Vindication- Ties That Bind

by Patricia Kasdan

  The two of them looked at each other and laughed until their sides hurt.

  “Hey muscle man, where’s my beer?” his father asked, “and while you are at it get you mother one too.”

  Isabella stood there watching her husband and her grown children, enjoying each other’s company.

  Krista could still remember the look on her mother’s face, and remember the way her eyes were full of light and the softness of her smile.

  She was jolted her from her thoughts when she heard LEVELL, visitor for Evan Levell, come to the window. What the hell, this was not a time to reminisce. I need to keep my head in the present and figure this out.

  The guard escorted her through a maze of security checkpoints that ended in the visiting room. He sent her down to the third seat of eight that ran along the half glass wall. It was sandwiched between two, two-foot dividers. A round steel seat welded to the floor sat in front of a corded phone that hung on the wall.

  Sitting there behind the glass that looked to be ten inches thick and waiting for Evan took an eternity. When he was finally escorted into the room, Krista couldn't believe what she saw. Evan's eyes looked more sucked in than when he was in court. His face was scruffy and shadowed with days of breed growth. His hair was even more dull and lifeless than it was in court. He looked broken, that is all she could think. He’s broken, and I have to fix him.

  She already had the phone to her ear as he picked up his end. “Evan, Evan, you good? Are you okay? We only have a half of an hour to visit. I need to ask about Camden.”

  “Krista, I thought I’d be going home, I thought I would get bailed out. Philsin, I can’t believe he was there, I don’t care if he said he has someone who saw me enter the building or not, I know, I know, I didn’t kill anyone. I know it, I just couldn’t. I have to stay in confined quarters. Why? It’s driving me crazy.”

  “You have to be under watch; you overdosed, you almost died. Do you realize that? You almost died.”

  “I feel like my insides are being torn out and I can’t get warm. I just want to get out of here.”

  “Did Doltz bring you the clothes I gave him for you. They weren’t just the suit for court. There were sock and thick, long sleeve polos as well as Ten Below running pants that you can wear under that thin orange jumpsuit. They should help take the chill away.”

  “He said he did, but I never received them. I just want out of here. I didn’t do this. I need to get out of here.”

  “I believe you. I’m pulling every thread I can find. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to see you, but I need to ask you something, and I need you to think. Think real hard Evan.”

  He wrapped his arms around his body, squeezing the phone between his shoulder and ear. Rocking himself slowly back and forth said, “I will, I’ll try.”

  “When I was down in Camden I saw a woman on the streets. She didn’t talk to me. I saw the same woman in court. When I tried to catch up with her, she disappeared into the crowd of people leaving the building.”

  “Who is she?”

  “That’s what I need you to tell me. I don’t understand why she would be in court if she didn’t know you.”

  Running his hands through his hair, he scrubbed his face with one of his hands; he said, “What did she look like?”

  “She was small, tiny even, and she was wearing a green coat that looked like it saw better days. She had dark hair and - “

  He sat up and grabbed the phone from his shoulder, holding it as if it was a life preserver. “Rosa, that sounds like Rosa. Why would she be in court? I don’t get it.”

  “How do you know her?”

  “I help her out sometimes. She's got two little kids, a little girl, and an older little boy.”

  “So you help her out because she has kids, that doesn’t make sense.”

  “If you saw her, then you know she needs help.”

  “I did see her, three times now, but I still don’t understand.”

  “Do you remember the stories that dad told us about his father and Nana Bev? “

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Well, I saw her one day walking down the street with her kids. She had a bruise across her cheek and four round bruises on her forearm, that looked like they were from someone's fingers. I couldn’t help but think that someone beat her. She was so small and so timid. All the stories that Dad told us came flooding back. I reached into my pocket and handed her the money I had, it was only a twenty, but I figured somehow it would help. I don’t know, I just wanted to help her, and I guess I did.

  The next time I saw her, her little boy handed me a picture he had drawn. There was, what looked like his mother, him and his little sister. It had a bubble above them; it read Tank you. Tank you, he was thanking me for helping. The woman introduced herself and told me that she went and bought groceries for dinner that night. He was thanking me for something we take for granted. I made it a point to bring extra money with me, in case I saw her when I was down there. It just became a thing I did.”

  Krista’s eyes were shining with the tears that welled up in them and threatened to spill over, willing herself to regain composure, wanting to hug her brother and not being able to, she placed her hand palm first against the glass. “Maybe she just wanted to see if you were okay.”

  “I hope she is okay.”

  “I’m sure she is. I’m more worried about you than her.” Krista could see what withdrawal, the hard and fast way was doing to him. One minute his forehead broke out with beads of sweat and the next he was hugging himself from the cold. His cheekbones seemed to protrude from his face, and his eyes set in dark pools of misery.

  “You need to eat, and you need to try and sleep. Take care of you, and I’ll take care of what is happening out there. I’m doing everything I can to get you out of here. Just hold it together for me, no, do it for you. Promise me you’ll do it for you. Before I forget, Dana and Tom send their love.”

  “I saw them in court. I was surprised they made the trip.”

