by Ann Marie
Chloe nodded her head yes. Satisfied he turned her around, keeping his hand on her mouth. He closed the door to the room behind them and locked it. It was dark in the room and his eyes needed to adjust. Her mouth was warm and moist under his hand. Urges began to surface uncontrollably. He rocked his head back and forth, side to side, trying to change his thought pattern. The house had quieted, but he did not feel totally safe.
There was a closet in the far corner of the room. He walked Chloe back to it and together they entered. Once again he closed the door behind them. His pants tightened around him. “Damn!” He muttered to himself in disgust. Placing the video on a shelf above his head he buried his nose into Chloe’s hair. Inhaling deeply, aerosol hair spray clogged his nose. In a matter of seconds he had his pants undone and had ripped Chloe’s skirt from her body. He felt her tighten with anticipation and her heart began to race. He was certain her heart would explode any minute. He jammed himself inside her and erupted in perfect time with her heart. Her lifeless body collapsed in his grasp. Cautiously he dragged her to the back of the closet and placed her, sitting upright against the wall. Looking at her, he felt disgusted with himself. He should have been able to wait. He wanted a clean palate for the feast he had planned for this evening.
He shut his eyes tightly as he fixed his pants and straightened his shirt. Behind him he reached for the skirt he had tossed. He shook it out in front of himself to straighten it, as he let it fall onto the body of Chloe. Retrieving the video, he stuffed it into the rear of his pants. Carefully he emerged from the closet. He was in a bedroom. Assuming it is a guest room, from the lack of items, he feels safe. Two windows on either side of the bed. Three doors, one for the closet and one for the entrance. The third door he soon found out lead to a private bath. No window in there. Very carefully he walked back towards a bedroom window.
With the darkness in the room, he doubted anyone outside could see him but why take the chance. With one finger, he pulled the curtain inward. Outside the window was the side yard, on the outer side of the cedar fencing, facing the neighbors, without any cover. This room would not work for re-entering the home. He exited the room as quietly as he had entered it. Not a soul around. He brazenly glanced over the railing, down to the center of the foyer. Tilting his head to the right, he heard nothing. He took an uninterrupted tour of the estate. Through a front window he spied the bodyguard and lawyer on the front lawn. The two seemed to be having a heated discussion, about the tape no doubt. He had over stayed his visit and felt the need to escape.
The episode in the closet messed up his whole game plan. He could not think straight and this fact alone could ruin everything. All his hard work and patience could lie to waste. He had to get outside and breathe the fresh air again. So as quietly as he entered, he exited, with the video stashed neatly in his pants. He walked back along the fence toward the water and back into the neighbor’s yard. Three blocks later, the video casing met his knee and smashed into three pieces. Removing the actual tape, he dropped the casing where it fell. A neighborhood drugstore supplied the small bottle of bleach needed to dispose of the tape itself.
Chapter 21
Harold arrived at Tweed-New Haven Airport just as the sun was setting. There was a chill in the air but he never felt it. A cab ride to the police station was all that was on his mind. And once inside the cab, all he could do was reminisce about the past.
The view of New Haven, through the window of the cab was a site to behold, or would have been for anyone else. Harold could only see Antonia. He imagined what she would look like laying in the hospital. How many times had she been shot? He could not remember. His heart hurt for her. He was not going to let her down again. He would stay by her side until this evil was removed from her life or he would die trying.
His arrival at the precinct was anything but eventful. Harold was pushed to the side as the discovery of a murder victim was the buzz of the evening. Harold stood back in the shadows and watched with amazement. The rush attached to the latest event was overwhelming. It wasn’t until the name Dal Santo came up that he came to his senses and remembered where he was and why he was there. Walking over to the closest desk, he inquired as to the whereabouts of Lieutenant Barsky. “Sorry sir, you just missed her, she went home for the evening.”
“I was told she would...that she often stayed well into the evening.”
