Holding empty dinner plates, Grace spun clockwise when Damian ran passed her. “And this is why,” she told Bobby. “We didn’t eat until eight. None of us were really hungry. After the ice cream wore off we had Ramen noodles.”
“Grace, I want to talk to you about the magazine.”
“Can you believe what the principal said? Insensitive prune.” Grace put the dishes in the sink.
“I have been waiting all night to discuss this,” Bobby said.
Damian ran into the kitchen. “Mrs. Thomas was scared. Grace threw all kinds of stuff at her.”
“You threw stuff at the principal?” Bobby asked. “Is that a good example?’
“I don’t care.”
Bobby held up his hands.
“Night, Grace.” Damian jumped up for a kiss.
Grace lifted her and set her down. “Say good night to Daddy.”
“Night, Daddy.” She darted Bobby a kiss.
“Grace? Can we talk about this?”
“Bobby …”
“You and these kids are my life. You need to know I will do whatever I need to do. OK. Whether it’s move, stay, build a fort …”
Grace giggled. “You’re cute.”
“I’m serious.”
“Night, Grace.” Rhoda came into the kitchen.
“She called you Grace.”
Grace nodded. “We made big progress today.” She bent down and kissed Rhoda.
Rhoda kissed her father and rushed out.
“I think we did good today,” Grace lifted more items from the kitchen table. “The ice cream really did wonders for the mood and …”
“Grace.” Bobby grabbed her arm. “Stop. Right now. Stop. You’re avoiding this. Talk to me.”
Grace exhaled. “I don’t care.”
“What?”
“OK, not that I don’t care. Rather I’m not worried.”
“How can that be?”
“Because Bobby,” Grace said with a smile. “It doesn’t even look like Freddy at all. Me? Only people who know me really well will recognize it. And I’m not worried. I’m not. Neither should you. Even Agent Adams said to wait and see. Right?”
“Tell me why you aren’t worried.”
“Because I built a life here. People know me. They know us. Our family,” Grace said. “No body would turn me in. No body.”
+++
“Price of food sucks,” Louise punched in numbers into the calculator as her and Tina waited in line at the grocery store.
“All part of the budget,” Tina said.
“One day we’ll be rich.”
Tina laughed. “You planning on hitting the lottery.”
“Maybe.”
“Louise, you don’t even play. Besides, things aren’t that bad.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to be rich.”
“No, it wouldn’t.” Tina started placing items on the belt. “But unless you have an easy way to do so, it might be a while before we’re rich.”
“Holy hell.”
“What?”
“We’re rich,” Louise said.
“What are you talking about?” Tina asked.
Louise answered by handing her a copy of the National Enquirer.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Of all places for her to be, working at a Bargain-Mart was last on his list. Alfonzo Carlotta looked out of place walking into the Medina store, wearing a long black boat, expensive dress clothes and a cologne that cost more per ounce than any Bargain-Mart worker made in a week.
He walked about ten feet ahead of the four suited men, all dark haired and big.
“Welcome to Bargain-Mart,” Louise said crass. She halted in handing him a cart. “Like you look like you should be shopping at Bargain-Mart.”
“Do you know where I can find Grace?” he asked.
“That your entourage?” Louise tipped her chin.
“Can you just answer the question, please?”
“Hot Dog, the fucking Mafia’s come to Medina.”
“Ma’am.” Looking forward, and not at Louise, Alfonzo extend a hundred dollar bill.
Louise took it. “Children’s clothing.”
“We have some stuffed animals,” Grace explained to a customer. “But the toys are in the toy department.”
“Thank you,” the customer said.
“No problem. Merry Christmas.” Grace smiled and returned to placing clothing on the rack.
“Cara Mia why?” the male voice sang out.
Grace looked up.
“Must we say goodbye.”
Her heart sunk. A sickening feeling shot through her body and then she smelled the cologne. She knew.
Turning, she gasped.
“Cara Mia.” Alfonzo held out his hands.
Grace backed up, bumping into the rack.
“Why are you scared of me?”
Grace swallowed.
“I have to tell you this …” he reached out and touched her smock. “This isn’t a look for you. Where’s the lipstick.”
Her shoulders heaved up and down in nervousness.
“You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
After a shift of her eyes, Grace took a step to bolt.
“Don’t,” Al said hard. “Don’t.” he stepped to her, close, whispering in her ear as he grabbed hold of her arm. “I’ve got men watching you. I’ve got men watching Freddy right now.”
Grace closed here yes.
“I’ve missed you. I’ve been looking all over for you.” He brought his lips softly to her cheek then back to her ear. “You’ve been away too long. It’s time to come home.”
“No.” Grace pulled away, shaking her head. “No. I’m not going anywhere. I have a life. I am home.”
“You have a life?” Al asked. “Really? Well, I know about your life. Your precious job here at Bargain-Mart. Your painter husband and three step children. Your life. Are they really your life, Cara Mia?”
“Al, please. What do you want from me?”
