Powder

by Leopold Borstinski

  The doorbell rang and Mary Lou jumped out of her seat. She had been so involved in her conversation, she’d stopped looking outside.

  “Gotta go. There’s someone at the door.”

  25

  Mary Lou peered through the fish eye in the door at the unknown arrival. The man standing before her was shaped exactly like Bobby. She smiled and let him in. He pecked her on the cheek on his way into the living room and sat down on a couch.

  She followed him inside and slumped next to him. Bobby said nothing and looked at her, waiting.

  “Have you heard?”

  “About what?”

  Mary Lou ran through all that had happened since lunchtime and Bobby remained still, his jaw slowly lowering. By the time she had completed her tale of woe, Bobby was dumbfounded.

  “How the hell are you?”

  “I don’t know, to be honest. All I can think about is how to get the children back.”

  Bobby nodded as he tried to imagine what he would do if the positions were reversed. He drew a blank.

  “What can I do to help?”

  “Unless you can magic the kids home, there’s nothing.”

  “Is there anywhere I could go which hasn’t already been covered?”

  “You tell me. I’ve been stuck on this couch while everyone else is running around town trying to do some good.”

  “Any word at all?”

  “Nothing at all. Nada. Bupkis.”

  Bobby fell back to silence and stared into the middle distance. Mary Lou couldn’t decide if he was recalling some past life moment or if he was having a minor stroke. Neither was helping, and she became impatient.

  A tear rolled out the corner of his right eye and landed on his leg. She squeezed his hand, then stopped herself. What was she doing? Shouldn’t he be the one consoling her?

  “Sorry. Too many bad memories. Stuff from the past, you know?”

  “Sure. I just don’t need this from you at the minute. In case you’ve forgotten, some fucker has taken my children and I have no way of getting them back. There’s been no call, no note: nothing.”

  “We’ll find them. You can be certain of that.”

  “No I can’t. I mean, thanks for the words of encouragement, but they are useless and I think you know that. If you’ve not got anything worthwhile to say then keep your mouth shut. I don’t need your bullshit. Not now. You’re a lovely man - truly, but I need strong people near me at the minute because I don’t know if I have sufficient strength inside me to get through this in one piece. Without falling apart.”

  He nodded as a response and Mary Lou knew that was the best the fella could offer her. Not because he didn’t have anything inside, but because he had spent too many years bottling up all his emotions so he could function in his violent world. The same environment she was now living in. The place where Alice and Frank Jr were in imminent danger and she had no idea where they were or what she could do to save them. Despite knowing these connected guys, they were no good at all to her.

  Then a lightbulb went on over her head. If the local hoods didn’t know jack then the perpetrators must come from out of town. That didn’t give a clue where they might be, but it narrowed down the search for who’s behind the outrage. Chances were that Pasquale had figured this out hours ago, but at least Mary Lou had caught up. The single moment of clarity gave her hope. This was the first time since seeing Cindy’s body that she felt she might have any control in the world around her. And where there was one drop of vision, others were sure to follow.

  She turned her attention back onto Bobby, who remained resolutely silent since his apology and tear. What a waste of humanity that man was proving to be. Mary Lou wasn’t expecting him to save the day, but she believed Bobby had more inside him than this. She appeared to be wrong.

  As if to emphasize the quality of his support, he leaned in and give Mary Lou a hug. She let herself remain in his arms and tried to hide within the strength of his touch. He might not have had much to offer, but sometimes little things can count for more than you’d expect. Perhaps Bobby had his uses after all. She listened to his breathing and noticed the warmth of his chest against her ear. This moment of calm was more than she could have expected when she saw Cindy and discovered the kids were gone.

  “Any idea who or why?”

  “Only to hurt me. No names yet but they must have come from out of town.”

  “Why?”

  “They aren’t known to locals and no-one would be dumb enough to kidnap children of a business associate of Pasquale Bassani, would they?”

  “Only if their beef was with Bassani and you were a casual bystander.”

  “Is that likely?”

  “Nope. Only happened once I can remember, and the dudes were found four years later in an unmarked grave near the airport.”

  “Why is it always the airport?”

  “Because the desert was full?”

  Mary Lou managed a smile and he allowed himself a minor chuckle.

  “Too soon, I know.”

  “You’re okay, Bobby Trevisan.”

  “Sorry I can’t be of any more use. My days of carrying a piece and breaking heads are a long time gone.”

  “I forgive you - just this once, although by rights I should be angry with you. And I am.”

  “Times like these, you need people you can trust. Can count on. You can always count on me. Now and forever more. I’m a safer bet than the sun rising in the sky tomorrow.”

  Mary Lou kept her face touching Bobby’s shirt and allowed herself the luxury of doing nothing other than worry about her babies. She had suppressed all the thought that caused the bloody images to pop into her mind, so all she was left with was a terrible sense of anxiety and to exist in a state of fretting. Then the bell jolted her awake.

  ARNOLD ROACH STOOD hands in pockets and came into the house with a shrug and a grunt. Mary Lou had hoped deep inside he would deliver for her. The fact he’d tracked her down over all those thousands of miles and the sheer number of years spent on the road doing so. He was the sort of guy who’d be able to find her babies. But she was wrong. He’d given her bupkis.

