Murder in Chicago

by Dianne Harman

  “What on earth are you involving me in?” the old man asked.

  Al looked at him with pleading eyes. “Please.”

  The old man looked him up and down. “Make it $200.”

  “Done,” Al said immediately.

  “If you try any funny business, the police will be here in two minutes. I have an alarm, and I keep it on me at all times.”

  “Thanks.”

  The old man stepped aside and let him in. “No funny business, you hear?”

  “Absolutely none,” Al said. He looked at the door to the left. “Ya’ got a window we can look out of, so I can see when this guy’s gone?”

  “Sure,” the old man said. “That’s the kitchen. Follow me.”

  The old man led the way into the kitchen and grabbed a large knife out of a butcher block. He stood in front of it and grinned apologetically. “I still don’t know who you are.”

  “No problem,” Al said. “Know how ya’ feel.” He went over to the window and peered out. Saul was still standing out on the sidewalk.

  “Looks like you’re mixed up in a whole load of trouble,” the old man said.

  Al’s nose twitched. “Ya’ could say that.” Finally, after a few minutes, Saul turned and went back into number 18. Al waited for a couple more minutes to make sure he wouldn’t come back out, then said, “He’s gone. I gotta’ go. Here’s yer’ $200. Thanks a lot.”

  “You take care now,” the old man said. “Don’t get yourself killed.”

  “Ima gonna’ try not to,” Al said, going back out through the front door. He turned the other way, away from number 18, and hurried down the street.

  As he walked, he tapped ‘Gina’s’ into his Google Maps, and got the walking directions. It was only a three-minute walk from where he was, so he made the decision to go on foot. He just hoped he wasn’t spotted by anyone. It appeared Saul’s place was a Mafia hotspot, and he guessed a lot of mob types would be driving around in the area.

  Eventually he got to Gina’s, a sleek café decorated in neutrals and browns. It was quite cozy inside, although very modern. He ordered a cappuccino and sat down at the back of the café, where he couldn’t be seen from the street. He had a little under two hours to wait, and even then, there was no guarantee that Angelina would – or could ¬¬– show up.

  Although he was no fan of Shirley’s, he did feel sorry for Angelina. She hadn’t asked for this life. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to be raised by a Mafia mother who had killed so many husbands, and then married off to a member of the Russo family?

  She obviously had grown up in a cage and she was still trapped in it. He got the impression that Saul wasn’t exactly a gentle and caring husband. Al wondered if Angelina did try to get away, if Saul was the type to track her down to the ends of the earth, or even kill her.

  He wanted to call Cassie. He already missed her, but by now she was in the air with DeeDee and Jake on their way to Chicago. They were due to arrive in the early evening. He couldn’t wait to see them. They were part of his new life, the chapter where he was an upstanding regular man, not part of a secret and dangerous underworld organization. He thought about Red and how he was a part of his world. He hoped Red was behaving back at the apartment.

  He wished Red was with him for back up, but he knew Red would draw attention and above all, he was trying to avoid that.

  Cassie would help him keep his head, and not let him slip back into any of his old Mafia ways because of the pressure he was under. He was very aware of just how easy it would be to let his fear turn into aggression. He was already tense about going to the police. He began to wonder if that really was the best option? His head was exploding with it all.

  He decided he needed a break, and logged onto the internet on his phone. There were a few forums he liked to post on. A couple about wine, one about fishing, one about traveling. He tapped onto the latter, and started a thread about where would people suggest he go with Cassie on their next vacation. It helped. It was like declaring to the world that there was no way he was going to die in Chicago. He was planning his next trip for when all of this was over.

  Luckily a couple of other members were on, and they got into conversations about Nepal and Bali and New Zealand. He got lost in his own little world of travel plans, completely forgetting about where he was or what he was doing.

  “Hello, Al.”

  He flinched in surprise. His nerves weren’t what they once were, and then he looked up. “Oh, hello, Angelina. … Can I get ya’ some coffee?”

