“Maggie, you told me that Molley blames Liam for her mom's death,” says Tina.
“Well, Molley just didn't deal with the loss of her mother very well. Molley is an only child, spoiled by all of us her entire childhood. Maybe the worst offender was Liam. Molley was Daddy's little girl while growing up. Whatever that girl wanted, he gave her. She went to private schools all her life, which you may know costs a bit of money. Not an easy task on the salary of a police officer and a public school teacher. You throw in dance lessons, cheerleading camps, formal dances, and of course... college. Kelley and Liam sacrificed for their daughter, like parents do,” says Mrs. O'Connor. “We all want to provide better for our kids. Molley is a bright, intelligent, beautiful young woman who is very successful in her career. But I believe Liam and Kelley realized, later in life, that perhaps the greatest gift you provide your children is your time. Molley now lives in Atlanta. She's not married, has had many boyfriends, but when things get serious, the relationship is over. I hope she figures it out for herself soon. I won't be around much longer, and I want to see that child happy. I hope you don't think I'm overly harsh on Molley. It's just as I get older, I don't filter my words as I once did.”
“Now Tina, I've been doing all the talking, I want to know more about you! I know how you and Liam met, but why are you really watching his dog?” asks Mrs. O'Connor.
“I don't really know. Chemistry, I guess. I mean, the first time I saw Liam I couldn't keep my eyes off him. I had to leave the room. I did leave the room, but just looked at photos of him in his bedroom while the detectives were talking to him. I can't explain it, really. I was married once. My husband was killed in the first Iraq war. I don't remember ever being this giddy around him,” says Tina. “I'm not blind, I can clearly see that Liam loved his wife very much and is in a lot of pain about her death. I've been in his shoes, and it takes time to move on with your life. Now, saying that, I can't deny I have feelings for Liam. I'd like just a chance, that's really what I want, is a chance to see if Liam has feelings for me,” says Tina.
“Oh, I think that will happen,” says Mrs. O'Connor.
“I sure hope I get a chance,” says Tina.
“I can sure see why Liam has opened up to you. You're a beautiful person, both on the inside and out. You speak your mind. I like that very much,” says Mrs. O'Connor. “I'm so glad we've had this talk. I have no idea in hell what Liam’s up to, but when he returns, there is certainly a situation. We'll just call it a situation right now, Tina!”
Chapter 9
SHENANIGANS PUB
OH! HOW I'VE MISSED THE WICKED WINTERS of Boston, thinks Liam. The highways are slow, same old Boston. He continues to drive the old Cruiser in the snow up Interstate 95 in a light snowfall. I made good time, 7 p.m., he thinks as he looks down at his watch. It's probably closed. I'll just park outside and jump the fence again, thinks Liam. He drives in the light snow, becoming more and more nervous as he anticipates his conversation. Here at last, thinks Liam. The gate is closed. Shit, okay, I'll just jump the wall like I've done in the past. Liam attempts to jump the eight-foot brick wall and can't grab the top ledge with his right leg. He struggles with both feet scratching at the wall, attempting to grab an edge, until he stops and falls back to the grass. Shit... shit, if T.J. saw that, I'd never live it down, thinks Liam. It's probably the medication I'm taking. Perhaps light beer should be the selection of choice in the future as well. He looks to the end of the wall, about twenty feet away, and notices an open pedestrian gate. He laughs at himself and walks through the open gate, thinking I'm glad it's too dark for anyone to see that. He notices the snow begins to fall through the trees, lightly covering the ground. Perfect. Clean white snow, no imperfections, as it should be. He continues to walk a while through the snow-covered grounds, finally reaching his place of rest.
Beloved Wife, Beloved Husband, Beloved Son. Words crafted into headstones. It just doesn't quite capture each of their life's worth, thinks Liam. Joseph O'Connor, James O'Connor, and Kelley O'Grady O'Connor were the names on the headstones at the St. Joseph Cemetery. Liam had gone to see his heroes and his beloved saint at their final resting place.
