****
The living room was still a hive of activity, phone calls were being made, more tea was being produced, the coffee machine was gurgling away for the second time and I carried on walking. I reached the bottom of the stairs and headed to Gerry’s bedroom. As I sat on his bed surrounded by his clothes, I wondered where Harley was. I knew Travis had taken him to the apartment but had he been left on his own? I doubted it but wanted to check. I sent a text to Sam asking him to find out. It was a few minutes later that he appeared at the bedroom door.
“Elaine is with him, someone went to fetch her.”
Elaine was Harley’s grandmother and she’d been at the house and apartment often.
“Travis should be with him,” I replied.
“Apparently it was Harley’s decision. He wants Travis to find Gerry.”
Sam sat on the bed next to me. I shuffled up so I was lying on my side and pulled Gerry’s teddy close to my chest. It smelled of him, the bedding smelled of him, and I hurt all over again.
“Please, God, bring back my son,” I whispered.
“What do you know?” Sam gently asked.
“They’re going after Rosa, using her as a bargaining tool.” It was hard to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
“Fair enough,” Sam replied.
“What do you mean, fair enough?”
“She’s run, hasn’t she? Means she knows something, doesn’t it?”
“So, what? You’re a policeman now?”
“No, just someone who’s thinking this through. I might be the big old drama queen most of the time but I’m not stupid. Think about it.”
“The Irish are after her, whoever the fuck the Irish are.”
“Travis is Irish, isn’t he?”
“Of course he is! He said a name. Aileen. I don’t know an Aileen. I hate not knowing, Sam.”
I tried not to cry again, my cheeks were already chapped and sore and I wanted to have a clear mind. I needed to keep my shit together because I was not going to let Robert do it all. No matter what I felt, I wanted to be the one to pick up my son from that dirty floor and hold him in my arms. I wanted to be the one to bring him home. But what home? That was a question I needed to think about.
“Do you need to know everything? Isn’t it more important that, no matter what, Gerry is found?”
“You’re being far too rational for my liking. I can’t think that way right now.”
“I texted Scott. I had to tell him, Brooke. I also told him I’m staying here with you. I’m not leaving until Gerry is home.”
“Thank you. I need a friend right now.”
“You have a group of friends upstairs. Every one of those people loves you. You’re family, I can see that. This…” he waved his hand over me. “This is panic and grief and more panic or whatever.”
“This is the worst thing that could ever happen, Sam. This is my heart being shattered, this is my existence and judgement being tested and questioned.”
We fell silent. Had I got it so wrong? I was the one to instigate the adoption of Gerry and without Robert knowing in the beginning. I was the one who believed us to be great parents. I was the one who convinced Robert his lifestyle wouldn’t encroach on Gerry’s.
Oh, how wrong I had been.
****
I don’t know how long I had sat on Gerry’s bed. Sam had headed upstairs to grab something to eat. I could smell food but the thought of eating turned my stomach. However, it was doing me—or Gerry—no good hiding away. After convincing myself of that, I splashed some cold water over my face before joining everyone.
Patricia came straight to me as I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs. She wrapped her arms around me.
“I don’t know what to say to you to make this better,” she said.
“Being here helps. I just have to know what’s going on. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
“This is about the worst thing this family has faced, Brooke. You and I know what’s going to happen. Do you really want all the gory details?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know, but I feel useless. I want to be out on the streets searching for him, not sitting around here.”
“And where would you start? DC is a big place. Let them find out what they can, let them plan. You go rushing around drawing attention, what do you think will happen if whoever has him panics?”
“Franco knows who has him, why don’t I? Why aren’t we banging down their door?”
“Because there is a strategy, a game to be played, unfortunately. For the safety of your son, you need to understand that. No child has ever been killed, Brooke…”
Before she could finish her sentence, I cut in. “And no wife was ever abducted, but I was. Whoever this is isn’t playing by the rules you believe in, Patricia.”
She had no answer to that. She released me from her hug and we walked to the living room. Taylor gave me a sad smile and patted the sofa beside her. I sat with my elbows on my knees and my face in my palms.
Whispered voices floated around the room; I didn’t listen. I concentrated on my breathing to slow my racing heart. I tried my hardest to swallow down the panic that kept bubbling to the surface. Patricia, Sam and even Robert were right—this had to be dealt with in such a way as to not endanger Gerry any further. I had to trust their instincts in that he wouldn’t be harmed, and I hoped that photograph was the worst he had been subjected to.
I wanted to turn back time, to go back a week, a month, a year even. I wanted to listen more to Robert when he said he wasn’t interested in a birthday party. If that party hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have been sitting in an office giving a statement, leaving Gerry at home. But there were so many ‘ifs’ and wishing for the past to change wasn’t going to bring my son home.
I raised my head; it wasn’t the sound of footsteps that had me look up, it was the fact that I knew Robert was close. He stood a little away from me. He looked at me first, and the one thing that struck me was there was no emotion in his face. No matter how bad a situation, when he looked at me, there was a slight softening to his features. That time his eyes were dead.
