The Box

by Robert Swetz

  “Good, thanks,” Michael replied.

  She looked around the apartment. “Where’s Brian? What have you done with him?”

  “I don’t know,” Gerald told her. “He wasn’t here when we arrived. We haven’t seen him.”

  “He’s always here when I get home. Always!”

  “We haven’t seen him!” her brother emphasized. “Although I’m looking forward to it. I think he was about three the last time I saw him.”

  “He’s thirteen now,” she told him.

  “Then I can’t wait to meet him.”

  She grunted a bit of a laugh. “You’ve met Vince,” she told him.

  “Of course. I like Vince.”

  “Then you’ve met Brian. He’s just like him. He tells you ninety percent the absolute truth, then puts enough spin on a situation so you swear it’s all truth.”

  Gerald smiled. “I really can’t wait to meet him now.”

  “He should be here,” she said. “He probably saw you coming and is staying away because of it.”

  “Perhaps,” Gerald replied. “If so, that’s too bad. Like I said, I can’t wait to meet him.”

  She shook her head. “What do you want?”

  “To find you. Why did you run?”

  She looked him in the eyes. “That’s between me and my husband.”

  “And I’m certain that Vince will be very interested to hear about it.”

  “No doubt,” she agreed.

  “What did you do with the money?” Michael asked.

  She looked at him. “What money?”

  “One hundred…and twenty…million…dollars.”

  She looked at him like he was crazy. “Look around you Michael. Does it look like I have that kind of money? I’m flat broke! And to make matters worse, I got mugged last week and I can’t feed Brian let alone myself. I had to send my son to a soup kitchen for lunch today just so he could get something to eat.”

  “I noticed a bag of food in your refrigerator,” Gerald said.

  “There is? Thank God! Brian must have brought some back. He’s always thinking of me.”

  “So you don’t know where that money is?” Michael asked.

  “Why would you want to know? I certainly don’t have any money. I took a few dollars when I left home from my own bank account…not nearly enough. It’s all gone now. I’m flat broke Michael.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Gerald asked.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I never let anyone know where we were.”

  “We noticed,” he replied. “We all noticed. You did a pretty good job of disappearing.” He looked around him. “But this? I never expected anything like this.”

  “Did I mention I was broke? At my wits end?”

  “It’s time to come home now, Fran,” Gerald told her. “It’s time to face the music.”

  She sighed. “I know. There’s no place left for us to go anyway. With no money we’re stuck here.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Are you going to call Vince?”

  “Yes. I have to.”

  She nodded. It was time to face him too. It was time to face her husband.

  “Get your things,” Michael told her. “You’ll be staying at our house till we can send you home.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere without Brian.”

  “Then find him!”

  She looked angrily at him. “Did it ever occur to you that he’s probably not here right now because you’re still here?”

  “He doesn’t know me.”

  “But he’s certainly smart enough to notice a car like yours sitting outside. A car like that attracts too much attention.”

  “You think he’ll come back after we leave?”

  “If he’s still alive, yes.”

  “Still alive?”

  “If the Scorpions didn’t get him. Or someone else!” she said pointedly directly at him.

  “I don’t know your son,” Michael told her. “I haven’t messed with him.”

  She looked away. “Leave!” she told him. “We’ll see if Brian comes home. If he does, then I’ll go with you. No problems. If you found us, then we’re done here.”

  Gerald looked to Michael. “Take off,” he told him. “I’m staying.”

  Michael nodded. “Dinner tonight is planned for eight,” he told Francesca. “I’ll send Josh back with the car at seven to pick you up. Pack your bags, you won’t be coming back.”

  Francesca nodded, then headed for her bedroom. She heard the door opening and closing behind her. She sat on the bed, her mind almost blank. Her worst nightmare was coming true. She looked up and saw her brother standing in the doorway.

  “While we’re waiting,” Gerald said as he pulled out his cellphone. “I think it’s time.”

  It was a moment before she nodded her head.

