by Kim Pritekel
There wasn’t a lot that could be done until the lab work came back, including that of the man who had been arrested at the scene—Jerry DeHererra, boyfriend of the female victim Anastasia Luhan. Family members had told Catania that Jerry hated Aaron Gomez, the father of Anastasia’s four-year-old son Eric.
So, for the time being, she decided to head home, hoping her long day would be sufficient to knock her out. She turned down the street that would take her past Randy’s. She glanced over at the diner, which was essentially a ghost town. She was about to turn away when she saw a familiar figure trot her way across the parking lot headed to the sidewalk. She was in the diner’s uniform and bundled up in a less-than-appropriate jacket for the freezing temperatures.
Making a U-turn at the stop sign, Catania headed the way she’d come, pulling her Jeep up alongside the woman who was quickly making her way.
“Hey!” The blonde hurried her pace, her ponytail swishing back and forth in her haste. Catania tried again, pulling up a bit to match her speed. “Hey! From the diner, remember me?”
The woman slowed than halted, turning to look at Catania before she walked the few feet over to the window that was being cranked down.
“Hey,” Catania said with a smile. “Remember? The cheeseburger?”
The waitress bowed her head, her small smile barely seen. “Yes. Again, sorry about that.”
“No worries. Listen, it’s seriously cold out there and not real safe for you to be walking alone.”
“Oh, no, thank you.” Again a smile. “I don’t want to inconvenience you. Again.”
“Are you sure? It’s honestly no trouble.”
“No—” Her words were interrupted by the squealing of tires and roar of a distant engine followed by the scream of a siren. “Okay.”
Catania pulled the lock pin on the passenger door so it could be opened. “Uh, just crank the window there to close it. Yeah, you’ll need a little elbow grease.” She observed her unexpected passenger, noting the woman’s teeth were chattering. “You look frozen.”
“I am,” she admitted, rolling up the window.
“I’ll turn up the heat.” Catania cranked it then met the other woman’s questioning gaze. “Where am I going?”
“Oh! Right. Um, just go on straight on this road until you hit Anderson Avenue. Take a right.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
Catania got the Jeep going and they drove in silence for a few minutes until the waitress’s voice broke the silence.
“I really appreciate this,” she said softly, hands held up to the closest heater vent, wiggling and bending her fingers.
“Absolutely. They call me Nia, by the way. I don’t remember catching your name that night at Randy’s.”
“Alexandra. Well, Ally. Why do they call you that? Is it not your name?”
“Catania,” she responded. She took her eyes off the road just long enough to meet dark blue eyes, black in the dimness of the Jeep other than the quick flash of pinkish-orange light when they drove under a streetlight.
“I’ve never heard that. It’s really beautiful.”
Catania grinned. “Thanks. So, how did the rest of your shift go the other night?”
Ally smiled. “Eh, it was okay. Lizzie didn’t fire me, so guess I managed to do something right.”
“You know, people don’t realize, but waiting tables is tough work.” She chuckled. “I did it once, in high school.”
“Yeah? How long did you work wherever for?”
“Village Inn. An hour.”
Ally burst into laughter. “I guess you really did do it once.”
“Yes, ma’am. I broke down and did what I promised myself I’d never do—work for my father.”
“What does he do?”
“Uh, he’s a plumber,” Catania said, flicking her turn signal as she changed lanes to get ready to turn on Anderson. “He owns Big Daddy’s Plumbing and Heating.”
“Ah.” Ally grinned. “I’ve seen the commercials.”
Catania turned right on the requested street. “How far down?”
“Just past the ballpark.”
“Okay.” She rolled up to a red traffic light. “You know, this is really far to walk, Ally. Well, so late at night, anyway. I mean, the ballpark is at least a couple miles from the diner.” She met Ally’s gaze, the blonde’s hands now in her lap, apparently warmed enough.
“I know.” She shrugged. “The busses don’t run this early. Or late, whatever it is.”
