by HD Smith
“My son is dead and the Russian killed him?” Logan said, as if he were confirming the facts.
“Yes.”
Logan looked at Tony. “Do you believe this kid?”
Tony shrugged. Why would he? Matty didn’t know these men, and they didn’t know him.
Logan looked back at Matty. “Why should I believe you?”
Yeah, why should he believe me? “I’m not lying,” Matty said, not sure what else he could say.
Logan pressed his lips together as if he were thinking, then, turning to Tony, he said, “I’ll call Royce. He’ll want a meeting—tonight. He’ll want everyone here. Quinn, Kalen, Hill, and the Russian,” he tilted his head toward Matty, “and the kid.”
Tony nodded.
Logan paused. In a quiet voice he said, “Find my son.”
Matty was moved to a small room beside Logan’s office. He overheard Tony call everyone—telling them to be at Logan’s at 8:00 PM. Once people started to arrive, Tony returned to Logan’s office, leaving Matty alone.
Matty knew what was about to happen and he didn’t want to stick around to see it. He knew that Mickey was dead and that the Russian had killed him. But Matty wasn’t sure Logan or Tony completely believed him, and the Russian might persuade them to let him go. If that happened Matty and his mother would be in grave danger. The Russian would come after them and this time there would be no threats. He would kill them.
Matty had to get out of here. Mr. Hill and Mr. Townsend had arrived a few minutes ago; he was sure Logan would send for him soon. The room he was in had two doors. One door led to Logan’s office, where everyone was gathering, and the other led out into a short hallway. Quietly he opened the door to the hallway and looked out in both directions. The coast was clear. But Matty heard voices just as he was about to step out into the corridor.
He quickly ducked back inside the room, waiting for the voices to pass. Unfortunately more voices followed close behind. He recognized one of them—it was the Russian. Taking a deep breath, Matty waited. A minute later the office door closed and the muffled voices within Logan’s office quieted and Logan started speaking. That must mean all the guests had arrived.
This would be Matty’s last chance to leave. He just prayed that most of Logan’s guards were in the meeting and not walking around the house on patrol.
Matty quietly opened the door to the hall and stepped out, shutting it behind him. He paused a moment, waiting and listening for anyone that might be in the main corridor. It sounded empty. He quickly ran to the end of the side hallway, stopping again to listen. All was still quiet.
Matty started toward the stairs. He was just about there when he heard something, and realized that someone was in the half-bath. He ran the rest of the way, his heart pounding like a drum as he peeked over the railing down to the foyer below.
There were no guard at the door, but as he started down the stairs, he heard two men talking. As he reached the bottom step, he noticed that one of the voices was getting louder.
“Yeah, I’ll be at the front,” Matty heard one of the guards say.
Oh, no. Freezing in his tracks, Matty wasn’t sure what to do. If he went back upstairs he risked running into the guy in the can, but the other guard was headed for the door.
He breathed a sigh of relief when the guard stopped. “Who’s on the phone? Yeah, let me talk to him,” the guard said, heading back to where he’d been.
Matty waited a beat to be sure the guard wasn’t still in the passage beside the stairs, then bolted for the front door. Looking back once more to be sure no one was watching, he exited the brownstone, running as fast as he could once he reached the street.
It was several blocks before Matty felt safe enough to stop and flag down a taxi. He used the tip money from the last delivery to get back to Nowhere.
It was late when he arrived home. His mother was crying when he entered the apartment. Upon seeing him, she jumped up, rushing over to pull him into her arms.
“Where have you been?” Her muffled cries rushed out as she hugged him. “I was worried sick. They found a body earlier, and I didn’t know where you were.”
“I’m fine, Mom, but we need to leave,” Matty said.
She wasn’t listening. “And Mr. Hill didn’t know where you were either. I called, and he didn’t know.”
“I’m sorry,” Matty said, pushing his mother back so she could see him. “But we have to leave here, tonight.”
“What’s all over your shirt … is it blood? Are you hurt? Where have been?”
