I Knew You Were Trouble: Accidents Happen

by Potter, M. X.

  "Nope, I'm going alone. Rose won't answer my calls."

  "I'm not letting you go alone."

  "Look, I don't know what's going on, but showing up with backup seems stupid," I said and looked over as Oliver backed out of the spot. "It's not like either of us could stop these guys. I'm just hoping I can reason with them if it comes to that."

  "I don't think you can take another beating. Who am I going to drink with if you they give you a pair of cement shoes?"

  "If they wanted me dead, I would be. I'm thinking it won't come to that."

  "Come on, even the cop tried to warn you off."

  "I love her," I said again. It kind of explained it all.

  "Okay," Oliver conceded, "but I better get a bachelor party out of this." I smiled. "Strippers, lots of strippers." I laughed. It hurt.

  ***

  My house was dark when I arrived. There was a strong scent of chemical cleaner in the air. I flipped on the lights. My broken fish tank sat on its stand, empty of all water. I called out for Adeline -- there was always hope. It was met with silence. The carpet had been cleaned, and any remnants of my swimming friends were gone. Adeline must have cleaned up. I squatted down and felt the carpeting. It was dry.

  There was a note on the kitchen counter. Oliver saw it first and read it. His expression wasn't pleasant when he handed it to me.

  Damon, I cause too much pain. I won't allow you to forgive me. I am untouchable. Adeline

  The pain I felt in my chest was nothing compared to the one in my heart. I could not control my eyes and turned away from Oliver. My angel was lost, hurting, and I wasn't there. This wasn't her doing, and if I had to cut through the entire mob to get to her, I would.

  "Fuck the syndicate," Oliver said, "we'll find her."

  "I plan to."

  Chapter Thirteen

  I hadn't slept well. There isn't such a thing as a comfortable position when you have a broken rib. The best I could do was lie flat on the floor, covered in a few blankets. I paid for it in the morning. Standing up, my stiff body brought tears to my eyes. I let out a couple of good groans, attempting to expel the pain. If it came to a fight, I was finished. Fuck it, Adeline was worth it.

  I showered, letting the warm water wash over me. If I stood still in the falling rain, I could actually forget about the pain and think straight. I had to get to Rose's apartment door without her knowing. Past a guard and the front door. The front door seemed easy enough. I could just be patient and follow another resident in. The guard was a more difficult problem. If he called Rose, I would never be let in. I smiled when a plan formed. I finished and spent a painful few minutes drying off.

  I called my boss who was sympathetic, and allowed me to use more PTO. Not like he really had a choice. The hospital gave me the cover I needed. I hung up and called back, this time connecting to Claire, the one woman who seemed to really support Adeline and me. I dumped everything to her. There was no point in asking for her help if she was uninformed.

  "You're crazy," Claire said seriously, "I'll do it, but you better not end up dead. Rose Simpson at Garden Way Apartments on Grand?"

  "Yes, and thank you. I owe you big."

  "Lunch," Claire said, "and all the details. I am living vicariously through you now." I laughed.

  "Lunch, you pick the restaurant." With that settled, we said our goodbyes and I spent the next thirty minutes getting dressed. Each piece of clothing cost me dearly. I dreaded the last pieces, socks. I was seriously thinking of just doing shoes, but life had to go on. I was determined the beating wouldn't change my life. I opened my sock drawer and found it empty. The drawer below it was also empty. The third drawer held my socks, all pairs balled together neatly, piled in rows according to color.

  Adeline had moved my sock drawer! The ironic implications didn't escape me. She didn't want to leave, she had been taking over. I gritted my teeth, grabbed a pair of socks, sat on the bed and donned them like I would have, had I not been wounded. I groaned through the pain, intent on forcing my body to acquiesce to my demands. I did the same with my shoes. I simply ignored the pain. It was painfully liberating. I looked back at the empty drawers. They should be filled with Adeline's clothes. They would be holding baby blue underwear if it was the last thing I did. I stood with determination. It was time.