  Gerald pressed a few buttons then put his phone on speaker. It was a few moments before the man he was waiting for answered. “Vincent. It’s me. I’m in New York and I’ve got someone here that wants to talk to you.”

  Francesca watched as he held the phone out in front of her face. “Hi Vince,” she said, her voice completely dull.

  “Francesca? Is that you?”

  “It’s me.”

  “We’ve been looking all over for you!”

  “I know. We’re done running now, Vince” she told him.

  “You’re in New York? I’ll be there tonight!”

  “No! Not tonight. Michael Scuderi is insisting we spend the night there with them. He’s sending a car to pick us up in a little while.”

  “Scuderi! I don’t like it! I’ll be there in a few hours.”

  “No. Vince, Brian knows nothing about anything. I doubt he even remembers his real name. Now my brother is here with me, and Brian hasn’t even met him yet. Springing Gerald on him, as well as an entire world he’s not even aware of yet, and then having him meet you at the same time, would be too much.”

  “Is he okay Francesca?”

  “Brian? Yes. At least I hope so. He’s been missing since I got home and found Gerald and Michael here.”

  “Missing?”

  “Brian is smart, Vince. He’s more like you than you can imagine. My bet is that the sight of their car alone is keeping him away.”

  “If he’s not found soon, I want to know!”

  “Of course, Vince.” A faint noise reached her ears. “Wait! That may be him coming in now. Tomorrow Vince. We’ll talk then. About…everything.” She jumped up from the bed and hurried into the living room where she saw Brian coming through the door. “Brian!” she exclaimed as she rushed to him and hugged him.

  “Mom? What’s going on?” he asked, but his eyes were now focused on the man standing in the doorway to his mother’s bedroom. A man wearing a nice suit. He had recognized the man that had been leaning up against the car. He also recognized the man who had left their apartment a few minutes ago. They had been two of the men who had killed the Scorpions. He didn’t recognize this new man though, but the type of suit was the same.

  Francesca looked up at her brother, then said, “Come on. Let’s go to your room. There’s some things I need to tell you.”

  Brian let her lead him to his room, but his eyes never left the man in the suit.

  She sat him down on his bed then sat next to him. “Brian,” she said. “Do you remember your real name?”

  “Brian,” he told her.

  “No. I mean your last name.”

  “Winston.”

  She shook her head. “I’m afraid that’s not your real name. I changed it so nobody would find us.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes. Brian, your real name is Brian Bianchi. My real name is not Francine, it’s Francesca Bianchi.”

  He startled a bit as he recognized the name from one of the driver’s licenses he had seen. Before he could tell her, she was continuing.

  “And I know you’ve asked many times about who your father is, and I never told you.�
��

  Brian looked at the man in his doorway who was watching. “Him?”

  “No. That’s…my brother. Your uncle. Uncle Gerald. His name is Gerald Giordano.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Gerald said from the doorway.

  Brian said nothing. He finally looked back at his mother. “And who’s my father?”

  “Your father’s name is Vincent Bianchi. He’ll be here tomorrow. Brian, there’s an entire world of things I’ve purposely kept from you that I’m afraid I don’t have time to explain right now. But know this, all the hiding we’ve done, all the trying to stay quiet and unnoticed we’ve done, it’s all over now.

  “Brian, you’re not a nobody. In fact, you’re somebody very important. So from now on, especially tonight, I need you to stand proud, very proud, because you’re somebody important.”

  She looked up at her brother. “And he’s very important.” She looked back at her son. “And your father is a very important man too.”

  “You’re pretty important too, Sis,” Gerald added.

  She nodded. “Brian, I’m guessing that we’re going to meet a number of important people tonight. I need you to be very respectful to all of them, but stand proud. You’re Brian Bianchi. Don’t let them forget that. Okay?”

  Brian ignored all of that as his eyes went up to his new uncle. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you about the men who left here. And there’s something else too.”

