The Gift

by Kim Pritekel

  They sat in the visitation area of the psychiatric ward, other visitors and patients talking quietly at tables or on the couch. Matteo stared out the window, though she wasn’t entirely sure how much he was actually taking in of the trees outside that were gently swaying in the growing breeze. It felt like a storm was brewing to blow in.

  “I’m so happy you’re doing better, bud,” she said, noting a bit of growth on his chin. She wondered if it was driving him crazy. Matteo loved to be clean-shaven, hated facial hair. When her other brothers began to get growth, they had been ecstatic. Not Matteo. He’d been annoyed. “Today was a crappy day, Matty,” she said with a soft sigh.

  She felt so alone even as she sat next to one of the closest people to her. She needed his quiet strength. He hadn’t said a single word to her, nor had he made eye contact with her during her entire visit, which had been twenty-seven of the thirty minutes she was allowed.

  Needing to feel a physical bond with him, she reached out to take his hand, but he flinched, his hand moving out of reach. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Too soon.”

  “Alright, visitors, start wrapping it up,” an orderly announced from where he suddenly appeared in the arched doorway.

  Catania spared a glance at him before returning her attention to her beloved brother. “I’m going to get your apartment all clean and special for you to come home, okay? Ally misses you, and so does Doug—I guess one of the other tenants you play video games with from time to time? He told Ally to tell you that he’s waiting for you guys to continue your chronicle, whatever that means.” She pushed up from her chair and looked down at him. “Stand up, Matty. It’s time to go.”

  Without a word or any indication he’d heard her, he rose to his feet, dressed in a simple pair of light gray sweatpants and a white men’s undershirt.

  “I have to go, but can I give you a kiss goodbye, Matty? I’ll be back tomorrow, but would that be okay?”

  Again, no verbal response, but he bent his head down a bit, offering his cheek to her. She nearly cried. She left a soft kiss there, lingering until he pulled away and shuffled toward the archway.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Catania pulled her Jeep around the back of the building and into her spot. The headlights spotlighted an angel sitting on her back stoop. She turned off the engine and just stared at the woman she craved like a drowning man craved a life raft. She returned the soft smile she was given.

  Turning everything off, she allowed her unclasped seat belt to zip back into place before she climbed out. She held only her keys, wallet, and phone, her spirit and heart left in an old barn in Boone, Colorado.

  Ally said nothing, she simply stood as Catania reached the stoop and opened her arms. Catania allowed herself to be enveloped in the warmth and safety that was Ally, who cupped the back of her head and urged her to rest it on a strong shoulder.

  After long minutes, the cold air became too much and Catania pulled away. She looked into Ally’s sweet face. “Come inside with me?”

  Without a word, she let them into the apartment, locking the door behind them. She led the way through the dark house, not bothering to turn on any lights, leading Ally by the hand to the bedroom. She had no plan other than she knew she needed to have her as close as she possibly could.

  Inside the bedroom, she tossed her things to the dresser top and walked over to the bedside table, switching on the lamp. Turning to look at Ally, something overtook her. She walked over to her and, without preamble, began to undress her. She could see the surprise in dark blue eyes and she certainly hoped that she wasn’t scaring Ally with her aggression, but she needed her.

  Moments later they were both naked—other than the infernal cast she wore—and on Catania’s bed, Ally blindly shoving at the heavy comforter, blanket, and sheet. Once they were clear of the material entanglements, she pinned Catania to the bed beneath her.

  Catania looked up into Ally’s face; though filled with passion, there was still that gentleness that was part of everything she did. And, as her lover’s hand ran up along Catania’s side to cup her breast, something in her broke.

  “Hey,” Ally whispered from where she lay next to her. She moved her hand from the soft flesh to cup Catania’s face. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

  She shook her head before looking away, embarrassed as tears slipped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said, forcing a smile and trying to get herself back into the moment.

  She reached up and buried her hand in Ally’s hair, bringing her down for a deep and passionate kiss which was eagerly responded to, but the feel of Ally’s body pressed against her side, the warmth, the beautiful perfection of the security it brought her, was too much to take.

  “Baby,” Ally whispered, holding Catania to her as the tears flowed freely, sobs racking Catania’s body. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

  Catania couldn’t control or stop the emotion as it erupted from her. She felt like her entire world was imploding, two people she loved most were deeply and profoundly hurt—if not worse—as well as a dear neighbor who was as innocent as anyone. She felt like her entire life was being stalked and haunted by a shadow monster that she couldn’t find, let alone fight. She was overwhelmed and grief-stricken.

  “Come here,” Ally whispered, moving away to sit up and grab the bedding before covering them both to the upper chest as she lay on her back. She reached for Catania, who carefully scooted into her arms, head resting on her shoulder. She adjusted her broken arm until it was comfortable, then settled in.

  “I’m really sorry about that.” She luxuriated in the feeling of Ally’s fingers running aimlessly through her hair. “I’ve got to be the worst blue-ball girlfriend on the planet.”

  Ally chuckled, leaving a kiss on Catania’s forehead. “Probably the absolute most inappropriate time to ask this, but are you?”

