“So how much are we really worth?”
“My best guess is about one and three quarters million. Give or take a hundred grand.”
Diane’s jaw dropped, her eyes were as wide as a cat’s on a dark night. “And you bought me this shack?!” Pat didn’t know what to say to that. She followed up with, “I’m only kidding, you big dope. I love this house. But almost two million dollars? Where is it?”
“Mostly in stocks, bonds and treasury bills. There is some cash. I’ve been sending Mom and Dad money for years, about $20,000 per year. Joe and Mike send cash to them too. Their doing well, what with Social Security and that little stipend that we send them. If you’d like we can do that with your folks, too. I mean there’s plenty of money. We won’t have to worry in our old age.” Diane was still in awe. Pat was smiling a little, but he was still trying to keep his head and keep to the script.
Diane’s thoughts turned to Pat’s friend, Brian. “He’s a pretty crazy looking character. Is he typical of the guys you hung around with back then?”
“Who, Brian? He’s a cream puff; a nice guy. He’s actually kind of a computer geek. He’s been making music since I’ve known him. Man can he play a guitar. I’ve never heard anyone in person or on record that can make the sounds he makes. He’s about to land a record deal, he may have signed already as a matter of fact. Brian’s pretty wild on stage but he’s kind of an introvert in social situations. I think he lets out all of this inner trapped emotion when he’s playing in front of a crowd. We should go see him sometime. You’d be impressed.”
They sat quietly for a few minutes. Then Diane said, “Sweetie, we have to work on ways to get you to relax. You are so tensed up, and there’s no reason for it that I can see. Just tell me what I can do to help.”
All sorts of lewd and tawdry scenes went through Pat’s brain in an instant but he figured that now was not the time for a crude joke. “You’re right. I guess I got all tied up in having to make a living when I got out of the service. I guess I just didn’t want to lie around and not do anything for the rest of my life.”
Things weren’t adding up for Diane. Why would Pat join the Navy if he was a millionaire and why would Joe put himself in harm’s way in the Marines? And where was their brother Mike? Diane hadn’t even met him yet. She was too curious to hold back any longer. “Pat, why did you join the Navy? You’re a rich man. Why would any millionaire join the military? And why did Joe join the Marines? And when can I meet Mike?”
Pat was ready for the first two but he wasn’t ready for the last. “I just wanted to give something back to this great country and since I’d come by much of it by evading taxes, I felt that I owed something. I wanted to make amends without facing prison. I think I’m even with Uncle Sam. Joe and I talked about it, and that’s what we decided to do.”
He had to pause and think a moment before he went on. “Mike is another story. He is emotionally crushed. You see, when we lived outside of Apopka, he married a girl from Pennsylvania. Julie Mallernee. She was a great girl, really outgoing and friendly. She smiled all the time.” This is where things got a little touchy, because the truth came real close to the big lie about dealing dope. “About two weeks after they were married, Julie went to the grocery store and came home alone. Mike was at the greenhouses. While she was at the store, four guys broke into their house. When she got home, she was putting stuff away and these guys got hold of her. They raped her repeatedly and beat her to death. Part of it was on tape. These bastards took the time to act as if it were a game. They even taunted Mike, Joe and me. You see, we knew these guys. They were supposedly our friends.” As Pat was talking about this, his gaze turned towards the fireplace, his face getting red, and his eyes glazing over, teeth clenching. “The tape clearly showed at least one of the bastard’s faces and enough of one other to get a description. We knew who the other two were by the voices on the tape. The tape never made it to trial. It was lost or destroyed. All four guys walked. They’re still walking free today, except one who was found dead the other day.”
“These guys were your friends? Do they live around here?”
“Yep. We haven’t seen them in years though,” he lied. “They’re known to lots of folks in the area though. Mike has never been the same. It’s like his heart and soul were ripped from him. I’ve tried to talk with him about getting on with his life but he’s a broken man.” The sadness in Pat’s eyes was profound. It’s as if he were trying to see the world through Mike’s eyes.