“Here’s what we know so far. Let’s start at the hotel. The bomb was crudely constructed, probably put together by an amateur. There was a simple timing device inside. I believe it was Carlo who walked it into the foyer, whether he knew what he was delivering is another matter. Having looked at what we have on CCTV, he didn’t seem to chase Brooke down the alley, and I wonder if he wanted her to know who he was, even talk to her rather than harm her.”
I noticed the ‘her’; Robert wasn’t addressing me personally at all. His tone of voice was purely business-like. There was no emotion, and he hadn’t looked once in my direction while he spoke.
“The police are keeping the investigation open, of course, and at some point will expect us to share information. Now, moving on to today. The front of a silver car, make unknown at the moment, is seen at the gates to the chapel. Those gates are padlocked from the inside, yet he takes no time to open them and walk in. Someone opened that padlock prior to today. Paul and another person walked to the doors. This other person, again, very possibly Carlo, kept their head down; Paul doesn’t. In fact, he looks directly at one camera.”
Robert was interrupted by Sam. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he already knows he’s a dead man.”
Not one sound could be heard in the room after that statement.
“He knows I’ll kill him, or he knows whoever had him do this will kill him. Either way, he had nothing to lose by being seen.”
“Is this revenge for Luca?” Taylor asked.
“Possibly, but I don’t believe Carlo acted alone with the bomb, and we’re still figuring out the connection between Paul and Carlo. We know it was Paulo who flew to Rome, and I’m suspecting he’s got involved with Carlo and Paul now has to clean up after him.”
“Do you think Paul was blackmailed into this?” Jonathan asked.
“It�
�s a possibility. We know Rosa has run so she knows something. She’ll be intercepted in Ireland.”
“What will happen to her?” Patricia asked, her voice quivered a little.
“I want to know what she knows, and all the time my son is missing, I don’t care how that information is extracted,” Robert replied.
I felt sick to my stomach. Rosa, Paul, Paulo even, they were people that had been friends. I’d entertained them in my home and they had betrayed me in the worst possible way. I heard a car draw to a halt in front of the house. Travis made his way downstairs to greet whoever it was. I was too far from the window to see for myself. We all looked to the stairs when we heard two sets of footsteps climb them. As Travis rounded the corner, a man who could have been his twin followed him. He had the same blond hair, the same blue eyes and build.
“Can I introduce Carrig, my brother,” Travis said.
I looked at Sam who mouthed the words “His brother?” I shrugged. Travis rarely spoke about his family. I knew they were alive, of course, but nothing more.
Travis introduced each and every one of us, explaining who we were, who we were related to. Carrig nodded, gave a smile, but nothing more.
Robert shook his hand. “Are we set?” he asked.
“We are. Aileen will meet your girl at the airport and she’ll be taken to a safe house. We know her family, they’re being watched,” Carrig said.
He had a soft voice, softer than Travis’, and there was an obvious Irish accent.
“Who is Aileen?” I said, finally finding my voice.
He looked at me and it was then I noticed his eyes were so cold. “My sister,” he replied.
What he’d said struck something inside of me. He didn’t say our sister, he’d said my sister. The rift between Travis and his family was obviously very deep, but it begged the question, why now? Why were they helping people they didn’t know?
“When will we get the image?” Robert asked.
“Tonight, early hours tomorrow, I imagine.”
“And it will be as I asked?”
“To the letter,” he replied with a chuckle.
I didn’t like him one bit. As intimidating as Travis could be, his brother was pure evil. I shuddered. I didn’t want him in my house. Coldness had crept into the room despite it being mid-summer.
The men left and headed to the home office. I’d never felt so alone in a room full of people. Evelyn came and sat beside me. I looked up at her bruised face and tears pooled in my eyes. She placed her arm around my shoulders.
“I remember when he came into the home, he was carrying that,” she quietly said.
I followed her gaze to my lap. I hadn’t realised I was still holding Gerry’s teddy, the teddy he had named Robert after his father.
“How’s Harley? I want to go and see him.”
“He’s distraught. He tried to fight them off, we both did, but there was nothing we could do.” It was the first time I’d noticed fragility in her voice.
“Did Paul say anything at all?”
“No, not a word. He just walked in and lifted Gerry over his shoulder. It was all so quick. By the time I’d got up from the floor, they were halfway down the aisle. I ran after them, so did Harley, but they locked us in. They took my phone, Brooke. I couldn’t call anyone. I tried to smash a window but it wouldn’t give. I shouted and shouted until Travis came.”
“How did they lock you in?”
“A piece of wood between the handles I think. I didn’t really see.”
“Franco said he knows who has Gerry. How?”
“I think it’s more to do with the note. He said there is only one family who would do that, who believe the sons should pay.”
“But why us? That’s what I don’t get. What have we done to deserve this? Nothing is making sense, Ev.”
“I know, but you have to keep faith. You have to keep believing Gerry will be home soon.”
“It would help if I knew what was going on.”
“You will. We’ll all know as soon as there is something to know.”
“I’m not comfortable with Carrig here. There’s something about him I don’t like.”
“If he helps, then tolerate him. It must have taken a lot for Travis to ask for his help. To my knowledge, he hasn’t seen him since they were both children.”
