by M. M. Cox
I say nothing. I feel helpless, as though the door I have chosen has opened into a gaping, black hole from which I can’t escape.
“I need you to find out who the undercover person is from your little friends at the police department,” Barb says. “And then, I want you to get us Tony Chen’s laptop.”
“What?”
“Yes. You see, it seems as though Mister Chen is selling his son’s protection software to some of Ray’s clients. We need Tony’s laptop. If you don’t help us, we’ll just take it ourselves—and maybe take the whole family out while we’re at it.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “Why? Why would you kill an entire family?”
“This is big money,” Barb replies. “More than your tiny brain could ever imagine. We’re not letting one little family stand in our way.” She sneers at me. “And we’re not letting you stand in our way either.” Next she pulls my wallet out of her pocket and puts the business card back behind my ID. “You’ve got three days, Danny. That’s it. Then I’ll tell Gino and Ray you’re a rat. On Tuesday morning you will meet me at the Newcastle Mall and turn over both the computer and the name of the undercover.”
I glare at her, agreeing to nothing.
She holds out my wallet. “Do what you’re told, Danny. Stop trying to be a hero. It didn’t work for your dad, and it won’t work for you.”
“My dad’s not a hero, not even close,” I counter, snatching the wallet from her claw-like fingers.
“Not that one,” she says, and then she cackles at the look of confusion crossing my face.
“You had better go—I don’t want your buddy to get suspicious.”
I don’t move. “What did you mean about my dad?”
Her face contorts unattractively. “All these father figures—and not one of them good. Poor boy.”
I wait for her to say more, but she just leans quietly up against the stair rail and grins at me. “This is not over. I won’t let you win,” I tell her bitterly.
“Oh, you’re right about that, Danny. It’s not over. We will use you however we see fit. You may have escaped me once, but it won’t happen again.”
“Why won’t you leave me alone?”
She sneers. “We will—eventually. When you are of no further worth.”
I scowl at her and then hurry out the door, desperate to get away from a mess I may never escape.
Chapter 16
I climb into the Lexus, feeling like I have just been shot.
“Well?” Vince asks, his face as serious as the night he tried to attack me.
“I got it,” I reply, holding up the wallet.
Vince nods, but he doesn’t fire up the SUV. “You’re awfully serious for someone who just had a successful break-in. I thought you’d be all excited. What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I snap; I’m spinning out of control.
“Did you run into their Rottweiler?”
I spin around to face him. “They have a Rottweiler? That might have been important information for me to know!” I am definitely overreacting, but the truth is, I can’t check my emotions at the moment.
“Hey, take it easy!” Vince snaps back. “You didn’t run into any trouble, right?”
I shake my head and turn to look out the window, making myself live yet another lie.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just—I’m just tired of all this nonsense with Tommy.”
Vince puts the SUV in drive and speeds quickly out of the neighborhood, seemingly oblivious to our earlier goal to not raise suspicion with the neighbors. But I don’t care at the moment. The truth is, I did run into trouble, and I think an encounter with the Gallo’s vicious dog might have been preferable to the meeting I had just had with Barb Kluwer. I can’t believe that I am getting blackmailed for the second time in less than a month, and I can’t tell Vince because I know his loyalties are to his dad first. If I tell Vince what Barb wants, Vince will urge me to divulge the undercover’s name and take the computer just to make sure Gino doesn’t get into any trouble with the mob underboss. But I know I can never give up Frank’s name to that woman. Not only would Frank be as good as dead, Gino might die too because he brought Frank under his wing. I’m relieved that Barb and the others think the undercover is a cop; however, someone may suspect Frank. And I know I must warn him before the wiseguys figure out who the spy is among them.