  ***

  "Mr. Richardson to see Rose Simpson," I said to the guard as I handed him my drivers license. I was wearing sunglasses to try to hide my black eyes. I didn't really care if they had a record of my visit, I only needed a few minutes with Rose.

  "Ms. Simpson called earlier," the guard said, handing me my ID, "go right in." I smiled. Claire had handled the impersonation beautifully. I would have made a good crook. I thanked him and parked next to the door and waited. It took a few minutes before I could follow a tenant into the building. It was an older woman carrying groceries. Someone up there was looking out for me. The woman was grateful for my help as I helped her with her bags. We had a small talk in the elevator, and she tried to get me to stay for lunch. I declined politely as I put her bags down in her kitchen. I don't think she ever realized I didn't belong in the building. My acting was getting good; she never even noticed the pain carrying her bags caused me.

  I knocked on Rose's door, two floors down from the grocery lady. I heard shuffling behind the door as locks were opened. I purposely stood off to the side so the peep hole could only view the side of my head. I don't think she even looked.

  Rose's greeting smile dropped quickly when she recognized me. "You can't be here," she said in a panic and tried to close the door. I shoved my foot in and winced when the edge cut into my gym shoe. Seems it would be fully painful day. She stopped pushing. "You have to leave."

  "Where is she?" I demanded in a level tone. I didn't want to rile the neighbors. Rose tried to close the door again. This time my anger rose. I pushed to door open which forced her back. I stepped in and closed the door. Rose closed the robe she was wearing. "Where is she?" I asked again, a little louder. I wasn't leaving without the information.

  Toni Gordinni entered the room, from the bedroom hallway, in a t-shirt, boxers and black socks. Rose gasped. I recognized him from pictures I saw on the Internet. His gray hair was plastered in place, expensively shaped at some salon. His face was grim and he had a hand behind his back. He moved toward me without any apprehension. I stood my ground, though running crossed my mind. He was a good five inches taller than I and had me by at least fifty pounds.

  "Who the fuck are you?" Toni demanded as he stopped out of arms' reach. He didn't sound like he was used to being ignored. I had not planned for this. Rose had stepped back out of the way, her hand covering her mouth. Her eyes held fear. I was screwed, so I went all in.

  "The guy you had beat up last week," I said, removing my glasses to expose my blackened eyes. A smile crossed Toni's face as he raised his hidden hand, pointing a gun at my head.

  "Can't take a fucking hint," Toni stated calmly. I could tell he would have no problem pulling the trigger. I also sensed that he would enjoy it. I saw Rose out of the corner of my eye. She mouthed "I'm sorry." I turned my head toward her, ignoring the gun. I had seen lips move like that before. Exactly like that. My mind took in her eyes, lips and chin. Her weight hid it well, but the similarities were unmistakable. Her odd concern for Adeline confirmed it. My mouth moved before my brain could stop it.

  "You're her mother," I spilled my revelation, my mouth hanging open in shock. Rose's eyes went wide, and I saw the truth in them. She looked at Toni. Toni looked between us both. Rose's mouth tried to move, but nothing came out. She feared Toni more than I did.

  "Rose?" Toni asked sharply. He wanted to know what the hell was going on. Tears were forming in Rose's eyes. She tried to blubber an answer, but nothing intelligible was coming out. The gun shifted from me to Rose. Toni didn't like not knowing what was going on. I could see he was a borderline megalomaniac. Rose was sobbing, holding her hand in front of her face as if it would stop a bullet. This w
as nothing like I envisioned. My anger flared at the stupidity of it all. I shifted between Toni and Rose.

  "Do you shoot everyone who pisses you off?" I asked with more anger than I should have displayed. "And why the hell did you have your goons beat me up?" I added, since I was on a roll. Toni smiled and adjusted the gun until it pointed between my eyes.

