Marionette

by T. B. Markinson

  We sat down and I hesitated at first, and then rushed in. “How did it start?”

  She nibbled on a piece of toast and peered directly into my eyes. “My internship.”

  I scoffed. “Bookies don’t have interns.”

  Jess sighed and poured me a glass of orange juice. “Are you going to listen?”

  I nodded and gulped the OJ.

  “Good. Richard, my boss when I first started as an intern, introduced me to his brother because he said I had a way with people and numbers. They needed someone to talk to their clients—‌someone who wouldn’t raise red flags when he or she popped into an office for an appointment. Secretaries don’t notice me. If you send in a guy named Guido with arms bursting through a shirt, heads turn. Me, I go in, I work out terms, and then I leave. Sometimes, I collect payments, but mostly I crunch the numbers.”

  “Crunch the numbers?”

  “Work out payment plans. Many of the guys owed small amounts, lost too much at poker the night before, but didn’t have the cash on them. Some didn’t want to withdraw too much at a time or their wives would notice. I helped work out terms that were agreeable for both sides.”

  “So, no baseball bats or crushing fingers?”

  “Of course not. You can’t do that shit in this town.”

  Her tone didn’t set me at ease, and I think she noticed that. “Seriously, Paige, this was small-time stuff. A few hundred bucks here and there. Richard and his brother are reasonable.”

  “What happened with Davie? How did that go so wrong if they’re so reasonable?”

  A dark shadow seemed to loom over Jess as she walked over to the coffeemaker to refill her cup. “Davie began to cause problems. He started gambling in the hope he’d win enough to pay for his son’s medical bills. At first, it worked brilliantly.”

  She leaned against the counter and took a long swallow of coffee.

  “But his luck ran out.”

  “You could say that, but the bastard thought it would come back. He started hitting the tables day and night. All of us tried to convince him to stop. Even Wesley.”

  “Wesley?”

  “Wesley learned about my…‌job. And he made me introduce him to some of the guys. He had this notion that he was a high roller.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Does Mel know?”

  She nodded.

  “All those times when Mel was whispering to you, it wasn’t because she felt guilty about not telling my parents…‌it was about Weasel.”

  She nodded again.

  “It must be hard to keep all of it straight,” I said bitterly.

  Jess fixed me with a look, but didn’t respond.

  I motioned with my hand. “Go on. Tell me the rest.”

  “Wesley and Davie kept getting in over their heads. I bailed Wes out a few times and then had him cut off. No matter how hard we tried, we could not keep Davie away. That’s when Davie came up with an idea.”

  “What?” I demanded.

  “A strike. Do you remember when you ran into him the first time? Here?”

  I nodded.

  “He was trying to get hold of Wesley to convince him not to pay his debt. He wanted everyone not to pay their debts. He wanted”—‌she looked around—‌“Better payment terms.”

  “The Norma Rae of gambling? You’ve got to be kidding!”

  “Yes! Ridiculous!” She refilled her cup again, and I started to wonder when she had last slept. “I really tried to talk to Davie. I knew about his son, and I wanted to help. He didn’t know it, but I had paid off some of his debt so Richard would back down a little. But when Davie tried getting everyone to refuse to pay, he had to be dealt with.”

  “The fundraiser you set up, that was a scam?” I crossed my arms.

  “No. Well, yes. I knew he would raise more than he owed. He raised a lot more than he owed, but I had to take a cut. There was talk that…”

  She looked away.

  “The friendly bookies were going to call in Guido,” I stated bluntly.

  “Yes. Davie has a wife, two daughters, and his son. I couldn’t just turn my back and let it happen. So I took half of what he owed and I paid the rest with my money. The morning he came here, his debt was paid. Nothing was going to happen to him. When I answered the door, I thought it would be Richard, who wanted the money right away. He was tired of dealing with the fuck.”

  The word shocked me. I had never heard Jess use it.

  “That guy who came here, when Dr. Steve was…” I motioned to my wrist. “That was Guido?”