Diane put her hand on her husband’s cheek and turned his face towards hers. “You’re not Mike. You can’t live his life. If he’s to get over this, he has to do it himself. All we can do is pray for him and hope that he can someday find himself. You know his wife wouldn’t want him to live his whole life feeling guilty for not being there for her. He couldn’t have known and he couldn’t possibly have been there 24 hours a day.”
“You’re right, but I still can’t help feeling that we should have done something to help put those guys away or something to prevent it in the first place. That’s one reason why we have the alarm system here. I never wanted you to hear this story. Now if you ever meet Mike, this will be the first thing that you think about. I didn’t want that.”
“Chances are he’ll break out of it. I hope I can meet him and I hope the circumstances are better. I can’t believe that you’ve carried this around with you all this time and never told me.”
Diane and Pat talked on for a few more hours. They made their way to the bedroom where their lovemaking was exceptionally hot and emotional. Their souls were bared to each other, Diane 100 percent, Pat about 85. The other fifteen percent would have to go with him to his grave.
* * *
Ginny and Brian were on their first real date. They ate at a nice, quiet restaurant in Lakeland. It was a pretty good drive but Brian wanted to get away from Orlando. He also didn’t want anyone he knew to interrupt his first real romantic evening with his new woman-friend. The lights were kept low and the background music was quiet, almost inaudible. There were real foliage plants everywhere and the décor was exceptional. It was really upscale. Brian wore a sport coat and tie with his Dockers. He had to buy them and wash them that morning. They were the first pair of pants that he owned that weren’t blue denim. It was also the first sport coat he’d owned since his First Communion back at St. Mary’s in Front Royal, Virginia. When he called he’d asked if a coat and tie were required. His inquiry was followed on the other end by a chuckle and a short “Yes sir.” I guess I’ve got a lot to learn about class, he thought to himself.
Ginny was radiant, her smile beaming from ear to ear. Her dark brown hair hung loose round her shoulders. She wore light make-up and a touch of perfume, she said it was Charlie. Brian could care less but he figured he’d better start paying attention to these details if he wanted to impress her. She wore nice slacks and a loose-fitting beige blouse that complimented her eyes. She was dying to hear Brian’s news. He’d said he’d tell her over dinner, and they’d just ordered drinks, so she was anxious. She had an idea that he was on his way to stardom.
“Ginny, I have some pretty good news and some pretty great news.” She leaned even closer to him across the table. “Yesterday, I signed a contract with Atlantic Records and . . .”
Brian didn’t get the next words out because Ginny leapt out of her seat, screaming “yes, yes, yes” and gave him a full deep kiss on the lips. She then alternated with kisses and hugs for over a full minute. The crowd nearest to them started to clap, assuming that he’d just proposed or something equally serious.
When she finally gained her composure again, and moved back to her seat, Brian said, “Wow. I hope my other news gets that kind of reaction.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a wrapped box. It looked about the size of a pen and pencil set, but thicker. “This is for you. I want you to know how I feel about you. So this is just a symbol of . . . my love. Ginny, I think I’m in love with you.”
Ginny’s smile g
rew even wider, but now her eyes filled with tears. She took the box and set it on the table without opening it. She again moved out of her seat to Brian, this time more slowly, deliberately and again kissed him hard on the lips. She didn’t linger quite as long this time but looked Brian straight in the eyes and said, “I’m feeling the same way about you, Mr. Purcer. I love you. I think I knew it from the first time we met.”
Brian was speechless. After she sat back down, he tried to tell her to open her present, but he had such a frog in his throat, he had to get a drink of water to clear it. Without another word, Ginny unwrapped and opened the box and laid eyes on the most beautiful diamond bracelet that she’d ever seen. It must have cost several thousand dollars. Ginny knew it was part of his signing bonus with the record company. “You didn’t have to do this to win my heart. You had it already.”
“I’m not taking it back.”
“You’re damn right you’re not,” Ginny said with a smile. Brian smiled back and thought to himself that he was one lucky guy these last two days.