“It’s pretty simple. Not much at all. Just walk away from the rack, get in the car with me and we’re off.”
Grace shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t leave my life here.”
“Your life given to you by the witness protection?” Al asked. “I’m not stupid. And right now, you don’t have a choice. How much do you love them all, Cara Mia? How much. Like I said. It’s pretty simple, your life, your testimony. For theirs.”
Grace closed her eyes.
“What will it be?”
“Let me go to my house and get some things and I’ll go with you.”
“There’s nothing you need there. You’ll just get in the car.” Al took hold of her arm again.
“No,” Grace said stern. “I’ll go, but I have to get some things first. Then … then I’ll go.”
“Fine. We’ll stop at your shack.”
“Let me tell my manager I’m leaving the …”
“I don’t think so. You’ll just go now. The car’s waiting.” Al gripped her arm tighter and led her from the store.
+++
The line was long. Longer than Bobby expected.
Rhoda huffed. “Why couldn’t we go see Santa like other kids? Weeks ago?”
“Because it feels more like Christmas now.” Bobby balanced Regan on his hips. “Santa’s more in the spirit.”
His phone rang.
Releasing Damian’s hand, he juggled Regan and answered his phone. “Hello.”
“Bobby,” Chip gushed out. “I am so glad I caught you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Grace,” he said. “Some man. Some man came into the store and just took her out.”
Bobby’s heart sunk.
“Freddy ran out and followed. I just had to let you know. Bobby, what’s going on?”
“I … I don’t know. Thank you. Thank you very much.” Flipping the phone closed, Bobby rushed from the line, explaining nothing to the girls as he did.
++++
“We’re on Route Eightee
n now,” Freddy said, on the phone. “I’ve seen Miami Vice. I’m following at a safe distance. He doesn’t know I’m behind him.”
“Is it him, Freddy?” Bobby asked, strapping the baby in the car seat.
“It is. I caught a glimpse.”
“Where are they headed?”
“I think back to Lodi.”
“Ok, I’m on my way. Keep following. Keep me posted. But after we hang up, call your agent buddy. I’ll call the chief.”
“Bobby, why did he take her? Not me?”
“I don’t know, Freddy,” Bobby said. “But I’ll tell you this. He’s not taking her any further than he already did.”
+++
When his son called and said there was trouble, Clyde didn’t hesitate. He told Bobby that they were working on the phones in the area and maybe George just didn’t have a connection. He offered to run down to George’s house, get him, then head to find Grace.
Grabbing the shotgun from under the counter, Clyde drove the two blocks to where he knew George lived.
He knocked only a few times on the door and then tried the knob.
It was open.
Clyde called out an ‘hello’ as he stepped in, but didn’t have to step in far to see that it was useless.
George lay face down in a puddle of his own blood on the living room floor.
Clyde lifted his phone and dialed. “Bobby. You have a problem.” After he finished talking to his son, Clyde called the chief.
+++
Bobby drove a hell of a lot faster than Freddy, that was for sure. And when Freddy said they headed straight to town, Bobby picked up the pace.
“Why we driving so fast, Daddy?” Damian asked. “Where we going?’
Bobby didn’t answer.
“Is Grace OK?” Rhoda questioned.
Bobby reached over and grabbed her hand. With screeching tires, he pulled onto their street. He could see the black car in his driveway and Freddy pulling up.
Bobby was right behind. He brought the truck to an abrupt halt. It had barely stopped when he tossed it in gear and opened his truck door.
Freddy stepped out of his car at the same time. Clyde pulled up, as well. Bobby wasn’t waiting, he headed up the driveway.
Damian and Rhoda jumped from the truck.
“Daddy?” Rhoda called out.
Bobby turned with a pointing hand. “Stay there.” No sooner did her spin back around, he found himself faced with a wall of three men.
They stopped him and Freddy.
“Don’t go any further. In fact, get back in your truck,” the one man said. “Your kids are watching.” He opened his coat, exposing a revolver.
The shifting of the shotgun caught their attention.
Clyde held aim. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
+++
Al peeked through the curtains and smiled. “Hurry up.”
“I’m hurrying.” Grace returned with a black bag.
“I don’t understand what you have to take. Everything can be replaced. And better.”
“Not this stuff.” She grabbed photos from the table and shoved them in the bag. “Not this stuff.”
“Pretty pathetic.”
“Shut up.”
Al walked to her, stopping her as she grabbed the wedding picture of her and Bobby. “Not this.”
“Without a doubt this.”
Al snatched it, and with a swoop down of his hand, smashed it on the table. “Not this.” He grabbed hold of her. “Let’s go.”
“I’m not done.”
“I don’t care.” He dragged her to the door and opened it.
He shoved Grace to the porch, then stepped outside behind her.
“Bobby!” Grace called out.
Bobby charged forward, only to be shoved back.
A ‘bleep’ of a siren rang out as the Chief of Police pulled onto the grass.
Al whispered a ‘fuck’, holding onto Grace’s arm. “What is this, a three ring circus?”