“Mom! Stop!” Matty yelled, trying to get his mother’s attention. “We have to leave. We have to get out of here tonight. I saw something I shouldn’t have seen. If they don’t believe me, and the Russian gets away … he’ll be looking for me. He’ll hurt us. He’ll hurt you.”
His mother straightened, wiping the tears from her face. “I’m going to call Mr. Hill. He will make everything right.”
Matty shook his head. Grabbing his mother by the arm, he said, “No! Mr. Hill can’t help us this time. We have to leave tonight. We can never come back. They’ll kill us if we come back.”
Her brows were drawn together, but Matty could tell she was starting to understand.
“Leave? Tonight?” she asked.
Matty nodded. “We have to. You’ve said so yourself before. This life isn’t safe. We can make it without them. We can’t ever come back,” he whispered.
She paused, looking around the apartment, then nodded. “All this time I’ve wanted to pretend things were fine, but ... the body they found—I was so scared it was you. I can’t take chances. You’re right, Matty. We have to go.” Looking back at her son, she smiled. “We’ll move some place where they don’t know us. We’ll start over. A new life for both of us.”
“Some place where they can’t find us,” Matty said.
“Some place where they’ll never find us,” his mother agreed.
She and Matty quickly packed their bags. They would be leaving almost everything behind, but that was the only way out. A taxi drove them to the bus station, where they bought two tickets to Washington, DC. From there they could go anywhere.
Matty stared out the window as the bus pulled out of town. He was sad that he couldn’t say goodbye to Juli, but it wasn’t safe—he wouldn’t risk his friend’s life by giving him a secret to keep. If the Russian survived he didn’t want Juli accused of helping Matty and his mother leave.
Chapter 13
2015
Julian skipped rocks into the river as he watched the sunrise. Ronny had called from the airport. Julian told him to meet here at the docks. Behind him, Matty slept in the backseat of the car. He’d been beaten up pretty badly, but he’d make it.
Julian stopped throwing rocks when he heard someone behind him.
He spun around, smiling when he saw Matty standing there with a piece of old pipe that had been lying on the ground beside the car. Of course, it was obvious his old friend barely had the strength to lift it.
“Are you sure you want to try that?” Julian asked. “After all, Matty, I’m the one that saved your life.”
~#~
Matt was so weak he could barely hold the pipe and balance himself. At the same time, he really looked at the guy who’d spoken. Something about him looked familiar. Something about his eyes and his sun-streaked blonde hair. He’d called him Matty.
“Juli?” Matt said before dropping the pipe and grabbing on to the car for balance.
The man rushed over to keep him from falling. “So you do remember me.” Juli said as he helped Matt back into the car. “Take it easy. Foster smacked you around pretty hard.”
“Where’s Pete?”
“I don’t know, but Ronny will be here soon. Then we’ll go ask Lenny.”
“He tried to kill me. I don’t think we’re going to convince him to just give back my son.”
Juli cocked his eyebrow. “I can be fairly convincing, and unless you have connections, that’s our only opti
on.”
Connections. Matt chuckled. “Do you know a guy named Tony? Is he still around?”
“Tony Maddox?”
“Maybe, does he work for Logan? Was he around back then?”
Juli nodded. “Yeah, he’s an old timer. How do you know him?”
“Long story—but he’ll take us to see Logan.”
Juli laughed. “You know Jimmy Logan?”
Matt shrugged. “Sorta.”
“How? Haven’t you been living in Florida for thirty years?”
“I knew his son, Mickey. I did Mickey a favor once. I’m hoping Logan will remember.”
“Mickey’s dead.”
“I know,” Matt said, “I saw the Russian kill him.”
“And all this time I thought the Russian had killed you.” Juli paused, shaking his head. “Let’s go. I’ll tell Ronny to meet us at Tony’s.”
Tony was still working out of Fuller’s, but the bar wasn’t opened for business anymore. Matt and Juli went to the side door. Juli knocked. Matt’s head hurt from the beating. Lifting his arm to rub him temple, he saw the blood on his sleeve. Just like the first time I tried to see Tony. The door opened, pulling Matt from his thoughts. He was surprised, and a little pissed, to see Ryerson.