I know it's been a while, but I've come to ask something from you all, says Liam as he prays. Dad, you're the strongest man I've ever known. Please provide me the strength to carry this task out, provide me with the strength to see this through. Brother James? I need your courage. The courage it takes to battle, even if the odds are against you. Finally from my saint, my saint of a wife, Kelley, please give me the wisdom to choose the right path, and if it's God's plan for me to join you, may I be in heaven a full half-hour before the devil knows I'm dead. I'll need a good twenty-five minutes with you, and five for a pint! Liam turns and begins to walk back through the cemetery. As he does, he sees the figure of a man walking toward him through the falling snow. He walks toward the man and soon sees it's T.J.
“I thought I'd see you here, Liam. I thought you'd get to town and pay your respects first,” says T.J. The two embrace.
“Man, it's good to see you, T.J. I've missed our man dates!” laughs Liam. “I miss whipping your ass in golf, and your wife's cooking. How is Rhonda?”
“She's fine, Liam. She doesn't know you're here. No one does, as far as I know,” says T.J.
“I brought that letter I told you about, and a paper from two days ago.”
“What's in the paper?” asks Liam.
“There's an article about the death of Nick Torigiani. He was found dead two days ago, across from Shenanigans Pub,” says T.J.
The two continue to walk through the cemetery until they exit through the front gate. They walk over to Liam's Cruiser.
“I see you're still driving Dad's old tank,” says T.J.
“It's a classic!” says Liam.
T.J. hands Liam the letter from Captain Torigiani and a two-day-old print of The Boston Herald.
“T.J., I'm a bit tired and in need of a drink,” says Liam.
T.J. asks, “Where are you staying while you're here?”
“I thought I'd stay in Dad's old office above the bar, if Dugan will let me,” says Liam.
“Is your mom still part owner of the pub since your dad's passing?” asks T.J.
“Yeah, she's still one-third owner. A silent owner. Big Mac has taken care of the business since Dad died. Mama gets monthly checks from the pub, along with Dad's retirement from the force. That, and the money she got from the sale of their house, she's sitting pretty.”
T.J. says, “Liam, I'll follow you to the pub and get you settled. We can talk more then.”
“Sounds good.” Liam and T.J. drive from St. Joseph's Cemetery to Joseph's pub in South Boston.
The two arrive at Shenanigans Pub, owned and operated for many years by his father and Dugan McSweeney. “Big Mac,” as he is referred to, is still part owner and current manager of the pub. Liam and T.J. park in front of the pub and enter through the front doors. Shenanigans has been an established pub in the community for over twenty years. It has, like most well-accepted community pubs, a strong, loyal following of diverse blue-collar Southies.
The pub serves food and drink, so it's commonplace to see neighborhood families within the establishment. Joseph wanted a place that felt like home to all. He believed that serving food and drink was not enough to successfully run a business. He thought people wanted to feel a part of the pub. Dugan and Joseph always tried to remember the names of those who regularly came to the pub, the repeat offenders. The two had the gift of gab, which helped create the open and friendly atmosphere. He remembers his mother's response when his father wanted to buy into Shenanigans: “Well, finally we might get some return on your years of personal investment.”
Liam and T.J. enter the pub and are immediately seen by Dugan McSweeney. Dugan stops his conversation with a local patron, walks over to Liam and gives him a hug. Liam, a tall man standing six foot three, is overshadowed by Big Mac's enormous frame. Weighing 365 pounds and standing six fo
ot seven, Big Mac is a gentle giant. He had worked for many years as a butcher in Dorchester.
Joseph and Dugan had become friends years back, after Dugan's shop had been robbed. Joseph was able to locate the suspects and recover Dugan's stolen money. A friendship was struck, and better cuts of meat and poultry were eaten at the O'Connor residence from that time on.
“Liam, it's sure good to see you. T.J., where have you been keeping yourself? It's been months since you and Rhonda have been in,” says Dugan. “How is your mother, Liam?”
“She's fine. Mean and feisty as ever.”
“Drinks for you two? The regulars?” asks Dugan.
“Sounds good,” replies T.J.
