J.M. Griffin - Vinnie Esposito 06 - Death Gone Awry (17 page)

“She’s right, Vin. There’s a counselor at the agency that would spend some time with you if you’d be willing to see them.”

I shook my head and said, “I’ll be okay. It wasn’t as if I was tortured. It’ll take time for me to cope with the idea that I was abducted in broad daylight and nobody saw a thing. Nobody did, right?” I stared at Aaron and then at Lola. Both shook their heads.

A car door slammed, the side entry door bounced off the inside wall, and thunderous pounding hit the kitchen door. My guess? Marcus had arrived.

I started to rise, but Aaron said he’d answer the summons.

A few words were mumbled and my father stepped into view. His face as thunderous as his hammering on the door had been, I asked Lola and Aaron to excuse us. They gave each other a raised brow look, nodded, and left the apartment.

“Are you all right?” Dad demanded after they’d gone.

“I am now. If Aaron and Lola hadn’t acted so quickly, I’d be in a world of pain right now. The thugs who did this had plans to get information from me that I don’t have, no matter what they had to do.”

His eyes took on a flat, shark-like appearance that boded ill for those who got in his way. My father rarely lost his cool, and even though we went head-to-head quite often, his temper was a rare sight.

“Names?”

“I don’t know. The man who came here was alone, at least I think he was. He knocked on the door, grabbed me by the throat, and shook me like I weighed nothing. We fought, but he got the better of me.” I rubbed the bruise on my jaw where he’d hit me with a power-packed, freight-train impact.

His voice, as grim as his expression, Dad asked, “Where did they take you?”

“To a house on Federal Hill. When I came to, I was bound to a chair and gagged. They’d put me in a
cantina radice
, I could smell the dampness of the dirt floor. The lights in the room I was in were off and I could only see the man in shadow when he opened the door to check if I was conscious. Another man was in the
cantina dei vini
behind him, I didn’t see who it was, but heard his voice when they talked about what information they were supposed to acquire. Dad, they were working on orders from their boss.” I pulled my sleeves down, hugged the sweater tight around me and fought off the fear that climbed over me every time I thought about my kidnapping.

He leaned forward and gave me a hug, another rarity, but one I gladly accepted. When he let go and we’d sat back in our chairs, I watched my father closely. His reaction to what had happened had hit him hard. Someone would pay for what they’d done, I could tell by his body language and the coldness in his eyes.

On occasion, I’d wondered over Dad’s affiliation with mobsters, and was wont to believe that he had none. These past few years had shown me that, while he might not be a mobster, my father had powerful connections. Maybe it was simply the mob’s respect for him, but I didn’t wish to be burdened with that particular knowledge.

“Does Mom know?”

“Not yet, she might see it on the news if they’ve got wind of it. She stopped by the Senior Center on her way from work and I left before she got home. When Lola called, I knew you were in trouble. She sounded scared, poor kid. Lola’s a good friend you can count on, Lavinia.”

I nodded.

“I didn’t realize I might hit the news, just what I need. I’m a teacher, for gosh sakes. It won’t go over well with the college to know one of their instructors was kidnapped. Good grief.” I sighed.

“Where’s Marcus, why isn’t he here?”

“I’m not sure if he’s aware of the situation, or if he can get away from work. The new regime at headquarters has cracked down on the troopers. Rules are stricter than ever before, and he’s getting pressure from his superiors over my activities.” I’d been reluctant to explain what had come between Marcus and me, but Dad was no fool and had undoubtedly surmised as much.

“He should be here.”

“Well, he isn’t. Instead, Aaron and Lola are, and they’ll look out for me, don’t worry, Dad.”

“Where’s this preacher, and why is he so important to the mob?”

“I wish I knew the answers to those questions, I really do. I’d hand Slaggard over to them in a heartbeat if I could, just to get those bastards off my back. First, I was threatened and pushed around in Providence, and then Ben Gravani gave me a warning, along with every cop I came across. Geez, you’d think I was hip deep in Tim’s life, when all I tried to do was look out for Aunt Josephine’s best interests.” I didn’t mention that I’d saved Tim’s life more than once.