  She shook her head. “No. Richard. He came to check on me and to see if you were all right. I know you think otherwise, but he’s a nice guy.”

  “Yet he’s sending Guido after Davie.”

  Jess fidgeted and repositioned her legs. “No. They decided to let it go.”

  “How did you convince them to do that?” I looked at her, stunned.

  “Leverage.”

  I groaned. “Do I want to know?”

  “I wish you wouldn’t ask,” she confessed, as she stared at her penguin slippers.

  I lowered my head and glared into her eyes.

  “I told Richard that you would inform your father about his ‘business.’”

  “And that stopped him?”

  “Paige, everyone knows your dad. Everyone is scared shitless of him.” She set her cup down and crossed her arms. “Besides, I gave them the rest of the money. As far as everyone is concerned, the debt is paid, and every dealer in town knows not to let Davie sit at one of their tables.”

  I picked at my bandage, deep in thought. “And you?”

  “Oh, and me?” She reached into her purse and pulled out a cigarette. After lighting it and inhaling deeply, she said, “I’m unemployed. I knew when I used my card that I was done. Let’s just say I tendered my resignation, effective immediately.”

  “When did you start smoking?”

  She rummaged in the cabinet above her fridge and pulled out an ashtray. “I quit when we started dating. Lately, however, I’ve been craving one.” She sucked again, and then slowly blew out the smoke. “Damn, I’ve missed it.”

  “Can I have one?”

  She looked at her feet, and then shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

  I pulled a cigarette from her silver case and she flicked open her Zippo. “Take a deep breath. Good, now exhale.”

  I had expected to cough, but surprisingly, it felt good. Some of the tension in my shoulders released. I took another drag.

  She set the case and ashtray down in front of me. The initials on the case were hers. “A gift,” she said, in answer to my unspoken question.

  “There’s a lot I don’t know about you, isn’t there?”

  Jess opened her mouth, but swallowed her words.

  “I guess you could say the same about me.” I finished her thought.

  “I’ve learned a lot in the past few months, Paige.” She stubbed out her cigarette and lit another.

  “Really, what’s that?”

  “Circumstances. All of us try to live with the life we are dealt. You, Alex, Abbie, and your parents. Me being an orphan. We all try to get by the best we can.”

  For several minutes we sat silently at the table, smoking.

  “What’s next?” I broke the silence.

  “I spoke to Julia last week. She wants to open a second restaurant and have me run it. I wasn’t going to take her up on it, but I think I might, at least until I can save enough money to pay for grad school.”

  “That’s good.” I looked down at my hand holding the cigarette. The smoke swirled towards Jess. I waved it out of her face.

  “That wasn’t what you were talking about, was it?”

  I shook my head.

  “I don’t know what’s next with us.” She exhaled, smoke billowing around her.

  I took another drag of my cigarette and then stubbed it out clumsily. Pushing my chair back, I cringed at the sound it made on the linoleum. “I need to lie down.”

  When
I passed her, she lowered her head.

  “When’s the last time you slept?” I asked.

  “Don’t know, really. Can’t shut my mind off.” She went to grab another cigarette, but I stopped her.

  “Take one of my pills. You won’t be able to stay awake.”

  I climbed under the covers and nestled down into the cold sheets. Jess followed minutes later and settled on the other side, careful not to invade my space. I wasn’t sure it would be possible for either of us to breach the chasm.

  “You may not want to hear this, but I did it for you, Paige. For us.”

  I stared out the window. “I know, Jess. I know.”

  The pill I took before getting into bed started to kick in, silencing my racing thoughts.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Birds sang outside the window, and a ray of light fell on my face. I sat up, holding my wrist to appease the ache. Jess was still snoring. Several minutes passed before I realized what my next move should be. I crept to the kitchen and fished a business card from my wallet.

  Dialing the number, I leaned around the wall to ensure Jess was still sound asleep.

  “Hello.”

  I whispered, “May I speak to Liddy?”

  “Speaking.” Her voice sounded heavy with sleep.

