Luci gave me a sidelong glance, resuming his cleanup. “Tell me.”
“That first week in September, Vespucci paid me a visit. I didn’t know how to say no to a Mafioso crime boss.” I stood up, kicking my shoes off and walking over to the punching bag, throwing a half-spirited kick low on the bag. I turned to Luci. “I didn’t want to get you involved until I was further along.” Luci watched me, giving no indication what he was thinking. I switched legs and kicked from the other side. “Then Sara destroyed my life, and I forgot about everything.”
“When does it need to be done?”
“Late December.”
“Not a lot of time, Jon. Especially since you just burned a month hanging out in your apartment.” Luci straightened to a standing position, wiping down the barbell resting on the benches V cups. “Is it an anniversary or a marriage?”
“Marriage. His daughter. Maggie.”
Something in my voice got Luci’s attention. He stopped wiping for a moment, checking out my face. “Maggie, huh. What’s this Maggie like?”
“Just finished her Ph.D. at NYU.”
Luci took that in, silent a moment. “Please tell me she’s marrying an accountant.”
“Guy’s name is Marco Balducci.”
“Mob, too?”
“Yeah. Before coming back to the States last year, he spent ten years living in Sicily, running a foundry for the family business. He even got friendly with the prime minister.”
“The Italian prime minister? That guy’s dirty as they get. He’s all tied up with the Italian mob.”
“I know. I’ve been doing my homework.”
Both of us silent, I watched Luci finish wiping down his equipment. Finally he stood up, moving over to his set of dumbbells lined up on a rack against the wall. He picked up one at a time. “You tried to turn him down, didn’t you?”
“Yep. Wouldn’t take no.”
“Figures.” Luci mulled that over a moment. “So, you’ve just been sitting on this since you and Sara broke up. Have you written anything?”
I shook my head.
“What about interviews?”
“Started them in September. I’ve got initial notes, but I need to go back next week to finish my interviews and tie up the loose ends. Mr. Vespucci paid me a visit this morning to make it clear he would not be happy if I didn’t do my job.”
Luci quickly turned to me. “He gave you that black eye?”
“Yes, I mean no. Well—”
“Which is it?”
“It’s complicated. It started with the FBI agent—”
“What FBI agent?”
“—then more happened at the memorial service.”
“What memorial service?”
Izzy’s voice interrupted us from the kitchen, “Let’s go, boys.”
We both looked toward the house, then back at each other. Luci raised his finger. “Stop. I want you to start from the beginning and explain everything, and I want Izzy to hear this.”
I nodded, following him as he walked out of the garage and crossed the yard to the kitchen steps. Izzy had already brought a couple of dishes out to the table, so Luci and I went inside and grabbed what was left to carry and took it out to the table. As we sat down, I stared at the spread, realizing I had not had a good meal, other than Izzy’s care packages, in weeks. I’d lost over ten pounds. I wasn’t a big guy to begin with, so I was sure the weight loss showed. Lately, when I looked in the mirror, I had noticed the hollowness in my cheeks.
Before me was a vegetarian’s paradise. Neither Izzy nor Luci ate meat, and they avoided processed foods, so I knew I could eat whatever was on the table without regret. They tracked the days of the farmers’ markets in the different areas of the city and made sure to hit at least one every two to three days to buy fresh organic vegetables. A plate of large, juicy red tomatoes sat directly in front of me. Beside it was a large spinach salad with black olives, avocado slices, and pine nuts sprinkled across the top. A plate stacked with a dozen ears of steamed yellow corn, a large bowl of steamed brown rice, and a pile of veggie burgers completed the spread. I looked at Izzy with gratitude.
“I figured you’d be hungry,” she said, smiling.
Izzy was right. I was starving. I filled my plate with tomatoes and salad and rice and two veggie burgers. I ate with a rapacious vengeance. As I stuffed food in my mouth, Luci and Izzy watched me for a few moments before they began to eat.