His gentle smile made my muscles and nerves relax a bit. I stared into my father’s dark eyes. He’d momentarily banked his anger. Anger that I hoped would fizzle out rather than burn into red-hot coals.

Chapter 17

The house was quiet, but not for long. Dad had gone home with the promise that I’d call if I needed anything. As he backed out of the driveway, Lola and Aaron thumped noisily down the stairs and into the apartment. I grinned over it, since Aaron was stealthy on a bad day, never mind a good one. Most often, he came and went without my knowing.

Dinner was over, the table half-cleared, and as a team, we finished the job. I set the dishwasher to run, Lola made coffee, Aaron set the thermostat for the fireplace, and we all reclined in our usual spots. I brooded, Aaron looked thoughtful, and Lola was as quiet as a mouse, which worried me.

“What’s on your mind, Lola?”

“If I hadn’t insisted on having Tim hide at my house, this would never have happened to you, Vinnie.”

“Don’t blame yourself, it was bound to have come about, no matter what you, or I, did. Slaggard’s holding something back, his life before he became a preacher is in question, at least I think so. While he may have thought setting up a worship center in Rhode Island was a good idea, it wasn’t his best plan. The mob wants him for some reason, and I plan to find out what it is.”

With an alarmed look on his face, Aaron bolted upright and burst out with, “You’ll stay away from them, Vinnie, I mean it. These people don’t play by our rules and think nothing of taking a life without a blink of an eye. You should have learned that after today’s episode.”

Yikes, his voice had grown deeper and gravely serious as he spoke. Terror ran rampant over me, an unlikable feeling I sought to discard.

Lola perked up and asked, “What does your father have to say about this? You did tell him the whole story, didn’t you?”

“I did, he’s not happy, but he’s glad I wasn’t harmed.” I glanced at Aaron and then back at Lola. “You two don’t need to stay with me, you know. I’ll be all right, Aaron will be upstairs, won’t you?” I asked.

“Absolutely, and Lola will be right here, she’s not going home tonight,” Aaron said with a slight grin.

Lola smirked, and said, “We decided that while you were talking to your father. No way should you be alone, Vinnie. Aaron has arranged for you to have protection while at school and such, otherwise, I’ll be handy if you need me.”

Thankful that I wouldn’t be left on my own, I agreed to their plans and then rose to answer the knock at the door. Again, Aaron said he’d see who was there and left Lola and me in front of the fireplace.

Lola leaned forward and whispered, “He was a wreck when we couldn’t find you. He called people who could help and then we came up with the idea of tracking you by your phone. Thank goodness you had it with you, Vin.”

I’d been about to speak when Marcus strode into the room and hauled me to my feet. He held me close and whispered, “I couldn’t get away, and I’m relieved that you’re safe and sound.”

I stepped back from him and motioned to a seat. “Thanks, it was fortunate for me that Lola stopped in when she did.”

We rehashed the day, and I watched him closely for signs of anger, doubt, and temper. I waited for familiar feelings of dread to descend upon me should his disapproval show itself. When none of those things came about, I leaned back on the sofa and thanked my lucky stars. The man knew when to relent where his usual tirade over my actions was concerned.

The hour had grown late. Marcus bid us goodnight and I walked him to the door.

“Thanks for coming by, Marcus.”

“I’d have been here sooner but I was stuck in South County arresting a bunch of drug traffickers that came in from New York. I didn’t hear the news until I ran into another trooper at the barracks. You should have never gotten mixed up with the preacher, Lavinia.”

My freedom from the sense of dread was short-lived. It poured down as coldly as a bucket of ice water. I leaned a shoulder against the door while I took stock of him. Nothing had changed, not a thing.

Resigned, I said softly, “You might be right. Though, I had to put Aunt Josephine first, especially since she only has our family to look out for her. I guess that’s too much for you to understand.” I stepped back and started to close the door. “By the way, we aren’t ever having this conversation again.”

“Fine, that’s the way you want it, that’s it then, but I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You’re so defensive, we can’t even talk to one another. Christ.” His stare frosty, his face hard, Marcus left for parts unknown.

You can’t let him go, don’t be stupid.

Where was that shut-off button? I shook my head, turned back to the living room, and found it empty. The front hall door stood ajar and laughter filtered down from Aaron’s apartment. Curious, I climbed the stairs and entered Aaron’s living room.

