by Andrew Grey
Elliott chuckled. “Maybe, but your mom is the one who likes him and seems serious about him. You aren’t the one dating him.” He turned. “Unless you have some sort of weird dynamic going on that I need to know about?” God, he loved teasing Salvatore. His face turned red, and he scowled before finally rolling his eyes.
“That’s easy for you to say. The guy who keeps wondering if he could have done more to stop his mom from marrying his stepfather.”
“Touché,” Elliott said. “Still, I couldn’t stop her, and neither can you. If you try, it will only hurt your relationship with your mom.” He patted Salvatore’s hand. “All we can do is let the ones we love make their own decisions.” He turned. “You wouldn’t want your mom making decisions on who you could date, would you?” Elliott fixed him with a stare and knew he had won the discussion. “Let her be happy. That was what I figured I had to do. Mom always did a lot for me, so I had to do something for her. Granted, if I had known what a piece of crap my stepfather would turn out to be….” He sighed. “Still, it was her decision.”
“Yup, and she’s the one who will have to live with the consequences, no matter what those are.” Salvatore sighed. “I just want her to be happy.”
“Then let her be happy and stop worrying about it.” Elliott bumped his arm. “Besides, you know what I think?” He drew closer. “I think you like the idea of your mom seeing someone, and all this is you growling just to growl. You think you have to protect your mom, so you’re going through the motions when you’re really all kinds of happy for her.”
“That’s what you think, huh?” Salvatore said, running his fingers up his side.
Elliott laughed and squirmed away, but Salvatore held him and tickled some more. “Come on. That’s not nice,” he protested halfheartedly between laughs. He held on to Salvatore to keep from falling off the stool, while at the same time wanting to get out of range of those tickling fingers. “How do you like it?” Elliott returned fire, but Salvatore just sat there for a second before chuckling.
“I’m not ticklish.”
Elliott folded his arms and hit Salvatore with his best grumpy stare. “Now that isn’t fair.” He finished his coffee, and thankfully Salvatore didn’t make him spray his coffee all over the kitchen. When he was done, he brought his mug to the sink. “So what’s on the agenda?”
“Let me tell Mom we’re heading out. We can walk for a while,” Salvatore offered. “I don’t think anyone would have followed us to Philadelphia, at least not this quickly.”
Elliott nodded as the fun got sucked out of the day. “Why don’t we just stay here?”
“We can if you want. Mom is watching a movie or something, and we could go in there and watch it with her.” Salvatore caught his gaze. “Like I said, I think it’s fine, and I have my phone. We need to get one for you as well, and then I thought we could walk down to the Reading Terminal Market and then farther down Chestnut Street. I can’t get tickets because it’s too late, but we can walk past Independence Hall. If you want, we can wait in line for the Liberty Bell. I haven’t done anything like that in years. They’ve also unearthed the remains of the President’s House used by Washington. They’re all close together, and we can stop at the Christ Church Burial Ground and put a penny on Ben Franklin’s grave. I know it’s really touristy, but it could be fun.”
Elliott nodded, reminding himself that he was tired of being scared, ready to duck into his hole at any time. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Elliott got off the stool, and they said goodbye to Josie before heading out of the house, walking back toward the square and toward downtown, then to the Reading Market.
“I don’t remember this.”
“When was the last time you were here?” Salvatore asked as they stopped at a corner to wait for a light.
“Oh, I think about ten years ago. It was for a school trip. We were supposed to see the things we talked about today. But the teacher forgot to make some of the reservations, so we never got inside Independence Hall. Mom was pissed as all hell. We were kids, though, so we were fine. We got to see some things, and it was a day away from school.” The light changed, and they crossed toward the market.
By the time they got inside, Elliott was warm and thirsty. They got something to drink and wandered the large market building, cooling off and looking things over. Since Josie had fed them so well, there was no need to eat. Instead, they continued on to Chestnut Street and then down to the older portion of the city.
Independence Hall sat at one end of a large green space, with the museum that housed the Liberty Bell across the street. Instead of going inside, they looked at the Bell through the windows and wandered through the park, soaking up the sun.
“I used to come down here all the time when I was a teenager. Me and my friends would play frisbee or football out here. Most of the parks in the city are small, like Rittenhouse Square, but this was big and we could really run and have fun.” Salvatore took off, and Elliott followed, passing Salvatore and reaching the far side before he did.
“I won.”
“I didn’t say we were racing.” Salvatore smiled and drew him into his arms.
Elliott glanced around to see if anyone reacted to them, but they seemed to be off on their own. “I get the feeling that with you most things are a competition. I just had to make sure you knew that I wasn’t going to let you win… all of the time.” Elliott giggled.
“I’m not that competitive.”
Elliott rolled his eyes. “I saw you at the gym. You were working out with me, but that guy next to us kept lifting heavier weights, and you had to go ten pounds heavier than him each time, just to show off. I noticed but let you have your fun.” He had also cheered internally when the guy gave up and Salvatore continued lifting heavier. “Show-off.”