  She was pushing a stroller and was looking more dressed up, with high heels, makeup, and a fur coat. “Thanks, but the barista’s bringing it over for me. I don’t have long.” She sat down beside him. She checked on the baby, who was asleep. “I told Saul I was meeting my girlfriend for coffee. I got one of my friends to lie on the phone to him. He always double checks. But he might come by and peer in the window, so the quicker we get this done, the better. What do you want to know?”

  “Was anyone botherin’ your mother before she died?”

  “People were always bothering her,” Angelina said. “It was like that my whole life. I don’t know who it was, though. I stopped paying too much attention a long time ago, since nothing had ever happened. I figured they were empty threats. But not this time…” She wiped a tear away.

  Al wanted to comfort her, but knew they didn’t have time for that. “Okay,” he said, thinking fast. “What about at her funeral? Did anyone make a big deal about bein’ sad? That’s usually a red flag.”

  “Yeah, one guy did. Think his name was Sab. He’s that disfigured guy who got acid thrown in his face. He was crying a lot.”

  “I know who ya’ mean,” Al said. Surly Sab was a well-known character, and he didn’t like Al. “Okay. Anyone else?”

  “No, that’s it.”

  “All right. I don’t wanna’ jeopardize your safety… or mine. So I’m gonna’ go. Oh, and please don’t mention me to anyone. Everyone thinks I’m dead, and I’d like to keep it that way fer as long as possible.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Angelina said.

  Al hurried out of the coffee shop and hailed a cab.

  CHAPTER 9

  “Wow, this is quite a place,” DeeDee said, looking out the windows of the apartment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t up high enough to see over the whole city, but it was still quite impressive. The apartment itself looked like it had just been built. Everything was shiny and new, and the kitchen was like a little palace all in marble.

  “I’ll have Benny’s head,” Al joked. He had his arm around Cassie’s waist, holding her close. It was clear he’d missed her, even in the short time they’d been apart. “He shoulda’ got me the darn penthouse. Fer a guy full of money, he really is cheap. He’s gonna’ be here pretty soon. He jes’ called me. And, yeah, feel free to tell him I said he’s cheap. That’ll get in his head and mess with him.”

  Jake laughed. “This is plenty good enough, Al, don’t worry about it. It’s clearly a prime piece of real estate.”

  “It sure is,” said Cassie, smiling up at Al with so much love in her eyes, he thought his heart would burst.

  “This area’s on the up,” Al said. “Used to be a lot of ol’ rundown housin’ projects around here, but they got torn down and replaced with luxury apartments and office buildins’. If I was inclined that way, I’d be pumpin’ a ton of money into ‘em. Maybe if we were somewhere else I would. But in Chicago? Not a chance! I gots me way too much history here.”

  “Is it weird to be back, Al?” Deedee asked. “Knowing that your life is so different from the last time you were here?”

  “Yeah, I feel like a new man,” Al said, “and like I shouldn’t be here. But if I gotta’ be here, I jes’ wanna’ get this chapter of my life finished and continue rewritin’ my life with absolutely no mob drama in it at all. This is the last time Ima gonna’ find myself mixed up in anythin’ involvin’ the mob. All of ya’ can hold ol’ Al to that. Ima gonna’ make su
re the past don’t catch up with me again.”

  “When I’m investigating, I often find murders are committed because of grievances or events that happened way in the past,” Jake said. He spoke from experience because he owned a private investigation firm back in the Seattle area. He had temporarily taken over a friend’s private investigation firm in Connecticut when his wife became ill and was scheduled to return there within the week. Al had been issued a private investigating license in Washington and was filling in for Jake while he was gone.

  “People who were once members of a criminal organization often find that their past comes back to bite them, even when they straighten out,” Jake said.

  “Jake,” DeeDee hissed, disliking his insensitivity towards Al.

  “No, DeeDee, what he’s sayin’ is true,” Al said. “Wouldn’t mind if it was jes’ me, but it’s Cassie, too. Sometimes I think she woulda’ been better off marryin’ someone without a past like mine. You know, someone with a normal background.”

  Cassie held Al close in a warm and loving embrace. “I wouldn’t change you for the world, darling. And I knew all about your past when we got married, so I went into it with my eyes wide open. I didn’t expect this to happen, but I love you, I’m committed to you, and I’m here to see this through with you.”

