by Keene, Susan
He looked up and the color drained from his wrinkled face. “Why yes, yes I am.” He spoke softly, had a low voice, and a thick French accent. He glanced between the two of us several times before he spoke again.”I think a better question is, who are you two?”
Sophie answered. “We believe we are the daughters of you and Margaret De Marco.”
He pushed his hair back off his face. “It’s a lovely thought, but I don’t know a Margaret De Marco. My only marriage was to Roxy Watkins. She was wounded in a hit and run accident. She later died at the hospital.”
“Was she pregnant?” I asked.
He put his pencil down and crossed his arms. “Yes, the baby was due within a few weeks of her death.”
I took a step forward. “We realize this is a shock to you. The two of us didn’t know about one another until a few months ago. May we sit down?”
“Yes, of course.” A tear rolled down his face. “If you thought you were my daughters, where have you been all of these years?”
Sophie told her story first. “I was raised as the daughter of Dominic De Marco. We have reason to believe Roxy Watkins was Margaret De Marco, his sister. He always let me think he was my father. It was only when I saw my sister’s picture in a news article that I became interested in investigating my background.”
He stood. “I’ve heard of him, nothing good, I might add. So, you were raised in New Jersey with a known Mafia leader as your father? What is your name?” He didn’t wait for her to answer. He turned to me. “And you?”
“I was raised in St. Charles, Missouri and St. Petersburg, Florida by a woman I found out wasn’t my mother. We have not found out who she really is or why they kept us a secret from you or even why they separated us at birth.”
He fell into his chair. “And your name is?”
“Kate Nash. It was Kate Madison before I married.”
He leaned forward and looked from one of us to the other. “You look exactly like your mother did at your age. It’s how I remember her. The thing about dying before your time is that you are forever young in the eyes of your loved ones. It is difficult for me to absorb all of this. Why now?”
I raised, pulled my chair closer to him and spoke to him only when I was situated and could see his eyes. “I’ll make this story as short and concise as I can. Later we can fill in the blanks if you want us to. I am a Private Investigator in St. Louis. I had a case that received national attention. Sophie saw it and came to find me. Once we were together, it was impossible to deny we are identical twins.”
He motioned for Sophie to bring her chair up to where I was. “My dear wife was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were never able to find the driver who hit her. She died at the hospital.
“I was in France. I flew home immediately. She was already cremated. They said the only identification she carried didn’t give much information. They couldn’t find a next of kin. The baby boy died due to the trauma of the accident.”
Sophie’s face turned red. I didn’t know it was anger until she spoke. “You haven’t had any interaction with Dominic De Marco? He is and always has been an evil person. He has always had an entire army of thugs to carry out his slightest whim. There are too many coincidences for our story to be false.”
I took over. “It can’t be a fluke that your wife was cremated before you got to see her body, on March 31st, 1980 and we were born April 1st of the same year.
“Who made such a decision on your behalf? And it seems there was not a baby boy, but twin girls. We have no idea why we were separated or what the reasoning was to keep us a secret. I don’t know him as well as Sophie.”
He interrupted and answered. “I will never forget the night I found out she was already in a state that made it impossible for me to say goodbye. The doctor’s name was Signorelli.”
Sophie laid her hand on his. “Our research shows that Roxy Watkins was Margaret De Marco. Margaret died at the hand of a notorious Mafia thug named Mickey Amato in 1988. I know Roxy did not die on our birthday. She came to see me several times a week until I was eight.”
Our father slumped back in his chair. “Why would anyone want my beautiful Roxy to die?”
I leaned forward. “We think it was because Margaret was witness to a mob killing. They wanted her to appear dead to protect her. I have a picture of Margaret from her high school yearbook. Is this Roxy?”
He laid his head on the desk. “I don’t want to hear any more. It is too much to absorb all at once. I want you to leave now.”
Our father was a slight man with a full head of white hair. I knew why I was short. He looked over the glasses that rested on his nose. His cheekbones were high and his movement light as if he was afraid anything he touched would break. He stood, took off his glasses, walked between us. “If there are other details I need to know, I will call you. How did you find Roxy?”
I stood to leave. “She made a movie in late 1979. We stumbled over it a week ago.”
“Yes.” Sophie stood and moved so she was hip to hip with me. “Did Roxy make a movie?”
“I’m not familiar with it but my Roxy was eccentric and theatrical. I don’t doubt she would make a movie I wouldn’t know about. I spent a lot of time in France the years we were married. My mother was dying and I stayed months at a time.”
Sophie softened her voice. “We were as stunned as you about all of this. We want nothing of you. We hoped if you were our father you would tell us some details about our mother.”
He tried to stand but his knees buckled. Sophie grabbed one side and I grabbed the other to steady him until he could stand again. “I need to think about all of this. Don’t take me wrong. I believe you are sincere and believe you are telling me the truth. All of it is a shock. When I get it straight in my mind I will call you. Where are you staying?”
At the Dream.” We answered in unison.
“Fine, I will reach you there. Will you be in town a few days?”
Sophie answered. “As long as it takes.”