Catania nodded, the Jeep in motion again at the quick change to green. “Well.” She smirked. “If you end up being as good a waitress as you are a cook, maybe you can get some wheels with your tips.” She grinned, Ally giving her a small smile in return but said nothing.
Minutes later, Ally pointed Catania in the direction of a small stucco house with a one-car garage. The Jeep eased to the curb, the engine idling.
“Here you are, madam.”
“Thanks again,” Ally said, her fingers wrapping around the pull to open the door. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re more than welcome. I’ll wait until you get in.”
“No, it’s okay,” Ally said quickly, for a moment almost looking panicked. “My…my boyfriend leaves the door unlocked for me, so I’ll just run in.” She gave Catania a quick smile, eased the door shut, then backed away from the Jeep, raising her hand in a small wave.
Catania returned the wave and drove on.
Chapter Four
Catania pulled her Jeep to a stop in her parents’ driveway, parked behind a shiny black Silverado. She knew the large truck belonged to their half-brother, Jason. She and Matty didn’t see him often, and she was surprised her mother had invited him to Sunday dinner to join a family Catania knew he never felt he belonged to.
She turned to her brother, who was deeply invested in a handheld electronic poker game. “Matty,” she said softy. She waited until she had his attention. “Jason is here.”
Instantly his jaw began to clench, jaw muscles bulging. “I want to go home.’
“I know, bud. I know you don’t like him, but hey, Mamma misses you so much. She’s been telling me all week how much she can’t wait to see you,” she lied, only briefly speaking to her mother two days before on the way to the morgue to speak to the M.E. But she knew he adored their mother and, though the words may not have come from their mother’s mouth, she knew they came from her heart.
He let out an irritated sigh, hugging the game to his chest like a shield to protect him from what Catania knew he viewed as the antagonist of his personal story. It wasn’t wise to cross Matteo d’Giovanni. Chances of him ever forgetting was akin to asking an elephant to forget her herd.
“Miss Karen is here, too,” she added, trying to sweeten the deal. “I know you said you were bummed you didn’t get to thank her for the extra piece of chocolate cake last night. Well,” she said, indicating the truck in front of them. “Here’s your chance.”
He glared over at her, looking more like a petulant child than a grown man in his mid-thirties. “Fine.”
“Come on, bud.” She patted him affectionately on his khaki-clad thigh before opening her door and climbing out of her Jeep.
“About time you showed up,” Leonardo exclaimed dramatically, hurrying from the two-story house.
“I don’t even want to hear it,” she said, glaring good-naturedly at him. “Be useful and carry in that tray of strudel, will ya?”
“Sure.” He grabbed the heavy pan in both hands. “Mamma knows you’ve only got an hour so she’s running around like crazy to get dinner ready. She’s already cursing in Italian.”
Catania rolled her eyes. “Great.” She slammed the back door of the Jeep. “Dino’s helping her, right?” When she heard nothing forthcoming behind her, she glanced over her shoulder. “Right?”
Catania stalked into the house, only one mission in mind when she saw Rico Suave sitting on the couch giggling with a brunette. Catania couldn’t decide if her hair or
her tits were bigger.
“Hello, Papa,” she said, giving her seated father a quick one-armed hug and a kiss to his grizzled cheek before continuing toward her target. She reached down and grabbed the hand that rested on the woman’s knee and yanked Dino to his feet. “Mamma needs your help in the kitchen.”
As if on cue, shrill railings erupted in Italian from the kitchen, Catania’s name the star.
Turning back to her brother, she yanked again on his hand. “Let’s go.”
“Hey, hey, hey!” Dino ripped his hand out of her grasp. “Excuse me, but you’re here now and can go help. I’m busy with Melanie,” he said through clenched teeth, eyes on fire.
“Melanie?” Catania looked the woman up and down. “Where’s Gina?”
“Gina?” the woman gasp, glaring from brother to sister.
“Okay, yeah, yeah, let’s go help Mamma,” Dino said, a forced smile aimed down at the woman whose arms were now crossed over her large chest. “Be back in a jiffy, baby doll.” Dino grabbed Catania by the wrist and nearly tugged her off her feet as he dragged her toward the short hallway that led to the swinging door and kitchen beyond. “What the fuck is a matter with you?” He glanced over his shoulder toward the living room to make sure they hadn’t been followed.