“I see. Then did you notice that he’s a jerk and was rude to other people? He hogs the equipment and doesn’t let others work in.” Salvatore’s gaze grew softer. “I had to put the guy in his place. If he wants to run with the big dogs, then he needs to act like an adult and be courteous and play well with others.” He shrugged, and Elliott half tuned him out as he leaned against him. It felt nice to be held, and he liked that Salvatore was willing to do it in public. “Let’s walk over to the church.”
Salvatore released him and led the way down the block and across the street. The graveyard itself was closed, but with Franklin right near the wall and iron grating allowing for access, they both left a penny on the stone.
“If a penny saved is a penny earned, then what is a penny left on Franklin’s grave?” Elliott asked.
“Realistically, a penny thrown away?” Salvatore answered. “Or maybe a penny gotten out of your pocket so it doesn’t end up on the floor.” They looked through the opening into the graveyard. “I took a tour of this place once. Those flat slabs next to the walk, they’re underground family vaults with seven or eight graves in them, one on top of the other. The guide told us that they had opened one a few years earlier and it was intact.”
“Can you imagine if it wasn’t and someone fell through?” Elliott shivered. “Maybe if it were after dark, the vampires would come out.” He grinned. “I used to love scary movies as a kid. Dracula, Frankenstein—those were cool movies. I was never into the slasher stuff.”
“Same here. I liked the gothic stuff. It had a plot behind it and was more than how much blood and guts they could put on the screen.” Salvatore stepped back as another group of people approached to give them room. Elliott followed him, and they walked back toward Independence Hall.
“I wonder how many people come here and look for the landmarks in the National Treasure movies?” Salvatore asked. “It must drive the guides crazy, or at least I bet it did for a while. It must have died down by now.”
Elliott chuckled. “One of the kids in my class had seen the movie at least a dozen times, and he was so mad when we weren’t going to get to go inside. He was sure he was going to find some clue to treasure.” The building got larger as they drew
closer. Elliott looked up toward the bell tower. “I remember being surprised at how small the building actually is. I always thought it would be bigger. But back then it had to be heated by fireplaces….”
“Me too. It’s a great building, but I always expected it to be more imposing and stuff. Still, it’s pretty cool.”
They walked past and back uptown toward Salvatore’s mom’s. They took their time and went into a few stores along the way.
“Are you interested in soap?” Elliott asked as Salvatore stopped outside a shop window.
Salvatore smiled and crouched down, retying his shoe. “We’re being followed,” he said softly. “Don’t look around. We’re going to go into the Walgreens on the next block. It has a second exit, and we’ll skip right out. Once we do, just follow me and go as quickly as you can.” He straightened up and they continued walking.
“I need something to drink,” Salvatore said outside the drugstore and held the door. They went inside and passed through the store. “You go back outside and into the fast-food place right across the street. Stay away from the windows, and I’ll be right over.” Salvatore turned to the front of the store and stopped at a makeup display.
Elliott continued toward the front and hurried outside, thankful there was no traffic, and went into the Subway. There was a short line of people, and he took a chair away from the windows, watching the doors. He didn’t know what the guy following them looked like, but a heart-pounding minute later, Salvatore came in and took him out the front door.
“Where is he?” Elliott asked.
“Probably trying to explain the makeup that I slipped in his pocket after it set off the store alarms.” Salvatore chuckled. “Come on. We’re going down to the subway. That’s the fastest way to get out of here.” They went down the stairs, and Salvatore bought tokens. After entering, he led them to one of the trains, with the doors closing just after them. At the next station, they got off and changed trains, then did it again. It was a bit of a whirlwind, and Salvatore kept them moving. “This train will take us to the stop by Mom’s.”
“But what do we do about your car?”
“I doubt they know why we’re here or they wouldn’t have followed us. They would have waited until we got back. I’m going to take my car around back and cover it until we’re ready to go. Mom has an extra space next to her car. I probably should have done that when we first got here.” Salvatore sighed. “But we can hide it in plain sight until we’re ready to go home.”
Elliott shrugged. “I don’t get it. Why follow us here? I mean, it seems like a real stretch for someone to actually follow you and me all the way to Philadelphia. And what is the coincidence that someone might just recognize me all the way on the other side of the state?” He turned to Salvatore as the train pulled to a stop and they got off. “Something else is going on here. I mean, he knows the city I’m living in. My stepfather isn’t going to have me followed to the other side of the state. That seems like way too much effort. After all, they know where I work.”
They stepped onto the platform, and Salvatore looked around and then led him up the stairs and out of the station. Salvatore turned toward his mother’s, and they hurried in that direction. “Go on inside. I’m going to move the car.” He climbed in, started the engine, and took off down the street as Elliott knocked softly.
“What are you doing waiting out here?” Josie asked. “Where’s Sally?”
“He moved the car around the back. Someone was following us, and….”
She nodded. “He was off on a quest to evade them.” She smiled and stepped back so he could go inside. Josie closed and locked the door as Salvatore came in through the back. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I covered the car, so they’re going to have to spend some time looking if they want to find it.” He went through to peer out the front windows.
“Come on. I’ll get us something cold. How about a strawberry-mango margarita? I have this recipe, and it’s to die for. Nothing better on a warm day.” She started getting things out, and Elliott wondered if he’d fallen down the rabbit hole. They had been chased and Salvatore was on heightened alert, and his mother was mixing drinks like it was a garden party.
