Where the Sun Sets (23 page)

“Until I called.”

“No, she was happy when you called. She was
beaming almost. She didn’t want to leave, I can tell you that. But
she couldn’t wait to see you. She was on the plane before I started
the car almost.”

“Why do you think she stayed so long
Billy?”

“For real? Are you serious? Damn Josephine,
you really are blind to the world around you.” He started to walk
back to the ER.

“Wait a minute. Billy, come on. You’re not
being fair here.”

He turned and looked at her. She really had
no clue. “For you Josephine. She stayed for you. If you had your
shit together she would have left years ago. You’re a mess. You
can’t make appointments. You can’t keep appointments. You can’t add
or subtract. Your books are always messed up. You have employees
who sell anything of yours they can get their hands on. You can’t
be alone. You know she’s always worried that you’ll overdose or
crash your car!”

“Overdose? That’s insane.”

“Is it? Is it really, Josephine? You know I
even asked her once, why. I couldn’t figure out why she gave a
damn, what with the way you walk all over her all the time. Hell,
you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who gives a shit whether or
not you swallowed too many pain pills. All anyone cares about is
that Ferrero fortune.”

“What did she say?” Josephine inquired in a
childlike tone.

“What? Who?” Billy had grown angry with the
thought of Josephine’s lack of concern for Antonia.

“Anthony, what did she say when you asked
her? If I am as evil as you would make me believe, when you asked
her why she gave a shit, what was her response?”

Billy threw both hands up in the air in
disgust. He turned and took two steps away from her and then
stopped. Someone needed to slap her in the face with the truth. He
turned and walked back to her. He got right in her face. “What did
she say? She said, ‘Joe doesn’t mean to be the way she is. She got
caught up in the role playing that’s all. She just forgets who she
is sometimes. I know who she is. I knew her when she was real.’
“When was that Ms. Ferrero? Huh? When was it that you were a real
person?” Billy was shouting. He was pressing for answers even
though he didn’t want to hear anything Josephine might have to say.
Nothing she could say would make him feel any better at the moment.
He loved Anthony. He felt totally inadequate at the moment. He had
let someone hurt her twice. He knew Antonia would never have let
anyone hurt him or anyone whom she loved for that matter. Antonia
would have known in advance that something was going to happen and
she would have been there to prevent it. Knowing this, Billy had to
assume that Anthony knew she was in trouble before it happened and
she was helpless to do anything to prevent it. She could not
protect herself in her condition. He should have been there for
her. But he worked for Josephine and it was his job to protect her.
He did not want this job anymore. He wanted out, but now was not
the time to think of anything or anyone but Antonia. “Hell, if she
doesn’t make it...”

“Doesn’t make it? Stop it! Don’t say things
like that! Anthony will be fine. She will be just fine. She always
is, isn’t she?” They were shouting at each other. They never
noticed as Harold walked up behind them. He waited for a break in
the action and then pretended to cough into his fist.

“Excuse me, please. My name is Harold Davis.
Chief Inspector Davis. Well, I’m retired now, but that really
doesn’t matter. I was involved in the original Dal Santo case.”

Billy was confused. “I’m sorry; I am not
familiar with...”

“Her mother’s murder? That case?” Josephine
jumped in. Billy looked questioningly back and forth between the
two.

“Yes. Yes that’s right.”

“What brings you here all the way up here?
You don’t live up here, do you?”

“No, no I do not.”

“What, you came up because of the shooting?
That’s very admirable of you, but I am sorry, I don’t think you
will be able to see her for a while.”

“I have already seen her, Antonia. I saw her
right before they brought her back down for surgery. And then I
went out to find you, at your home. But you were not there.” He
looked over to Billy. “I think that was a wise choice, getting her
out of there.” Billy just squinted his eyes at the man.

“I don’t understand. Why me? What would make
you come out to see me?” She stopped for a moment in thought. “You
didn’t just come to visit with Anthony did you? You read about the
shooting or heard about it on the radio and...you don’t think
there’s a connection, do you? I mean, that was like over thirty
years ago. Her father was charged with that right? And he died in
jail? Oh my God..., he did die in jail didn’t he?”