After dinner, Brian asked Ginny if she’d like to go dancing or if there was anything else that she’d like to do. And there was. It involved a quiet hotel room and a bottle of wine. So Brian and Ginny checked into the Gaylord Palms on the way back to Orlando and got to know each other much better, well into the next afternoon.
Chapter 29
Jamie went to Jason Roberts home. He was confused about what to do next for the first time in his professional drug-dealing career. He had to admit to himself that he was scared. Buddy Mahaffey escorted Jamie into a room off the main entrance to his home. It appeared to be an office but was more like an interrogation room. There was a door on the opposite side of the room from where Jamie entered. There was a nice oak table, like a dining table in the middle of the room with four chairs, two on each side. There were no chairs on the ends. It was set up as if there was to be a negotiation of some sort. The only light in the room hung low over the table so that the room itself had dark shadows at eye level when standing. On one wall was a mirror about two feet tall by one foot wide. It had a carved oak frame. Unlit candles were on each side. He waited in the room for what seemed like an hour, it really was only sixteen minutes. Then, Phil Daniels, Buddy Mahaffey and Jason Roberts entered through the far door. Buddy moved behind Jamie and stood directly in front of the door where Jamie entered. Gone was Jamie’s smart mouth and attitude.
“Jamie, why are you here? I thought that you didn’t need no faggot Yankee. I heard that you were the king of this organization.”
“I was just . . .”
Jamie didn’t get another word out of his mouth as Jason Roberts was all over Jamie. “You shut your fucking mouth and listen. And I mean keep it shut. Your friends, my employees are being systematically hunted and killed by some lunatic out there and we’re going to get to the bottom of it. I can’t afford to lose anyone else, even the likes of you. You are going to learn to keep your mouth shut and take orders and work within the organization, not against it. Do you hear and UNDERSTAND me?!”
Jamie stammered for a second too long for Mr. Roberts’ liking. He nodded to Buddy who grabbed Jamie by the scruff of the neck, stood him up out of his chair and threw him against the wall to Jamie’s left. Before Jamie could react, Buddy had bitch-slapped him with his open palm three quick times in succession. Then he stopped and just stood in front of Jamie with his arms calmly at his side.
The blood from his nose streamed down past his lip onto his chin and started to drip to the floor. Jamie wasn’t about to look scared in front of these guys. But he didn’t protest or threaten. With the events of the past week, he was starting to feel mortal and vulnerable. He stared back into Buddy’s eyes. He sure wasn’t going to challenge Buddy and Buddy was between him, Phil Daniels and Jason Roberts. He calmed down and wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand. Phil tossed him a hand towel that he pulled from his back pocket. Apparently they’d planned that there would be some blood drawn. At least the floor wasn’t covered in plastic where he stood, so he figured that he’d be walking out of here alive.
“Sit down Jamie.” Jason’s voice was calm now. “We’ve got people looking into Danny Vallero’s and Donnie Lee’s shooting. Donnie’s in the hospital in critical condition. He’s out of commission for some time. We thought that you might have had something to do with it at first, but we know where you were during the shoot.”
“I can’t believe that you think . . .” he started to protest loudly but Jason held up his hand in a gesture to stop. Jamie did so, taking a sideways glance at Buddy, who was sitting next to him now.
“It doesn’t matter what you think or I think or what Phil thinks. Danny is dead and Donnie’s no good to us. That also means that we have to keep a close eye on Bobby. They are particularly close. If Bobby cracks, he knows too much to be left alone out there. So, we’re changing the lineup a little,” he said this as if it were a baseball game, the team was in a slump, and changing the lineup would shake up the offense. “You’re going to have to bring the new guy, Bill Grimes, up to speed fast. We want you to teach him the ropes on how we run things around here. We want you to teach him the Roberts’ way, not the Watkins way. Understand Jamie?”
“Yes sir. I know Bill, not too bright, but he can learn with the right teacher and I’m your guy.” Phil and Buddy looked at each other in an expression that begged the question, Who is this guy? The real Jamie Watkins would have thrown a fit. “When do we get started?’
“Tonight is still on. Take Bill and get the job done. It’s a fifty-fifty split now. You and Bill.”
