The Key to Betrayal

by John Matthew Lee

  “Now, Liam, you never expected me to come here alone, did you? I'm a respected family businessman in this community, but there are some people out here who might want to harm me. They're here to protect you as well,” says Roman.

  “Oh. Is that what you call it, protecting me? Roman, I appreciate you looking out for me, but I can take care of myself,” says Liam.

  Roman looks at the bag Liam has in his left hand and asks, “Is that it?”

  Roman waves to him to walk with him inside the business. Roman lifts his hand and gestures toward his men to stay near the door as he and Liam continue to walk further into the business and out of T.J.'s sight.

  Liam and Roman walk back into the shop area when Liam hears the sound of the automatic sliding bay door begin to close. Roman continues smoking his cigar. The two men stop and look at each other. Liam says, “You made a big mistake sending your associates down to Florida for me.”

  “Well, I'll tell you, Liam, I thought you might have those tapes. When McSweeney told me Torigiani kept asking about your whereabouts, I figured you got those tapes from your dad. You see, I always knew about the tapes, and who and what was on them. I knew Torigiani had those tapes hidden. Before he was arrested, he told me he had taken the tapes from Mills' house. He said I'd be interested in those tapes, and especially who was on them.”

  “Yeah, I guess you would be interested,” says Liam.

  “You think I didn't know what my son was, and still is? After Mills' death, I thought it would be best for Carmine to work in the family business in Europe, and that's where he has been the last seven years or so. Turns out his personal sexual habits have opened up a new base of clientele. You know, Liam, I sent Pentecost and Shea to find the tapes, not to kill you. But you shot two of my best men,” says Roman. “Liam, you've made a lot of people angry. Boston's finest, no unsolved murders and all that shit. You and your old man would have been nothing without my family! Who do you think protected you and your old man all those years on the streets, you stupid Irish mick?”

  “It's all about the business, isn't it?” says Liam. “Carmine was an embarrassment to the family, a sweet boy, but you used your own son, too. Did you whore your son off to Rathman for business?” asks Liam, “or was Carmine just freelancing?”

  “Liam, you don't have a fucking clue! We've been doing business with the Rathman Bank for decades. My father starting running all of his money through the bank back in the ’70s. Who would ever suspect the Rathman Bank of Boston of laundering money for the mob?”

  “So how does the current district attorney, Edward Rathman, fit into the family business?” asks Liam.

  “Rathman was a bonus, a married man with children who happened to be a member of the Rathman family. Some men are killers, some sell drugs, and others like young men. He has proven over the past years to be an asset to our family, and now that he's the current D.A., who knows what we can count on from Mr. Rathman? He provided me your home address, which didn't turn out well for Pentacost and Shea, but his contacts have proved valuable to the family business over the years. I think Rathman has a lot to lose. His family has a lot to lose, if he is exposed,” says Roman.

  “You know, Roman, I never liked you as kid. You were always the kid who watched from the sidelines, never wanting to get his hands dirty. I learned later in life what your father did. But how he conducted the family business, and how you conduct it, is frigging night and day! Your father earned respect from the organization and the people of Boston because he was a man of his word, and he wouldn't tolerate certain behavior. He operated with class,” says Liam.

  “Well, Liam, I'm the boss in Boston now and there's a new way of doing business. I'll take those videos from you now,” says Roman.

  “Bad for business...tell me, does your father know about this and his grandson?” asks Liam.

  “My old man eats his pasta and plays Bocce ball all day,” says Roman.

  Liam hands the videos over to Roman. Roman looks at Liam and says,

  “You think I won't kill you, Liam?”

  “No, I don't. I think you would have someone do it for you. You're not the type of guy who would get his hands dirty. Do you think I'm the type of guy who would just let you have the tapes? I'm a threat to a lot of people's business as long as I'm alive. Those tapes are the reason three people already lost their lives. Do you think if those tapes were exposed to the media, you and your mob family could survive? I bet not,” says Liam. “Now just maybe, I've made copies of those tapes and have them ready to be sent to various news sources. You see, one of the benefits of working with the Boston Police Department is all the media contacts I made through the years. Not to mention the contacts within the FBI. You see, Roman, you're right. It's all about business.