“It’s my family.” She tried to pull away without success.
Stew stepped form the car. “What is going on here? Clyde, put down that shotgun.”
“No can do, Chief, these men have guns.”
“Put it down!” Stew ordered. “Now.”
“I’ll lower my weapon when you guarantee me that man on the porch isn’t taking my daughter in law.”
Stew pulled his revolver. “Step away from the woman,” he called out.
Al lifted his hands. “I’m not doing anything wrong here. She’s just coming with me. My men are assuring that she can leave safely that’s all.”
“Grace?” Stew asked.
Grace didn’t answer.
“As you can tell, Sheriff,” Al said. “None of these people are making it easy for her. She wants to leave her husband. Plain and simple. I’m helping her leave her husband.”
“Grace is that true?” Stew asked.
Al whispered to her. “If you know what’s best, you’ll answer the man.”
Grace barely peeped out the word. “Yes.”
Stew lowered his weapon. “Then there’s nothing I can do, Bobby. This is just domestic. She’s leaving. I’m sorry, son.”
“May we get through now?” Al asked.
Stew nodded.
Damian murmured. “He ain’t taking my mom.” And then she yelled. “You ain’t taking her! That’s my mother!”
Before anything could be said or done, before Al could take a step off that porch with Grace, a single pebble sailed through the air and with high precision, beamed Al directly in the eye.
He fell backwards.
Damian lowered her slingshot.
All hell broke lose.
Grace jumped over the railing, and as she did, Bobby broke free of the henchmen and rushed to her. With a swing of his hand, one of the thugs grabbed hold of Damian.
Stew pulled his revolver again, but wasn’t quick enough.
A second henchman fired a shot dead center of his chest, blasting him back.
Clyde raised his shotgun, and without hesitation, fired off a single shot, taking out one of the thugs. He shifted the chamber and shifted his aim. “Put down my granddaughter.”
He did.
“Freddy,” Clyde ordered. “Call emergency services. Rhoda, run in the house and get me the duct tape.”
Rhoda took off running.
“Damian.”
“Yes, pap.”
“Lift that slingshot of yours.”
On the grass, Bobby held onto Grace. “You OK?”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, are you OK?” Bobby asked, cupping her face in his hands. “I thought I lost you.”
Grace nodded. Everything caught up to her, and she just started to cry.
Taking her back into his arms, and watching all that transpired, was all Bobby could do at that moment.
+++
It didn’t take long for the Theresa to show up along with the State police.
The Chief of Police was in pretty bad shape and things were uncertain for him.
The two henchmen that remained alive were in their own bad way. Duct tape wasn’t good enough from Freddy. He sought out the industrial strength Fly strips.
Things had just settled, the ambulance’s had left, and the state police were speaking to Grace when the FBI showed up.
They informed the State police that they would take it from there and brought them all into the house.
“The one’s dead,” Agent Wilson stated. “Two are in custody. Mr. Carlotta, he’s lost his eye.”
“What now?” Bobby asked. “Is it over?”
The agent looked at them.
“I’ll ask again, is it over? Can we just move on?”
“I’m afraid. It’s not that simple. In fact,” the agent said. “It’s probably worse.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Los Cruces, New Mexico
“Dust,” Freddy coughed a fake cough. “I’ll never adjust.” He slipped through the door
way, by the boxes. “Vampires live in this town. That’s why no one’s out.”
Grace chuckled. “They do not, Freddy.”
“Yes, I think I caught a glimpse of a coffin. I need to find some garlic. A crucifix. I need to find religion.”
“Coming through,” Bobby said, carrying a box. He dropped it on the floor.
Freddy coughed. “More dust. It’s the sand. The desert.”
“Freddy’s complaining.” Grace said.
“I see that. Where are the girls?” Bobby asked.
“Regan is asleep and Rhoda and Damian are outside,” Grace answered.
“Which is where I’m going,” Freddy said, walking to the door. “They steal children in towns like this.” Freddy screeched to a halt before leaving. “Oh, princess. Before I forget…I hear there’s a writer a few doors down. You can make a friend with him. Probably a vampire.” Freddy walked out.
Grace exhaled and faced Bobby. “So.”
“So.”
“What do you think?”
“We’re alive and safe,” Bobby said. “I can handle this. The kids can handle it. I’m not so sure my parents are all that happy about starting a business all over again. They’re ready to retire. I’m also not so sure they can handle Freddy living with them. Or if this town can handle Freddy living here.”
“I’m sorry this had to happen.”
Bobby waved out his hand and winked. “Sometimes a fresh start is good. Hey, look where it got us when you got your fresh start.”
“True,” Grace stepped to him.
“Who knows?” Bobby took her into his arms. “Things may be perfect. We may finally found a way to live a peaceful existence.”
“Dad! Dad!” Rhoda raced in the house. “Damian got Freddy stuck in a cactus.” She ran back out.
Bobby smiled at Grace and tilted his head. “Maybe not.”
END
Charmed Life Page 19