* * * *
Finding a way to contact Pete Alvarez on Sunday is more difficult than I thought it would be. Julia’s cell phone is practically an extension of her ear, and I don’t want to ask Vince because this might raise a bunch of questions I won’t be able to answer. I can’t use the house phone or my phone because I don’t know who might be listening to my call. It’s possible, maybe unlikely, but possible. Eventually, I decide to go to a pay phone, but by the time I go with the Vigliottis to church and have Sunday dinner, I have already lost a decent portion of the afternoon. Finally, I use my cell phone to call the one person I had really hoped to avoid until I figured this whole mess out.
Reggie picks up on the third ring.
“You guys are really dropping the ball. I’ve never waited for three rings before,” I joke.
“Hey, Danny,” Reggie says, his voice lacking enthusiasm. “What’s up?”
“I need your help.”
Reggie sighs. “What is it this time? I was grounded for three weeks last time you needed my help. And what could you possibly want from me? I’ve seen your place, Danny. Remember? You’ve got everything you want.”
“Knock it off, Reggie. I really, really need a friend right now,” I say, trying to express in the tone of my voice everything I can’t say out loud. “Please come get me.”
Reggie groans. “Fine. But I’m taking my mom’s car. I don’t need to get knocked off by the mob.”
I mildly control my frustration. “Just come get me. I’ll reimburse you for gas.”
“How about my homework? Will you do that too?” Reggie’s voice is oozing sarcasm.
“Just come get me.” I snap my cell phone shut with more force than necessary and glare at Baxter, who wags his tail happily, despite my scowl.
“Baxter, I feel like I’m you and everyone else is Tommy Gallo’s Rottweiler.” I pat his tiny head then walk outside to wait for Reggie.
Thirty minutes later, my friend arrives in an old Toyota Camry. He is in no better mood than he was on the phone. “Where are we going?” Reggie asks. “The mall? Are you going to buy me something nice?”
I slam the door, my anger starting to spill over despite my determination to control it.
“Gas station on the corner.”
“I came all the way here just to drive you to the gas station?” Reggie complains bitterly as he pulls away from the curb and starts down the street. “Couldn’t you get your spoiled ‘brother’ to take you?”
I’ve finally had it. “Enough, Reggie! I am asking you as a friend to help me. I’m in a lot of trouble, and I need it to look like I’m out with a friend. You are my friend, right?”
Reggie rolls his eyes. “You tell me. You’re the one who left, Danny. You left and now you’re all wrapped up in your new life as the son of a mobster.”
“Gino’s not my dad. And now I’m in a big mess.” I pause, trying to figure out what I should tell Reggie. “The district attorney’s assistant knows about the undercover agent, except she wants to expose him to Ray Gallo. She wants me to help her do that in addition to doing some other things for her.”
“Other things?”
“She wants me to steal a laptop, too. If I don’t, she’s going to tell Gino and Ray about my connection to the police. Reggie, I don’t know what they will do! Well, scratch that—I have a feeling I know what Ray will do.”
Reggie smashes his hands angrily against the steering wheel. “Are you kidding me?
What is wrong with you, Danny? You’ve got to get out of this!”
“What do you mean?”
Reggie slams on his brakes in front of the gas
station. “Just tell the agent you’re in trouble and you need to get out of the Vigliotti house.”
“Are you joking? I’m not leaving the Vigliottis. I need to protect Gino, like he protected me!” I counter.
“No, Danny. You need to protect yourself and do what’s right. Get out of there!”
I want to beat the dashboard. “You don’t understand! If they take me away from here, I won’t see anyone again, including you!”
“Well, that won’t be much different from how things are now, will it?” Reggie retorts.
“You’re becoming just like them, Danny. You’re practically one of them.”
“What? A mobster? How can you even say that? I’ve always done the right thing!”
“Really? Take a good look at who you’re protecting, Danny. Whether by accident or not, you’re now a part of the Newcastle Mob.”
“That’s not true,” I shoot back, but I don’t know what else I can say to defend myself. We glare at each other for a few minutes. I am furious with Reggie’s lack of support, and I don’t feel like I can count on anyone now. I decide to do what I had planned to do, even though I’m losing trust in my friend. I pull a piece of paper out of my wallet.