  Roach slumped into the easy chair and let his hands land on the armrests. Mary Lou sat back down next to Bobby. The two men nodded at each other but said nothing, looking into each other’s eyes seeking meaning where there was none. She watched them both not speak to each other.

  “How’s it been out there?”

  “Tough. I feel like I’ve spoken to every hoodlum in town and no-one’s heard anything about anyone.”

  “So you’ve come back with nothing for me. What are you doing here? Why aren’t you out there trying to make a difference? Even Bobby wants to do something.”

  “Doesn’t look like he’s achieved much so far, apart from warming up the couch.”

  “That’s not the point. You said you’d go out and act for me but you’ve got nothing. He’s done nothing, but he hasn’t failed me. You have failed me, Roach.”

  Roach glared at Bobby whose eyes remained fixed on the ground, embarrassment coursing through his veins. Mary Lou switched her attention between the two, not knowing which way to aim her anger.

  “Whoever took your kids is well hidden else I’d have found them.”

  “Good excuse.”

  “Don’t take your frustration out on me. I don’t deserve it. All I’ve done today is spare your life and hunt for your children. Once you gave me my money, I could have waltzed outta here without a care in the world. I didn’t and now you’re giving me shit. Fuck you.”

  This was stated calmly and without malice. Stone cold truths expressed with no emotion. Bobby felt Mary Lou bristle in his arms. She sat forward, removing her body from Bobby’s touch. Glared at Roach.

  “Fuck you too and the horse you rode in on.”

  Roach did nothing as a response, acting as though there was nothing to say. Mary Lou wanted more. Even though he was right, her frustration with her incapacity to do anything was oo
zing out of her. She wanted blood and these two men had offered only sympathy and empty words.

  “You said you had all these mob connections.”

  “I do, but no-one on the West Coast has had anything to do with the kidnapping. I’m sure of that. I know these guys professionally. They wouldn’t bother lying to me because they know I’m only asking for business reasons. If they lie, there are unpleasant consequences.”

  “You’re just full of shit.”

  “Leave him alone, Mary Lou. It’s not his fault. If the attack came from out-of-town then the people he knows will be no good to us. You must see that, right?”

  “Don’t you take his side.”

  “It’s not about sides. It’s about the best way to get the kids back.”

  “Well, you’ve not exactly been much use to me today either.”

  “Lash out as much as you want. Won’t change anything though. We are fighting your corner. Despite how you feel, we are on your side. You can rely on us for sure.”

  “You used to be somebody but now you’re a washed-up nothing. Don’t go preaching to me, mister.”

  “Focus your attention on your kids. Not on the men giving you bad news. The important item is that this hasn’t come from California. Either it’s some local difficulty or, more likely, it’s from Chicago, New York or Baltimore.”

  “In which case, shouldn’t you already have a name and address for me? Those are your towns.”

  Roach fell silent again, ruminating on her words.

  “I’ve been out west for three weeks. Plenty of time for shit to go down and me not know about it or even hear a whisper.”

  Mary Lou allowed the heat in her cheeks to dissipate and for a clearer head to resurface on her shoulders. In the pit of her tensed stomach, she knew there was at least an element of truth to what he said. But this was a strange revenge if it came straight from the mob. Perhaps Lagotti Senior was acting from beyond the grave. That cocksucker was a mean hard bastard. Perhaps one of his kith and kin was moving in on her.

  “Could it be Lagotti’s family?”

  “Possible, but unlikely. Why move on you now? There have been plenty of opportunities before today.”

  “What you reckon, Bobby?”

  “This doesn’t taste of mob, but it’s brutal enough. Maybe with some local help who bear a grudge.”

  “But why my children?”

  “It’s got your attention, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “There’s your answer.”

  She mulled over the men’s statements and considered all the possibilities of their implications.

  “I’ll give a thousand dollars to anyone who can get my babies back.”

  “Save your money. We’ll do it for free. You need guys you can trust. Your green won’t buy you that.”

  “I know.”

  She slumped on the couch and let Bobby put his arm back around her shoulders. All three sat still for five long minutes while nothing happened. Each of them hoping for the phone to ring or for one of the others to gain some insight. Something. Any idea who had done this and how to organize the safe return of Frank Jr and Alice.

  Two figures walked up the driveway and raised Mary Lou’s heart. She rushed to the door and let them in.

  26

  Her two business partners, Pasquale and Fabio, tipped their hats and came inside. Before they could sit down and acknowledge the others in the living room, Mary Lou wanted to know everything.

  “What’s going on?”

  Fabio eyed Pasquale, and they both looked round for somewhere to sit. Mary Lou noticed their discomfort and dragged two dining room chairs over for them. Clearly they didn’t like conducting business in a domestic setting.

  “None of our associates are involved. We didn’t think they were, but we checked to be certain.”

  “Then we ensured our people put the word on the street that an outrage was going down in our territory which incurred our displeasure.”

  “Indeed. A measured tone so our men understand when we are angry and when we are curious.”

  “You are only curious about who’s kidnapped my children, right under your nose?”

