“Not at all, dear. There‘s no need to fuss - I‘m fine.”
“Do you remember why you went to the Palace?”
“Did I? Don‘t think I did, dear. You might be mistaken about that.”
“Leave it, Alice. We won't get very far asking her those sort of questions.”
She stared out the window and held Mama‘s hand. It felt weak and feeble, like a child‘s and Alice wondered how she had become an adult. Didn‘t seem right. Not at all. The view from the freeway was pure tedium, but it gave her the opportunity to run through what had happened to Mama.
The woman was confused - far more so than Alice had ever imagined possible. To not be aware of your whereabouts or how you got there... A stream of tears left her eyes as the impact of the meaning of that hit home. But Mama wasn‘t old. That kind of senile confusion was reserved for much older people. Try telling that to Mama‘s addled mind.
Forty minutes later, Naldo pulled off the road and stopped at a diner. Despite her protestations, Mary Lou chowed down on a burger and fries while the other three had coffee and cake.
“My Frank and I spent one summer eating in diners. Lots of burgers, gallons of soda. They were good times.”
Bobby eyed Alice who looked back at him and glanced at her mother.
“Weren‘t you fleeing the scene?”
“I guess so, yes. But they were happy days before the darkness set in.”
“Darkness?”
“When I was on my own and you kids were born. Canada was a lonely time for me.”
“We were babies, right?”
“Little ones. Babes in arms. Cute.”
Alice smiled at the idea of being small and cuddled by Mama. Comfort from invented memories. Then the reality of the current situation slammed into her head and another tear rolled down her cheek.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED back at Oakcrest Drive, the family sat down in the living room and Naldo remained on duty outside, the Markov threat ever present. He was as constant as the Northern Star. Inside, Mary Lou announced she was going upstairs for a rest, maybe to take a nap. This left Alice alone with Bobby and the unspoken problem of her mother‘s mental health. Until Bobby punctured the silence.
“We can‘t leave her by herself anymore. She‘s run off once which means she could do it again.”
“You‘re talking about keeping her prisoner.”
“No. Just that we need to get a companion for her otherwise you or I will have to stay with her the whole time. And that‘s not practical.”
“A companion? You make her sound like an old maid.”
“Someone with medical training who can keep an eye on her and help tend to her needs, health-wise.”
“You mean if she loses her mind again.”
“She got confused and forgot where she was, but most of the time she is lucid and functions brilliantly. Be careful to remember she is still your mom and deserves your respect.”
“Don‘t talk like that. I am aware exactly who she is. This isn‘t easy for me. I know I questioned her decision-making because I disagreed with her conclusions. The idea that was the start of something else plain hurts right now because we've done nothing to help her. We focused on ourselves. Never considered that she might have been hurting.”
Bobby fumbled around with a cigar and lighter to take his mind off Alice’s insights. He poked three holes in one end but the flint wouldn‘t spark even after six attempts. Alice walked over, sat beside him and used hers instead.
“We have to work with each other on this. We are both in pain now, but we have to acknowledge we will be stronger together than if we lash out at the other.”
“This is a shit sandwich, for sure.”
“And you‘re right. We need a nurse so if she goes off the rails, there‘s someone there to catch her who is experienced in these things.”
“In the meantime, I‘ll get Naldo to call in one of his most trusted guys, who can be a bodyguard until we find someone better qualified. As much as I‘d like Naldo to do the job, we need his talents elsewhere at the minute. We are at war with Nikolay Markov and must put that to bed.”
“And soon, otherwise Mama‘s forgetfulness will be the least of our problems.”
Bobby puffed on his stogie and let himself vanish in the moment. Alice watched him and tried to find solace in the fact that they‘d reached a decision and from now on, at least, Mama would remain safe.
The other reason Bobby stayed with his cigar was that the next thing he would have to do would be to go upstairs and explain to Mary Lou she needed a bodyguard and had to give up her car keys. This was not a conversation he wanted to have, but he understood Alice should be left out of it so there was only one bad cop in town. Even though he didn‘t want it to be him.
“SHE‘S ASLEEP AGAIN.”
“Did you tell her about the companion?”
“Yeah. She‘s not happy because she can‘t see it‘s necessary. To her, there are blanks in her life: she is unaware of what is going on.”
“That‘s a blessing. Knowing you were losing your memory would be far worse.”
“Devastating for Mary Lou, for sure, but easier for us because we could talk to her about it and she might see the sense in what we say. As it is, she believes we‘re crazy and over-obsessed.”
“She won‘t like the next thing we have to do, will she?”
“What‘s that?”
“She can‘t be head of the family any more.”
Bobby looked at his lap and his shoulders drooped. Alice was right, but he didn‘t want to deal. This was the woman he‘d spent twenty-five years living with, loving and who had turned his dismal life around. Now he needed to be her rock as she had been for him. And it hurt.
“I suppose you‘re right.”