“Yes sir, that is correct. However she wasn’t feeling well. Of course now with the death of Bernie, perhaps she might be back.”
“Bernie?”
“You’re not from around here, are you sir?”
“No. No I am not. I came in to see the Lieutenant about Antonia Dal Santo.” Harold pulled out his identification
“Chief Inspector? Sorry to keep you waiting sir. Had I known I would have…”
“No need to explain, I would like however to speak with someone. Anyone involved with Ms. Dal Santo’s shooting.”
“Well, it’s kinda not a good time here at the moment. Maybe in about an hour someone can sit down and fill you in.”
“An hour, huh? Well, then maybe I will take a ride out and see her. Ms. Dal Santo I mean. Maybe ask her a couple questions myself.”
“I don’t think that will be possible yet sir. I don’t think she is up to questioning yet. Although she is...well I mean to say that...if anyone would be up to it, it would be her. Who knows?”
“Wouldn’t by any chance be a car headed out that way now, would there be?”
“Out to the hospital? No sir, that wouldn’t be possible.”
“Well, then perhaps I could call a cab?” Harold motioned for the phone on the desk.
“Sorry sir, you would need to use the pay phone. It’s down the stairs to the left of the door.” The officer on desk duty scribbled down the number of the local cab company and handed it to Harold.
“If Lieutenant Barsky stops back, I will tell her that you came by. Why don’t you give us a call before you leave the hospital? Perhaps by then someone will be available to answer any questions you may still have.”
Harold left the station feeling as if he were a balloon that someone had slowly let the air out of. He would go and see Antonia. He needed to go and see Antonia. “Could you maybe suggest a good place to eat?” Harold tossed the question towards the first person he saw outside the station. He was hungry all of a sudden. He would eat and then see Antonia.
Chapter 22
The police had succeeded in suppressing traffic from entering Josephine’s street. But still it was difficult for her to maneuver her car past all the anxious photographers awaiting her return. Her patience was truly tested during the twenty minutes it took for her to get through the crowd. The drive up her street to her home was like the first time for her somehow. The houses all looked strange; the landscaping different somehow. It was as if she had never seen any of it before now. And there were no visible signs of life. No one gardening, no children playing. Not a squirrel or a bird. Josephine could not relax until she pulled into her own drive. As she waited for the garage door to open for her, she noticed Billy and Justin arguing on the front lawn.
Josephine exited her car, where it was in the driveway, and walked over to the men. “What the hell is going on here?” She demanded. The screaming halted and the two men looked at her heatedly.
It was Justin who spoke first. “The video is missing.” Josephine looked cautiously at the two men.
“Missing? How is that possible?”
“He was the last one with it.” Billy was quick to declare his innocence.
“We were watching it in the great room. I wanted to see it before...I thought I should see it.” Justin Pictella was insecure in his defense.
“All I know is, I came into the room and he was watching the video. Right away everything was my fault. Where were you? How could you let this happen? Josephine, you have to believe I would never let anything happen to either of you. You’re like family to me.”
“Family who pays you to do a j
ob.” Justin threw a verbal jab in Billy’s direction.
“Hello?” Josephine had to be the one to regain some kind of authority. “What happened to the video? Come on guys, I have had a very long day and I would like to take a nap before I go down to see Anthony. Justin?”
All eyes were on him. Justin Pictella was feeling like the seven year old who got caught eating the candy bar. With the chocolate ring around his mouth he had difficulty denying his involvement. “I don’t know where it is. It was in the machine when I went into the kitchen. When I came back it was gone. We think...I thought perhaps Chloe took it. Maybe she saw the video. Maybe she watched with us while she was doing, whatever, I don’t know, dusting or something. And perhaps she too took it down to the station.”
Josephine ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it back away from her face. “Did we ask Chloe?” Billy looked over at Justin before he spoke.
“She’s not here right now.”
“Where did she go?”
“She never said anything to me.”