“Come, sit down, get me caught up with you two,” says Dugan. “Feels like old times.”
The three men move to a booth in the corner of the pub, down from the noise and activity of the bar. Drinks are brought to the table, a shot of Jameson and a pint of Guinness for T.J.
“Did you get proper authorization for that pint from Rhonda?” laughs Liam. “I thought you only drank wine now, T.J.”
“I'm sorry, did you want wine?” asks Dugan, “You did drink Guinness. I just thought…”
“No, this is good, this is fine.”
“I'm glad to see you've grown a pair again, T.J.,” laughs Liam.
Dugan and T.J. laugh as T.J. shakes his head and smiles.
“T.J., you're one lucky man to have Rhonda. You sure married up,” says Liam.
They all laugh, and Liam drinks his Jameson. He grimaces as the whiskey goes down his throat.
“Shit, that's like a torchlight procession going down the throat,” he says as the others laugh.
“It's been a while since I've had whiskey.”
Liam soothes the burn with a large drink of Guinness.
“Big Mac, I need a favor from you,” says Liam. “Could I stay in the office above the pub for a few days?”
“No problem, Liam, the place is just like your father had it. There's a bed and a shower up there. Use it as long as you need it,” says Dugan.
Dugan is called away from the table.
“Liam, you could stay with me!”
“Thanks, T.J., but I don't want to bring trouble to your house. This way I'm in a public place, which can make things more difficult.”
“Difficult for who?” asks T.J.
“I don't know yet, but I will... soon,” says Liam.
He looks down at the newspaper T.J. brought him, and the letter from Captain Torigiani.
“What do you know about Captain Torigiani’s arrest?” asks Liam.
“I heard about him when I came on the department, years back. I heard he was doing time in a Federal prison for murder. Whose murder, Liam?” asks T.J.
Both sat back in the booth, each taking a drink from their beers.
Liam says, “I’ll tell you what I know, and what Dad told me. You see, Dad and Torigiani were pretty tight in his early years with the department. Uncle Sal made it much easier for an Italian and an Irishman to work together in places like Dorchester, South Boston, really all over Boston. In the ’70s and ’80s, there were big problems between the Italian family, or the mob, and the Irish mob. But because Dad and Uncle Pennilli were tight, Dad had no problems working the streets as a cop. I wasn't told until many years later that Francis Salvador Pennilli was the head of the Italian mob in Boston. Growing up, I always called him Uncle Sal. My father told me there was no finer soldier than Sal. Through the years, Dad worked from time to time at Pennilli's shipyards. No doubt that Uncle Sal's influence on the streets made it easier for Dad and me to do our jobs. We were able to go places and talk with people who would have never given us the time of day without his nod. To this day, I believe my father's friendship with Pennilli cost him any chance of promotion within the department. Dad never complained and never let his friendship with Sal slip. Uncle Sal's son, Roman, is about my age. He and I would hang out together as kids, but he was never very athletic, and we grew apart. I've heard he has now taken over his father's position, running the streets and the shipyard business in South Boston.”
Liam and T.J. drink more from their beers. Liam asks,
“Will Rhonda want to know where you've been tonight? It's ten p.m. already. Will she start calling you?”
“No, I told her I was going to the shooting range at the department, so she knows I'll be gone for a while,” replies T.J.
“Torigiani and Dad were partnered up to help defuse some city relations problems between the Italians and Irish during that time. They grew to like each other. About nine or ten years ago, Captain Torigiani was having problems with his teenage son, Chris. He was hanging around with the wrong people and started using meth. When he was about 16 years old, he was caught under the influence and in possession of meth. Captain Torigiani worked a deal with juvenile authorities to defer the sentencing on Chris until he completed a drug rehabilitation program. He completed the program and was sentenced to misdemeanor charges and was placed on probation, timed served. Dad said the boy did fine for a short time, then got back into using drugs his senior year in high school. Chris, while under the influence of methamphetamine, was caught doing a burglary in Charlestown. He was to be tried as an adult, but Captain Torigiani went to the assistant district attorney at that time, Alton Mills, and asked if there was anything that could be done. Mills, a friend of Torigiani's, agreed to put Chris back into a drug program and again defer sentencing.”
