Her Silent Shadow: A Gripping Psychological Suspense Collection

by Edwin Dasso

  Barb was curious, picked up on Lida’s tension. "Oh, Melody. So nice to meet you. Do you like working here better?"

  Melody smiled brightly, "Yeah, I like it much better here and what's important is that people here like me." She paused for a moment. "So, it's a lot better for me to be here.”

  Barb nodded and said, “That’s for sure. It’s always good if people like you.”

  Melody continued, “I’m in graduate school down the road, so this is very part-time and very temporary for me.”

  “Are you at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Campus?” Barb was curious. “I’ve heard that’s a great campus.”

  Melody nodded. “I sure am. Did my undergrad at University of Mississippi too, only up in Hattiesburg. But I love Southern Mississippi and seeing the water from my classroom.”

  Kat shook her head. “Wow, that’s neat. I’d never learn anything. I’d just daydream and look at the water. What’s your graduate degree gonna be in and when?”

  Melody had a beautiful smile. “Well, in June, if I’m still alive,” she laughed nervously, “I’ll leave with my MBA in international finance.”

  Kat nodded and looked at Lida. “Wow. You ladies must have a lot in common! I’m so impressed. I was never much good in math, accounting, or finance. I envy you girls having that kinda brain. You can make big money with finance and accounting degrees. Me, I’m just stuck in a museum for the rest of my life.”

  “It’s not that great, Kat. You wouldn’t believe how much I wish my degree was in fashion design or art like you or Allison.” A shadow of fear and disgust flickered across Lida’s face and tears popped in her eyes.

  Kat reached for her arm, but Lida snatched it away and turned to Melody. “Can you seat us outside?”

  Barb nodded. “Yeah, I second that. Can we eat outside? It's a lovely day and it's not even hot yet."

  "Of course you can," Melody said in her soft Mississippi drawl. "How about over here near the pier?" She looked quickly at Lida, who looked away.

  Something’s wrong with Lida. "That looks great," Kat said happily as she continued to observe the two women. "I like it because it's shady and the view is fantastic."

  Allison nodded in approval and the women followed Melody to a long table adjacent to the fishing pier with a sea green tablecloth and fresh flowers.

  Melody leaned across the table to hand Allison her menu and Kat noticed a large reddish blue bruise on her shoulder that had been covered by the sleeve of her dress. The bruise was old and yellowed with green around the edges of the original contusion.

  "Oh, my goodness, Melody," she exclaimed. "However did you injure your shoulder?" Kat paused for a second and continued, “Life on the Coast must be hard for beautiful women. Both of you are bruised, battered, and broken. What’s all that about?” Kat joked, but she was concerned.

  Melody paled briefly and seemed at a loss for words. "I slipped in the shower and the edge of the tiles bruised my shoulder. It's really fine, and like many bruises, it looks a lot worse than it is," she assured them. “It doesn’t even hurt.”

  Kat noticed that Lida said nothing about Melody’s bruise but listened as Barb and Allison discussed how much safer it was to live up north or out west where there were far less bruises, falls, and broken bones. “One would think we’d be the ones getting injured,” Allison said. “After all, we’re the ones with snow, ice and torrential rains.”

  Barb shook her head at Allison. “You don’t have any snow or ice in California, but it’s the truth for Kat and I,” Barb agreed. “I fell down last winter shoveling snow out of my driveway and thought I’d broken a hip. I had that bruise for weeks and that hip still hurts.”

  Kat waited until Melody had left and turned to Lida, "How do you know her? Did you guys work together?" Kat had red flags popping up non-stop as she watched the lovely hostess depart. Two beautiful young women, both bruised and hurt. What’s this about?

  Lida nodded, "Yeah. Melody worked at the Casino but had some issues with administration, significant issues, with management. They let her go about two weeks ago. I didn't realize she was working here."

  "Where did she work? Was she in accounting with you?" Barb asked, mildly interested in the conversion.

  Lida shook her head. "No, she was in Human Resources. In fact, she was the head of Human Resources. Melody graduated three years ago from the University of Mississippi at Hattiesburg and, as she said, she’s now getting her MBA in Long Beach at the University of Southern Mississippi."

  "That's impressive," Kat noted. "I’d think the Magnolia would be happy to have someone with her education."