Josephine let her gaze return to the garage. The door was still open to allow entrance for her car. The BMW was still sitting in the driveway. “Are either of you sure she was in the house when you were watching the video?”
Justin jumped to his own defense. “I saw her when I arrived. She let me in. I think she was putting away groceries.”
“So how do you suppose she went to the station?” All eyes followed her gaze to the garage. Chloe’s car was still parked inside. Without Josephine’s BMW to block the view, you could not miss the wagon.
Justin responded slowly. “I called for her. Inside the house, I called for her. She never answered. I just assumed.”
Taking a slow, deep breath Josephine closed her eyes to calm herself before saying, “OK, well this was fun. I am going in to take a nap. I suggest one of you go inside and find Chloe and ask her personally. When you find the video, I want you, Justin, to personally take it down to Lieutenant Barsky. She will be expecting you.” Josephine started to walk away. Justin reached for her arm.
“Wait a second. Expecting me? Why would she be expecting me? You didn’t go back there without me, did you? Josephine, you did not...tell me you did not mention the video. I thought we agreed not to mention the video.”
Josephine looked at the hand that held her arm. “You are treading on very thin ice here Justin.” He released his grip. “I do not recall ever agreeing with you on anything in regards to this subject. I want the video given to Barsky within the hour. Do you understand me?” Josephine took a step towards Justin. Looking up into his face she controlled her anger by clenching her teeth as she spoke. “The man who is responsible for Anthony being in the hospital is on that tape.” She glanced over at Billy briefly. “Billy is not on the tape. He is not responsible for the shooting. Without that tape, the only people who know who the shooter was, are standing right here and lying alone in a hospital bed. I am banking on the gunman not knowing we got it all on tape. Therefore, in his mind, the only eyewitness would be Anthony, since she was staring right at him. Sure the yard was full of party guests but Anthony saw him before the shooting started. The whole incident was over in seconds. Until he is caught, Anthony is in danger.” She took another step towards Justin. “I may not be someone you can count on. But I promise you this, Justin Pictella. If anything else happens to Anthony, I will see you penniless and begging for death.”
With that, Josephine turned once more towards her front door. “Billy put away the Benz.” She shouted over her shoulder. The two men looked at each other as they both had the same thought.
“Wait, Josephine, stop!” She stopped and let her head fall in defeat. She was too tired to turn around. They ran over to where she stood. “Chloe didn’t answer when I called her.”
“Justin, I wouldn’t answer if you called me.”
“Josephine,” Billy started, “think about it a moment. Her car is in the garage. She could not have gone anywhere. So why wouldn’t she answer when Justin called her.”
“Hey, here’s a thought. Maybe she was taking a nap.” Her tone of voice had risen with each word. The word nap came out like a slap in the face for Billy.
“Josephine, please, just humor me here for a moment. Please just wait outside while we check the house.”
“I am very tired. Do you not understand this? T-i-r-e-d. I want to go inside and lay down.”
“I know, I know and I am sorry. But I can’t let you go in there before I am certain it is safe.”
“Why, how could it not be safe, Billy? You’re insane. You were in there, Justin was in there, and Chloe was in there.” She threw her arms up in frustration. “Fine, go, go check the house. I will be the good child and sit on the steps and wait. But please, do make it quick. I wouldn’t want the neighbors to see me sleeping outside.”
Billy grabbed the walkie talkie hanging on his belt. Within seconds two uniformed men were entering the dwelling behind the men. Josephine was so very tired. She sat on the steps and looked out onto her street. The day had turned chilly. ‘When had that happened?’ she wondered. Wrapping her arms around herself she looked skyward. The sky was full of big fluffy clouds. August clouds, her mother had called them. The kind that could turn themselves inside out during a storm. They were pretty though. It had been years since Josephine had sat and stared up at the clouds. She smiled to herself as she leaned back to rest her head against the wall.
