by Marja McGraw
“Me? No. I’m an attorney and I’ve got better things to do with my time. Hiding out?”
“Someone was watching Meredith from the house,” Chris explained.
“You don’t hold back any punches, do you?” Sammy asked, glancing first at Chris and then at his uncle. “No, it wasn’t me, but I have to be honest; I want to know my uncle’s answer to your other question.”
Gabe didn’t answer right away.
That bothered me.
He finally spoke up. “You know they found Tony’s body, don’t you?”
Meredith nodded.
“Someone tried to pin it on you. The cops found your hair brush with your fingerprints on it next to the body. But that’s not all. Tony’s bodyguard told them that the two of you had an argument about a hit he wanted you to take on. Is that true?”
Meredith bristled and moved closer to Chris, away from Gabe. “Of course, not! Who was I supposed to take out? Tell me that. Who did he put out a contract on?”
“Your friend, who just happened to be Tony’s wife.” Gabe sounded hard.
We weren’t the only ones fishing. He was, too. He watched her intently.
Meredith looked startled. “Sophia? Are you serious? He adored his wife. Why would he want to get rid of her? Besides, he knew we were friends. Why would he order me to kill her?”
“Maybe it was a test. And, no, he didn’t adore her. She was a convenience in his life.” Gabe continued to study the older woman.
Meredith stood and looked down at him. “I don’t believe you. This was all a plan to frame me. You know it and I know it.”
“Do I?” Gabe stood, too, and looked down at the older woman.
This sure wasn’t turning out to be what I’d expected, although I wasn’t sure what I’d actually thought would happen.
Things were heating up – quickly.
Chapter Twenty-two
“Why don’t you both sit down and take a deep breath?” I said. “Isn’t this supposed to be a happy reunion?”
Gabe and Meredith glared at each other before taking their seats.
Sammy eyeballed his uncle. “Unc? Are you sure this is the way you want things to go?”
“Be quiet!” Gabe turned his glare on his nephew.
No one said a word for what felt like an eternity.
Gabe’s voice softened. “Sammy, I’m sorry. No, this isn’t the way I wanted seeing Meredith again to go.”
My neighbor reached over and patted his hand, changing the subject. “I brought out the box you sent to me.” She pointed toward the end of the couch, on the floor. “These things brought back both some good memories and some bad ones.”
He looked into her eyes. “Some bad ones? I didn’t mean for the things in that box to hurt you.”
She gave him a knowing look. “The yellow dress isn’t a good memory, even though I loved it. Remember the stain at the waistline?”
Gabe dropped his head. “I didn’t unfold it before I put it in the box. I’d forgotten about that.”
Chris and I looked at each other. Were we about to learn something important?
Meredith turned to us. “I told you about the night Tony told me to kill a woman and how I cut myself so I could be sure there was blood on her jacket.”
“You what?” Gabe’s face turned red. “I thought it was her blood on your dress.”
Meredith turned her head and gaped at him. “You thought I’d really killed her? Are you nuts?”
He stumbled over his words. “No, no. I knew you couldn’t do anything like that. I just assumed…”
“Well, you assumed wrong.” Once again, she stood and looked down at him, and she was angry. “I couldn’t murder anyone. I told her what was going on and told her to get as far away as she could – to never come back.” Her mouth moved but no words came out for a moment. “I couldn’t kill anyone!”
“But Tony said – “
“Tony said? You believed him? You’re not the man I thought you were. Is that when you crossed the line, Gabriel? Did you really go from being a good cop to a bad gangster?”
“No, but – “
“Get out of my house! Get out now, before I really do kill someone. And don’t come back. Ever!” Tears filled her eyes. “And I thought you loved me.”
She turned her back on him.
Sammy reached out to help his uncle stand.
Gabe pushed his hand away. “I can do it myself.” He stood, and with the help of his cane, he headed for the front door, opened it and slammed it behind him.
Sammy looked devastated. “I don’t understand what just happened. Well, I do, but this is crazy.” His gaze swept the room. “I’m sorry I brought him here.”
Chris walked him to the door where he whispered something to him.
The attorney left quietly, unlike his uncle.
“Now what?” I asked. “We don’t know if Meredith’s life is really in danger or not. I think you need to talk to Gabe after he cools off.”
“I think you’re right,” Chris said, “but I’m not waiting for him to calm down. I need to talk to him while he’s vulnerable, and anger can do that to a man.”
He walked out the front door and I threw my hands up in the air in resignation.
Meredith sat down and pulled a tissue out of her sleeve, dabbing at her eyes. “I don’t get it. I trusted Gabe. I thought he believed in me.”
“A lot of years have gone by,” I said. “Maybe we misunderstood him. Wait until Chris talks to him.”
“I didn’t misunderstand him. He thinks I made a hit. He thinks I’m a killer.”
“He didn’t say that. He tried to tell you what Tony said to him, but he never got the chance. He also tried to tell you that he didn’t switch sides.” I tried to be tactful. “We didn’t listen to him.” The word “we” seemed tactful to me.