  “Am I what?” Catania asked, readjusting her head a bit lower, the softness of Ally’s breast under her cheek.

  “My girlfriend?”

  The question threw Catania for a loop for a second before she realized that so much had happened so quickly, they’d never even discussed what had happened between them a week ago in Ally’s apartment, what was happening between them by the day, and what it all meant. She raised her head, loath to leave the comfort, but she knew it was important. “Is that okay? What you want?”

  Ally grinned up at her and nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I want…if you do…”

  Catania chuckled, leaning down to leave a lingering kiss on soft lips. “I think we’re twelve, but of course I do,” she murmured against them with a grin. One final kiss and she lay her head down again. “I saw Matteo today.”

  “You did? That’s wonderful! Did he talk to you?”

  “No. He did ask for me, but no, he didn’t say anything to me. But god, just to be with him, see he was okay.” Catania snuggled in closer. She wanted to bring up Oscar, but she just couldn’t. The words would never leave her lips without breaking down again.

  ****

  Catania stood before her stand-alone mirror, freshly showered and dressed. It had been such a long time since she’d had to show up for a normal day’s work in the dark blue uniform. At one time she’d seen donning it as the ultimate honor, so much pride reflected back in her mirrored smile. But today, as she worked to tie the dark blue tie that signified a desk job, she saw it for the slap in the face Price meant it to be.

  “You know,” Ally said from where she was sitting cross-legged on the bed. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but you look sexy as hell in that.”

  She looked at Ally’s reflected image and gave her a sardonic smile. “Gee, maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime.”

  Ally climbed off the bed and walked up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her cheek against her upper back. “I’m sorry he’s being such an asshole, baby,” she murmured.

  Catania let out a heavy sigh, studying herself. She looked good, her uniform p
erfect. “I know and I’m sorry to snap at you. My mind is somersaulting with all that I need to be out there doing to catch this bastard, and yet I’m stuck inside like a bad girl who’s grounded while the other kids get to go out and play.”

  “I know.” Ally left a kiss on the side of her neck before she moved away from her, sitting on the end of the bed to put her shoes on. “Are those other two detectives any good?”

  Catania sighed, straightening her tie and finger combing her hair. “I suppose. I don’t really know Jorge all that well, but I do know Rodney. He’s a good guy, and dedicated.” She turned to look at the real image of the woman she was talking to. “But neither has worked homicide before. Especially a case like this.”

  “Is there anything you can do?” Ally asked, finishing up with her second shoe before pushing to her feet. She began to make the bed, which Catania joined her in.

  “God, you turn me into such an adult,” she quipped, giving the woman across the bed from her a crooked grin. “And, to a point, I fully intend on continuing to hunt this son of a bitch.”

  ****

  One thing Catania always found interesting was that when in uniform she was treated vastly different than when in street clothes. Most treated her with a bit more respect and deference, while others glared at her or seemed standoffish.

  Either way, she walked the halls of Parkview Hospital with bag of breakfast in hand as she headed to the ICU waiting room. Though Ally had wanted to join her, she had to get to the Aberdeen House to start breakfast for the tenants and get ready for her shift at Randy’s. Catania had dropped her off at the large old house with a kiss and then headed to the hospital for a visit before reporting for duty in Records.

  She smiled and nodded at a passing nurse before entering the L-shaped room, padded chairs and a couple love seats scattered with a TV mounted to the wall on the larger end of the L, and an area for kids in the smaller section, replete with a Lego table and a few other toys and coloring books.

  The lone occupant sat across from the TV, an open novel lying facedown on the coffee table in front of the couch she sat on, a needlepoint project in her hands as she absently glanced up at the game show on the screen.

  “Hey, lady,” Catania said softly, sitting down next to her. She placed the McDonald’s bag down on the table, knowing that Linda loved their breakfasts, if nothing else.

  “Haven’t seen you in this in a while,” Linda said, reaching over to tug lightly at the short sleeve of Catania’s uniform shirt. “I’m so sorry Price sent you to the chain gang over this.” She let out a heavy sigh, accepting the small orange juice Catania had pulled from the bag. “Thank you.”

  “One sausage egg McMuffin for the lady,” she said, doling out the food, the breakfast sandwich followed by the hash brown patty. “I know this is your favorite, and I’d wager you haven’t eaten in far too many hours.”

  Linda smiled, unwrapping her food. “True and true.”

  Catania removed the top on her orange juice and sipped before finally getting to the heart of it. “How is he?”

  Linda nodded as she chewed the bite she’d just taken, as though considering her response. Washing it down with O.J., she dabbed at her mouth with the napkin she was handed. “They lost him twice on the operating table yesterday,” she said matter-of-factly. “He’d lost so much blood.”

  Catania munched numbly on her own breakfast. Finally, she glanced at her friend. “Is he going to make it?”

  She took a moment, but finally Linda met her gaze. “They don’t know.” She looked down at the sandwich in her hand. “Either way,” she continued softly. “I’m not leaving here until he does.”