  "I'll shoot you for breathing in my direction," Toni said. The gun was steady as a rock. He had no problem with shooting me at all. "The beating was a warning you ignored. I don't like gigolos fucking my woman." I tilted my head and laughed. Toni grimaced. He wasn't used to being laughed at.

  "I love her daughter," I said to Toni like he was an idiot, "why the hell would you think I wanted Rose?" Toni ignored my question and oddly pointed the gun over my shoulder at Rose.

  "What daughter?" Toni demanded. I shifted again to keep the gun pointed at me. Rose was bawling. Toni was taking the idea of a daughter as an insult. I was screwing this up rather well. Toni put the gun at my belly. "I'll shoot you both if you don't get out of my way." I didn't move. He would shoot us both anyway.

  "Put the gun down," I ordered. I began to reach for the gun figuring he would have pulled the trigger if he had really wanted to. His left hand moved faster than I expected and wrapped around my throat. He turned my body and slammed me up against the wall, my chest exploding in pain as my rib shifted. The gun moved to my head.

  "Fuck you!" he said. I had pushed too hard. I could see his finger tightening on the trigger.

  "Your daughter!" Rose screamed. I felt Toni's hand loosen on my neck. His expression changed to one of confusion. I started breathing again. We both turned to Rose, her mascara running down her cheeks. "Your daughter," she repeated softly. Toni let go of me and the gun dropped to his side.

  "Why did you pay him three thousand?" Toni said, pointing the gun at me as if it were a finger.

  "He bailed your daughter out of jail," Rose answered, her own anger rising now that the truth was out "I was paying him back." Toni looked at me, then took a step back and laid the gun on the counter.

  "How...when?" Toni asked, looking at Rose.

  "When you did the two years for the bribery charge," Rose sighed. "She was an accident. I tried to have her raised in secret. I just couldn't stay out of it."

  "Why would you hide this from me?" Toni was getting angry again. The man was on a bipolar roller coaster. I stepped forward to intervene if he decided to get physical again. I was already accustomed to being a punching bag. Rose just pointed at the gun.

  "I didn't want her around this crap," Rose was getting angry again, "not to mention your wife finding out. She barely tolerates me as it is." His wife knows about them? I withheld an inappropriate smile.

  Toni cooled. I could almost see his brain working. He turned his back to us and walked to the couch and sat down. I looked to the gun he had left on the counter. Rose saw my eyes and shook her head. She wiped her eyes, smearing her makeup some more. She took me by my hand and led me to the sitting area. We sat with the Godfather and watched him think.

  Toni looked up at me. His expression was calm. "I have acted rashly," he said, then turned to Rose. I guessed that was my apology. I wasn't going to demand more. "Tell me about her." His tone was thoughtful. Rose smiled. She looked a little ridiculous with smeared blackened cheeks, but I could see Adeline in the smile.

  "You met her. Adeline. She was the one staying with me a few weeks ago."

  "She knows?" Toni asked.

  "No," Rose said quickly, "and she can never know. She has her own problems, and I don't want her to have ours."

  "She's a pretty girl," Toni said, almost talking to himself. Rose spent a good part of the morning telling Toni about Adeline. In the middle of it, Toni went to the bathroom and returned with a washcloth and wiped the makeup off Rose's face. I found it odd that one moment he points a gun at her and the next he is gently caring. Rose seemed very happy with his care.

  I found out that Cathy was a childhood friend of Rose's. They cooked up Adeline's history between them, forged documents and, after a few years, no one questioned it. Rose had been supporting Cathy while she cared for Adeline. No wonder Cathy wanted Adeline to move back in with her. Adeline was her goldmine.

  I tried several times to interject my need to find Adeline, but was stalled by a stern look. There was a process to the conversation, and Toni defined what that was. I sat back, trying to remain comfortable while not moving my torso. By ten, I had a scotch in my hand. Toni had decided alcohol was a good idea and he didn't drink alone. It was hard going down, but the warmth seemed to dull the pain in my torso, especially the sharp one in my side.