Meredith wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not a crier. I never cry. I’m a strong woman. Tears serve no purpose.”
“Sure they do,” I said. “They’re a release. You can hold things inside and make yourself miserable, or you can cry and let it out. Of course, I can’t abide someone who cries over every little thing, but that’s just me.” I stopped talking, realizing I might be close to babbling.
My neighbor watched me intently.
“I guess this morning’s meeting shook us both up more than I realized,” I said. “We said earlier that we’d play things by ear. We didn’t do that. I think we need another meeting, but let’s make it on neutral ground next time, okay? How about at the restaurant?”
“When?”
“Tonight?”
“Maybe tomorrow night. I need some time to think things over,” Meredith said.
I glanced out the window and saw Chris standing by the Mercedes, talking to Gabe and Sammy.
“I’m going to head home and give you some time to yourself,” I said. “If you need anything, even a shoulder to cry on, call me. Don’t hesitate.”
Meredith nodded and straightened her shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
I left, thinking that, no, she wouldn’t be fine, and maybe I should stay. I kept walking, realizing that if it were me, I’d want time to myself to sort things out.
Watching Chris, I headed for the car, but he waved me away. I took a left on the sidewalk and headed home.
I needed a Mikey fix, but he was at school. Maybe I’d call Judith and ask what the ladies were up to – or maybe not.
I shook my head.
I fully expected the dogs to bark when I approached the house, but it was silent. They weren’t home, either.
Our meeting had really put me in a mood. I needed something to cheer me up – like chocolate. Did Meredith have any chocolate? Maybe I needed to take some down to her.
I’d just sat down at the table with some chocolate chip cookies when the doorbell rang.
Before I could answer it, the door opened and I heard the chatter of lively voices.
“I’m in the kitchen,” I called out.
<
br /> Judith joined me along with three of the four Church Ladies, each taking a seat at the table.
Without a word, I hurried to the cookie jar with a plate and piled on the cookies. I had a feeling this was going to be a munchie moment.
The ladies dove into the cookies with zest.
“So how did the meeting go?” Judith asked.
“We’re dying to know,” Lila said.
“Was Gabriel on his best behavior?” Jasmine asked.
May didn’t comment, but grabbed another cookie.
“Where’s Addie?” I asked.
“She had a meeting at her church. She’ll be along later,” Jasmine said.
“How did you know about this morning’s meeting?” I asked, turning to face Judith.
“You mentioned it to Ace and he mentioned it to me,” she replied.
“Blabbermouth,” I said, under my breath.
“I heard that.” My mother-in-law looked like she didn’t really care.
I answered as briefly as possible. “It didn’t go well. It’s been too many years since these people last saw each other, and there were some misconceptions and misunderstandings between them.”
“Then they need another meeting,” Jasmine said.
“I’ve already thought of that and suggested to Meredith that they meet in a public place, like the restaurant.” I knew questions would start flying and tried to prepare myself.
The question I heard wasn’t the one I was expecting.
“So do you know if the mob is really after Meredith?” May asked.
“Are they going to try to rub her out?” Jasmine asked.
“Are you and Chris going to try to protect her? Because if you are, you’ll need our help,” Judith said. “This is more than a two-man job.”
Before Lila could add to the conversation, I said, “Sometimes you just wear me out. You know?”
Lila, whose mouth had been open, now sat with her hands in her lap and her lips tightly together.
“We don’t know enough yet, and I apologize for my crack.”
The front door opened and Chris entered the kitchen. “How’s tricks?” he asked.
He snatched a couple of cookies off the plate and left the room before anyone could reply.
The doorbell rang again.
I heard the door open, and Chris said, “They’re in the kitchen, probably waiting for you.”
I could hear Addie replying, but I couldn’t make out her words.
She joined us in the kitchen, and I gave her my chair. I brought a stool in from the laundry room and scooted in between Lila and May.
Chris was now standing in the doorway, appearing to be interested in what we had to say.
“I have a plan,” I said.
“Good.” Judith leaned forward, anxious to hear what I had to say.
“I mentioned that I suggested another meeting to Meredith, and said we might have it at the restaurant where they’d be in public. How about if you ladies plan to be there, too? I don’t want you sitting close enough to us to hear what’s being said, but you could be close enough to keep your eyes on things. You know, make sure everything is copasetic.”
My husband threw up his hands and turned, leaving the room.
Chapter Twenty-three
Judith and the Church Ladies left with me giving a promise to let them know when the meeting would take place.
Chris tapped me on the shoulder and when I turned he was giving me The Look. You know, the one that says, What were you thinking?
“Now, Chris,” I said, “you know they might be helpful. We don’t know if anyone is really after Meredith or not, and they give us several sets of extra eyes.”
“Pamela, you know we didn’t want to get them involved like this. If Sammy wasn’t the one hanging out in the vacant house next to Meredith’s, then maybe they really are after her.”
“By ‘they’, I’m assuming you mean the mob.”