I looked around the room. Patricia was talking quietly to Susie, who hadn’t really spoken since she’d arrived. Taylor was on the phone and from what she was saying, I guessed she was talking to Petra. Those women must be scared too. Although their children were adults, it was a worrying time for all. Sam was making sandwiches, or rather leaving a mess, but he smiled over to me when he saw me look. In times of crisis, feeding people seemed to be the order of the day.
Robert strode from the home office and headed towards the stairs. He didn’t look at me as he passed by. I rose and followed him. I caught up with him in the bedroom. He was pulling his shirt over his head as I walked in.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Changing clothes, obviously.”
He walked to the closet and a minute later emerged in jeans and a fresh shirt. I looked at his chest as he buttoned it up. He had scratches over his body. Had I done that?
“I’m sorry for slapping you,” I said.
He didn’t answer immediately but continued to button up his shirt. As he made his way to the door, he stopped.
“Don’t worry about it. Your words hurt far more,” he said without looking at me.
“I’m dying here, Robert. Can’t you see that?”
He turned and stalked back to me. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face.
“And you think I’m not? You think every single second I’m not fucking tearing myself apart because, like you say, this is my fault? I’d give my life for that boy, for my son, and all I hoped was I’d have a wife who stood beside me.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Until when, though? But I can’t think about that right now. The priority isn’t us, it’s Gerry. I will love you my whole life and I know you’re dying. I feel your pain, his pain and my own, and all I can do is channel that because what I’m about to do is going to be fucking ugly. A lot of people are going to get hurt and someone very close to me is about to have their world shattered. Remember the can of snakes, Brooke? It’s about to be opened.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. He raised his hand and brushed his thumb under my eye, catching the next tear before cupping my cheek in his palm. I covered his hand with mine. I saw him look at my wrist, at the raw skin where my watch had pinched. He took my hand and brought it to his lips where he gave a gentle kiss to the broken skin.
“I’ve lost you. I can see it in your eyes,” he said. Then he walked away.
****
I sat for a while on the bed thinking on what had been said. Would I really walk away from Robert? He had said one thing that ran through my mind, the priority wasn’t us, it was Gerry. How much would Gerry’s life alter after this? How would I ever let him out of my sight again? But could I keep him safe on my own? Those were questions I couldn’t answer at that moment.
I walked up the stairs, every step causing my muscles to ache. I was physically exhausted, emotionally drained and still numb. The evening was drawing in. I looked at my watch. Yesterday, at that exact hour, Gerry would have been in the shower, singing away in his off-key voice before dinner. I looked at the breakfast bar strewn with snacks and drinks. He would have been sitting there, wedged in the middle of Robert and me for dinner. In another hour, he would read or watch a little TV before bedtime. Instead, he was bound and gagged somewhere I couldn’t hold him, somewhere I couldn’t tell him everything would be okay.
I looked at the women in the room. Sure, they looked sad, but it wasn’t their child that had been taken, and I wondered if they silently thanked their lucky stars for that. I knew bitterness was washing over me and I didn’t seem capable of stopping it. I didn’t want my child mi
ssing, I wanted it to be someone else’s. I wanted to be the one sitting there offering support, not praying my boy was alive.
There seemed to be some commotion coming from the home office. We all looked over to the door. Mack was the first to leave, practically running across the living room and down the stairs. Taylor stood but he made no attempt to talk to her or any of us. Travis followed shortly after with a phone to his ear.
“Take him to Tony. We want to talk to him first,” he said as he passed.
I was sure I’d heard the name Tony before but couldn’t quite place it. Robert was the last to walk from the room. I looked over to him.
“We have Paulo,” he said.
I jumped to my feet. “What did he say? Does he have Gerry?” I asked.
“He hasn’t spoken yet. He will though. And no, he doesn’t have him.”
“I want to come,” I said.
“No, absolutely not. You stay here.”
“It’s my son he has!” I shouted as I jabbed my chest with my finger.
Robert walked towards me, placed his hands on my shoulders and forced me back onto the sofa.
“It’s our son, and you do not want to see what is about to happen. Someone fucking enlighten her.”
He was angry, so very angry. I knew part of that was because I was being unreasonable—with what I thought was good reason—and part was because he needed that anger. He contained it, ready to be unleashed.
For the second time that day, he turned and walked away from me. Sam slid across the sofa and took my hand in his.
“What are you doing, Brooke? You’re both hurting, but you should be a team, not fighting like this.”
I didn’t answer. Was I pushing Robert too hard? Franco sat to the other side of me.
“Sam, you may want to grab a coffee or something,” he said.
Sam nodded and left my side.
“Brooke, stop this now. You wanted the police involved—do you think they would have you by their side when they interrogated? No, they wouldn’t and that’s exactly what’s going to happen here. Except the interrogation Paulo is about to receive will haunt you for the rest of your life, should he not talk.”
“Honey, you rile him too much and he’ll make a mistake because his mind isn’t clear,” Taylor said. She had taken the seat vacated by Sam.
Fallen Angel, Part 4 - A Mafia Romance: Fallen Angel Series Page 10