  Al’s eyes lit up as he smiled. He grinned at Jake. “Ima thinkin’ I might jes’ have the best woman in the world, huh?”

  Jake put an arm around DeeDee and said, “I’ll give you a run for your money, pal.”

  They all laughed.

  “Lemme’ show ya’ yer’ room,” Al said to DeeDee and Jake.

  DeeDee and Jake followed him into a wonderfully spacious bedroom. The décor was modern and fresh, with a gray velvet duvet on the kingsize bed, light gray walls, and a wall of mirrored wardrobes. DeeDee took a peek into the bathroom, which was enormous, and had both a walk-in shower and a standalone tub. “Ooh, Al, you’re spoiling us!” she said.

  When they finished unpacking their clothes, they returned to the open space that was comprised of the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and found Al and Cassie drinking wine.

  “Care to join us?” Cassie asked. “We’ve initiated a nice white.”

  “That sounds great,” DeeDee said. “Just what I need after that flight.” She didn’t particularly enjoy the hustle bustle of airports and flying.

  “How’s the investigation going, Al? Do you have any good leads?”

  Jake asked.

  “Not really,” Al said. “Jes’ got back from seein’ Shirley’s daughter, Angelina, this afternoon. Her husband Saul’s a bad dude, and he chased me down the street. Had to hide in some ol’ guy’s house, but I did manage to get some face time with her. She tol’ me that Surly Sab – a guy in the Mafia I’ve known fer’ a long time – had really outdone hisself cryin’ at the funeral. Big red flag. Usually means they’re guilty.”

  “What do you know about this Sab character?” DeeDee asked.

  “I know his name is… Sabazio… Lemme’ see. Last name is Vinaccia,” Al said. “Face got all messed up by one of Shirley’s husbands. Dude threw acid all over him. Ain’t got no idea why he was at the funeral. Word was he blamed Shirley fer his face ‘cuz it was one of her husbands who done it.”

  “Maybe he was showing his face as a friend so people wouldn’t think he was the one who killed her,” Cassie said.

  “Yeah, that’s what Ima thinkin’,” Al said. “Anyways… that’s a lead I got to follow up on. Angelina didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout anyone else. Said her mom was gettin’ death threats up to the day she was offed, but she’d gotten so many Angelina didn’t think much ‘bout it. Didn’t even bother to ask who the threats were from.”

  “Wow,” DeeDee said. “I can’t imagine a life like that. Becoming so accustomed to death threats you just shrug them off and carry on.”

  “Yeah,” Al agreed. “That’s what I was thinkin’, too. Angelina can’t have had much of a life with Shirley fer a mother who was killin’ husbands left, right, and center.” A new thought struck Al. “Wonder who her father is, and if Shirley offed him, too.”

  Jake leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “Does Angelina know her mother was killing her husbands?”

  “Didn’t ask,” Al said. “Ima guessin’ when she was younger, she bought all the lies Shirley musta’ spun for her. But as she grew up, she musta’ realized somethin’ weren’t quite right.”

  DeeDee shook her head. “What a childhood. When you met her did she seem okay?”

  “Well, she was functionin’,” Al said. “Gots herself a newborn son, but after a bit, she opened up and tol’ me she wanted to get away from the Mafia life. Problem is, her husband finds it excitin’ and don’t wanna’ leave. Ask me, I’d say he’s a major league control freak, and I’ll bet my house in the Caymans he’s abusin’ her.

  “When he chased me down the street, he yelled ‘bout me talkin’ to his woman, and put his hand to his waist, like he was ready to draw out a gun and shoot me. Ima bettin’ he’s one of them, what do they call it? Oh yeah, a possessive, aggressive type. Doubt he’s a little lamb when the bedroom door is closed, if you get my meanin’.”

  DeeDee shuddered. “Poor girl. I hope she does get away. And without him.”

  “I suggested that,” Al said, “but she didn’t look none too happy with me when I said it.”

  There was a knock on the door, and Al flinched. He hated how he was losing his nerve these days. Back when he’d been in the mob, he’d had a gun, a bulletproof vest, and a fearless attitude to keep him safe. But now? He had something to live for, something to play straight for, and that was Cassie. It made him weak in some ways, stronger in others. Life was different now.

