Reverse Metamorphosis book one of the Irrevocable Change trilogy (13 page)

Clay nodded his head in acceptance of her
command and Anna turned to walk down the long hallway to the front
entrance door. The doorbell rang again before she got there as the
men grew impatient with being left to wait outside in the late July
heat and humidity. Clay moved to a chair where he wouldn’t be seen
from the hallway. He listened as Anna opened the door and greeted
the men, welcoming them and ushering them into the formal living
room. Clay thought he could guess the purpose of the visit from
this group of men as he heard the doors to the living room being
closed. Getting up from his chair, he moved down the hall way,
looking to see if the men had left body guards stationed on the
porch near the front doors. Not seeing anyone outside, he made his
way to the dining room entrance and entered. The solid oak double
sliding doors between the dining room and the living room were
closed and he moved over to them. Lying on the floor he put his ear
close to the space between the bottom of the doors and the carpet.
The voices on the other side of the door were faint but clear.

“O.K. Anna, enough small talk, let’s get down
to business. You know all of us, and I suspect you fully understand
why I called you this morning to arrange this meeting. While we are
glad to hear Tony is safe and is recovering, we need assurance
Tony’s control of his area is intact. And more importantly we need
to know there will be no more mass executions committed in public.
You’ve undoubtedly seen the morning papers and know the uproar
caused by last night’s killings. Now, now Anna, don’t get riled up,
we know you were justified because of the attack on Tony. We’re not
saying you weren’t justified in taking these outsiders on; we just
need assurance it’s finished and you won’t cause anymore publicity
to harm the rest of us. Things have been relatively quiet in
Chicago for the last fifteen years and the people won’t put up with
continued violence of the magnitude seen last night. This kind of
ambush hasn’t been done since the nineteen thirties and there can’t
be anymore of it.”

A second voice spoke up “Anna, just tell us
there won’t be anymore incidents like this and we will take you at
your word. Tony has always been a man of his word and I expect,
since you are handling the operation and speaking for him, you will
be also.”

There was silence for a short space of time,
then Anna spoke softly but with authority and in full control of
the situation. “I appreciate the predicament last nights incident
has placed you in. I can assure you the visible and public portion
of eliminating the opposition is over. A few additional people will
disappear over the next few weeks, but they will be out of the
public’s sight. I have dealt with the parties who attempted to kill
my husband in one decisive act instead of engaging in a prolonged
and highly visible gang war where citizens would be at risk. I
fully understand the pressure on the rest of you; but remember; it
was my families name smeared through out those newspaper articles
this morning, not yours. Yes, you were mentioned, but we are
bearing the full weight of the speculation and public outcry. It is
also in our best interest to not have a repeat of last nights
incident. However, I don’t know of any other way the Russian gang
leaders could have been handled, do you?”

“And now,” she continued without pause, “If
you don’t mind, I will move on to another issue. Joey Tadono and
four of his top men were picked up this morning by the police and
interrogated for several hours; my attorneys have secured their
release in the last hour. I am sure other members of our group will
also be picked up for questioning. We will continue to be closely
watched and investigated for the next six months. The police and
prosecutor's office will be hampering our movements and with Tony
in the hospital it would be a perfect time for the other families
to attempt to encroach on our territory. I am asking the three of
you, having the largest positions and being the most influential,
to consider cautioning the other boss’ against making ANY moves
against our family. If we are placed in the position of fending off
another takeover there will be additional incidents rivaling last
night’s in both scale and violence; I am fully capable of defending
what is mine.”

Clay could tell the three men were all caught
off guard by the choking and stuttering sounds they were making.
All three men attempted to talk at once, until one voice spoke
above the rest and took the lead. “I don’t know whether to feel
like we, and the other families, have just been cautioned, or
threatened. Since you have not been involved with us on this level
in the past, we…” there was a slight pause in the dialog as the man
apparently queried the other two men “will make allowances and
assume you are not making a direct threat against us. We will
ensure your territory remains intact and untouched by anyone in
Chicago.”

Clay could hear movement in the other room
and assumed the men were standing up, preparing to leave.

“Thank you Anna, for meeting with us this
morning,” one of the men was saying. “By the way Anna, we are
hearing about a young man who planned and led the raid on the
Russians. You might not be aware, but we always keep this type of
work within the family, using outsiders is dangerous and Tony knows
better.”

“He is simply a close and talented family
friend who chose to lend a hand when I needed help. I didn’t know
who else to go to because I don’t feel Joey Tadono could have been
successful. However if there is any indiscretion in using him it
was mine, and I apologize. But, being a close family friend, he
will be available to us again if the need should ever arise.”

“Anna, Anna. Why do I feel I may have just
been threatened again? You’re one tough broad. No other woman I
know could have taken Tony’s place and held her own the way you
have. Congratulations Anna. But let me caution YOU! We are not in
the habit of tolerating such disrespect. Don’t do it again; this is
a flat out warning and the only one you will receive. And tell your
Mr. Albrecht, since he did do an outstanding job for Tony, his
being an outsider will be overlooked. If he had failed, you, he and
Tony would all have suffered. You look surprised that I would know
his name Anna; I would not be in control if I did not have my
fingers on everything in Chicago, would I? Good Day Anna.”

Clay heard the front door close behind the
three men and stepped into the hallway as Anna came toward him.

“You heard?” she asked.

“Yes, I heard it all.”

“Well, what do you think? Will they leave me
alone or try to move in?”

Clay grinned and chuckled. “Unless they’re
the dumbest bastards in the city they won't even drive through
Tony's territory. I think you were just tough enough and aggressive
enough for them to know where they stand. They’re not used to being
threatened, especially by a woman.”