  "What do you do?" Toni asked. He lifted his half empty glass and pointed to me. It wasn't small talk. He demanded to know.

  "I'm a database administrator for an insurance company," I replied, not wanting to tell him which insurance company. I really didn't wish to see him or his people ever again.

  "Does it pay well?" I was being interviewed. He had only known he was a father for a couple of hours.

  "I won't starve," I answered cryptically. I took another sip of the scotch and let it burn the back of my throat. Toni's expression was difficult to read. I wasn't sure if my answers were angering him. I wasn't sure if I could beat him in a race to the gun if I needed to.

  "Why did you come here this morning?" Toni asked. "People usually don't ignore my warnings."

  "Adeline left me and won't answer my calls. She blames herself for your...rashness." I was going to use a different term, but thought better of it. "I thought Rose might know where she is. I intend to get her back." Toni nodded and looked at Rose.

  "Do you know where she is?" Toni asked.

  "Cathy told me. Adeline won't speak to me anymore." I could see her eyes watering again. "She knew I was involved in what happened." Rose looked toward me. "She loves you and hates herself for what happened." Toni moved quickly to Rose's side and put his arm around her. Rose leaned into him and cried.

  "We'll fix this," Toni said, almost sweetly. I had trouble wrapping my head around a born killer being violent one minute and calm and caring the next. I wanted out of this freak show. I just wanted Adeline back.

  "Where is she?" I interjected.

  "Corey's Steakhouse," Rose blubbered, "off Wilkerson road. She's working the day shift." I knew the place, a large restaurant serving family fare. I got up with the desire to leave. Toni stood with me. It wasn't going to be clean exit. He waved me over to the counter where he wrote a phone number on a piece of paper.

  "If shit happens... anything you can't handle," Toni said, handing me the paper, "call this number and tell them who you are." He put his hand on my shoulder like we were old friends. I didn't like it there, but I didn't dare move it off. "Find a way to fix things between Rose and Adeline. I'll stay out of it, but know that she's my blood. I will not hesitate if I feel she has been wronged." I guess that is what passes for family bonding in the mob. A threat, a demand and a magic number that solves problems. I stuffed the number into my pocket.

  "Good," Toni said, smiling at my obvious agreement. He held out his hand like some kind of trophy. I shook it strongly, trying not to appear as weak as I felt. He moved to the door and opened it for me. I sensed he didn't do that often. Another form of apology I suspected.

  "Take care of her," Rose pleaded as I began walking out.

  "I intend to," I told her. Mountains of stress flowed away when the door closed behind me. Not the visit I had intended at all.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Corey's Steakhouse was huge. It had a pitched green roof that looked almost homey, held up by faux pillars with a big front porch lined with benches for the evening rush. It was more trough than fine dining. Decent food, served quickly in an eat-and-get-out fashion. They churned customers as quickly as possible. Not the gourmet atmosphere I envisioned when I thought of Adeline's cooking.

  I stepped inside and was welcomed by no fewer than three high school-age greeters. The
place was packed and the tables ran deep into the building. A central bar and the many wooden partitions only allowed you to see a handful of tables at a time.

  "How many in your party, Sir," a young man fighting an acne problem asked.

  "Actually, I'm looking for a waitress named Adeline Morrison," I responded politely.

  "There's no visiting during working hours," the boy returned quickly. I smiled, not really concerned with the rules.

  "Are you going to make me walk around looking for her?" I asked pleasantly. A mother with a family waiting for a table off to the side gave me a dirty look. I smiled at her also.

  "I can get a manager if you wish," the boy said, obviously practiced with people who wished to bend the rules.

  A loud crash of dishes echoed from the left side of the restaurant, beyond my viewing range. It went on for a couple of seconds before it settled. There was a smattering of applause followed by a loud, "You bitch!" I didn't hesitate and moved quickly. I knew there could only be one person in the middle of the disaster.