The bust that my artist friend, Lanky Larry, had sculpted of me, rested on a scrolled stand near Aaron’s fireplace. Our apartments were laid out the same, and I chuckled when I saw the piece of artwork. A crown of tiny flowers lay atop its head, and Lola had fallen into a fit of laughter over it.

“I can’t believe you decorated that,” I said, pointing to it.

A look of surprise covered his face and he denied having done so. “I didn’t, Monica thought the bust needed some color, so she crowned you.”

“Is she aware it’s me?” I laughed.

He grinned, nodded, and said, “She knows, and subtly questioned me about it.”

“I’m sure she did.” I snickered, said I was going to bed, and nodded when Lola agreed to join me downstairs.

“I’ll be a yell away, and that door will be open. Leave your living room door open as well, Vinnie,” Aaron instructed.

“Sure thing,” I said and shuffled down the steps.

A few minutes later, Lola came in. “If you give me blankets and a pillow, I’ll bunk out on the sofa,” she said and pointed to the sofa.

“Why don’t you sleep in my bed with me, it’s more comfortable than the sofa is. Besides, I don’t snore,” I assured her with a chuckle.

“Okay, but I have to be up early to get ready for work,” Lola insisted.

“Me, too.” The classroom was just what I needed to take my mind off what had happened.

*    *    *

The ride to the university took longer than usual. Rain pelted the windshield and drivers seemed unable to deal with the weather and drove haphazardly. I spent the entire time dodging crazy drivers.

Students sauntered in while I waited for them to quiet down and take their seats. My hair hung down over the turtleneck sweater I was wearing to hide the bruising on my neck. I’d applied enough make-up to conceal the mark on my jaw, hoping nobody in the classroom had heard of my abduction.

Only one person, Porter Anderson’s cousin, stared knowingly, and I ignored him for the entire class. We discussed the Rico Act, otherwise known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which focuses specifically on racketeering. Satisfied everyone knew what the act included and how widespread it had become, I requested a three-page paper that would be due on the subject matter by Friday. Eyes rolled, groans and moans followed, and I broke into laughter at the group’s histrionics.

“Come on, it’s not that bad. Think of it as part of your overall grade to make it more palatable. I’m not asking for a ten-page paper, three pages will do nicely,” I said with a grin.

Students tucked their computers and tablets away and hoisted book bags over their shoulders as they shuffled from the room. Porter Anderson waited until the last student had left before he entered.

“Up for coffee with me? I have some time before getting back to work,” he said.

“Does this mean a question and answer period about yesterday?”

He offered a slight nod and took my valise from me as we walked through the hall and out onto the grounds. I pointed to my car, smiled when he thumbed toward his, and said I’d follow him to the coffee shop.

No sooner had we arrived and settled at a corner table than I noted a man who stood outside gawking around. A Fed, or maybe an undercover cop? I wasn’t sure.

“Who’s that?”

Porter glanced out the window and said, “One of Aaron’s boys. I relieved our guy when I arrived at the university. This man will be with you for the rest of the day.”

With a tsking sound, I realized private time no longer existed for me. “He’d better be ready to take a run today. If the weather clears, that’s what I’ll be doing. This is really inconvenient.”

With a slanted look, Porter uttered, “So is being abducted and held prisoner, Vin.”

I lifted a hand and said, “You’re right, of course. I’m truly grateful for the care you and Aaron’s people have given me.” I cupped my hands around the paper coffee cup and let the warmth of the brew flow into my cold fingers.

“Tell me everything that happened,” Porter said.

I complied. I know it’s unusual for me to do as I’m told, but this was important, and Porter had a look on his face that brooked no foolishness on my part. When I’d ended the story, he scribbled notes, tucked the notepad away, and sipped the cooled coffee.

“Any after-effects from yesterday’s adventure?” he asked.

“No bad dreams, nothing, just a bit of lingering fright.”

“Where was Marcus while all this was going on?”

“Arresting drug traffickers in South County. He stopped by late last night. My father did, too.”

“How did that go?”

“Dad was upset, but then, I’m his only daughter, we’re Italian, and get passionate over stuff.”