  Al put his hand on Red’s back and motioned for him to go to the door with him. He figured Red would do whatever he could to protect him. He just hoped it would be enough. He opened the door and Benny strolled into the room like he owned the place.

  “Well, hey, hey, hey! If it isn’t the lovely Cassie, and Jake and DeeDee, my friends from the Caymans! How are things? How’s everybody doing? How do you like this place?”

  He kissed Cassie and DeeDee on the cheek, and shook hands with Jake.

  “You sound awfully cheerful,” Cassie said. “Don’t you remember Al is here to investigate a murder and find the killer before they find him?”

  “Sure I do,” Benny said, throwing his arms up in the air. “Why so serious? You look like you’re ready to have another funeral for him. Don’t worry yourself for a second. Al is a tough, smart guy. He’ll track down the killer, and you’ll return to your home on Bainbridge Island, completely out of the game, just a happy couple.

  “Consider this as a tourism trip to Chicago, and just enjoy your stay. Al needs all your strength and support, and he’s not going to get that with you biting your nails and worrying he’s gonna’ get shot.”

  “What’ve ya’ found out?” Al asked.

  “Only if you give me the biggest glass of wine in the place,” Benny said. “It’s worth it ‘cuz I’ve got some great information.”

  “Spit it out,” Al said as he poured the wine.

  Benny made himself comfortable in an armchair, or at least tried to, and said, “I hate this modern furniture. They make it look so beautiful and sexy, but when you sit down in one, you feel like you’re sitting on a rock. Kind of like a Fred Flintstone sofa. I’d trade this in any day for something a little more worn-in.”

  “And I’d trade this apartment any day fer a penthouse,” Al said pointedly.

  “Hmph!” Benny said. “Talk about ungrateful! I tried to get the penthouse, for your information, and it wasn’t available. I even offered to pay double the asking price, but they still wouldn’t budge.”

  “I was callin’ ya’ cheap a li’l while ago,” Al said. “Now I got egg all over my face.”

  Benny grinned as he accepted a glass of wine from Al. “Well, that’s one way to describe it. Okay, let’s get down
to the suspect that I want to tell you about. Do you know Rocco Rosetti?”

  “Name sounds sorta’ familiar,” Al said. “Remind me.”

  “He’s a real loose cannon,” Benny said. “Born into the mob, but his father went to jail at a young age. I think his mother was a drug addict and died, but I can’t find much information on that. Anyway, he’s wild.

  “He’s pretty dangerous because he’s ready to kill just about anyone or anything. He doesn’t do what the higher-ups say. Guy just follows his own program. He’s committed countless petty robberies, but also some major ones of Mafia drug dealers, too. He has no alliances or allegiances except to himself.”

  “Wow, he does sound dangerous,” DeeDee said.

  “Right you are,” Benny said. “He is. If he’s paid enough, he’ll do hits for people from time to time. Rumor is he’d been lurking around Shirley’s salon in the weeks running up to her murder.”

  “Coulda’ been he was just involved with her romantically,” Al said. “Or maybe he was her next target. Ima thinkin’ maybe he found out and got to her first.”

  Benny grimaced. “That’s your imagination running away with you, Al. He’s young, far too young for Shirley. And he doesn’t have enough money to be the type she’d murder for.”

  “Okay,” Al said. “Then why would he wanna’ kill her?”

  Benny shrugged. “It might have been a hit. Or maybe she had some information on him. It’s a wonder he hasn’t been taken out yet, the amount of people he’s double-crossed. Trouble is his middle name.”

  “Great,” Al said. “I’ll look forward to discussin’ Shirley’s murder over coffee with him.”

  Everyone laughed nervously.

  “Be very careful, darling,” Cassie said. “I know what you’re saying, Benny, that we should try to be cheerful. But sometimes I think we should just run away to rural China or somewhere equally remote, and pretend none of this exists.”

  Al drew her close. “We’ll figger it out, Cassie. I promise,” he said softly.

  She looked at him intensely. “I hope so, Al. I really hope so. I didn’t marry you to become a Mafia widow.”