  “Why wouldn’t they?”

  “I don’t know, I just thought-“

  “Don’t think, I want you to KNOW that we are all here for you.”

  Krista placed her hand on the glass, her heart feeling as if it were lead. “Our time is up. I have to go. Stay safe, and I’ll get you out of here as soon as I can. Believe that.”

  As Evan started to answer her, the guard pulled him away from the phone, leaving it dangling at the end of the cord. Krista hung up her phone and watched as he was led away, her heart breaking a little more with every step he took.

  28

  Brooklyn 1978

  Standing in front of the bank teller, Kathleen felt as if she had a bread paddle in her stomach, turning and kneading a large piece of dough. This is what she was waiting for, in two short hours, her dreams would become a reality.

  She had made sure to take her oversized messenger bag with her when she locked her rented room door and left for the bank. Not one person knew where she was going. She didn’t want to give them a chance to scoop up her opportunity to have her very own storefront.

  Wiping her hands down the front of her coat, she took the money the teller had given her and slid it into her messenger bag. She fastened it tight and slung the strap over her body. She wasn’t a fool. No one was going to be able to steal this from her.

  Walking into the burger cafe and scanning the tables and booths, she noticed Nikolay stand up slightly and sit back down. He and his mate were in a booth that was at the far corner of the cafe. She never did ask him what his name was. She guessed it didn’t matter now.

  Approaching the table, Nikolay slid out and gestured for her to sit down. Her hands were damp and cold, and her nerves were strung as tight as violin strings. Not until that moment did she realize that this could be one of the dumbest move she has ever made.

  Speaking as low as possible he said, “You got the money?”

  “Yes, but me don’t see the rubles.”

  “We have som
e here and more down the block. We couldn’t bring them all in here. Let me see the money.”

  “Me think me changed me mind. Me don’t think me want to do this right now.” Hoping to sound confident she said, “When me get more money together me could buy yee entire shipment. Why don’t we wait and it be easier?”

  “We had a deal sweetheart, I don’t know what you do in Ireland, but we honor our deals right here in the good ole U.S of A. So why don’t we go outside and finish this.”

  Her heart was pounding in her ears as she stood up. If she screamed, they knew where she worked and probably where she lived. She mentally sent a prayer out to the universe and walked to the door.

  Ivan stayed to her right, and Nikolay was like glue to her left, taking her arm they all but dragged her down the alley.

  “Give me your bag. When she tried to pull away, Nikolay grabbed a hand full of hair and said, give me the fucking bag. If I have to ask you again, I’ll tear this hair out of your head and shove it down your throat.”

  Her pale skin looked transparent as her eyes widened in her face. Yes, this was the dumbest move she ever made.

  Nikolay yanked the bag over her head and pushed her against the wall. Ivan held her to the wall with one hand saying, “Don’t move, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Nikolay took the money and shoved it into his inside coat pocket. He threw the bag to the ground as he turned to Kathleen. Running his hand under Kathleen’s coat and across her breasts said, “What do you say, a threesome, right here?”

  Kathleen cried out, begging, “No, no please, no.”

  Ivan pulled Nikolay’s hand away, glaring at him. “Are you crazy? Let's go while we can. I’m not into this shit. Besides, we don’t need a cop coming along and get busted again.”

  “They’re all the same anyway; oh please stop, please!”, he said, as his voice dripped with sarcasm. “You are lucky you little bitch.” His backhand slammed into her face sending a searing pain through it. As he threw a purple bag at her, it flew open and pelted her with potatoes. They left her lying in the trash that littered the alley.

  She lay there for a minute trying to understand what just happened. Her head throbbed, and sparks flew across her vision. She knew she needed to get up and out of this alley. As she pushed up, a pain shot through her shoulder that made her stomach roll, looking down she saw the bag and all of the potatoes that had hit her. She picked up the purple bag and stuffed it into her messenger bag, smoothing out her coat, she couldn’t help but think how lucky she was to be alive.

  She wanted to get home, wanted to get out of this alley before they changed their mind and came back. She hurried down the lane, her heart pounding in her ears and her breath coming in fast bursts. She could hear loud music and voices booming from a door, held open with a milk crate. She stopped to catch her breath and smooth her wild hair down before she entered. No one seemed to notice as she made her way through the kitchen and out the front door, of the what was a pub.

  Being out of the alley gave her little comfort, her eyes darted up and down the street, scanning for Nikolay and his mate. She wanted to hail a cab, but they took all her money. Every penny she had to her name. Thinking now was not the time to dwell, she needed to get home, back to the safety of her room and off these godforsaken streets.

  She was overwhelmed with gratitude when a green light flashed in the night like a beacon. She knew Kelly’s Pub was just steps away. Just when she thought she could get to the stairs on the far side of the building and not be seen, O’Malley stepped out of the pub the exact moment she was passing the door.

  He was able to grab hold of her shoulders before she fell. When she cried out in pain, he released her. He could see a bruise blooming on the right side of her face and the tracks from where her tears had spilled down her face.

  “Kathleen, what happened to you?”