  “I’m sorry I woke you, but I need to talk to you.”

  “Paige, is that you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “It’s not what you think.” Then I looked at my wrist. How was I going to explain that? “I…‌just need to talk.”

  “Okay. Where can I meet you? The office is closed today.”

  “Can I come there?”

  Liddy hesitated. Then she agreed and gave me her address. I hung up the phone, grabbed my wallet, and then saw Jess’s cigarettes. After taking a couple from the case, I left the apartment.

  The drive to Liddy’s didn’t take long—‌or maybe it did; my mind was in a fog, probably the pills for my wrist.

  Liddy opened the door, took one look at my wrist, and then gasped. “Oh my God, are you all right?”

  I started to cry. Liddy wrapped an arm around me and led me inside. After sitting me down on the couch, she left me for a couple of minutes and then returned with two cups of tea. I took one of the mugs gratefully and held it close to my chest.

  “Please tell me what happened to your wrist.” Her tone was commanding but polite.

  “Davie.”

  “Davie? Jess’s friend.” She sat on the chair next to the couch.

  I looked up to see if she had a notepad and pencil, but she only held her teacup. “Where to begin?”

  “You know me, Paige, I like to start at the beginning.” She smiled.

  I told her all of it. Jess. Davie. Richard. By the time I finished, I had polished off three cups of tea and a turkey sandwich.

  When I stopped talking, Liddy sucked in air but didn’t speak. Then the doorbell rang. She looked scared, and I wondered if she expected Guido to crash into her home with an Uzi.

  Liddy stood up to get the door, and I stayed put on the couch. I could hear muffled voices, but couldn’t make out who was talking or what was being said. Then I saw Jess walk into the room. The directions! I had left the directions I’d written down on the kitchen counter. Once I wrote something down on paper, I had it memorized.

  “Hi,” was all I could muster.

  Liddy followed Jess into the room. “Why don’t I make some more tea?” She disappeared around the wall.

  Jess didn’t stay with me. She followed Liddy into the kitchen. Was she defending herself?

  Both of them soon reappeared looking nervous as hell.

  “What happened? Is Davie okay?” I demanded from Jess.

  Liddy answered, “That’s not why she’s here.”

  I turned to Liddy. “What’s going on? Something happened?”

  “Paige—‌” Jess stopped abruptly.

  Liddy looked down at the carpet. “Paige, I don’t know how to tell you this.”

  “What?” I screamed.

  “Your parents—‌”

  I whirled around to look behind me, expecting to see them there with hulking men in white coats to haul me away.

  “No,” Liddy said. “They aren’t here.”

  “What, then! Tell me!”

  Jess sat down next to me and took my hand in hers. “Honey, they’re dead.”

  Everything went black.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I opened my eyes to find Jess and Liddy leaning over me.

  Jess smiled. “Hey there.”

  Liddy sat down next to me, and Jess sat on the other side.

  I rubbed my eyes, wincing when my chin brushed against my wrist.

  “Do you need something for the pain?” asked Liddy.

  “No. It only hurts if I nudge it.”

  “How about your neck? The bruise is really starting to show.”

  I ran my fingers over it gently and felt the scratch marks. “No, it’s fine.”

  I turned to Jess. “Tell me, please. Wh-what happened?”

  “It appears that Abbie—‌”

  I cut her off. “Abbie? Is she okay?”

  “She’s in the hospital.”

  “What happened? A car accident?” Had Abbie come home early for Christmas?

  “No, Paige. This isn’t going to be easy to hear, so let me tell you all that I know.”

  I braced for the news. Jess took a deep breath and then let out a torrent of words. “Abbie is in the hospital. She’s been shot. It seems that your father shot her.”

  Jess paused and locked her eyes on mine. “He was defending himself…‌Abbie had a gun.”

  I turned to Liddy, who just nodded.

  Jess continued, “Abbie shot your parents, Paige. She confessed to the cops when they arrived. It’s all over the news.”

  I looked to the blank TV in the hope I would find my answer, but I didn’t. “Why?”