“You mean he got another second chance?” asks T.J.
“Yep. The kid was a born snake charmer...an extreme bullshit artist,” says Liam. “Captain Torigiani just couldn't let him go to jail, which might have been the best thing for him. Chris completed the program and managed to get his GED in the process. He again was placed on probation, with the help of Mills. Mills kept Chris from going to jail. Once out of jail, Chris worked several part-time jobs, but was still running the streets. His father was frustrated with Chris and was tired of dealing with him. He called his probation officer and had him violated for drug possession after Captain Torigiani found meth in Chris's pants. Chris was incarcerated in the South Boston Jail as an adult when Assistant District Attorney Mills got him released into his custody. Mills liked Chris and decided to help Captain Torigiani out by paying to put Chris into a private drug rehabilitation center in upper Massachusetts. He once again successfully completed the program and was released into the custody of Mills. Chris Torigiani was placed on probation, with a promise to the court that he would be living with Mills until the completion of his probation.”
Dugan returns to the table and asks if T.J. and Liam would like another drink, or something to eat. Both men order another Guinness. “Liam, I understand about a kid needing a helping hand or some positive role model to follow, but this sounds wrong,” states T.J.
“Well, hold on T.J., it gets worse!” says Liam. “Dad said while on duty, he was called by the communication center and received a special assignment. One not to be broadcast over the police radios. The communication center had him respond to Alton Mills’ house on a report of stolen property. Dad said he went to Mills' residence in Charlestown and met with Mills. Mills said Chris had stolen several pieces of jewelry and cash, and wanted Chris located and his items returned. Several hours later, Chris returned back to Mills’ house. Mills refused to press charges. Alton Mills was a single man in his mid-fifties, having never married. Neither myself or Dad ever heard Mills talk about current or past girlfriends, ever. Dad said when he returned to Mills' residence to meet with Chris and Mills, there were other men at the house. He told me it looked wrong. He said, ‘I have no proof they were poofs or puffers, but it looked wrong, Liam. It looked wrong to me.’”
“Dad told me several months later, Boston police were called again to Mills’ house on a peace disturbance call. Chris Torigiani had allowed several friends over, and the gathering got loud and out of control. Alton Mills returned home to find an out-of-control party. Mills called th
e police and had the individuals removed. Rumors started to spread,” said Liam, “within both the police department and the district attorney's office, about an inappropriate relationship between Mills and Chris. These rumors got back to Captain Torigiani. T.J., you can imagine the difficulties Captain Torigiani had dealing with the rumors within the police department. Several months passed, and I'm recovering from being shot when Dad tells me Captain Torigiani was arrested for murder. He told me that Chris Torigiani stole Mills' car and crashed it into a tree somewhere upstate, and was killed. After Chris was buried, Captain Torigiani went to Mills' house, supposedly to retrieve Chris's personal belongings. Something else happened, though, because Captain Torigiani stabbed Alton Mills in the right temple with a six-inch hunting knife. He wrapped Mills' body in a tarp and placed it in the trunk of his car, which was parked in the garage.”
“Liam, did Captain T confess to the murder?” asks T.J.
“No, not at first. The body wasn't located for several days after the stabbing. During that period of time, Captain Torigiani worked several shifts at the detention facility. A check-the-welfare call was sent out to daytime patrol officers, and Dad was one of the first responding officers at Mills' residence. He and three others found Mills' body in the garage. All hell broke loose then. He said there were more command staff and officials from the district attorney's office than he'd ever seen before. He told me the Department of Justice was called in to handle the investigation, as it was strongly believed that Captain Torigiani may have been involved. T.J., several days passed and the DOJ arrested Captain Torigiani at work. His fingerprints were found on the knife handle stuck into Mills' head. They also located additional fingerprints on several beer bottles in Mills' kitchen. Captain Torigiani went to trial and stated he believed Mills had lured his son into a homosexual relationship.”
The Key to Betrayal Page 9