Silver Lining - A Carpelli Adventure: Sequel To The Bestselling Thriller Fatal Mistake (18 page)

The phone rang only once before a nondescript male voice answered. “Yes!”

“I’m a friend of the Oracle, my name is John Carpelli. He gave me this number in case of an emergency.” I stated.

“Yes,” was the only response.

“I and another person, I am trying to protect, are in the morgue at UT, Autopsy Theater-Exam Room One. There is an unknown number of assailants hunting us in the building and on the hospital grounds. They armed and dangerous.” I stated hoping I was giving information he could use.

“Can you reach the loading dock of the hospital?” the voice asked.

“That’s a negative. We are pinned down, hiding. I’m wounded.” I explained slightly.

“Okay, stay put. Be there in fifteen or less.” The voice stated.

“Make it less.” I said and line went dead.

At the Oracles residence, the Oracle had listened to whole conversation and as soon as the phone was hung up, he turned to his top man, Eric and said, “Eric, please be so kind and go save my new friend’s life.”

“As you wish, Grand Dad.” Eric replied and walked out of the room.

I don’t recall much in the way of conversation as Betty and I waited for rescue, I think that’s because I was mostly unconscious. It was though, the shortest fifteen minutes I ever waited for anything, probably because I was passed out.

When the Oracle’s men arrived, Betty nearly panicked. She wasn’t expecting six men, African American men all over six foot six and all of them built linebackers on steroids to step into the room and take charge.

“Hello, the Oracle sent me.” Eric stated as he stepped forward and started accessing me. “It will work best and the fastest, if you remain silent and just follow my instructions. Please get on the gurney.” Eric said to Betty who started to get on, but stopped and said, “But I’m not injured, it’s John who’s shot.”

“Like I said, no questions and silence.” Eric snarled at her and she quickly, while clutching her purse, got on the gurney. “Now lay flat on your back.” Which Betty did and the Eric covered her up with a sheet.

“The four of us will take the gurney and the woman to run the gauntlet of the Diablo’s, hopefully keeping them focused on finding us, while the two of you, will take the alternate route to the elevators with Mister Carpelli in the wheel chair. Give us thirty seconds to get their attention, then take off. If confronted, you know what to do. See you back at the loading dock.” Eric directed.

Eric’s team pushed the gurney slowly out the door, turned right and started to trot down the hallway. They’d just gotten up to speed and were turning the first corner, when Betty could stay silent no longer. “Wait, wait, stop, stop, I’ve got to get something.”

“Stay silent.” Eric harshly whispered.

“No stop. Stop right now.” Betty demanded. When it was clear Eric wasn’t stopping, Betty rolled off the cart.

“Damn it woman, I’ll leave you behind.” Eric snarled, as he grabbed for her.

“I don’t think so. Besides there is something of value over there in the utility closet, I have to retrieve. I was safe guarding it for John.” Eric let her go. She ran to the closet and flung the door open, then ducked inside. Behind Eric and his men, passed the wheel chair with John and the two men assigned to get him to the van. They passed strange looks between themselves and Eric, who simply shrugged and then, jerked his head in the direction they were to go and they took off.

Betty quickly pulled the two trash bags off the shelf where she had left them, turned around and was back out the door in less than ten seconds. She ran back to the gurney and set the bags where her feet had been before, hopped up and put her legs over top the bags.

“Well, cover me up.” She directed Eric, who quickly did so and the team was trotting down the hallway once again, in short order. They covered the four hundred feet or so to elevators without seeing or hearing anything. Then they pressed the button to call the elevator. The ding was almost instantaneous and to everyone’s surprise the doors popped open revealing six Diablo members. They were stunned to have been met by four huge black men, in black suits, guarding a gurney with an obvious body on it.

The Diablo’s all were holding their guns in their hands and all of them brought them to bare on the men, though they hardly looked as though they could use them proficiently.

It was almost comical the differences between the two groups. The Diablo’s were dressed in ragged blue jeans, t-shirts and leather jackets. Their hair to a man was long shaggy, dirty and tied in ponytails. Every man had a beard that was long and untrimmed. The Oracle’s men were wearing suits and ties, all black. Their hair was short and neat. Not one had any facial hair.

“Who are you?” the Diablo in the middle asked.

“None of your business.” Eric replied. “Who are you?” Eric then asked the Diablo leader.