“Good, it’s what I was striving for. Now,
will you escort me to Wisconsin to visit my husband? I spoke with
John and Adrianna this morning and both were able to get flights to
Milwaukee early this evening. They'll meet us at the hospital. I
would like to get there first to fill Tony in on the details of
last night before the kids arrive. You know how John hates any talk
about the family business. He has never accepted being the off
spring of criminals; although he didn’t object loudly when we paid
for seven years of college, including an Ivy League law school and
a lavish wedding to Miss Hoity Toity Meredith.”

“Sure, I’ll drive you there. We can discuss
how the businesses will be reactivated in the near term and how the
last recruits of the Russians will be dealt with. The notoriety
caused by last night is going to make it difficult, but with a
little guidance I know Joey can clean up the loose ends.” Changing
the subject, Clay addressed her again, “I am concerned about two
things I heard earlier in your meeting.. What’s this about not
using outsiders, and if I had failed all of us would have suffered?
”

Anna smiled, “One of Cosa Nostra’s principle
rule’s is what happens within the group stays there and outsiders
are not permitted a look at the inner workings. I knew I was taking
a big risk using you but decided it was necessary. I didn’t explain
it to you because I wanted your full attention devoted to being
successful. But if you had failed all three of us would have been
killed; probably by Joey and several of his friends.”

Clay took a deep breath and exhaled slowly,
irritated by the fact Anna had put his life in jeopardy without
even mentioning it to him.

Before leaving he called Margaret to tell her
the danger was over and he would be coming back home. “Hi Mom, I’m
fine and I’ll be home in the next day or so.”

Margaret had already seen the account of the
shootings in the morning newspaper.

“Clayton, have you read this mornings
newspaper? I’m sure those Gilianos are responsible for all those
killings. My God! How can you even stand to be in the same house as
those people? They obviously have little or no value for human
life.”

Clay let her comments pass by without
comment. “Mom, I’ll be home later or tomorrow and then I’ll be
going to the union hall to sign up for work, gotta go.” Rather than
have a prolonged argument with her he said, “I love you” and hung
up the phone. He did love and respect his mother, but he had
drifted out of her and Walters neatly little compartmentalized
world. It was becoming necessary for him to let some distance
develop between them; especially for their sake. He didn’t want to
lie to either of his parents, but also couldn’t tell them the truth
about some of his choices.

Clay had to admit his way of looking at life
had changed immensely since Jimmy’s death. He had made decisions to
cause his mom and dad to be totally ashamed of him. They believed
in a legal and lawful morality which did not include the people he
had chosen to associate with, nor acceptance of their harsh and
direct methods of dealing with situations.

D
uring the drive to
Wisconsin he and Anna fell into a conversation about her children
and the children‘s opinion of their parents.

“John Anthony,” Anna was saying “was kept
isolated from any knowledge of the nature of his fathers work until
after he entered grade school. The first few years, from first
grade to third grade weren’t a big problem. There was an occasional
incident when some child said something hurtful, but we were able
to explain them away. Then, starting in about the fourth grade he
started being taunted with names and accusations the other kids
heard expressed by some of their parents. He is our only child who
had a big problem accepting what his father does. I guess in many
ways I’m part of the problem, because I grew up in this life style
and don’t remember a time when I wasn’t aware of what my father
did. It just wasn’t a big deal to me. I guess I didn’t expect it to
matter to my kids either”

“Adrianna and Jimmy didn’t make it a big
thing either. Oh hell, there were times when they were confused by
things people said or what they heard on the television evening
news shows. But after dealing with John we were starting to be more
open about all of it. I don’t mean we talked at the supper table
each day about who was beaten up or how many people had been
killed, but we didn’t deny each and every accusation either. I
don’t claim this is the best environment for raising kids, but it’s
what Tony and I had been raised in and it’s what both of us
know.”

“One of the biggest hurdles was in
reconciling Tony’s business dealings with the teachings of the
church. We went to mass almost every Sunday and listened to sermons
opposing the very life style we live. The priest, monsignors and
bishops all know what Tony’s business is and have never refused the
donations we’ve made over the years. All of this seemed to pass
right over Adrianna and Jimmy; but John was constantly questioning
all of it. I guess somehow his genes were formed different from the
rest of us, and he suffers constantly with it.”

Clay had been silent, listening and thinking
of his own situation. “My mom and I are getting into the same
situation. She thinks I shouldn’t have anything to do with your
family. In all honesty I understand why. What I did last night
isn’t something I want to brag about to other people I know and
have respect for. But at the same time I accept the level of
morality it’s on, the risk, and the danger involved. I’m very
confused about my feelings; my conscience I guess. How am I
accepting what several years ago I could not have defended to my
mom and step dad if the subject had come up? I’m not sure I’ll ever
understand all of this. But, I do know being involved in the deaths
of people I feel deserve to die because of their willful actions
doesn’t bother me”

They rode in silence the rest of the trip,
each engrossed in their own thought; each wondering how they
managed to exist in the midst of a majority society where there was
no acceptance of them or their ways.

Clay was thinking of his relationship with
his own family. Who in their group could understand and accept his
orchestration of so many deaths. He wanted to believe it was over
and would never happen again. But, a month ago he had not thought
he would ever again be put in the position of needing to kill
anyone. Then, Tony was shot and a situation evolved in which he was
called upon to rescue close friends. Close friends! He had never
really been close to Tony and Anna prior to Jimmy’s death. He had
formed a bond with Tony afterward only because of his actions. But
were they really close friends? He visited Tony at the bar and
talked mainly about things important to Tony. They seldom did other
things close friends do; like go out to eat, go to a ball game or
go hunting or fishing. Theirs was more like a business
relationship, only no business ties existed.