had stayed behind to try and save
Steve's life, but at the critical moment, without knowing where Danny is, he hears the
gunshot and uses his skills at baseball pitching to knock the shooter off the fire
escape with a brick.
"Twice you saved my
life."
"Sssh."
[...]
"Hell
of a throw."
"Sssh."
"You
should..." --Danny smiled and blood bubbled over his lips-- "...be a baseball player or
something."
(Lehane, The Given Day, Google
Books)
Danny and Luther's
friendship has been tumultuous and dangerous, considering the racial institutions of the
time and the prejudice against black people. However, it is shown through their efforts
-- both men are determined to create a better life for their own loved ones -- that they
share both desire for unity and freedom, and a sense of camaraderie shared by honorable
men. While Danny is trying to make a better world for his fellow police officers, Luther
is more concerned with his own life and that of his wife and unborn child; together,
however, they prove stronger than the chaos that seeks to destroy the city. Luther and
Danny have shared a terrible time in their lives, and by saving Danny's life, Luther
proves his strength in the face of adversity.
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