“Really, you can’t see my colors? I am your worst nightmare. I’m a Diablo and we don’t answer questions.” The man snarled, as if this was pissing contest he could win. “Now tell me, who the fuck you are or we’ll kill your asses right here.”

“Really,” Eric returned the sarcasm, “You can’t see my colors?” The Diablo stood staring at Eric. Figuring it was a waste of time matching wits with this inbred moron, Eric countered, “We’re the men in Black and we’ll not only will kill you. But you disappear as well. Now get out the way.”

“What’s under the sheet?” the guy persisted.

“A woman.”

“We’re looking for a woman, Take the sheet off.” The guy continued.

“You’ll have to find your next date elsewhere.” Eric replied sarcastically, then said to his men, “We’ll get the next elevator.” The team then swung the gurney around and started to walk away. The Diablo men jumped out of the elevator and demanded Eric and his three men stop, which they did. Eric’s team swung around in unison, drawing their silenced forty caliber Sig-Saur‘s as they turned and fired. The Diablo’s dropped to the floor and Eric’s team walked back to the elevator and rode it to main level. From there, it was a short walk to the loading dock and men paid very close attention to every sound they heard, because if there were six Diablo’s, there were bound to be more. Kind of like cockroaches.

The two men with John had already returned to the van and were waiting when Eric’s team arrived. They quickly loaded up, including Betty’s two trash bags and drove away before the six dead Diablo’s were discovered and no one was the wiser as to who or why they had killed them. When the group arrived back at the Iron Horse, the van pulled inside of a parking structure that was next to the guest area and the Oracle’s residence.

“Where are we?” asked Betty.

“The Oracle will answer everything for you in the morning. I’m just the hired help. If there is anything you want, anything, just let me know and I will get it for you. The phone rings my station automatically. I’m sure you’ll find the accommodations quite comfortable.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The accommodations were more than comfortable, they were lavish, but most of all, they were safe and secure. Over the next six weeks, while I recovered, Betty and I built a solid friendship, as I was in no condition to do anything else. The Iron Horse Restaurant proved to be amazing. Acquired by the Oracles’ Great Grandfather right after the civil war, it had served as the railroad repair facility for over a hundred and twenty years. Then during Prohibition, it was transformed into the hottest speak easy in the tri-states region. It served also as a moonshine clearing house that was never compromised or shutdown. It was rumored, the shareholders in the moonshine business were the rich and powerful of east Tennessee. With them holding the lion’s share of the stock in the place, no one expected to see any real law enforcement efforts to take place against it.

When the great depression stunned the nation and the world, The Iron Horse continued to operate, catering to the wealthy, while at the opposite end of the huge building they had a soup kitchen and flop house for several hundred people at a time. It was the legacy that the Oracle wanted to see continued as today’s economic times were almost as tough, as they were in the nineteen thirties.

During my stay, the Oracle had been friendly enough, but his visits were brief. Stopping by to say hi every day, but rarely staying more than a few brief minutes. That was until today, when the doctor told me, I could start exercising to get my muscle tone back to normal.

“I hear you have the doctors blessing to start exercising.” The Oracle said as he sat down.

“Yeah, I should be back to my old self in a couple of weeks, but I haven’t got that much time according to what you said the other day.” I reminded him off the information he shared the other day about the local prosecutors wanting to prosecute me for the death of Holston.

“Yes, but you have the proof of your innocence and that should end the man’s ambition to ride your back to higher office. The Feds are getting close to announcing their case against Kelly and Washington. They have a solid case against them regarding the false death certificates, but as for the murder of Doctor Anne Harris, they’re about to get that case tossed. No real evidence other than witnesses that saw her alive and well. The Grand Jury is telling the prosecutor that without a body, they won’t indite.” The Oracle shared.

“I can’t go digging into the Doc’s disappearance right now. I’ve got my own prosecuting to do. I promised Michael Nolan, what would happen, if he didn’t straighten up and now that he has ignored me, I intend to keep my promise.” I informed the Oracle.

“I happen to agree. You haven’t a choice in the matter, unless you wish to move to another city.”

“No, I think I like this one.”

“Betty might move with you, if you were to ask.” The Oracle informed me.

“I’d like that, but why should she have to move because of me?”

“She made her choice when she got in the car with you. If you had left her home and took on the bikers by yourself, she would have been over looked.” The Oracle shared.