  Pasquale sighed, so even Bobby and Arnold picked up on the exhalation. The two men shuffled in their seats and pretended to keep an eye on the floor. Catching Pasquale’s gaze was unwise at this time. The great man stretched his back upright and stared at Mary Lou with abject disdain. He half closed his eyelids and breathed some more.

  “Listen. You have asked us for help and that is what we are offering you. We do this because you are our partner and someone has hurt you. Out of respect, we come to you to discuss the matter further. But remember, if your children live or die doesn’t change a thing for me. You will still be expected to deliver on our agreement.

  “If you can bring yourself to show a modicum of restraint, I am happy for us to continue to support you in your hour of need. Although the hour has stretched into most of the day.”

  Pasquale allowed himself that moment of light relief and then his earlier demeanor returned to his expression. His body remained tense, back straight in the chair. Fabio let his hands rest on his lap until he moved them to cross his legs, after which he placed one hand on his knee with his other on top, fingers interweaved in between knuckles.

  “Sorry. You’re just seeing my frustration coming through.”

  “I understand - apology accepted.”

  “When we find out where they are, do we have a plan?”

  “Not at the moment. A cautious approach is to be recommended.”

  “I thought we take a dozen of your men and we hit them hard and fast.”

  “That might work in Baltimore, but we operate differently in California.”

  “So what do you suggest instead?”

  “Mary Lou, the aim will be to retrieve the kids before the shit hits the fan. Not create a fucking bloodbath. Your desire for revenge on the perpetrators of this heinous act is secondary to securing the release of the children.”

  “I know, but I don’t want them to get away either.”

  “Have no fear: they won’t.”

  “How can you be so certain?”

  “Because this is my town. And if someone has come here and terrorized one of my people then they must answer to me, one way or another. I will hunt them down and kill them - whatever the outcome here.”

  Mary Lou found solace in those words and a comfort that was better than the warmth of Bobby’s embrace. Revenge is a dish best served rather than thrown into the trash. She would taste that pleasure before all this was over. This knowledge sustained her over the next hour as the four men sat waiting for what Mary Lou hoped would be a phone call from a stranger.

  “I don’t think I can sit around here any longer.

  “And where do you propose you go?”

  “I’ve been thinking. If it’s been out-of-towners then the most obvious culprits who fit that description are the dudes we did for this morning. So I’m going back to their warehouse to see what’s up. Better than wearing out the cover on this couch.”

  “You should stay exactly where you are. It is the best place for you to be - even if it doesn’t feel like it is.”

  “I can’t do this any longer. It’s doing my melon in.”

  “Please reconsider. If there is any call from the kidnappers, we need them to know they can negotiate with you. They need to feel secure so we can get your babies back safe and sound. Unharmed. We need not give them any excuse to behave like the barbarians they are. To take children and kill a housekeeper. What’s the world coming to?”

  Pasquale was appealing to her maternal instincts and Mary Lou understood what he’d said: every word. But she also knew that too much time had passed and that if they were going to deal, they’d have contacted her by now. From Mary Lou’s point of view, although her chest couldn’t take the pain of saying this out loud, her babies were dead. All she had left was the certainty of wishing the guys who’d done it a slow and
painful, tortured demise.

  “I’m going back to the warehouse. Anyone care to join me?”

  None of the men spoke and Pasquale shook his head. The three others understood his instructions and remained stationary. Mary Lou stood up and headed for the door.

  “You all sure?”

  Passive nodding from Roach and Bobby. Pasquale and Fabio stared blankly out, ignoring her question entirely. She checked her piece was in her waistband, walked out the house and into her car. Gunning the engine, she careered out the drive and back to the airport.

  BACK NORTH TO AVANT Way, Mary Lou slammed her car left and right until she reached two hundred feet of the warehouse. She hit the brakes like there was no tomorrow and dropped the vehicle into a legal parking space. Mary Lou padded round the side of her car and lit a cigarette to give herself something to do while she checked out the scene before her.

  Even though they’d shot off the head of the snake only a few hours earlier, there was a flurry of activity with at least three - no, count ‘em - four thickset guys walking in and out as calm as day. Mary Lou noticed the truck pulled up near the entrance and the fact the dudes entered with nothing and came out with a cardboard box to dump in the back of the pickup.

  What she couldn’t tell - not without getting back inside the building - was whether the children were being held there too. No-one was behaving as though there was anything more than crap to shift, but these goons were so far down the totem pole, they were lucky not to be knee-deep in soil.

  Mary Lou flicked the butt of her cigarette onto the ground and leant against the side of her car, hands in pockets. The warmth of her thighs drew the blood back to her fingertips, but she had no reason to be cold as the sun was still shining. Other than the chill of knowing Alice could be screaming as she was being tortured. Or worse. Without a moment’s conscious thought, Mary Lou’s hand covered the area of her stomach where her tattooed rose resided.

  Still the men waltzed in and out, boxes bulking out the back of that truck. She considered making her way to the rear of the building to find some less busy entry point. Mary Lou remembered there had been an outside door found this morning which they hadn’t used because they didn’t have much time for anything other than basic scavenging.