“Wow, you really charge forward, don’t you?
Yes, um, yes I was involved with her mother’s murder case and yes
her father was charged with that murder. Yes, it was reported that
her father died while serving time for her mother’s murder. And
yes, I do think there is a connection between then and now.” He
stopped and regrouped his thoughts. “It was Antonia, actually, who
sent me out to your place.”

“Anthony sent you? Why?”

“She was concerned; she thought perhaps the
man who attacked her was coming after you.”

Billy used the moment to prove his case. “You
see? There! You do see it don’t you? The woman has just been raped
and who is the first person she thinks about? You, for crying out
loud! She’s bleeding to death and all she wants is for you to be
protected!” He ran his fingers through his hair and turned his back
on the two.

Harold threw a protective arm around
Josephine and walked her back towards the emergency room doors.
“Actually her exact words were, ‘He’s going after Joe.’, I have to
assume she meant you.”

“Me? He’s coming after me? He killed Chloe
today. Did you know that?”

“Who was Chloe?”

Billy decided to take a walk. He let his
anger get the best of him. A little fresh air, alone, and he would
go back inside. Besides, Josephine seemed to be in good hands at
the moment. By the time Josephine and Harold had made it back to
the waiting room entrance, Billy was half way round the building.
The pain from the brick connecting with his temple was as short
lived as a spark. As Josephine and Harold went through the door,
the lights flickered on and off. Inside surgery, the clicks and
beeps of monitors and computers coming back on line were all you
could hear, as everyone froze in their tracks.

Dr. Luke looked up at all around the table.
Each individual motioned that they were OK on their end. He looked
up at his patient. Antonia’s eyes were open. Panic briefly gripped
at his heart. He looked to the anesthesiologist for an answer.
“She’s out Luke, definitely out. She must have taken a jolt.”

All eyes went to the nurse watching the heart
monitor. “Nothing here Doc, we’re good.” Dr. Luke reached over and
shut Antonia’s eyes. Carefully he checked his staff. “Whatever it
was, it is sure to be with us soon. Let’s finish up here, shall
we.”

Josephine rushed over to the receptionist.
“Is everything all right in there? What was that?”

“Just a power surge hon. It happens every now
and then. You know, like if there is a storm or someone runs their
car into a telephone pole housing a generator. I am sure everything
is just fine back there. You should try to get some rest. Maybe get
something to eat. Don’t worry, I promise I will find you if
anything changes.”

She looks pleadingly to Harold. “Hey, you
know what? I could really use some coffee. Why not let me buy you a
cup.”

“I should go and get Billy.”

“He seems to be a big guy, I am certain he
can look after himself. And when he is ready, he will find you.
Please, humor an old man and let me buy you a cup of coffee.”
Together they walked out of the waiting room.

Back into the lobby once again, Josephine
wrapped her arms around herself. Vaguely she remembered being in
the lobby the night before. She looked around the area as they
walked through. The cross on the wall called out to her. She felt
her stomach constrict. “I have to run to the ladies room. You go on
ahead.” She started off in the direction of the hall.

“I can wait for you if you’d like.” Harold’s
voice landed neatly on the carpeted floor as Josephine never
stopped to listen. He paused briefly before continuing on to the
cafeteria, where he purchased two coffees and two Danish. He found
a table in a corner, out of the sight of the viewing public.
Thinking perhaps the Star would like to be hidden, Harold placed
the items on the table. He then returned to the counter to retrieve
a newspaper. Finally he settled in himself, and read the town news
as he waited for Josephine.