Jamie smiled to himself. It’s what he wanted all along. He was growing tired of Donnie Lee and Bobby anyway.
“I’m on it, Mr. Roberts. Sir, I am sorry for the hot-headed remarks. It won’t happen again.”
“I know that, Jamie. Cause if it does, you’ll be washing up in Lake Apopka as alligator shit.”
* * *
Brian went in to the Star to give his notice and let them know that he didn’t plan to return for the remaining two weeks. He decided he’d take his two weeks in vacation time instead. So he planned to walk in, give notice, thank them for the years of experience that he had loading trucks and basically working his ass off for peanuts. He really wanted to tell them that they were a bunch of scum, making folks work that hard for nothing, but he figured it wasn’t worth the time. And besides, it really hadn’t been all that bad. He’d made a living, been able to pay the bills and actually saved a few thousand bucks, mainly because he lived like a pauper. But that was over now. He’d already made his first big expenditure; a beautiful bracelet for his girl. She’d thanked him in ways he couldn’t even talk about without getting flush in the cheeks.
When he walked through the employee’s entrance at the Sentinel Star, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to face Brian. Machinery was stopped, forklifts parked and engines shut down. You could smell the propane fumes from the forklifts and the smell of freshly printed papers. One of the guys at the loading dock called out, “Hey boss, look who’s here.” Danny Mills came out of the foreman’s office at the other side of the big loading area where the Sentinel Star began its journey all over central Florida.
He said to no one in particular, “Well, well. Looky who’s here? Brian Purcer, rock stud of the millennium. Listen Brian, all I got to say to you is . . .” and he paused. “Con-fucking-gratulations.” The entire crew broke out into applause, whistles, and chants of “Brian, Brian, Brian.” Danny’s administrative assistant, Cindy, rolled out a table with a cake. A couple of the guys carried two boxes, gift wrapped in some loud colors. Brain made his way across the warehouse to the table and got a big hug and kiss from Cindy. He received handshakes and a few loose hugs from his ‘former’ coworkers. All in all, it was a tough way to end a career. He hadn’t expected to receive such a friendly send off. He was grateful and humbled by the experience.
Brian made a point to shake each man and woman’s h
and and thank them for their kind words. Finally, he met Danny Mills in his office. Danny thanked Brian for his dedication, leadership, loyalty and hard work. He wished Brian well and told him if he ever needed to come back, he was certainly welcome, “but I don’t expect to see your face anywhere but on CDs and billboards. Maybe I’ll watch MTV on occasion just to see you hammering out the tunes.” There was an awkward pause, then Danny said, “Good luck and good fortune, Brian. I know you’ll make it. You know we’ll buy your stuff, if nothing else, just to brag that we know you.” His smile broadened.
Brian reached out his hand for one last shake. Smiling, he turned and walked out of the Sentinel Star for the last time. When he got to his mini-van, he gave the Star building one last look, and drove away. He didn’t look into his rear view mirror, not even once.
Chapter 30
Ray Krebs was in early. The Sheriff’s office was nearly empty. Most of the night shift was either out on patrol or had gathered in the briefing room for early morning chit chat. Ray made his way to the Homicide section of the office and hung out around Al Poreczwski’s desk. He was leafing through the files on Al’s desk when Al’s voice came out of nowhere. “Hey Ray. Anything I can interest you in? We don’t see you Vice guys down this way much.”
“Hey Al. I didn’t think that you were in yet.”
“In yet? I haven’t gone home yet. We had a rough night last night. Another shooting with a high powered rifle. Last I heard, the guy was in ICU. Another head shot. What can I do for you?”
Ray thought for a second. He hadn’t planned to be caught snooping so he had to think fast. “I was hoping you had that Vallero file on your desk. Remember I told you that one of the guys squealed and gave us Danny’s name. Well we’d been watching Danny off and on for a while. He was apparently getting his stuff from out of state and we wanted to have some information in case the Feds popped in on us. We have a general idea where he was going for his stash but we’re not sure. We don’t want to look like dunces in front of the fibbies.”
A Lifetime of Vengeance Page 20