“So you’re saying, it’s all my fault.” I countered and then added. “I agree, but for a different reason then my trying to protect her. If I hadn’t asked her out, she’d have been far better off.”

“You should ask her about why she lives alone and way out off the beaten path.” The Oracle suggested.

“To avoid losers like me,” I countered. The Oracle just shook his head.

“John, I don’t make friends with losers. Remember that the next time you’re feeling the need for a pity party. I suggest you get yourself in gear and be prepared to talk with Mrs. Carmel. She took over the family business when her husband passed. If you want to kill Michael Nolan, you will need her permission.”

“He’s a made man?” I questioned.

“No, but he does work for her directly and you’ll want to clear it with her, so she understands it has nothing to do with her. It’s personal and it’s self-defense.” The Oracle shared.

“Is she a reasonable person?” I asked.

“Who can say, what is reasonable and sane for one person, is considered totally crazy by the next.” The Oracle explained. I thought about jumping on him for taking the easy way out, bullshit, but decided it was just one of his idiosyncrasies, I’d just have to deal with.

“So how do I arrange a meeting with Mrs. Carmel?” I asked.

“I’ll let her know, you’d like to talk with her and when she is ready, she’ll be in touch. Just be ready to go, at a moment’s notice.”

“Interesting. I never was allowed to meet the bosses in my hometown. I dealt with their attorney only.” I countered. “They could then claim, anything said to me or by me, was covered by attorney client privilege.”

“You’re accused of shooting her attorney.” The Oracle pointed out.

“I would not have minded shooting him, but I didn’t do it. I have proof of that. We just need to have someone who isn’t a friend of mine, somehow present it.” I whined, hoping the Oracle might attest to the validity of the claim for me.

“I’d provide a copy of your proof for Mrs. Carmel, which should help your credibility.” The Oracle offered. I thought, bingo! No one thinks for even a moment, the Oracle might lie.

CHAPTER TWENTY

I didn’t have to wait long to have my meeting with Mrs. Carmel. Betty and I had gone for a walk in World’s Fair Park and had just gotten out of sight of the Iron Horse, when a large black limousine pulled up blocking our path and four large men got out. Each of the men held a forty-five caliber hand gun out in the open as one of them stepped forward and stated.

“Mrs, Carmel wants to see you.”

“Okay, when?” I responded.

“Cute. Get in the car, now.” The smashed nosed individual ordered. When both Betty and I step forward, he stepped in front of her and snarled, “Not you.”

“But she’s with me and this isn’t a very good neighborhood.” I interjected and put my arm around her.

“Not her and don’t make me tell you again. Now get in the car.” He snapped again. I turned to Betty and whispered, while giving her a kiss, “Let the Oracle know.” I also slipped her my forty caliber which caused the four chunks of mayhem to swing their guns up and point them at her. I quickly put my hands up and stated loudly.

“Easy guys. I promise she won’t shoot you. Well, at least not right now. But send me back with my shirt ruffled and all bets are off.”

“Shut up and get in the car.” The lead man barked again. As I slipped into the back seat, he slipped in on one side and one of his buddies slipped in on the other. With the two other huge guys in the front seat, I felt totally safe. I had air bags all around me. I didn’t share that observation though. Somehow, I don’t think they’d find it even remotely funny.

Before we had driven a block, the big leader handed me a black cloth bag and told me to put it over my head. I did so without any comments. I was expecting to be stuck in some God awful smelling bag that people had cried, puked and even died in. But no, it smelled like fresh cut roses and was super soft.

I tried to keep an estimate of the time we traveled and if we were driving in circles as we drove on. As near as I could tell, as I counted to sixty to mark the minutes over and over again, we hadn’t done any circles. We had turned right, immediately upon my putting the bag on. Then we took another right, two minutes later and then a left, three minutes later. Then a right, then left for a long way, then right, then left, then another left, then right and finally left, before coming to a stop.

I was helped from the car after about an hour of driving. They left the bag on my head, while two of the big men grabbed my arms and led me around. We had gone about two hundred feet when we abruptly stopped and they yanked the bag off my head. The sunlight was brutal and I shielded my eyes for a moment as they adjusted to the brightness.