  ****

  Hands on hips, Catania looked around the medium-sized room, the task she’d been given seemingly insurmountable. She stood in the middle of the room that held six long aisles of metal shelving that contained a combination of cold case files, murder books from solved cases, and random files that had been tossed in there. Essentially, the job she’d been given was to organize the Pueblo Police Department’s junk drawer.

  She found a large, empty trashcan and began to go through everything, looking for trash and finding it, including candy wrappers and an empty pop can. Considering the sticky condition of both, she figured the same person had been having a snack and washing it down with sugary goodness in the Records room as opposed to looking for any evidence that had been stowed away until needed.

  She heard a loud flop on the floor from a few aisles over. Peeking out from the aisle she was working on, she saw a light blue file folder lying on the floor, some pages scattered nearby, assumedly having fluttered out during the fall.

  Walking over to it, she tucked the papers back inside and set the folder back on the shelf in an area away from the edge. Heading back to where she’d been working, she heard the same sound and whirled around, startled to see the same folder on the floor.

  “What the hell,” she whispered, staring at it for a long moment. Like a child afraid to open the closet door for fear of the Boogie Man behind it, she felt hesitant to pick up the folder again. It was as she studied it, though, when she saw the name printed on the outside tab: ZUCKER, AMY R.

  Though she didn’t know the name, something in her told her to pick up the file and look at it. Squatting down, she gathered the loose pages and shoved them back into the folder and picked it up, carrying it over to the small desk that was pushed into the corner, the top mostly covered with more files and a box or two of evidence that hadn’t been returned to the evidence room.

  MISSING PERSON:

  Amy Rochelle Zucker—age 16

  …reported missing December 3, 1983 by her mother…

  …last seen at Loaf ’N Jug at 1:13 p.m…

  …employer, Alberto d’Giovanni—

  Catania froze, rereading the name of a witness that was talked to at the time. How many men named Alberto d’Giovanni were there? She sat back in the creaky chair, flipping through the rest of the file, looking for a picture of the missing girl, any updates, anything.

  Where the picture should have been clipped was simply a paper clip. The last update made into the case was July 3, 1984, when her mother called in from her residence in Roswell, Georgia.

  Catania tapped her fingers on the file as she considered what she’d read. Suddenly, the picture she’d been shown when she and Matteo were little came to mind, the teenage girl with them. Her name had been Amy, they’d said. She’d interned with their father, they’d said.

  Turning in the chair, she scanned the room until she saw the copy machine she’d thought she’d noticed when she’d entered the room five hours before. Rolling the chair away from the desk, she got to her feet and took the file with her.

  ****

  The sun was already well on its way going down when Catania pulled up in front of Big Daddy’s Plumbing and Heating. She noted her father’s truck backed into its usual space and she knew he was in there finishing up paperwork for the day. The only other car was Dino’s 2017 pearl-blue Camaro.

  Parking next to the sports car, she climbed out of her Jeep and glanced at the flashy set of wheels, shaking her head. “Totally wrong color,” she muttered.

  She pulled the smoked glass door open and stepped inside. The front of the business was as it had been for years: a main desk for the office manager to sit at and answer phones, deal with walk-ins, and ring up sales for the cleaners and such they sold on-site. Catania had sat at that desk many, many times during her high school years.

  She walked past the empty desk and through the door that was only for employees which led to back offices and the warehouse where parts, supplies, and the company vans were kept.

  “Hey, Dino?” she asked, ducking her head into his office. He sat behind the desk, phone to his ear. He was giggling and laughing into it like a schoolboy.

  Covering the receiver with a hand, he glared up at her. “What?”

  “Where’s Papa? He’s not in his office,” she said.

  Di
no shrugged. “Try the vans. I know he was planning to re-supply the staples in each.”

  “I see,” she said hand on hip. “And, you’re not helping him…why?”

  Dino looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Because I’m on the phone.”

  Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she pushed away from the open office door and headed down the long hall to the windowed door that led to the large and sometimes loud warehouse.

  “Papa?” she called, allowing the door to ease closed behind her.

  “Over here!” came his response, which could have come from anywhere as the words echoed against the cement floors and metal walls.

  “You wanna be a bit more specific?”

  “Van four!” he yelled, a hand waving above the top of said van.

  She headed in that direction, walking past the other vans that stood like silent warriors waiting to be sent into battle. She was proud of her father. As she understood it, he’d began with a Volkswagen bus, some tools, and her mother answering phones. Now, he had eight vans with his logo proudly painted across the side, a respected name, and booming business.

  “Hey, Papa,” she said, coming around to the side of the van where the sliding side door was open and her father sat. To her surprise, he was playing a video game on his phone. “And I thought you were working,” she teased, plopping down next to him.

  He chuckled, turning off the game and setting the phone aside. “I was. But,” he said with a shrug and a little grin, “I needed some space from your brother.”

  She laughed outright. “Gee, I don’t know why.”

  They shared a comfortable silence for a moment before he placed a hand on her knee and squeezed. “We’re praying for him,” he said quietly.

  She didn’t even have to ask him who he meant. She could see the worry in his eyes. “Thanks, Papa,” she said softly. She smiled when he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek before releasing her knee. “Papa, I have to ask you a question.”