“What are you doing?” Reggie asks suspiciously.
I place the piece of paper in his cup holder. “It’s a phone number. If anything happens to me, I want you to call this person and tell him everything you saw that night you joined me in the diner. But only if I disappear, okay? Not before that.”
He shrugs. “Why shouldn’t I call it now?”
“Because, if you’ve stopped being my friend, at least be loyal enough to help me one last time.” Opening the door, I climb out quickly. “Just go home, Reggie. I guess I’m on my own.” I slam the door and walk away, and my one-time best friend drives away.
* * * *
Reaching Agent Frank McCoy turns out to be much easier than I had expected. I call Pete Alvarez from the pay phone at the gas station, only to find out that Frank is in his office. The hard part is getting Frank to listen to me.
“Frank, you’ve got to get out. Ray knows there’s an undercover.”
“Really? This is bad news.”
“I know,” I agree. “You’ve got to get out.”
“Get out? Now? They don’t suspect it’s me, do they? I’ve been in a while.”
“They suspect everybody,” I answer. “They don’t know who it is. But they want me to tell them.”
“Then you’ve got to leave,” Frank states.
I feared this would be his reaction. “I’m not leaving. I told them I don’t know who it is.”
“It’s too dangerous, Danny. You’re leaving.”
“No! I’m not.”
“If I have to kidnap you myself, I’m getting you out of there,” Frank warns. I think fast. If I want to stay with the Vigliottis, I’ll have to come up with another plan.
“All right! Fine!” I say, making my voice sound angry. At this point, it’s not difficult. “I’ll leave. You can pick me up Wednesday after school.”
“No, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“Wednesday—or I’m running away,” I threaten.
“You’re such a brat, Danny. Fine, I’ll pick you up Wednesday.”
I hang up the phone. Another pointless conversation, and now I am running out of time and allies. I need help, and I can’t turn to the Vigliottis, my law enforcement contacts, or my best friend. I’m trapped.
“Hey, Danny. What are you doing here? I thought you were going somewhere with your friend.”
I spin to find Gino behind me and plaster a smile on my face. “Oh, he got a call from his mom to come home and finish his homework,” I explain. “I told him to drop me here. I was trying to call Vince to come take me home because I left my cell phone at the house.” I almost shake my head. I am getting so good at lying that I am starting to convince myself my made-up stories are true.
“Well, then, I guess it’s your lucky day,” Gino says, pointing to the Lexus. “’Cause I’m headed that way myself.”
I can’t help but grin, and I follow Gino to the SUV. I feel content when I’m around Gino. Despite everything I now know about my godfather, I have to admit that I like being around him, and maybe, he actually likes having me around too. This is such a good feeling for me; I never felt wanted by my dad. That’s why I feel so strongly about protecting Gino. Above everything else, I owe him for giving me a family.
I lean back on the seat and sigh.
“What is it?” Gino asks, smiling at me.
I grin back. “I love this car. Especially when I don’t have to worry about a bloody head.”
Gino chuckles. “That was an interesting night.”
All of a sudden I feel brave. “Barb Kluwer was terrible. I wonder what ever happened to her,” I say casually.
But Gino’s face is unreadable. “I don’t know. She wasn’t my favorite person either. Thankfully, her claim on you wasn’t as good as mine.” He smiles again. “Are you going to try out for wrestling at Newcastle High?” he asks, changing the subject abruptly.
“Yeah, I think so. Practice begins next week. It’s too bad Vince—”
“Vince doesn’t like sports,” Gino interjects. “There’s nothing we can do about that.” His voice is tinged with irritation.
“I know. I just think he could be good—he’s amazingly fast and has great fighting skills,” I say, but I notice that Gino’s face is still hard. I pause for a moment, wanting to change the subject and wondering how I can bring up something that has been on my mind since the day I saw Gino, Joe, and Donny in the Vigliotti kitchen. I try an angle I think might get me there. “Do you know what’s going on with my parents?”