Luci broke the silence. ”Jon has some explaining to do, so I’m going to ask him to start over because he was talking a bunch of nonsense in the garage and I’d like him to explain it to both of us.”
Two sets of eyes turned to me.
I had to wait a moment as I chewed my food before I began. “A guy from New York hired me to write the love story for his daughter’s wedding.”
“A mob guy,” Luci added. Izzy’s eyes opened wide.
“Yeah, a mob guy,” I repeated. I stopped eating, sitting back, taking a breath, trying to decide where exactly to begin. “The last twenty-four hours have been . . .” I paused, trying to gather the words, “. . . well, if it hadn’t happened to me, I don’t think I’d believe it.”
“I would,” Luci responded. “Trouble must have a willing participant. It follows those who seek it.”
“Tell us,” Izzy said gently, admonishing Luci with a look.
Between bites, I went back over my previous twenty-four hours. Luci and Izzy sat quietly, their faces revealing first amusement, then surprise, and then shock as I moved through the turns in my story. I recounted my entire night, from meeting Donovan at the rest stop to my run-in with Ted Williams to the whole debacle at the memorial service. When I finished, I took a deep breath. “And then I decided to come see you guys,” I finished with another deep breath. “That’s everything.”
Izzy spoke first. “Let me get this straight. So Ted Williams is Sara’s new boyfriend’s cousin? And he’s an FBI agent?”
I winced at the mention of her name in connection with another man. I nodded.
“But why would he threaten you if last night was the first time you called her?” Izzy asked.
I looked away sheepishly. “Oh. I forgot to mention I’ve made a few more phone calls from the phone down the street over the last few weeks.”
Izzy stared at me, waiting, knowing there was more.
“And I may have parked outside her place a couple of times at night just to make sure she was okay.”
They shook their heads in unison. I shrugged my shoulders.
“Then you went to a memorial service, scared the dead woman’s granddaughters, got beat up by a big boyfriend, and was saved by a mobster’s bodyguard?”
I grinned at Izzy. It sounded so crazy I couldn’t help it. “Yeah.”
Izzy looked at Luci, who had been sitting quietly watching me. He appeared to be perusing the damage on my face. “The black eye came from the guy this morning, right?” I nodded. “Where did you get the bruise on your forehead?”
Inadvertently, I raised my hand to my forehead, having completely forgotten about the bruise, the night seemed so long ago. I pushed gently against my forehead, pain shooting into my skull. The bruise hurt. “Oh, I left that part out,” I said, embarrassed. “I couldn’t get the voice in my head to shut up, so I banged my head against the phone booth at the rest stop. Knocked me out for a minute.”
Luci and Izzy exchanged a look. Silently, Izzy stood up from the table and crossed to the house. Luci stared at my face. Neither of us spoke. A few moments later, Izzy returned to the yard with her medical bag. She pulled out her penlight, sat down beside me and pointed it at my eyes. “Hold still. Look left. Now right,” she instructed.
Protesting, I said, “I’m okay, you guys.” But I enjoyed the attention, nonetheless.
Izzy put the penlight away, satisfied with her examination.
“You aren’t showing any signs of the effects of a concussion.”
Luci cut in, “Jon, you said the guy kicked you while you were lying on the ground?”
I nodded. Luci indicated to Izzy to check my ribs. She immediately placed her hands on my midsection. As she felt around my rib cage, I winced as she prodded my left side. More gingerly, she felt around the sore area. “You’ve got two bruised ribs, but nothing worse,” Izzy said. She pulled some aspirin out of her bag and gave me the bottle. “Take this for the next couple of days. It will ease the pain when you breathe and bring the swelling down.”
“Thanks, Izzy,” I said.
Izzy shook her head as she packed her stuff away. “Jon, why can’t you find yourself a nice girl? Enough of this.” She stood up, carrying her bag back inside.
“Are you going to leave Sara alone?” Luci asked.