“Of course. Who else would I mean?”
“Well…”
Chris glanced at his watch. “It’s time to get ready for work.”
I wore one of my purchases from the vintage clothing store. It was a two piece green and white set consisting of a pleated skirt and a jacket-type belted blouse with pockets. The greens reminded me of camouflage colors. I wore my hair in a pompadour hairstyle with the back down and curled under, and the top and sides up.
Chris wore wide-legged slacks and a striped shirt with suspenders. No suit jacket for a change; however, the fedora was a must for him.
I used to think no one but us cared what we wore, but then customers began making comments, and that’s when some of them started dressing the part. We had fun with it and that’s what mattered.
I glanced at my watch and saw that Mikey would be home from school by now, so I called him.
“Can’t talk now, Mom. Grandma Judy said if I finish my homework, we’ll come to the restaurant for an early dinner. Can I talk to you later?”
Although I didn’t want Mikey near the restaurant for the time being, I reasoned that they’d be coming in early. If they came in early, they’d leave early.
“Of course we can talk when you get there. Tell Grandma that she should bring the dogs along, too. I think your father and I should take them home for a day or two.”
“Why?”
“I miss them? No, I’d just like them around the neighborhood for a few days. I miss you more than them, and I can’t wait to see you.”
“Gotta go, Mom. I’ve got to get my homework done.”
It was Tuesday night and things were busy at the restaurant, but when my son arrived I planned to drop everything to be with him for a bit.
Chris said Ace could help him at the Reservation Desk for a few minutes so he could have some time with him, too.
My in-laws, Mikey and the dogs arrived around four-thirty. Mikey closed the dogs in the yard and entered through the kitchen.
I threw my arms around him and hugged him for all I was worth. We’d been busy and until I laid eyes on him, I didn’t realize how much I missed him.
“Mom,” he grumbled, “I can’t breathe.”
Laughing, I let him go.
I gave my family the best table in the house, in Gloria’s section.
“Do you want the regular?” she asked, referring to drinks. She knew them well, and hurried off to fill their orders.
Mikey brought his soda to the Reservation Desk with him and set it under the desktop.
About the time I began to feel comfortable, in walked Sammy. Not tonight, I thought. At least he was dressed in slacks and a dress shirt instead of his old-time suit.
Mikey approached him and asked, “Do you have a reservation, sir?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. It’s under Sam Rizzo.”
Mikey checked the list. “And how do you spell Rizzo?”
Sammy smiled and spelled the name.
As far as I could remember, Mikey hadn’t met Sammy yet. I didn’t bother with introductions since I was trying to keep my son out of things.
“I’ll take care of this one, Ace.” Chris took the menus from Mikey and showed Sammy to a table in Gloria’s section.
There was no doubt in my mind that he was taken with Gloria. Maybe he’d become a regular customer at the restaurant. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
Mikey joined his grandparents for dinner after a few minutes.
Somehow, Sammy had set a tone for my evening. I’d be glad when the senior Crosses finished eating and took Mikey home.
I approached their table. “Have the dogs eaten yet?”
Mikey nodded, but didn’t speak because he had a mouth full of food.
“Do they have water out back?”
He nodded again.
“Just checking.”
I started to leave the table, but Judith called my name.
“Pamela, I’ll walk back to the Reservation Desk with you.”
Uh oh. Now what did she want?
“Take a break, Chris,” I said. “Your mother wants to talk to me.”
“I’m hungry anyway. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”
As soon as he was out of range, Judith asked, “Anything new?”
“Nothing. We haven’t set a time for the meeting yet. I’ll let you know when we do.”
“Uh, don’t look now,” she said, “but look who’s coming in the front door.”
I turned my head to look and she grabbed my arm. “I said not to look.”
I brushed her hand off my arm. “You told me to look. Make up your mind.”
I moved behind the desk so I could glance up without being obvious.
“Mrs. Cross,” Judith said, “I just wanted to compliment you on our waitress, but take care of your new customer first.”
Ah, she was looking for a reason to hang around the desk without giving away who she was.
The man who walked in was medium height with dark hair and he was wearing a very expensive suit. His shoes shone as though he’d just had them polished, but these days pricey shoes came that way. Even his light blue tie looked expensive. His face? He had a hard look, even though he smiled. There was a distinctive scar beside his left eye. It reminded me of a half moon.
“Good evening, sir,” I said. “Do you have a reservation?”
“No. Do you think you could find me a table anyway?”
“I’m certain I can.”
Another man walked in behind him, also dressed to the nines. He stopped and stood with his feet apart. One arm dangled at his side and he held the other one behind him.
I turned to look for a table for two, but another man walked through the front door. Like the others, he wore a suit that appeared to have been made for him. It screamed, Money!
They all had dark hair and were about the same height. The only real difference between them was the color of their ties. The second two men wore yellow and light green, respectively.
I glanced at my mother-in-law and her eyes were practically bulging.
She saw my look and turned her gaze away from the three men.