  Lida shrugged her shoulders as she adjusted the position of her casted arm. "I honestly don't know what happened. I thought she was great at her job, but she pissed off someone. There was an employee who claimed sexual harassment – a cocktail waitress I think – and Melody thought it was a case she needed to pursue. Somewhere along the line, she got sideways of administration. Of course, she claimed all she did was follow policy… the long and short of it is they fired her."

  "Humph. That sounds bad," Allison said. "But, you like it there, don't you Lida?" she asked as she glanced at her friend’s pale face.

  Lida nodded. "Yeah. It's okay. It's hard to find a job here on the Coast. I wanted to get down here because, as you guys know, my mother's cancer is back. This job allows me the freedom to travel back and forth to Mobile and see her."

  Kat touched Lida's hand and said, "I'm sorry to hear that and I'm glad you found a job here so you can be close to her."

  "Yeah, my dad needs the support," Lida’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m gonna make a quick trip over there this evening, spend the night and come back here tomorrow so we can hang out,” she said with a brave smile as she wiped her tears away and smiled through them. “I’m off Wednesday through the weekend for Thanksgiving.”

  "Who's up for bruschetta and shrimp appetizers?" Allison asked as she changed the subject. "And that's just for appetizers."

  "Sounds great to me,” Kat said as she stole another look at Lida. Something was up with her but she didn't know what it was. “There’s nothing better than Gulf shrimp and I'm having them for every meal this weekend.”

  “I’m having the Catch of the Day,” Barb informed them, “for my entrée. I really want to taste the crabmeat garnish.”

  “That’s a great dish here, Barb,” Lida assured her. “I may join you with the Catch. I love the fresh grouper here.”

  “Shrimp and grits for me,” Kat ordered. “I love the Shrimp and grits here. I’ve been waiting for this meal for almost a year.”

  “Me too,” Allison piped up. “This will be easy for Melody to remember, and here she comes with our drinks and water.” Allison smiled at the young waitress. “Boy, that Pina Colada looks yummy.”

  Melody winked at her. “It is good. Trust me. I made it myself.” She smiled wistfully at the four women, but her heart went out to Lida. Even though they didn’t know each other well, Melody knew that Lida was in grave danger, even if Lida didn’t admit it to herself.

  4

  It was quiet on the twelfth floor of the Penthouse Offices at the Magnolia Casino, where Lenny Minelli had the biggest office. The office was beautifully furnished with Sea Blue walls and antique furniture. Lenny, a balding, heavy-set man in his early forties, was the head of the Minelli families’ gambling operations for the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. He sat behind his huge desk and glared at his younger brother. His brother was taller, younger, and a million times more handsome than he was, facts that had made him learn to hate Joey at an early age. But, Joey ain’t got no balls. He’s a namby-pamby mother’s boy, a weak, useless bastard. For a moment, Lenny reflected on a memory of his beautiful Mother and how happy he’d been when she died. She’d always made him feel like an oaf and a loser. She’d obviously preferred Joey.

  Lenny focused his beady eyes on his brother. "Joey, when's that bitch you date gonna fix the books?" his brother asked in an
irritable voice. "You know damn well she's gotta make those changes before the State Regulators come in and check our records," Lenny snarled from across the conference table. Lenny was a fat and ugly guy with a mean spirit and an ill-temper. He hadn’t inherited any of the family’s good looks. Plus, he was impatient, cruel, malicious, and petulant. All in all, Lenny Minelli was dangerous and never to be underestimated.

  Joseph shifted uneasily in his seat, "Soon, Lenny, soon. We talked about it a couple of days ago." Joey feared his brother for good reason. He’d been his brother’s victim many times over the years. Several fights had sent him to either Gulfport’s Memorial Hospital or Biloxi Regional Hospital’s emergency department with broken bones, bruises and once a concussion. Lenny’s father had just laughed and told Joe to “suck it up, grow up and fight back.” But, Joe wasn’t a fighter. He’d never stood a chance against Lenny.

  “So when… when little brother?” Lenny’s eyes blazed and his voice turned raspy. “I asked weeks ago and it still ain’t been done.” He continued to stare at Joe as his voice took on a threatening tone. “It ain’t makin’ me happy and you can bet the Old Man has lost patience.” Lenny growled as he referred to his father.

  “I told you. Soon.” Joey’s voice was forceful, but his heart raced. “I’ll ask her again when her friends leave. I’ll mention it after Thanksgiving.”