Gino shakes his head. “I don’t really.” He pauses. “I’m going to be straight with you, Danny, because I know you’re old enough to understand this. I want to warn you that your parents may not stay together.”
I don’t mean to laugh, but I can’t help myself.
Gino scrutinizes me carefully.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s not funny. It’s just, they were never a good match—I’m almost relieved it’s over.” I choose my next words carefully. “Mom was never happy with him. I think she must have had another life before that one.”
Gino nods. “Your mom was very different before she met Del. I think he was an escape for her.”
“An escape from what?” I ask quickly.
Gino scowls, as if knowing he may have revealed too much. “A life she wasn’t sure she wanted,” he answers carefully.
“Well, she didn’t end up wanting Dad. But, with the way he’s treated me, he’s not really my dad.”
“No, he’s not really, is he?” Gino asks rhetorically as he pulls the Lexus into the driveway. Before I have a chance to say more, Gino is out of the car and headed for the door.
“You have to tell me about her eventually,” I say to the empty car. Penny Higgins has a hidden past, and as her son, I want to know what that is.
Chapter 17
Monday morning brings no answers for me. I have less than two days to figure out how to handle Barb’s blackmailing. I’m not giving her or Ray Gallo what they want, but if I don’t, Gino might kick me out for good. And the Chen family will be dead. My options are so limited; I can’t trust any Vigliotti with this information, Reggie has disentangled himself from the sticky situation, and Frank is ignoring his own danger and my desires to stay put. For the first time since my dad attacked Mr. Doonesby, I feel completely, hopelessly alone. Second period is usually a high point in my day. Mr. Capriotti’s English class is fun because I often find myself enjoying the class discussions. I’m even finding that I like to write because it helps me cope with some of the anger I feel every day because my parents don’t seem to care whether I’m around or not. Not that I want to be with them; my new life, even with all of its drama, is great. I just want to make sure it stays that way. But today, I’m having trouble concentrating, and by the end of
class, Mr. Capriotti is somehow aware of my struggle. “Danny,” the teacher calls as students gather their items and leave the room. “Can I see you a moment?”
I instantly regret my lack of focus. I don’t need trouble now—my plate is well beyond full already. I trudge to the front of the room, trying not to show my frustration.
“What’s up, Danny?” Lenny Capriotti asks, his dark eyebrows arching questioningly.
“You’re usually right in the middle of our class debates. Today you’re a zombie.”
I shake my head. “Sorry. It’s been a tough week.”
“It’s Monday, Danny.”
I shrug. “I know. And it’s been a tough week,” I repeat, aggravated that Mr. Capriotti feels the need to interrogate me.
Mr. Capriotti leans back in his chair and studies me thoughtfully. “Do you know my brother?”
I try not to jerk with surprise. I’m definitely not expecting the question, and right now, the issue is a little sensitive. His brother’s assistant is blackmailing me, so I don’t exactly have warm, cuddly feelings toward Mark Capriotti at the moment. “What? Why?”
“I stopped by my brother’s house on the way home last night. I’ve been trying to have a better relationship with him, although right now the effort is all one-sided. But I could have sworn I heard him mention your name when he was on the phone.”
“Really? How strange,” I say, not thinking this was strange at all.
“Yeah, maybe I misunderstood him,” Mr. Capriotti says. “He blew off our plans to go to a game tonight to go to a business dinner instead. Typical.”
I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable with Mr. Capriotti’s personal sharing. I’m sure he’s doing it to draw me out, but I wish he’d leave me alone. “That sucks. Too bad, since you’re trying so hard to get to know him.”
“Yeah, it stinks,” Mr. Capriotti agrees, and then he laughs harshly. “Apparently, he’d rather spend time with Tommy Gallo’s dad than his own brother. How’s that for cruel justice?”
I stare at Mr. Capriotti with an intensity I can’t hide. “What? He’s getting together with Mister Gallo tonight?” My voice seems to have traveled up an entire octave, but I’m too focused to care.