Josephine turned on the cold water tap. She
placed both palms down on the counter top to balance herself. She
felt lightheaded and out of breath. Glancing at her reflection in
the mirror, she took note of the bruise on her forehead. Without
any makeup, she was a stranger to herself. ‘Have I eaten yet
today?’ She couldn’t recall. ‘Maybe if I eat something I will feel
better. Maybe I was supposed to take a pill or something.’ She
caught herself. ‘Maybe?’ Billy’s voice echoed in her head. ‘She’s
afraid you’ll overdose.’ ‘Christ Joe, when did you get so...what
has happened to me?’ She reached into the water flow with both
hands and brought her face down into them. Once, twice more before
stopping. Turning off the water she realized she had not grabbed
any paper towels. Glancing over to the dispenser, she laughed at
herself. It was empty. She looked back into the mirror at the
reflection of the dripping face. Strands of hair were pasted to her
face. She ran her fingers through her hair in the hopes of saving
her appearance. Drying her face with her fingers she leaned back
against the wall and faced her true self. Somewhere deep inside she
felt lonely. She missed the face she saw in the mirror. Where did
that Josephine go? How long ago had she left? How did she slip away
so silently? Her arms embraced her as a sudden chill entered the
room. What a difference makeup can create. She recalled when she
first started to wear the stuff. It was not permitted at school.
But when she started acting, her mother had convinced the staff at
St. Agnes that it was necessary for Josephine to learn how to apply
her own makeup.

She was granted consent to practice with it
on Saturdays after chores. Her mother had purchased a wonderful
selection of the finest products in France. Josephine and her
classmates would sit for hours applying and reapplying. All but
Anthony of course. Anthony never even came into the room when the
makeup was out. All the others would tease her about it. There was
even one who called Anthony a ‘shim’, insisting that if she were
female, surely she would want to look beautiful. She was constantly
taunting Anthony and her sexuality. Josephine understood, at least
she thought she did. She never forgot the story she heard the first
day at St. Agnes. And over the years she was able to piece together
all that confused her at first.

She remembered the first time Anthony saw her
in makeup. She remembered how at first she had been amused by
Anthony’s reaction. Anthony was at the sink when Josephine walked
into the restroom to wash her face. “Hey,” was all she had said as
she came up behind her. Anthony looked up into the mirror. She
never said a word. Josephine had heard her suck in her breath.
Anthony just stood frozen for a time, staring into the mirror as if
afraid to turn around. And then, Josephine realized, her amusement
wore off and she became angry with Anthony. Angry from the lack of
verbal compliments coming from her friend.

“Is there a problem?” She had started her
attack with a question. “Boy, if I didn’t know any better, I’d
swear you had a hard on.” She came up closer to Anthony. So close
in fact her chest had touched Anthony’s back. She leaned up and
whispered into her ear, “Whatcha wish for?” Anthony had spun around
so fast Josephine went flying backwards. From the floor of the
restroom Josephine tried in vain to summon up some sort of an
apology. Nothing came to her. Anthony stood staring a minute more.
As Josephine managed to get herself back to her feet, Anthony
slowly walked out of the room. Josephine’s heart was in her throat
as she watched her friend exit. Antony never took her eyes off
Josephine until she was in the hall and turned to dart down the
stairs. Staring at her own reflection now, she remembered how she
had felt that afternoon. How she forced herself to remain angry
with Anthony for over a week afterwards so that she wouldn’t feel
so shameful for what she had done.

Why had she attacked Anthony? What did she
want Anthony to say? How did she want Anthony to react? She knew
she had hurt Anthony. And she knew she had never apologized for it,
or for anything else for that matter. She needed to see Anthony
now. Something inside, between her heart and her stomach ached and
burned. She turned and left the restroom and without so much as a
thought in Harold’s direction, Josephine headed back towards
surgery.

Chapter 25

It wasn’t until the wailing of the siren
could be heard that Harold had realized he was still sitting alone
in the cafeteria. He glanced down at his watch but it was
pointless. He had no idea what time it was when he had come in the
room, so there was no way for him to know just how long he had been
sitting. Long enough for him to go over every piece of information
from the Dal Santo murder his mind would allow.

He had let that little girl down. He had let
down her mother. He was directly responsible for the death of
Juliet and for every rotten thing that had ever happened to Antonia
throughout her life. If only he had sent a car out right away. If
he had, maybe none of this would be happening now. Harold ran his
hands across his face. His right hand followed up, allowing his
fingers to glide across his hair.