  “Later Brian. Right now, we need to pack your things. We’re leaving tonight, and we won’t be coming back.”

  He looked at her. “Where are we going this time?”

  “Tonight? We’re staying in the home of Samuel Scuderi.”

  “Who’s he?”

  “You’ll meet him later, but I’ll tell you more about him and his son some other time.”

  “His son?”

  “One of the men who was here earlier.”

  He said nothing. He was going to the home of a murderer.

  “Now get changed,” she told him. “I’m afraid that neither of us has anything suitable to wear, but pick out your best clothes. Then throw a few things into your backpack. Leave the rest behind.” She hugged him then kissed his forehead. “I love you,” she told him as she looked him in the eyes.

  She was scaring him, but he didn’t let it show. “I love you too, Mom.”

  “We just need to get through tonight, then tomorrow, your father will be here. I’m afraid that’s going to be another ordeal for you…for both of us. Just remember what I said. Be respectful, but stand proud. You’re Brian Bianchi, and you’re somebody important too.”

  She got up and left him. Brian looked up to see his new uncle approaching. Uncle Gerald held out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Brian,” he said.

  Brian shook his hand. “You too,” he replied.

  --- §§§§§§§§§§ ---

  The knock at the door came precisely at seven o’clock. His mother opened the door and he saw the man who had been leaning against the car earlier. Killer in the house, Brian thought.

  “Are you ready?” Josh asked.

  “Yes,” Francesca told him.

  Gerald grabbed the small suitcase that Francesca had packed, Brian threw the strap of his pack over his shoulder, and they all walked out. Brian wondered what kind of world they were moving to now. They were following a killer down to his car. Was the fact that they were descending so many steps any sign of what was ahead of them? He hoped not. Things had been tough enough.

  The black car was waiting for them just outside the door. Their few things were put in the trunk for them while Brian got into the back seat with his mother. The two men sat up front. Brian looked out the window as the car slowly drove away. Was he seeing the last of this place? His eyes lingered the longest on the door to the Scorpion’s building. He noticed the yellow tape was gone now. Most likely they were back in it again. Were the Scorpions out of his life for good, or was he moving somewhere else where there would be more just like them…or worse? There was a killer driving the car. Worse seemed likely.

  The streets of New York were a blur as they passed. Brian felt his mother grab his hand and hold it through most of the trip. The car finally pulled through a big fancy gate and stopped in front of a large building. Brian felt his mother’s grip on his hand tighten. He noticed she wasn’t letting go as she opened her car door. Before he knew it, she was dragging him out after her. He saw a man standing in the door to the house. The other killer.

  Francesca held Brian’s hand as she climbed the few steps up to the front door. She nodded at the man there. “Michael,” she said, greeting him. She looked down at Brian. “This is my son, Brian. Brian, this is Michael Scuderi. Samuel Scuderi’s son.”

  Brian looked up into the face of the killer. He didn’t know who the other man was that she had mentioned. Evidently, this guy’s father.

  “Brian,” Michael said with a smile. “It’s good to finally meet you.”

  “You too,” Brian replied.

  Michael turned and led the way into the house. Brian looked all around. The place was fancy. Very fancy. It was even better than Father Joseph’s office. They followed Michael into a large room full of people. There was a cocktail party going on.

  “Damn it!” Francesca muttered.

  “What’s wrong Sis?” Gerald asked.

  “I’m not dressed for this. I don’t have clothes anymore. I’m not even wearing much makeup since most of mine was stolen.”

  Gerald grabbed her hand and squeezed. “You’re my sister, nobody will say anything.”

  “Gerald, you’re a moron. It’s not going to help.” She quickly put a big smile on her face as a woman walked right up to her.

  “Francesca!” the woman said. “You’re looking wonderful!”

  “Please, Mrs. Scuderi,” she replied. “This is the only dress I own anymore and I’m not wearing makeup. I look awful, and I know it.”

  “Nonsense, my dear. You look wonderful. And is this your son?”