  Do you think it makes better sense for the mob to let you live or die, if this comes out?” asks Liam.

  “I just want two things from you, and you'll never hear from me again.”

  Roman continues to smoke his cigar, but has become increasingly angry at Liam.

  “What is it, Liam?” he asks.

  “First, the pub goes free. Your interest becomes T.J.'s, no more shakedowns,” says Liam. “Second, my family and I live a long and peaceful life. I so much as see a rabid squirrel look at me or my family wrong, I swear to God, I'll drop a dime on you and make the Rathman-Pennilli family video the most viewed film of the year. For these considerations, you'll have my word that I'll never release my copies,” says Liam.

  Once the bay door closed, T.J.'s line of sight disappeared. T.J. made his way down the crane and to the back door of the business. He entered through an unlocked back door and positioned himself about two hundred feet from where Liam and Roman are talking.

  T.J. looks at the bay door and sees Roman's men standing at the front. He sees lights from a second vehicle that pulls up outside the business. He hears the car door shut and a side door open next to the front bay door. Roman's men immediately walk toward the door, but stop when they see it's Salvador Pennilli.

  Liam and Roman walk over toward Salvador.

  “Uncle Sal, it's nice to see you again,” says Liam as he reaches Sal and gives him a hug.

  “Pop, what are you doing here?” asks Roman.

  “I heard you two were conducting some business tonight, and I thought I might come and see my two favorite boys,” says Sal “You see, Roman, you may be the boss of the family now, but I still hear about every move you make and why. When you sent your men down to Liam's place and they ended up in the county morgue, I knew then it was only time before you brought trouble to our family.”

  “Pop, I can handle it... I can handle Liam,” says Roman.

  “Uncle Sal, we've reached an agreement, Roman and I. We were just discussing the terms of that agreement before you got here,” says Liam.

  He looks at Roman, and they both look at Sal.

  “Okay, Liam...agreed,” says Roman.

  Liam reaches out his hand and says,

  “You have my word.”

  Roman shakes his hand, and the two walk over to where Sal is standing. Roman says to Liam,

  “It's all about the business, but you're wrong about me, Liam. Who do you think put Torigiani down? You see, the bastard just wouldn't tell us where the tapes were. Turns out he didn't know,” laughs Roman.

  T.J. listens to the conversation from the back of the business and thinks to himself, Liam, just walk away, walk away. You got what you came for, just walk away. Shit! Shit, don't say anything.

  Liam looks at Roman. “Roman, why is it every time I'm around you, I feel the need to check the bottom of my shoes for shit?” Liam looks over at Sal and says, “Uncle Sal, I believe the best part of your son must have been left on the sheets.”

  Roman's men begin to walk toward Liam, until Roman waves them off.

  “Liam, your father was a leach on my father's ass for so many years. And you, you're just another stupid Irish mick who calls a nigger his brother. You and I could have done so
much more if we would have worked together,” says Roman.

  T.J. listens, thinking to himself, Liam, just walk away! Just walk and we're done. Good to go. But you're not going to do it, are you?

  Sal steps toward Roman and tells him to stop, when Roman looks at his father and says,

  “I'm your son, not him!”

  “Okay. Roman, seems like tonight you want to get your hands dirty. You want a piece of me? Let's go. Just you and me, here, right now! Whatever happens, our deal still stands. This is just personal. Business is business,” says Liam.

  T.J. thinks, you just couldn't walk away, could you? No, not Liam. This is not good!

  Liam removes his jacket and puts it on a workbench near one of the boats. He removes his gun from his waistband and places it on the workbench. Roman takes his jacket off and puts it near Liam's. While the two men are removing their jackets, Roman's men walk closer, near where the fight will take place. Sal says,

  “I don't advise either of you to do this. You both should just walk away from each other.”

  Both men continue to ready themselves before fighting. Liam looks at Sal and says,

  “Sal maybe this should have happened years ago. Things may have turned out differently for the two of us if we had.”