  Lenny pushed back from his desk and jumped out of his seat. “The hell you will, little bro.” His face was cold and angry. His face had reddened in anger. “We don’t got that much time.” His fat fingers wrapped around a large, glass paperweight he kept on his desk. He sat back down and shifted the paperweight from hand to hand as he assessed the damage it could do. “Now, you wouldn’t want pretty little Lida’s head smashed in, would you?” Lenny’s tongue made a clucking sound in his mouth. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, that would be such a mess not to mention it could damage my paper weight.”

  Joe was mesmerized by the movement of the paperweight. His blood turned cold. Lenny had already beat his head in years ago when he’d been twelve. He still had headaches from that injury. Lenny had hit him with one of their mother’s prized pieces of Italian Murano glass. Joey had gotten twenty stitches and three days in the hospital. Lorana, his mother, had been frightened and furious. She’d insisted her husband, Vito, send Lenny away to Military school to learn self-control and discipline. His father had refused and shortly after that, Lorana and Joey left Mississippi in the dead of night, caught the train in New Orleans, and moved to New York to live with her parents. Six months later, his beautiful mother was dead - run over by a drunk driver on Madison Avenue - as she crossed the street near the dress boutique where she worked. Joey knew his father had killed her but could never prove it. The mob never paid for their crimes. Never. Joey missed his mother dreadfully. Lida reminded him of her with her gentle ways, bluish-green eyes and soft curls.

  Joey’s brain flashed back to that dreadful day. He remembered his grandmother crying and screaming that his father had her killed her. His grandfather had hugged his grandmother, wiped her tears, and said that not even Vito Minelli would kill his own wife, the mother of his children. Joey wasn’t so sure about that, and now that he was grown, he knew his cruel, heinous father had killed his mother. The arm of Vito Minelli was long and vicious. Even though the primary family business was in New York, Vito was often in the South where he co-managed the gambling operations with Lenny. The Dixie Mafia had deep ties and commitments to crime families in New York.

  Vito Minelli wanted what he wanted and Joey, as young as he was, knew he’d do anything to get it. Even have his mother killed. Weeks later, after the funeral, Vito had shown up at his grandparents' house and taken him back to Mississippi. He remembered the look on his grandmother’s tear-stained face when he’d been pulled from the house. He remembered what his grandmother had said. “Don’t let them change you, Joey. You’re your mother all over again. You’re all I have left of her.”

  Joey had waved at his grandmother from the limo as he tried to hide his tear-streaked face from his angry, stone-faced father. Joe’s dad hated him, there was no question about that. Most likely because Joe looked and acted just like his mother. Joseph Minelli didn’t have the hateful, cruel streak and sociopathic personality of the other males in his family. He was different and he knew it. His father and brother never let him forget it. And he’d been taunted for it his entire life.

  “Damnit, Joseph. I’m talking to you,” Lenny hollered as he threw the paperweight onto the tile floor. The glass ball shattered into a million shards of glass. “Get the bitch to fix the books or I’ll break every bone in her body. Then I’ll cut out her tongue, so you’ll never talk to her again. Plus, I’ll get another glass paperweight bigger than that one,” he said as he pointed at the glass on the floor, “and I’ll bash in her face.”

  Joey was shocked and angry. Fear raced up his spine as a flush worked its way up to his face. For a moment he couldn’t find his voice. “You… you broke Lida’s arm, didn’t you. Are you responsible for that?”

  Lenny shook his head and rolled his eyes. He shot his brother a disgusted look. He pitied his useless, spineless, retard sibling. He picked up his coffee cup with his pudgy hand and smiled an evil smile. “Well, not me personally but I did hear about it,” he grinned with a wink and a smirk. His cold eyes rested on his little brother’s face. “Do what I say, Bubbie, or the Lida bitch is history.”

  Joey’s stomach knotted as he stood and walked out of Lenny’s office. His heart raced in his chest. He knew Lenny would kill Lida, and not think twice about it. Lenny hated women just as he’d hated his mother. He’d killed women before. He also knew Lenny would get away with murder.

  He had to do something. But, what? Fear and uncertainty gnawed at his chest. He returned to his office and looked out of the window at the wide expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. It was a beautiful day and the water glistened like diamonds. He made a decision and reached for his phone.