“Yes.”
“Because, Jon, the FBI doesn’t just pay random visits to ex-boyfriends to warn them away. This guy isn’t answering to anybody above him. He was working off-duty, which means he doesn’t have any oversight, so he may not be as guarded about his actions as he would be under normal work circumstances.” Luci checked my gaze to make sure I was listening. Izzy came out the back door and took her seat beside Luci. “You understand?”
I did understand, but I wasn’t sure if I’d mind another visit from Williams. The guy had made me feel small and insignificant, throwing his weight around my small apartment and I’d done nothing wrong. I would not be so accommodating the next time, if there was one.
“I’m serious,” Luci said, concern in his voice.
“I know. I agree,” I answered.
But I didn’t. Luci knew I didn’t agree, but he left it there for now. He would wait to make his point at a more opportune time. Over the years, Luci had trained police officers and military personnel and government agents because of his martial arts background, so he wasn’t speaking out of turn. He knew how these guys operated.
“Jon, we worry about you,” Izzy reiterated.
“Oh, c’mon. I’m going to be fine. I always am,” I said, a bit defensively.
She pointed at my face. “Obviously.”
“Tell us more about Tony Vespucci,” Luci said, changing the subject.
“Believe it or not, I’m not so worried about Tony Vespucci,” I answered. “I’m more concerned about his soon-to-be son-in-law. I’ve been to New York twice, have completed almost all my interviews with the key players and core family, but there’s something going on that I can’t pin down.”
“Jon, what does that matter? All you have to do is write the story and you’ll be done with it,” Izzy said.
“But that wouldn’t be fair to Maggie if I didn’t do my job and get the whole picture.”
“Maggie, the bride? What do you owe her? Before September, you didn’t even know her,” Luci responded.
Luci and Izzy’s eyes locked on me. I tried to meet their gaze but had to turn away. Suddenly Izzy sat back.
“Oh, Jon, do you have a crush on your client?”
“What? No!” I countered.
Izzy and Luci exchanged looks, the concern registering on both their faces.
“You guys, c’mon, I’m a professional. I don’t have a crush on Maggie Vespucci. She’s the daughter of a Mafia boss. Like I could ever fall in love with a mob daughter.”
Neither of them was buying my rap.
“Seriously, you guys, I’m just telling you there are things that don’t add up, little things. I was hired to write a love story, but it’s my job to find out everything there is to know so that my story is as truthful as possible. Some things just don’t add up.”
“Like what?” Izzy asked.
“For starters, I don’t think Tony Vespucci likes his daughter’s fiancé.”
“So? That’s not a news flash. How many couples have we worked with who had the same issue?” Luci responded.
“But Vespucci hired me to write the love story.”
“He just wants to make his daughter happy,” Izzy added, smiling.
I fell silent, realizing as I spoke to them they were right. I had no proof to justify my distrust.
“Honestly, Jon, don’t you think it best you just finish the interview, write the story, and be done with it?” Izzy added. From inside the house, the whistle of the teakettle interrupted Izzy’s next words. She pointed her finger at me, warning me, “Wait ‘til I come back. I don’t want to miss anything.” She hurried inside.
Luci looked questioningly at me. “You said, ‘mob boss.’ This guy is actually a ‘boss,’ as in ‘Don Corleone’ status?”
“As far as I can tell.”
Izzy came back with the tea before Luci could say whatever was going through his mind. She set the tray on the table and poured each of us a steaming cup of chamomile tea. She resumed her seat, looking at me expectantly. “What did I miss?”
I paused, waiting to see if Luci would say anything, but he didn’t, so I shook my head. “Nothing.”
Luci picked up his cup and blew on his tea. “So what have you done so far?”
“I’ve interviewed everyone in the family except for Vespucci, have had multiple sit-downs with the principals, and interviewed a few of Maggie’s and Marco’s friends. I’ve almost got enough to write a story, but I need to go back at least once more to figure out my hook. I don’t have much of a handle on Marco’s side. He basically warned me that if I dig any deeper I’ll regret it. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t like me.”