  29

  The Search

  Leaving the prison and Evan behind had Krista’s resolve strengthen. She would get to the bottom of this. As she stepped out into the cold, her phone rang. Wanting to get out of the freezing, whirling wind that bit into her face like sharp nails, she hurried across the parking lot. She clicked her remote to unlock her doors and as she slid into what felt like an icebox and answered her phone. “Levell.”

  “Krista, it’s Travis.”

  With a shiver in her voice, she said, “Hey.”

  “Oh, you sound terrific, what’s up?”

  “Can it be any colder, my car is a cube of ice. I was only out of it for about two hours, and I can see my breath as I talk.”

  “You should get a remote starter. Start the car before you get into it, you don’t even have to go outside. It will be warm and de-iced.”

  “I know what a remote starter is. The dealer told me if I don’t go there to have it installed and have an outside shop do the work, it would void my car warranty. Do you know how much more expensive the dealer is, compared to a private shop? It’s ridiculous.”

  “I don’t know, I think I’d rather spend a little more and be a lot warmer, but you know, that’s just my opinion.”

  “You call just to bust on me?”

  “Ha ha ha, no, just wanted to know how Evan was doing and if he had any answers for you.”

  “Rough, he looks like hell. His eyes are sunken in, and he kept wrapping his arms around himself. He said he was cold, which I don’t doubt, but I think he was in pain too. He just didn’t want me to know. I’ve seen enough to know better.”

  “It’s a bitch, detoxing in the cage. They don’t administer anything for the withdrawal symptoms. It's cold turkey, all the way.”

  “The upside to it is that when he gets out, he’ll be clean. I’m going to try and get him to go down to Florida to a clean living house for a while.”

  “You seem optimistic. You know something I don’t?”

  “That woman, her name is Rosa, at least he thinks it might be her. There has to be some reason for her going all the way to court. There has to be.”

  “I’m guessing the only way to know is to pin her down.”

  “I’m heading to Camden now to see if I can find her. I’m hoping I can get her to talk to me.”

  “I can meet you.”

  “No, I’m good. I’m sure you have other leads you need to follow for your case. If anything pops, I’ll call you.”

  “I do, if anything, you know how to reach me.”

  “Yep. I sure do.”

  “Bye Krista.”

  She fastened her seatbelt and put the car in reverse, pulling out of her parking space. As she exited the lot, she blasted the heat and headed towards Camden. The drive didn’t seem to take as long as last time. She made it on the road in the sweet spot. The rare time of day when light traffic meant only having to slow to about 30 miles an hour opposed to five. At least when you drove in Manhattan, you knew the traffic would always be horrific, with a number of stop lights and the people, it was a given. On the Schuylkill Expressway, you jam on your brakes at a dead stop. You inch your way down the road like candle wax sliding down ice and then back into a fire. Thinking there’s an accident, then all of a sudden the road opens up, not a reason for the heavy traffic in sight.

  She wasn’t sure if it was because of the light traffic or the fact that her thoughts of Travis kept her brain busy. She assumed she would be out here on her own, but he seemed always to be checking in with her throughout this nightmare. He could read her so well; it was unnerving. She didn’t want to think about the way his jeans clung to his butt or the natural way of his stance and didn’t want to recall how soft his hair felt as it bushed past her thighs, or picture the way he smirked when he knew he was right. Then there was the way his dark eyes filled with light when he looked at her. No, she didn't want to think about it, but they were the only images she had rolling around her brain. Shaking her head and rolling her eyes she thought, Get a grip.

  She took the exit into Camden turning down a side street. She wasn’t sure where she would, o
r even if she could, find Rosa. She decided to drive up and down the streets instead of huffing it. It was too damn cold. As she proceeded down the second block, a black and white turned the corner. It slowed as it approached her, coming to a stop. Stopping herself, she hit the button for her window, and as it slid down, she saw Officer Stevenson.

  “I thought that was you, Levell.”

  “Stevenson.”

  “And what brings you to our fair city today?”

  “I got a line on -; I’m not sure what to call it. Let's say I found another thread to pull.”

  “At least you’re not walking the street by yourself. How can I help?”

  “You know of a Rosa, don’t know her last name. I saw her down by York Street last two times I was here and then she shows up at court. Her name may be Rosa, a shadow of a woman, long green coat that’s about four sizes too big for her, possibly two small children.”

  “Sounds like Rosa Santiago. Been at her apartment a couple a few times on domestic calls.”

  “Talk about luck, running into you today.”

  “I told you where to find me if I could help.”

  “I know, I know, looks like you found me. You have her address.”

  “I really don’t think it’s such a great idea, you going there and talking to her. Her husband is a violent son of a bitch. She never presses charges, just shakes her head when we ask her if she’s okay. Don’t think you’d get anything accomplished except catch her getting another beating.”

  Krista had a raging debate with herself; if this was Rosa, and it sure sounded like what Evan had described, she should have the answers she needed. On the other hand, Evan was trying to help her and if Rosa caught another beating because of her …

  “Damn, I need to talk to her.”

  “She goes out every day to pick up her son from school. You can probably catch her over by the school if you time it right.”