  5

  Kat, Lida, Allison, and Barb had eagerly consumed their lunch and had just polished off huge helpings of Banana Foster and Cherries Jubilee. Allison sat back in her seat and whined, “I ate too much. Every time I do this, I swear I’m never gonna overeat again,” she pledged as she rubbed her stomach and grimaced. “Now I feel like a bloated toad.”

  Barb stood up and said, "Me too. I'm so stuffed I can hardly move. I'm gonna take a walk around the dock. Anyone want to join me?" she asked as she looked at her friends.

  Allison shook her head. “Nope, I’m a slug,” she admitted with a smile. “I’ll be sitting right here when you get back.”

  "I'm in. I don't think I'll ever eat again either," Kat agreed as she got up and stretched. She walked around the table and stood next to Barb.

  “I'll pass. I've gotta get back to work over at the Magnolia,” Lida said as she nervously checked her watch. “We're still on for a late dinner tonight, right? I want to zip over to see my Mom. " She paused for a second and remembered, “But I may not be able to get back if she isn’t doing okay,” Lida reminded them, disappointment written on her face.

  Kat nodded. "We're supposed to meet over at Mikey's house for dinner. He lives in one of those old Creole Cottages one street off the Beach Road in West Biloxi. I think he's grilling shrimp. Then, I think we’re going clubbing and eventually end back at The Magnolia," Kat said with a smile. “He told me specifically what white wine to pick up yesterday and I followed his orders.”

  Lida shook her head. “Mike has always been a chef. One day he’s going to make someone a fantastic husband. I mean really… the guy cooks, cleans, works, ponders the universe. What else could we look for?” She turned to Allison. “You’ll be there, right Allison?”

  Allison frowned. "Any other time that would sound great but honestly, I don't think I'll be able to eat anything else today," she yawned. “I’m still a little jet lagged from my trip from the West Coast. “I need a nap!”

  Kat shook her head and smiled. "That’
ll change, I promise you. As y’all know, Mike is a fabulous Cajun cook. Besides, I’ve never known you to turn down a great meal and a night of clubbing. I’ve seen some good-looking Southern guys around here." She winked at Barb who smiled at her.

  Allison’s eyes lit up. “Yeah. On second thought, I’ll be there,” Allison promised. “I wouldn’t miss a meal by Mike for anything.”

  Barb laughed. “We knew the promise of good-looking guys and good food would reel you in.” She looked at Kat’s stilettos. "You gotta take off those high heels for us to walk," she said.

  Lida stood. “I’ve gotta go. It was great and I hope to see all of you later.” She gave Kat and Barb a big hug. “Call me if you need anything. Lunch was great. I’ll pay for mine on the way out.”

  Kat hugged Lida and turned to Barb. “I’m gonna run to the ladies room. I’ve had three glasses of water, not to mention the alcohol. Maybe Allison will be ready to walk with us by the time I return.” Kat turned to Allison who was checking her phone.

  Allison shook head. “Um, maybe, but don’t hold your breath. My first priority is to get back to the hotel and take a quick nap, so I’ll be rested for this evening.”

  “I’ll wait for you here, Kat, and try to keep Allison awake,” Barb commented as she watched a sea gull pick at a French fry on the pier. “It’s such a beautiful day I could sit here for hours.”

  Kat smiled and walked the short distance from their table and re-entered the restaurant. She saw Lida talking with Melody near the bar. The conversation seemed intense and Melody looked worried. She was shaking her head and talking in a loud whisper. She’d placed both of her hands on Lida’s shoulders as if to comfort her. Lida’s back was toward her but Kat was sure her friend was upset. She started to interrupt but changed her mind. She was surprised when her cell phone rang. It was Mike.

  She moved towards the ladies room and sat in a comfortable chair in the lounge as she chatted with Mike. She felt warm all over at the sound of his deep voice. “Hey, Mike. Are you on the coast? We just had a fantastic lunch at the Gulf Grill. We all ate too much.” She laughed as she listened to Mike describe his trip over from New Orleans. As usual the traffic was horrendous, and it had taken longer than he’d expected. A few minutes later they ended their conversation and Kat used the restroom and began to primp at the mirror. She rearranged her wind-blown hair and refreshed her lipstick, thinking about Lida. Something’s going on with Lida. She seems stressed and anxious. Plus, what’s with the black eye and the broken arm? Kat continued to think about her friend. She decided she’d just keep her eyes open and mention her concerns to Barb on their walk. She left the restroom and met Barb and Allison on the deck.