  “You're right. This has been a long time coming,” says Sal.

  “All right, then, you might as well call T.J. to come in. Let's have all parties present. I like to know where everyone stands, everyone where I can see them. That way no one takes matters into their own hands,” says Sal. “I know T.J. can't be far away. Why don't you call him in, Liam?” asks Sal.

  “All right,” says Liam.

  “T.J.,” he yells. “Come in... come to my location.”

  Liam looks to the bay door and the docks, expecting T.J. to come in from that direction.

  “It could be a bit,” says Liam.

  T.J. silently walks with his rifle in his hand from the back of the business to the front. T.J. gets about thirty feet away when he is finally seen by everyone. Roman and his men seem surprised, but Sal just has a slight smile. He looks at T.J. and says nothing. T.J. positions himself across from Roman's men. He's locked and loaded, and has his handgun concealed underneath his jacket.

  “Well, Liam, do you have anything left? I heard you tangled with McSweeney earlier,” says Roman.

  “I think I have enough for you, Roman,” replies Liam.

  The two combatants square off toward each other and begin to circle one another, as fighters do. Roman turns and kicks Liam in the left upper chest with a sharp, snapping kick that surprises Liam. He takes the kick and feels the pain from both the kick and the previous shot to the ribs by McSweeney. Liam, six foot three and 210 pound, looks over at Roman, who is six foot, 195 pounds, and is surprised this soft mobster has a little fight.

  Roman looks at Liam and says, “Ten years at a private dojo learning Uechi-Rye hardens your body.”

  He spins and hits Liam across the face, bloodying his lip, slides to the side and sweeps Liam's legs out from under him by kicking his ankles. Liam drops to the ground, making a loud thud sound. T.J. looks on and shakes his head, while still holding his rifle. Liam gets back to his feet while Roman moves from side to side, shuffling his feet, almost taunting Liam by his precision strikes and speed. Liam throws a right punch, only to miss as Roman counters with a blow to the center of his chest. Liam falls back and has his breath knocked out of him for several seconds.

  He sees Roman coming forward, and he turns and strikes Roman across his left jaw with a forearm/elbow strike, causing Roman to spin away from him. Roman is dazed, and his nose is broken and bleeding. He looks at Liam and continues to fight. He is no longer shuffling from side to side with the energy he once had, but now seems determined to conclude this fight in rapid time. Both men standing in front of each other begin to once again circle, waiting for each other's next strike. Roman kicks Liam with a spinning back kick with his left leg, that hits Liam in his left ear, causing him to drop to the ground as Roman throws two quick punches to Liam's head.

  Liam receives the punches and then moves to the side of Roman, expecting Roman to kick him again. He looks and sees Roman spin his hips to position himself for another leg kick. Roman kicks at Liam with his right leg, but Liam traps the leg and immediately forces Roman backwards, making him hop on his left leg. Liam closes ground toward Roman and again hits Roman with a right forearm to the face. He follows up by tripping Roman to the ground, and continues striking Roman's face and ribs. Roman grabs Liam and tries to grapple with him on the ground. Liam throws additional right punches that hit Roman in his left and right ears.

  Roman breaks free from the ground and moves away from Liam. Both men are tired, bloodied, and surprised at each other's abilities. Both square off at each other again, but with little side-to-side movement, as both men are breathing heavily.

  Roman's men, Sal, and T.J. are looking on. T.J. looks at Liam and smiles, knowing Liam has fought like this before and won't quit unless he's knocked out.

  Liam looks at Roman, smiles and says, “Thirty years on the streets of Boston trained me!”

  Roman throws a punch at Liam, but it lacks the speed and sharpness of his previous punches, and Liam easily blocks the punch and hits Roman with a left and right uppercut that drops Roman to the ground. Roman rolls over, and Liam believes he's finished when Roman pulls a switchblade from his back pocket and opens the blade up. Liam backs up, and Roman comes up off the ground and takes a stance, preparing to slash at Liam. Sal yells at his son to drop the knife and stop the fight, but Roman just keeps advancing toward Liam. Roman takes two slashes at Liam before cutting Liam's right chest. He drops back in pain and sees Roman start to lean forward to cut him again, when he traps Roman’s knife hand and forces the knife from his hand, breaking his wrist.