“I apologize for all the cloak and dagger crap, Mr. Carpelli, but in my profession, it pays to be careful.” I heard a woman’s voice say as my eyes continue to adjust. Finally, I was able to stop blinking and focus on the woman several feet away sitting on the top of a picnic table with forty caliber hand gun setting next to her on the table. About a hundred feet away were a swing set, monkey bars, teeter totter and large sand box. Two small girls were playing there with a nanny, who was a cute early twenties something. The area around the playground was park like though we were on private property as attested to by the dozen men toting automatic weapons.

“No, it should be me, who is apologizing to you for my frailty at the moment but I’ve been under the weather a bit as of late. Plus for taking up your time with such a small matter.” I tried the groveling approach, but as I’ve said, I’m not too good at acting like a rube.

“You have proven to be quite resourceful, Mr. Carpelli. I received your little package this morning and I must say, it was quite enlightening. But we both know how easy it is to falsify this type of evidence.”

“But you can also tell it wasn’t,” I stated.

“Mr. Holston, will be hard to replace,” she stated.

“Hopefully, you won’t consider his business partner, Michael Nolan.”

“Oh, and why shouldn’t I consider him?” She asked.

“Because he’s out to take over from you. According to the late Mr. Holston, he was skimming off the drug deals and he had Holston killed. Probably to shut him up. Plus, I was told by two other reliable sources, Nolan was behind your husband’s death as well.” I informed her.

“What makes you think that?” She asked.

“His death certificate was falsified to hide the fact that he had been tased dozens of times before he was rolled off the cliff. The ME who falsified the record was working for Kelly and Washington and they work directly for…” She cut me off and finished the sentence for me.

“Michael Nolan.” She said and for a moment looked over at her kids playing on the swings, which brought a smile to her face.

“If the Feds can get Kelly or Washington to turn on Nolan, than he could turn on you. I’m assuming that Kelly and Washington have never actually met you.” I stated though it was a question.

“No, I have never met with them.”

“That’s good, because it all is just hear say, without an obvious relationship.” I shared what I had heard Bender say a hundred times over the last twenty years.

“You an attorney, Mr. Carpelli?”

“No Mam, but I did work as an investigator for an attorney, who had a very colorful relationship with the boss in my hometown.” I shared cryptically.

“You’re an investigator? Is that what you were doing for Holston?” She asked just as one of the children ran up and hugged Mommy.

“I love you, Mommy. Is this a bad man?” The little girl asked.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Now go play with your sister and Missy Taylor, okay?” Mrs. Carmel told the little girl. I remained silent while they talked, not wanting to intrude. As the little girl turned and ran back to her nanny, Mrs. Carmel openly glared at the nanny who called out.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Carmel. It won’t happen again.”

“I apologize for the interruption, now where were we?” Mrs. Carmel asked.

“I had just told you I’m an investigator.”

“Oh, yes.” She stated. “So who was it you worked for and where?”

“That situation ended badly, through no fault of my own or the attorney I worked for. It seems the son of Pittsburgh’s crime boss, Anthony Conners, had turned himself and a whole lot of records over to the Feds. I had been asked to find Mr. Conners son and help to him to come home. As the pressure from the Feds mounted and I was unable to find Mr. Conners son, though I have a solid hunch as to where he is, Mr. Conners got spooked and started hiring hitters from all over, to whack several friends of his sons, plus the attorney and myself.”

“Yet, you’re still alive.”

“Yes, the Feds charged in just in time. The attorney I worked for turned state’s evidence and I just left town.” I sort of explained.

“So who was your boss?”

“It was Jackson Bender.”

“Isn’t Anthony Conners dead?”

“Yes, according to the Feds. That’s why I felt safe enough sharing that information.”

“You think I wouldn’t kill you, because the guy offering the contract is dead. Is that right?”

“I sincerely hope so.”

“So why are you here? I already knew most of what you have shared.”

“I asked to see you so that I might receive your permission to kill Michael Nolan.” I said straight out and waited nervously for her answer.

“Why would I do that? I am well informed now on his intentions. Plus his connection to the Diablo’s is very valuable. We can move drugs and money across the country with impunity.”

“I doubt the Diablo’s will want to change anything in regards to your arrangement with them, regardless of what happens to Michael Nolan. I won’t be telling anyone about my efforts and the body will never be found.” I stated confidently, though she didn’t seem all that impressed.

“Why do you want to this?” She then asked.

“He took what was strictly a business arrangement and made it personal. He made some threats and has spent considerable time and money trying to kill me. I take that personally and know I need to finish this before he finishes me.” I explained.