“What’s the matter with me?” she asked, hand to her chest and eyebrows raised. “Are you seriously asking me that?”
“You embarrassed the shit out of me back there. That ain’t cool, Nia!”
“Are you serious right now?” she asked, voice low and deadly. “What’s not cool is the fact that your mother has been on her feet in there for hours to feed your lazy ass, to feed some bimbo who has to endure Mr. Three Pump Chump later at her place because you’re a twenty-five-year-old man who still lives with his mother who does his laundry, cooks his meals, and puts up with your ass!” She jabbed him hard in the chest with a finger at every word. “Now, you get in there and you act like you give two shits about anything but yourself.” She turned away, intending to head into the kitchen when she was stopped.
“Yeah, well if you’re such a great fuckin’ person, where the hell have you been all day?”
Catania felt her anger build up so fast and so hot she was worried she was going to hit him. Instead, she moved into his personal space, their faces mere inches apart. “Trying to find justice for a goddamn baby killer.” She took satisfaction in the pallor that fell over her brother’s handsome face, but still felt the burning anger festering inside her, not all of it due to his selfish actions. “Now, get in there and help your mother.”
****
Catania smiled slightly as she studied the small plastic and brass trophy in her hand: Nia d’Giovanni Spelling Bee Champion – 1989, Jefferson Elementary School.
“You were always my little genius.”
Catania turned to see her mother enter her old bedroom. “Well, I was good at spelling anyway,” she said with a grin, raising the trophy to emphasize her point before returning it to the dresser top, the long, heavy mahogany behemoth with a mirror mounted against the wall. All of her knickknacks and anything once beloved still resided in its place, dusted weekly by a mother who wasn’t ready to let her daughter grow up.
Antonia walked to her and reached up, cupping the side of Catania’s face for a moment. “Such a beautiful young woman,” she murmured, pride in her smile. “You are deeply troubled, I can see it in your eyes.”
Catania gave her a tired smile. “They say the eyes are the window to the soul.”
“Especially you, mio bella. What is bothering you? You barely ate.” She waggled a finger playfully at her. “I cook all day for you.”
Catania smiled, looking down at her hands, which fidgeted together. “Just a tough case, Mamma. I’ll be okay.” She almost held her breath, waiting for her mother to go into her familiar battle cry of marriage, marriage, marriage.
Instead, Antonia said, “You were always a fighter for justice, bella. Whether you were protecting Matteo or that little girl down the street who used to get picked on by that nasty Richard boy across the way.” She looked at her with so much love that it nearly brought tears to Catania’s eyes. “This,” Antonia continued, tapping two fingers to the spot where Catania’s heart was. “Always so big. I worry about you, but I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mamma,” Catania whispered. Her eyes fell closed when her head was clasped between gentle hands and guided down so her shorter mother could leave a kiss on one cheek and then the other.
“I packed a nice bag of leftovers for you,” Antonia said, the quiet, intimate moment between mother and daughter over, the bossy Italian matriarch firmly back in place.
“Thanks. I’ll get Leonardo to help load the Jeep. He can carry the pan of what’s left of the strudel.” She paused at the look on her mother’s face. “What?”
“You no taking that strudel anywhere! I’m glad you had that German friend to teach you how to make it. It’ll save me making breakfast for your father for at least three days.”
Catania smirked. She couldn’t help but wonder what her mother would think of that “German friend” if she knew she’d shared Catania’s bed for two years. “Okay.” She took her mother in a tight hug. “I have to get back to work, Mamma. Is Matteo coming with me or is he going to stay?”
“He’s with your Papa in the basement. We’ll get him back to that place later.”
Catania laughed, a bit annoyed. “Mamma, he’s happy in his new apartment. Isn’t that what matters? And,” she said with a shrug. “He’s really proud of himself.”