  Roman drops to the ground on both knees. Liam strikes Roman one time with a massive right punch that knocks him flat on his back. He straddles Roman while on the ground, striking him several more times with both his left and right fists. Liam reaches back, grabs the knife from the floor and lifts it over his head, and begins a downward thrust into the body of Roman. As Liam starts to move the knife down into the motionless body of Roman, Roman's men start to pull their guns.

  T.J. looks over at the two men and just taps his rifle while pointing it in their direction, stopping their movements.

  A loud shot is heard, which surprises Liam. Straddling Roman and looking into his bloodied, battered face, Liam wants badly to shove the knife through Roman's chest. Sal yells out, “Liam, he's my son!”

  Liam looks over from where the shot rang out and sees Uncle Sal holding Liam’s gun, pointing it toward the roof.

  Liam looks down at Roman's motionless body, and back over at Sal, and for the first time in the last several minutes feels his rage subside. He throws the knife to the back of the business and stands up. He looks down at Roman, who is unconscious, and over to Sal and says, “You two are so very different.”

  Sal looks at Liam and says, “You're not! You're just like your old man.”

  Liam moves toward T.J. and has a difficult time lifting his arms. He starts to feel the knife wound and the many blows afflicted on him by Roman. T.J. sees this and grabs Liam's arm, helping him pick his jacket up. Liam turns to Sal, takes his gun from Sal's hand and says, “I count on the word of a Pennilli that our business is concluded.”

  Liam and T.J. walk from the shop and outside into the cold weather. Liam looks at T.J. and says, “You thought I was beaten, didn't you?”

  “No,” says T.J. “I just wondered why it took you so long to beat that ignorant son-of-bitch's ass!” he smiles.

  T.J. walks Liam back to the old Cruiser and places him in the driver's seat.

  “Are you able to drive back to the pub?” asks T.J.

  “No problem,” says Liam.

  Liam starts the Cruiser, and T.J. gets into the front passenger seat. They drive out of the business and up the block
to T.J.'s car. T.J. gets out of the Cruiser and into his car. The two start driving back to Shenanigans. Liam notices he's bleeding badly from the laceration on his chest. He thinks, this is not good for the golf game.

  T.J. arrives at the bar just prior to Liam. Both park to the rear and enter through the back entrance. Liam walks up the stairs, goes to the bathroom and immediately looks at his chest. His chest is bleeding from an eight-inch long laceration. T.J. sees the wound and knows it will require a doctor, but knows Liam will never go to a hospital. T.J. walks downstairs and asks McSweeney if he knows a doctor who will make an emergency house call. Dugan asks what's was going on. T.J. briefly tells him about the fight and how Liam needs a doctor. Dugan says his ex-wife's current husband is a gynecologist. McSweeney calls and gets him to come to the pub. Liam lies on the couch in the upstairs apartment with blood-soaked towels on his chest.

  Dr. Kent arrives and is led upstairs to where Liam is laying. He starts to look at Liam's injury, when Liam asks, “Who is this guy?”

  “He's a doctor, Liam,” says T.J.

  Dugan says, “He's married to my ex-wife.”

  “What kind of doctor are you?” asks Liam.

  “I'm a gynecologist.”

  Liam just looks at Dr. Kent and T.J., and says, “Be gentle with me, Doc.”

  Dr. Kent tells Liam he was lucky, because it appears only soft tissue was lacerated. He tells Liam, T.J., and Dugan there appears to be no nerve or major vascular damage. He prepares Liam for stitches by numbing several areas around the laceration. Dr. Kent stitches Liam's chest up over the next forty minutes. Forty-one stitches later, Liam's chest is closed up and a gauze bandage applied. Once his chest stops bleeding, Liam takes a cold washcloth and cleans his bloodied face. He turns to Dr. Kent, T.J. and Dugan, and says, “I feel like I just gave birth. First drinks are on me.”