“Yeah,” Ryerson said before he saw who it was. “Shit.” His face paled.
Juli stopped him from closing the door. “We need to see Tony.”
Standing a little taller, he said, “Is he expecting you?”
Ryerson was trying to appear strong, but Matt sensed a little panic in his voice. “Yeah, tell him ‘Mickey the Mouse’ sent us.” Matt didn’t have time to beat around the bush.
Juli and Ryerson both looked at Matt as if he were crazy. He shrugged.
“Let us in,” Juli said, pulling the door open.
Ryerson ran up the stairs ahead of them. He knocked on the door frantically. “Tony, there’s a couple of guys out here to see you. One of them is Julian Townsend. The other said Mickey the Mouse sent him.”
A man’s voice that Matt recognized as Tony came from behind the closed door. “Who?”
“Townsend,” Ryerson said, as Matt and Juli reached the top of the stairs.
“No, the other one. Who sent him?” Tony asked.
“Mickey the Mouse. It’s that Larson guy from the Atherton job,” Ryerson added.
“Let them in,” Tony said.
Ryerson opened the door and stepped out of the way to let Matt and Juli pass.
Tony stared at Matt for a long minute. He was in his sixties now, but aside from the salt and pepper hair, he looked just as Matt remembered. “Who are you?” Tony asked.
Matt pointed to the blood on his shirt. “I’m that kid from thirty years ago, but this time it’s my own blood. I need to see Logan.”
“What’s he doing here?” Tony asked, nodding at Juli.
Matt glanced at Juli. “He’s an old friend. He gave me a ride.”
Turning his eyes to Juli, Tony asked, “So you don’t have any business with Logan?”
Juli shook his head. “No. Not today.”
Matt didn’t understand their concern with Juli, but it wasn’t like he knew exactly what his old friend did for a living, and he had gotten Matt away from Lenny’s goons.
“Ryerson,” Tony barked, “get the car.”
Juli’s phone buzzed. He answered it. “You’re here? Good. We’ll be right down.” Juli returned his phone to his pocket. “Ronny’s here.”
Tony pointed to Matt. “You’ll ride with me. Just you.”
Juli nodded. “Ronny and I will follow.”
Matt had started this ball rolling, but he still hesitated to get into Tony’s car by himself. He shook it off, he’d done this once before and without their help, he might not get to Pete in time.
As the car took off, Tony turned to Matt. “Why is Townsend involved?”
“I told you, he’s an old friend. He gave me a ride. He has no business with Logan.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Matt’s brow furrowed. He knew there was no way Juli had business with Logan, at least not related to Matt’s situation, but obviously this mobster was afraid of Juli for a reason.
Logan lived in the same brownstone Matt remembered, but like the pub it looked smaller this time. He hoped Logan would help, but the man wasn’t known for his generosity—although Matt was sure he couldn’t be quite as bad as the media made him out to be.
Matt said a quick hello to Ronny. He couldn’t believe how much the brothers had changed. Logan refused to see Ronny or Juli, but Juli didn’t care and Ronny wasn’t surprised.
“Don’t worry about it,” Juli said, “We’ll wait for you down here.”
The inside of the brownstone looked the same. A guard at the door patted Matt down before showing him up to Logan’s office.
Just as before, Logan was sitting at his desk working. His dark hair had all but disappeared into a thick gray mop. His age—early seventies—was apparent but Matt could tell that he still commanded respect.
Just as Tony had done earlier, Logan studied Matt for a few minutes.
“So you’re that kid from thirty years ago?” Logan asked.
“Yeah.” Matt nodded.
“How did you get out of the house?”
“I was lucky … and motivated. But that’s not why I’m here.”
Logan pursed his lips. “Why are you here?”
“Lenny has my son.” Matt had to hold back tears. “And I want him back. Will you help me?”
Logan narrowed his eyes. “Why does he have your kid?”