“S‘pose? We have seen the choices she‘s made and the consequences of her actions. We cannot allow her to keep control. Mama must pass the responsibility over to someone else - or more than one of us. I don‘t want you to see this is some kind of power grab by me. All I‘m asking is to make sensible decisions that‘ll mean we survive this week and have sound leadership after that. Who does it is less important right now than the fact it needs to be done.”
“AND HOW DO you propose we get Mary Lou to step down?”
Alice sighed, the air in her lungs escaping from the truths she was about to utter.
“She won‘t volunteer because she isn‘t sufficiently aware of what is going on. So we need to agree which of us heads up the organization and let her think what she likes in her more lucid moments. In reality, she is the best consigliere this family could have - no disrespect, Bobby.”
“So we sideline her.”
“At this point, we don‘t have much choice that I can see. Mama wants to lead us into a bloody suicide mission against Markov and the mob will kill her in a matter of days if she fails. Now is the time for action. We leave our regrets for another day.”
“But I still don‘t like to hear you say those things. You‘re braver than me.”
Bobby glanced up at Alice who was wiping a tear away from her left eye. No-one was in a good place right now. To confront the reality of Mary Lou‘s difficulties took every fiber of strength and resilience in his body. Alice needed him to be stronger than he felt because she was right. They had to be there for each other if they were to get through this alive.
“WE CAN‘T DO this alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“We must include Frank. If we don‘t get him involved, he won't understand what‘s going on with Mary Lou. We‘d look like we were plotting a coup against your mom instead of saving her life.”
“Agreed.”
“Also, if you mean what you say, we could end up deciding he is the best person to lead the family.”
“That is possible. But I‘m telling you right now, I wouldn‘t be happy about it.”
“That‘s a discussion for another time. First, we need to get him here and away from his jaunt in San Francisco. Next, we agree on
what to do to save Mary Lou‘s life. Succession can wait until the weekend.”
Bobby winked because of the absurdity of what he‘d just said. The idea such momentous events were occurring right here, right now and not in several decades time seemed ridiculous to him. This was never meant to happen. Bobby always banked on him being long dead before anything happened to his Mary Lou.
Alice‘s stomach was constricted to the point of agony. The dull ache in the rest of her body had conspired to a point in her belly that constituted a pure pinpoint of pain. She wanted to cry and never stop but she needed to hold it together. The tears wouldn‘t help Bobby, who must hurt too, and she didn‘t want to show him weakness because she was damn sure she should be the head of the family.
Now was not the time to throw her name into the ring but the idea lingered just as the emotional impact of Mama‘s situation rattled around her ribcage. The funny thing was it was easier to think about that than focus on Mama‘s mental state, even though it was the task at hand. Was she so wrapped up in herself or was it a displacement activity to avoid the awful truth she could barely bring herself to say in her head, let alone out loud?
“Let‘s send word to Frank it's time for a family conference.”
“Tonight. We can‘t afford to wait. He needs to haul ass.”
“I‘ll put Naldo on it. Worst case, he drives over to SF and brings him back.”
“Might need a conversation with you - not from me.”
“We‘ll see what happens. Either way, we need to get matters settled before we go to sleep tonight. The clock is ticking on Mary Lou‘s life.”
36
NALDO RETURNED FROM San Francisco with Frank in the passenger seat, not impressed with being instructed to come to Palm Springs. Again. To be dragged back by Friscetti was the icing on the cake. He was not in a good humor by the time he arrived and wanted everyone to know about it.
With Mary Lou resting, the other two were in the conservatory waiting for his arrival. The edges of Alice‘s eyes were red and Bobby sniffed more than usual. There had been raw emotions in the house earlier and even Frank could sense the stress oozing out of the others.
“I‘m here. Where‘s Mama?”
“Upstairs. She‘s asleep.”
“So we‘ll have to wait for her before this urgent meeting can take place.”
“Not really. We three need to talk - thanks for coming back so quickly.”
“Naldo was quite insistent for a goon.”
“He‘s more than a hired hand to us as you know, but that‘s not important right now. We must stay focused.”
“On what?”
“Mama got lost yesterday. Plain vanished and wound up in the Palace, not able to explain or remember how she arrived there.”
Frank listened but his expression implied he didn‘t believe what he heard.
“But you found her and all‘s good. I still don‘t see what I‘m doing here and why you are in a blind panic.”
Bobby told Frank about Mary Lou‘s visit to Little Italy and the clear and present danger provided by Vito. Two minutes later and Frank understood why he‘d been driven back to Oakcrest Drive. Alice remained silent because of how incendiary their conversations could be.
“So we must finish our business with Markov in the next couple of days.”
“Yes, in such a way that we‘re alive at the end of it.”
“I return to Bay City and kill the fucker.”
“That is still not viable. We need to agree a plan that will work - guaranteed.”
“Nikolay‘s death resolves the problem.”
“It would if we could kill him, but there is no meaningful way to be sure he will die.”
“As much as you want to assassinate him, now is not the time. Once we get over this hump, we can pick our moment and skin him alive if we choose. The war must end for certain in the next couple of days or Mama dies.”