“Stay back there and close the door,” Salvatore said when the doorbell rang. “It’s all right.”
Elliott opened the kitchen door and peered around the doorframe. “What’s going on?”
“Bull asked me to keep an eye on you,” the slight man said as he smiled.
“Is this who was following us?” Elliott asked, and Salvatore nodded. “Has he apologized for the makeup?” Elliott hit Salvatore with a glare.
“Not yet,” Salvatore said. “What were you doing? I saw you, and we thought you had been sent by Elliott’s stepfather.” It was pretty clear that Salvatore was still not completely sold. He pulled out his phone and talked for a few seconds before hanging up, much more at ease. “Sorry about that. But we had no idea.”
“Bull had said he was going to let you know, but….”
Just then Salvatore’s phone chimed, and he checked it, rolling his eyes. “I just got his texts. Sometimes I hate this thing.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Sorry about all this.”
“Are you kidding? I had no idea that you had made me, and you took off like a shot. I had to call Bull to find out where you might be in the city in order to catch up with you all.” He smiled. “They call me Gem,” he said, shaking Salvatore’s hand and then Elliott’s.
“What did Bull say you were supposed to do?”
“Just watch and make sure you were safe while you were here.”
“But how did he know we were coming?”
“Apparently you told him last week that you were planning to visit your mother. So yesterday, he arranged for me to keep an eye on you this morning. I live here in the city, so I was just supposed to make sure you were safe. I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble. By the way, no one but me has paid either of you any attention.”
“Do you want a drink?” Josie asked as she came in with a pitcher.
“No, thank you. I’m going to be going. I’ll keep an eye on the neighborhood to make sure you’re safe, and then I’ll go on home when you leave.” He tipped his imaginary hat and left the house.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Elliott said.
“You two have really good friends,” Josie said as she poured glasses. “You’re both very lucky.”
Elliott nodded. “I never had someone in my life like Salvatore or Bull. They’ve only known me a few days, and they stepped right in to help me.” He took the drink. “At first I didn’t understand why. Maybe I still don’t, but I accepted that they’re good people and want to do what’s right.”
“That’s my son,” Josie said, motioning to the chairs. “Sit.”
Elliott sat. “I guess I’m finding it hard to understand why someone would willingly get involved with the mess I made.” And brought on myself.
“Oh please. Sally spent years cleaning up other people’s messes. But I taught him that you do what’s right and you help someone in need.” She set down the pitcher and sipped from her margarita glass. Elliott did the same.
“I feel like a fool,” Salvatore said as he slumped in the chair. “And you were right. You had this thing with Gem figured out, at least to a degree. It couldn’t be your stepfather.”
“That’s not true. I just didn’t think he was going to go to that much trouble. Antonio is many things, but he isn’t one to go any further than he has to. The more action he takes, the more he exposes himself to the law and repercussions. So he isn’t going to do anything that he doesn’t think he can succeed at.”
Salvatore nodded at Josie, who leaned forward. “I think you better tell me what’s been going on.”
Elliott sighed, but it was Salvatore who gave her a brief rundown on what had been happening. “We don’t believe Losquaro knows what Elliott has, but we think he’s afraid it could be very damaging.”
&n
bsp; “There’s one hell of a lot that you’re assuming here, but from what you’ve said, I think the same thing.” Elliott could almost hear the gears whirring quickly in Josie’s head. “Young man, you really opened a kettle of fish with this, didn’t you? I have to ask what you expected would happen. It sounds as though you knew your stepfather wasn’t all sunshine and lollipops.”
“I was stupid. I probably should have just left quietly and let him do whatever he wanted. But I didn’t know how he’d react, and part of me was tired of him controlling my life, so I guess I wanted some control.” Elliott shrugged. He honestly wished he had a clear picture of his own reasons. The more he thought about it, the more simple revenge came to mind. “I guess I was hoping to have some information that I could use as leverage to get what I wanted. I didn’t count on him going as far as he has. God, I was just stupid. I put myself and the people around me in danger because I wanted to get influence over my stepfather, and I should have known—no one does that. He won’t allow it, and I’ve seen just how far he’ll go to prevent that.” Elliott lowered his gaze and set his glass on a coaster on the coffee table. “Maybe I should just give him what I have in return for him leaving me alone.”
Salvatore and Josie looked at each other with a kind of silent conversation. Elliott was pretty sure he was missing out on something, but he was damned if he could figure out what it was.
“I think it’s probably too late for that,” Salvatore said. “Yeah. He may tell you he’s going to back off, but he can’t let you out of his control now. You’ve bested him. You got the information, you got away, and you’ve thwarted his attempts to get you back. You’ve defied him, and this is a man used to being in control.”
“So what do you think his next move is?” Josie asked. “I think it will be big, bold, and scary as hell. Because that’s what I’d do if I were him.”
“Gee, thanks, Mom,” Salvatore said, but Elliott lifted his gaze.
“Go ahead, please.” He was doing his best to keep the fear and worry at bay, though it wasn’t working very well. “What do you think?”