The sound of a small plane broke the silence. ‘Damn paparazzi.’ She thought as she felt the anger rise inside. She spotted the plane and followed it for a moment with her eyes. A bit of sun snuck out, from behind a cloud and caught her eye. A sharp pain sliced across her forehead causing her to slam her eyes shut. She felt light headed and perhaps a bit queasy. ‘Relax.’ She told herself, as she controlled her breathing and once again allowed the fog to chase away the pain.
Her mind followed the sound of the plane. It took her back to Anthony. Josephine was immediately comforted and relaxed. Although she could not see her through the fog, she knew Anthony would be there. She had called her from the plane. She was coming home. Josephine had little time to don a disguise. She threw on a nasty orange wig and a pair of big sixty style sunglasses. A plaid scarf covered her head helping to secure the wig. She had grabbed one of Chloe’s lumberjack looking coats and tried her best not to get a ticket as she raced to the airport. She ran the whole way from the parking garage to the gate. Jumping up and down on her toes as she tried to find Anthony in the crowd. She was unforgivably too short and had to stand on a chair to get a good look.
And then she saw her. Her breath had caught in her chest. She could not scream her name. All she could do was stare. Anthony was darker than Josephine had ever seen her. A beautiful bronze tone. Her hair was cut in a tossed two inch style. Her lack of locks only helped to direct the eyes down her neck. Uncontrollably, Josephine’s eyes followed to the shoulders, draped with teasing spaghetti straps. They were attached to an amazing silk, opal sun dress that did little to hide Anthony’s perfectly cut body. Josephine had not seen Anthony since they had left school. They talked on the phone often. Anthony had even written a couple times. She was sure Anthony had even sent a couple photos over the years. But Josephine could not recall ever witnessing such a breathtaking woman. It couldn’t possibly be Anthony. But it was and Josephine was both afraid and excited at the same time.
Anthony walked down the aisle as if oblivious to the stares she was getting from several pairs of eyes in the crowd. Carrying on a conversation with the man walking next to her. Smiling and laughing, not a care in the world. Josephine removed her sunglasses to get a better look. This action unfortunately, only helped to heighten her desire to stare. It just wasn’t possible to get enough. The contrast between the sun dress and Anthony’s tanned body was magnificent. Josephine felt as if she was drowning. And she had no desire to come up for air.
She never heard the calling out from the fans that had recognized her. But it was the
sound of people shouting Josephine’s name that had helped Anthony locate her. She was chatting with the body builder looking fellow. Waving her hand to let Josephine know she saw her. “Hey Joe!” Anthony shouted up to her friend, standing above the crowd. “Do you like what I brought you?” Anthony had mis-interpreted Josephine’s expression. She assumed the mouth open gawking was meant for Billy. Numbly Josephine extended a hand in Billy’s direction. “I thought maybe you could take him on as a body guard. Or you know anything else you may need him for.” Joe’s lack of words concerned Anthony. “Joe, you OK? If you don’t like him, I can take him back.” Anthony’s words were light hearted and full of affection. When their eye’s met, Josephine’s were full of tears. “Joe...” Anthony let it hang in the air a moment as she asked Billy to clear the crowd away. “Do you need some air?”
Anthony came to stand in front of Josephine. She lifted her right hand to Josephine, and coaxed her down from the chair. “Joe, say something for crying out loud. I didn’t just fly half way round the world to...”
Josephine wrapped her arms around her friend. “God, I missed you, Anthony. I didn’t know how much. I just...” Josephine held on tight for a moment more before regaining her composure. “Damn...” She stated, rather embarrassed. Pushing herself back, she wiped the tears from her face. Taking one last long look at Anthony she added, “I want to go home, OK? Let’s go home.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow as she watched Josephine start to push her way through the crowd. Billy turned to question her with his eyes. Anthony just shrugged her shoulders and tossed her hands up to signal her own confusion. Together they hurried their steps pushing through the crowd after Josephine.