Antonia gasped. “Proud he left his mother’s house?”
“Mamma.” Catania sighed, running a hand through her hair. “That’s unfair and you know it. This can’t be about you. Don’t you want your children to be happy? To figure out who they are? Without you and Papa?” she added.
Antonia looked away and crossed her arms stubbornly over a large bosom. “This house will be empty soon.”
Catania snorted. “Oh, come on. You know our family’s favorite bloviate Dino will live here forever and eventually bring whoever he manages to capture here with him.” She met her mother’s hard gaze with an amused one of her own. “They’ll take over the house, but they’ll be here.”
Finally, and Catania had no doubt reluctantly, Antonia gave her a ghost of a smile. “You get some rest tonight.”
Catania accepted her mother’s second hug. “And besides, Paul will always be back when his newest wife leaves him. This one is what, number four?” She flinched at the smack to her behind.
****
Catania could hear the boys downstairs hooting and hollering over one video game or other so she decided not to bother them and carry everything out herself. She gathered the extra loaf of garlic bread her mother had made for her as per usual and set it on the counter from the sheet pan on the stove. She reached for the box of foil when suddenly it was in front of her face.
Following the box up to the person presenting it to her, she met the small smile on Jason’s face. “Thanks.”
“Didn’t get to talk to you much at dinner,” he said, leaning against the counter. “How are things going? Still with the department?”
She nodded, tearing off a sheet of foil large enough to wrap the bread in. “Yeah. Things are good. It just gets a little frustrating,” she added, grinning up at the tall man who was essentially a Caucasian version of their very Italian-featured father.
Jason had the dark hair and brown eyes, which were shaped like their father’s, as well as his d’Giovanni jawline, but his skin tone was more pinkish. She’d been told his mother had light features—dirty blond hair and hazel eyes.
Alberto d’Giovanni had met Lisa Ross in high school, she a fifteen-year-old freshman, he a sixteen-year-old sophomore. They’d begun to date and, one unexpected night—the way her father told it—he learned about the birds and the bees. Excited about this new knowledge, a handful of weeks later he learned that Lisa’s family had suddenly moved away an
d Alberto was left confused and hurt, his first girlfriend vanishing in an instant.
Time marched on, and eventually Alberto met and married Antonia, started a family and his business. When Paul was six and Catania was four, their parents received a phone call that nearly ended the d’Giovanni’s seven-year marriage. Over time, Antonia had forgiven him and believed he had no idea he’d fathered a child, and together they’d tried to bring Jason into their lives as much as he’d allow them to.
Now, there they stood in Catania’s mother’s kitchen. “It gets frustrating because we get stuff cleaned up only for it to get messy again before the case is even filed.”
He smiled with a nod, bringing up his left hand and wiggling his fingers. “I get it. I had to rewire a bakery four times because the owner’s kid kept popping breakers. Lost the tips of my fingers in the process.”
Catania winced. “Ow, damn! Guess that’ll wake you up in the morning, huh?”
He gave her a crooked grin. “Definitely. Want some help carrying that stuff out?”
“Thanks.”
Together the siblings carried out the massive amount of food Antonia had packed away for her. She balanced the heavy bag on a hip to free up a hand to pull open the driver’s side back door.
“I wanted to thank you and Karen for helping Matteo get into the apartment. He’s pretty happy there.”
“Sure, no biggie,” Jason said, handing her the bag of food he’d been carrying after she got the first one placed safely so it wouldn’t fall over in transit. “Paul had mentioned to me that he was wanting to get out on his own, so Karen had the perfect solution.”
“It really has been, thanks. Truly thoughtful of you.” Second bag secure, Catania closed the door and rested her hand on the top ridge of the Jeep.
“Well, I have to get going.” He gave her a quick, one-armed hug before turning to head to his truck. “Oh,” he said, facing her again as he pulled his keys from the pocket of his jeans. “If you happen to know a good cook, Karen is looking for someone for Matteo’s building. It’s getting to be too much for her to run back and forth between three different places. I think it’s a live-in position, but not sure.”