  “Yes. This is Brian. Brian, say hello to Isabel Scuderi. Samuel Scuderi’s wife.”

  “Hello,” Brian said, trying to be as respectful as he could. He still didn’t know who Samuel Scuderi was, but by the looks of this woman he was probably someone important.

  “He looks so much like his father,” Isabel told Francesca. You should be proud.”

  “Believe me, I am,” Francesca replied.

  As the two women talked, Brian had a chance to look at a few of the people standing around in the room, but his eyes were drawn to one of the men he saw. The third killer who had been at the Scorpion’s building. All three of them were here. As the older woman moved off, he squeezed his mother’s hand. “Mom!” he said quietly but urgently. “I really need to tell you something.”

  Francesca leaned down so he could whisper to her.

  “Three of the Scorpions were killed a few nights ago. All three men who did it are here.”

  Francesca was startled. “How do you know?”

  But he didn’t dare tell her how he knew. “I just know. Trust me,” he told her.

  “Keep it to yourself. Forget it ever happened. Just act natural…and proud! We’ll talk about it later.”

  “As if I wouldn’t already do that,” he muttered.

  “Good! Stay near me tonight.”

  “No problem!”

  “What’s wrong?” Gerald asked her.

  “Nothing,” she replied. She noticed one of the maids heading towards them with a tray full of champaign. “He’s wondering if he can try some of the champaign.”

  Gerald laughed. “Let him. He’s got to get used to it sometime.”

  “Champaign?” the maid asked as she offered it first to Gerald. Gerald said nothing as he grabbed one of the tall thin glasses. The maid moved over to Francesca. She took two and handed one to Brian. Brian was shocked. “Drink it,” Francesca told him. “Slowly!”

  Glass in hand, Francesca allowed Gerald to lead her and Brian through
the room, saying hello to people she had met before, and meeting new ones. But all the while, she worried about what Brian had told her. She didn’t worry that there were murderers in the room. She had grown up around people like that, but it was a new experience for her son. How had he known? But she was sure it was just another little way that he was like his father. Vincent always seemed to know a lot more than he should.

  To Brian, the champaign was both bitter and sweet at the same time. He didn’t really care for it, but his mother had told him to drink it, so he did. He was introduced to so many people he didn’t even try to remember all their names, except two of the killers, Josh and Pete. He already knew the other one was Michael.

  He finally squeezed his mother’s hand. “Mom,” he said once he had caught her attention. “Any chance I can use the bathroom?”

  Francesca smiled. She caught the eye of one of the maids circulating through the room with champaign. “Can you please show my son where the bathroom is. I’m afraid the champaign is getting to him already.”

  The maid smiled. “Of course,” she replied as she took Brian’s empty glass.

  Brian left his mother and followed the maid out of the room and into the hallway. Being away from all those strange people was a relief. The maid stopped in front of a door. “Right there, sir,” she told him before she headed back to the party.

  Brian went into the bathroom. Another fancy room. Father Joseph really needed to see this place. Even the bathroom was better than his office.

  When he left the bathroom, he lingered in the hallway for a few moments to avoid going back to the party. As he stood there, he noticed a woman walking through one of the doors off the hallway. He quietly headed in that direction, just to see another of the rooms in the house. He heard voices before he got there.

  “If Francesca is here,” he heard the woman saying, “then I can’t be. We don’t dare let her see me. I need to leave,” the woman seemed to insist like it was something important.

  “Yes,” Brian heard a man’s voice agree. “That would be a good idea. Go out the back. We’ll call you when it’s safe to return.”

  Brian moved quickly away from the doorway and back to the party before the woman could see him. What had that meant? Someone was afraid to be in the same house as his mother? He went straight back to his mother and his uncle. He wanted to tell his mother about the woman, but he knew this wasn’t the time. There were three killers in the house – in this room. And another woman who didn’t want his mother to see her. There were secrets around him, and he knew it. He would do like he always did. He would stay invisible and keep his eyes and ears open.