Matt shrugged. “He blames me because Mr. Hill treated me better when we were kids.”
“Why?”
“How the hell would I know? But whatever it is, he hates me enough to kidnap my son and try to kill me.”
“Huh,” Logan grunted, nodding. “He’s never been quite right. Maybe I’ll let Townsend take care of it.”
Matt’s eyebrows pulled together. “What do you mean?”
Logan chuckled. “How well do you know Townsend?”
“This morning was the first time I’ve seen him in thirty years. Why?”
“Let’s just say he works freelance, and takes care of things for us when we need him. Specifically problems with personnel. Let’s just say he’s not the guy you want knocking on your door.”
“Oh,” Matt said, realizing now why Logan didn’t want to see Juli. His old friend was a hitman for the Mob.
They left the office, Logan and Matt drove together in Logan’s car. Ronny and Juli followed. Tony went back to Fuller’s.
The drive from Logan’s place back to Nowhere reminded Matt of the taxi ride he’d taken so many years ago. He looked over at Logan and remembered Mickey, remembered the way Logan had looked when Tony told him about his son. Matt was just hoping he wasn’t about to hear the same thing.
Logan noticed Matt staring. He must have sensed something in Matt’s expression. “I’m sure he hasn’t hurt the kid. Not yet.”
Matt nodded. “I hope you’re right. I can’t even imagine what it was like for you.”
Logan’s expression changed. He glanced out the window as if remembering the past. “I got my revenge. I took care of the Russian—personally—but it didn’t change anything. Mickey—Mickey was still dead.”
That was all he said about the incident, but Matt understood now exactly how he’d felt back then. And Matt knew, without a doubt, if Lenny had killed Pete, Matt would take the same revenge Logan had all those years ago. And no one would ever find the body.
Matt listened as Logan called Lenny to let him know he’d be stopping by. Logan hadn’t told Lenny why he was coming.
Logan’s car pulled up outside Miller’s Pub around 11:30 AM. Matt, Ronny, and Juli all followed Logan into Miller’s back room.
Matt caught the moment Lenny’s face registered his. Lenny’s gaze darted around at everyone in the room. He was speechless as Logan sat down in front of his desk.
Ma
tt, Juli, and Ronny stood behind Logan. Matt wanted to rip Lenny apart, but he’d let Logan run the show for now.
Lenny’s face was ashen white and all the cockiness of the previous day was gone. Although he had short hair now, he nervously pushed it out of his eyes.
Logan broke the silence. “A situation has been brought to my attention. I believe you have something that belongs to Mr. Larson.”
Lenny sat up straight in his chair. Of course, his calm façade was hindered slightly when his voice cracked. “How exactly do you know Matty?”
Logan raised one of his eyebrows. “He’s an old friend, and as such I expect you to treat him with the same respect you treat me.”
Lenny’s throat bobbed up and down as if he were trying to swallow a rock. “Well-well-well,” Lenny stuttered, then stopped. Took a deep breath and tried again. “You see I was unaware.”
Holding up his hand, Logan stopped him. “You have something very important to him. Find it. Now.”
Lenny nodded. “He’s still in Orlando.” His hands shook visibly as he pulled out his cellphone. It took him two tries to get the number right. “Carlos, this is Hill. I need to speak with your guys in Orlando … yes, they can reach me at this number.”
Logan took out his own cell phone and started typing. Lenny visibly paled the longer Logan typed. He looked down at his phone, as if willing it to ring. He jumped when Juli’s phone buzzed. Logan returned his phone to his pocket and stared at Lenny.
Matt saw Juli smile as he checked his phone. Juli type four letters and hit send.
Logan’s phone chimed.
“Plus expenses, of course,” Juli said, to no one in particular.
Lenny’s face fell, losing all expression. He twitched as if shocked when his phone finally rang.
“This is Hill. Put the kid on.”
Matt stepped forward, pulling the phone from Lenny’s hand. “Pete, Pete,” he said, holding his breath as he listened to the quiet rustle of static from the other end of the line. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding when he heard Pete’s voice.