Frank stared at Alice and tried to process the notion that they were going to allow Markov to breathe longer than he wanted.
“And that is the second item on the agenda. The first thing we have to deal with is the best way to get Mary Lou to step down as head of the family.”
“You have to be fucking joking.”
“If only. She is not in a fit state to do the job anymore. We need to be strong for her and help her move on to be our consigliere.”
Alice and Bobby said nothing more as Frank‘s eyes flitted left and right as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing. His first instinct was to strike out and punch the wall, hit Bobby or slap Alice, but he was aware enough to know that none of these options would get him anywhere. Denial seemed an excellent choice but an hour later Frank continued to receive the same message and it wasn‘t shifting. His views would need to change instead.
“HOW ARE WE doing this?”
“With respect to your Mama and as smooth a transition as possible.”
“Sure. I meant who will take over?”
“Doesn‘t have to be one person.”
“Yes it does, sis‘. No organization can be run by a committee. Nothing‘ll get agreed.”
“If all three of us had a vote then that would work fine.”
“Apart from the fact that you two would always vote against me.”
”Not necessarily, Frank. But we‘re getting ahead of ourselves. The question isn‘t about who should take over leading the family. I‘ll say it again: how can we get Mary Lou to step down, because I don‘t want to force her out - unless we have no other option.”
“I WILL NOT be the one to push her off her perch. That‘s plain wrong. Our Mama deserves better than that.”
“She does but we don‘t have the time to wait for her to agree. She doesn‘t think there is a problem - even though we three know there is. We owe her - and all she‘s built up over these years - to do what‘s best for the family even if it‘s not in her short-term interests.”
“Fine words sis‘, but it doesn‘t wash. I won't usurp our mother.”
“If you don‘t then I will. You kids might feel yourselves conflicted but I will do the right thing. I might not like it but there‘s more at stake than my feelings or your Mama‘s ego - as much as that pains me to say it.”
Frank stood up, cheeks all red, and Bobby got out of his chair to square off against him.
“Cool it, guys. Stop acting like a pair of silver-backed gorillas.”
The two men were ten feet apart, separated by potted plants and occasional tables.
“No-one‘s pushing my Mama off the mercy seat.”
Frank pulled out a revolver from behind his back and within an instant, Bobby aimed his piece directly at Frank‘s heart. Alice watched the two for a second and grabbed her snub nose out of her bag. She stepped backwards one pace, both hands gripping her gun first pointing at Frank then switching to Bobby, repeatedly.
“We all need to put our weapons down or someone will get hurt.”
That was the moment when a bullet blazed through the conservatory followed by a shower of other slugs coursing into every surface in the room.
37
ALL THREE SLAMMED to the floor and elbowed their way near to some furniture.
“Where‘s it coming from?”
“Outside somewhere. I‘ve got no fix on it. Have you?“
“Nope. No idea. How the fuck did they get close enough to make the hit?”
“What about our men?”
The answer arrived as soon as the question left Frank’s lips. The sound of a separate wave of bullets from a different distance punctured the drone of the original onslaught. And still they were pinned to the floor with no way to fight back.
The glass in all the windows had all but shattered and bullet holes littered the walls. A woman screamed. Alice couldn't tell if it was Irma in the kitchen or Mama upstairs. The sheer volume of the gunfire made any analysis impossible. Bobby turned his face to look outside and, with a trained professional‘s eye, he reached a simple conclusion.
&nb
sp; “Far end of the backyard at the tree line. Three maybe four shooters. Automatic rifles. Don‘t waste your bullets even if you‘ve got a clean shot: they are not nearly close enough to take out.”
Alice blinked and watched Frank grip his pistol more tightly as though paralyzed with anger at not being able to deliver immediate and bloody revenge.
“Just stay down for now. Either they leave of their own accord or our fellas will deal with them.”
“How much armory did they bring with them?”
“Enough to piss us off. If this is an assassination attempt, they fired way too early. Means somebody just wants to scare us.”
“Well it‘s fucking working.”
And still the slugs landed inside the conservatory. Bobby had maneuvered himself by a piece of solid wall either side of two broken windows. From there he‘d occasionally pop his head far enough out to get a glimpse of the world beyond the summerhouse. But he only gave himself half a second otherwise it would have been his last.
The twins sucked the tiled floor as though there was no tomorrow. Even Frank, despite his bravado, had the smarts not to raise his head too high, let alone try to fire back. He might be an arrogant son of a bitch but he wasn‘t stupid and understood that Bobby knew his way around situations like this. Frank, on the other hand, was a novice.
ANOTHER MINUTE AND everything fell silent inside but there was still the noise of shots in the backyard.
“Stay down. Nobody moves until I give the word.”
Alice intended to spend the rest of her life on the floor and had no intention of being the first up. Frank considered sitting up and firing two rounds but heeded Bobby‘s advice.
Thirty seconds later and no more shots or sounds until sirens appeared in the distance.
“The local cops took their time. Isn't the captain on our payroll.”
“He was.”
“Not any more it would seem.”
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