“So you were the unidentified man, who attacked him in the restroom at the restaurant.” She then stated, as though she were connecting all the dots before deciding.

“Well, he actually attacked me. He just hadn’t thought about the fact, I might be able to fight back.”

“Impressive. The rumor is that he’s an extremely tough character.” She stated and waved at her daughter’s.

“I won’t be giving him an opportunity to fight back.”

“So who knows you’re here talking to me?” She asked and turned to look at me directly. She was lovely with light brown hair and deep green eyes. She looked as though at some point in her life she been a model. She had all the right curves for the job.

“There are two people. A woman, who was with me when your men picked me up. She only knows I said I had to go meet with you, but not about what. The other is the Oracle, it was his advice that caused me to seek you out and to do this thing the right way. With you permission.”

“I see. I know the Oracle will not divulge any information per our arrangement. The woman, she could be troublesome.” I interjected here.

“Like I said, she doesn’t know anything.” I stated firmly.

“I hope so for your sake, Carpelli. Because if she proves to be a problem, we’ll be looking for her and for you as well. You’re now responsible for her. I don’t care if you split up and she doesn’t say a thing for twenty years and then talks. You will pay the price, just as she will.” Mrs. Carmel was being overly dramatic I felt but I understood.

“Yes, she is my responsibility.” I stated letting Mrs. Carmel know I accepted and understood.

“Good. Now there is another issue, I would like your help with.” Mrs. Carmel stated firmly. She then told me, in no uncertain terms that I had to do this extra thing, or else. When she had finished explaining how and what I was to do, she quickly dismissed me.

“Good luck, Carpelli.” She said as she dismissed me from our short meeting. “If things work out the way you expect, I may have other investigations I’ll need your help with.” Mrs. Carmel said as she turned away, going back to watching her children play.

I started to turn around when the big guy who had led me in, was right there and slapped the black bag over my head again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Mrs. Carmel’s goons dropped me off at the same corner in World’s Fair Park, they had picked me up at. Thankfully, it was a short walk back to the Iron Horse. I used the rear entrance avoiding being seen by the late lunch crowd or the early dinner crowd, depending on your typical work day. I stopped by Betty’s apartment and found a note saying she had gone shopping. So I went to the Oracle’s office.

I was met at the doors by two huge African American men who made me, at six foot-four inches tall, two hundred forty pounds, look small. I stopped several feet back from the door and asked if, the Oracle was in and if, he was busy.

“Wait here!” The man on the left snarled, then turned and walked behind the curtain next to him.

A moment later, the office doors opened and the big man stepped through saying, “He’ll see you now.”

“Were you ever part of the David Copperfield Show?” I asked thinking his little disappearance act was terrific, even if a bit dramatic.

“Now John, stop harassing the hired help. All these little hidden doorways and passageways, were my Grand Father’s way of insuring. if the club was ever raided, he and his customers could truly just slip out the back. Now what brings you by on such a fine day?” The Oracle was quite cheerful.

“I’ve just returned from a productive meeting with Mrs. Carmel. She didn’t want to admit it but she was unaware of Nolan’s plans for her and she certainly was unaware of the connection between Nolan, Kelly and Washington.” I shared a bit.

“And?” The Oracle pressed me.

“And nothing. You already know.” I complained in fun.

“Yes, but it is such fun hearing about your successes from you,” he countered.

“Fine, it went so well, she even hinted at using my services in the future. Though I doubt I’ll take the work. I’m pretty sure, I’ll stay in the light from now on. Like you said, “I don’t need the money.”

“That’s good John, very good. I doubt you’ll have any difficulty making a good living by doing so. It is a rare man who can make such major change this late in his life.” The Oracle gave me a verbal pat on the back. “What about Michael Nolan?” He then asked.

“I can’t let that go. We both know if I do, he’ll be back soon enough and then it could be a real tragedy. I can’t sit back waiting for him to make a move, or hurting people I care about. No, I have to end it. It is the only choice I have.” I explained.

“I understand John. I urge you to use as much caution, as possible, because I am sure he feels exactly the same as you do.”

“Speaking of people I care about and keeping them safe, did anyone go with Betty shopping?” I asked.

“Yes, of course, John. Mr. Eric and his team are with her.” The Oracle shared.

“You’re not sensing anything are you?” I asked and stared intently at the Oracle.