  “That I don’t know.”

  “What next?” my voice croaked.

  Both of them shook their heads in unison.

  “Is she going to be okay?”

  “She’s in intensive care,” said Liddy.

  “I want to see her.”

  Jess fidgeted. “She’s surrounded by police. I don’t know if they’ll let you in.”

  Liddy stood up. “Let me make a few calls, Paige. I know the chief of staff at the hospital.”

  I nodded my thanks.

  Jess and I sat on the couch and I rested my head on her shoulder. “This has been the weirdest few days.”

  She ran her fingers through my hair. Liddy came back into the room and announced, “It’s all set, and the police would like to talk to you.”

  The news didn’t shock me at all. “Okay.”

  “I think you should go to the station first. I’ll go with you,” said Liddy.

  Jess hopped off the couch. “Me too.”

  I turned to Jess. “What if they ask where I’ve been? I don’t think you should be there.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Paige. They don’t suspect you, and I’m your alibi anyhow.”

  Jess being around the police made me nervous, but the look on her face made me acquiesce.

  As it turned out, I had no reason to worry. The police only asked me about Abbie. Her frame of mind? When I had last heard from her? How close we were? So many people believe in the twin connection. I think they expected me to confess that I had felt it when she snapped, and did nothing to prevent it. It became apparent that they didn’t like my father. I was too stunned to show much emotion either way.

  Jess and Liddy were waiting for me in the hallway when I finished. Before I knew it, we were leaving the police station. A pack of reporters was waiting outside. The constant camera flashes blinded me. If my father had still been alive, this media circus would have been averted. The thought almost made me smile. Instead, I tucked my head down, pulled my collar up, and slid into the backseat of Liddy’s car
.

  The chief of staff arranged for us to arrive via the hospital employee entrance, so we avoided the police and reporters outside. A nurse led me into Abbie’s room, where a police officer sat in the corner reading a newspaper. Abbie lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to several machines. The cop must have recognized me, because he picked up his coffee and stepped out into the hallway. I pulled his chair over and sat next to Abbie. I took her hand. She didn’t respond. A nurse came in, checked her chart, glanced in my direction, and then left.

  I sat with Abbie for hours, hoping she would wake. She never did.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The next week passed like a bad dream. Each day, I visited Abbie. Each day, I found her in the same condition. The same cop would get up and leave. The same nurse would come in and check on her. Jess stayed with me in town, but Liddy had other clients to take care of. Each night, I called Liddy to check in. She said it was so she could say hi, but I knew she wanted to know that I was still breathing.

  Abbie’s medical team approached me on the sixth day and asked about a DNR: Do Not Resuscitate. The entire time she’d been in the hospital, not once had she opened her eyes. Not once had she breathed on her own. The machines did it all. They wanted to know if I was ready to let her die. I didn’t want to make that decision, but I was the only one left.

  The only survivor of the once-great Alexander family.

  My father’s lawyer showed up at the hospital. I was to inherit fifteen million dollars. I told him I didn’t want it. He looked at me like I was insane, and then said something about me being in shock and that he would talk to me later.

  I hated that money. It was dirty money—‌every cent of it. My father cheated to get it. Then he used it to control all of us. That money was the cause of all this suffering. And too many deaths.

  However, the doctors wouldn’t go away like my father’s lawyer. Abbie was never going to wake up, they said. I knew that even if she did, she would be tried and convicted for murdering our parents. They didn’t say that, but it was implied. What choice did I have?

  I signed the DNR, and then I didn’t leave Abbie’s side until she was gone.

  It was Christmas Eve.

  After all of the funerals and the media frenzy, Jess and I boarded a plane to pack up Abbie’s apartment on the East Coast. Abbie had chosen a small school, just like I had. However, hers had been even farther away from home. Had she hated everyone knowing that she was an Alexander? I wondered. Of course, it would be hard for people to forget her now. The rich heiress who went berserk and murdered her parents. How long until a made-for-TV movie aired?