“Why don’t you say something to his fiancée?” Izzy asked. “Or this Vespucci character?”
“It’s more complicated than that. I don’t know where I stand with each of these players, or whom I can trust. Before I start banging on the hornet’s nest, I want to know if there are any hornets inside.”
“Good point.”
Luci cut in. “Have you worked on this story at all since you got back from your second trip to New York?”
I shook my head.
Izzy asked, “Not even given this Vespucci guy an update? That’s not good.”
Luci added, “And he sent a guy out here this morning to check on you?”
“Yes.”
Izzy was about to speak but Luci interrupted her. “Are you intent on finishing this project?”
I considered Luci’s question, wondering if I even had a choice. Though Vespucci seemed to like me, I was sure he wouldn’t take kindly to my telling him I was quitting the project. Then, there was Maggie to consider and the unresolved questions about her and Marco’s relationship. “Yeah, I’m going to see it through to the end. I don’t have a choice.”
Luci and Izzy accepted my response silently.
I stared at them, considering what was ahead of me. After a few moments, I said, “I’m going to go home right now and get working on “The Coffee Shop Lovers” and do my best to finish it before I have to go back to New York. That way, I can get it to you so you can do what you have to do. I’m leaving town on Monday to finish up my interviews with Maggie and Marco.” I saw the concern on their faces. I smiled, trying to seem more confident than I felt. “Don’t worry guys, I’ll be fine.”
“And Sara?” Izzy asked.
“I’m over it.”
“No more phone calls?” Izzy again.
“And no more nightly visits to check out who’s at her place?” Luci asked.
“No more,” I finally said.
Izzy stood up, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Anybody want dessert?” she asked.
Luci and I both nodded. Once she was out of earshot, Luci leaned toward me and said, “I’m coming with you to New York.”
“Luci, that’s not necessary. I can handle this.”
“I know. It sounds like you’ve done a great job so far.”
I smiled.
“I just want to come along for the fun.”
I knew I would never be able to talk him out of it. I didn’t say anything further. There was no need.
Izzy returned carrying an apple crumble made with all natural ingredients, I was sure, and a stack of small plates. Luci took the plates from her, placing one in front of each of us. He kissed Izzy on the cheek while she placed the dessert on the table and cut it into large portions. The exchange between them was inconsequential, something I’m sure they did everyday, but to me it was a flash of insight. It was so easy for them. They flowed together, moved in the same direction with ease. They didn’t have to work at it, or if they did, it didn’t appear like work to me. This is what a good, healthy relationship looked like. They had what I wanted but incapable of finding.
I took a big bite of the crumble. “Izzy, this is fantastic!”
Izzy smiled. I suddenly realized we had spent the last two hours talking about me, and feeling like I had been rude, I asked Izzy, “How’s work going?”
“The hours are killing me,” she answered.
“And me,” Luci chimed in. Izzy patted him on the shoulder in mock sympathy.
“But it’s going well. I’m almost done with my residency.”
“She’s getting job offers from all over the country,” Luci added.
“What?” I sat up straight. This was the first I’d heard. “Are you going to take a job somewhere else?”
“No, no,” Izzy said. “Luci just likes to tease you. I’m considering either joining a local practice or starting a private practice. I’m not sure yet. There are several factors to consider.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Jon, do you really think we’d leave you here? You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself if we left. Do you know what Izzy said the other night?” Luci paused, looking at Izzy to see if she was going to stop him. She didn’t, so he continued. “The job offers started rolling in, and I asked her, ‘What is the biggest factor you will consider in deciding which job to take?’ She looked at me and said, ‘Well, it has to be in L.A. We can’t leave Jon here alone.’ Believe that? You’ve got more power over my girlfriend than I do.”
I glanced at Izzy and blushed.
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