CHAPTER 28
W e didn’t hear from Jonathan Gaddu for three days. During that time I spoke to Ryan who said he was caught up with his work and ready for me to come home.
Tony found out from Missouri Baptist that a woman identified as Roxy Gaddu nee Watkins gave birth to twin girls. The father was listed at Jonathan Gaddu. Mrs. Gaddu was immediately transferred to Honor Hospital where she died later of gunshot wounds. The body was cremated on April 2, 1980.
When Sophie hung up from speaking to Tony she told me what he said. “We know Margaret didn’t die at the hospital. We know there were two babies who were given to two different people and that Margaret became Roxy Watkins. What we don’t know is why?”
“I have questions too,” I said. “What happened to Roxy Watkins when we were eight? It all makes my head spin.”
Sophie sat on her bed. “We are closer than we were. We know who our father is and he seems to be unscathed by the Mafia. I wish he would call.”
It was as though Sophie wished it into being. The phone rang and when I answered, it was our father. Sophie came as close as she could. I turned the phone toward her so she could eavesdrop.
“Hello.”
“Hello, this is Jonathan Gaddu. I wondered if you two ladies would like to join me for dinner at the Fraunces Tavern at eight o’clock tonight.”
Sophie shook her head indicating she wanted to go.
“We’ll be there. We look forward to seeing you again.”
There was a slight pause on his end before he admitted. “I find myself wanting to see the two of you also. Eight o’clock.”
He hung up.
It was five thirty so we had plenty of time to get ready. I wasn’t familiar with the restaurant so I was lost. “I’m not sure what to wear.”
My sister laughed. “I thought I had been almost everywhere in New York, but never to the Faunces. I suggest we look at the menu before we go. I think a simple dress, heels and some nice jewelry.”
I Googled it. “I’m a little more vanilla in my food choices. Good thing I looked it up.”
She took the phone. “Let me see. I‘d go with the House Pate’ for an appetizer, roasted corn and spinach ravioli as a main course and a Meyer Lemon Tart for dessert.”
She handed the phone back. “Is that what you will get?”
“Most likely, I might be more vanilla than you.”
I took a shower and put on a plain blue dress I had bought while we waited for Sophie. She wore a pale green skirt with a cream-colored long sleeve sweater. I threw a shawl over my outfit. She wore my white wool coat.
The taxi dropped us off at exactly eight. The hostess took us to the table like she knew who we were. Our father stood when he saw us.
Dinner was pleasant. He told stories of nights his plays didn’t go well. I threw in a couple of antidotes about some of the people Amy and I encountered in our work, and Sophie laughed about how proper the people she lived with were. She added,” They were polite as they rid the world of those people who couldn’t advance their agenda.”
We sat and talked while we had a second glass of wine. Jonathan was the first to speak about our connection. “I indeed believe you are my children. This evening with you two convinced me. Your mannerisms are like watching my beloved Roxy. There are other subtle likenesses I have seen but can’t put into words. Take these envelopes. I believe you will treasure what’s in them. I must go now. I am an early-to-bed-early-to-rise sort of man. Please call anytime and we’ll make plans to meet again.”
Sophie and I had made a small packet with our phone numbers, addresses and such. I handed it to him. We all three walked out together. There was a car waiting for him. He kissed us each on both cheeks and said, “ Au revoir” as he got into his car.
We stood a moment and watched until he was out of sight. I knew I had tears in my eyes, and I wiped them with the back of my hand. As my twin turned toward me, a tear rolled down her cheek.
We flew home the next day. Since we were so much alike, neither one had much to say. I wanted to review each moment of my first dinner with my father, my real father.
The envelopes he gave us contained photographs of our mother. She looked happy and robust. In one picture, she and her husband stood in front of the Eiffel Tower. I looked at them at least a hundred times and would cherish them forever.
Ryan and Tony were waiting for us at baggage pick up. I was so happy to see him I didn’t want to let go. I was excited to tell him about our father and show him the contents of the packet he gave me.
Chili was in the car. She jumped on my lap when I sat down, jumped in the backseat to say hello to Sophie, and back to me where she settled down.
I was so glad to be home. I changed into warm comfy clothes and went to sit in the living room with the other three. Sophie and Tony were deep in conversation. They stopped talking when we entered the room.”Is everything okay?” I asked.
Sophie and Tony were on the love seat. She had her feet tucked under her. The same way I liked to sit.
“We were trying to decide when to go to New Jersey. We can’t let the house sit and leave the bills unpaid. I also need to get some papers from the safe and open a probate for Dominic’s estate.”
I turned sideways, put my feet on the couch and leaned back against Ryan. “I thought you didn’t think he was dead.”
“I don’t, but I also know wherever he is, he won’t come back. He went to a lot of trouble to fake his death. He killed three people and put them in that car to make sure his death looked real. When I get to the compound and look in the safe, I’ll know for sure.”
Ryan put one arm around me and joined the conversation. “While you were gone we tried to follow the trail of Roxy Watkins. She made the movie but no one in New York, where it was filmed, ever saw her again. The producer died several years ago, but someone told Neil they didn’t even have an address to send her royalties.”
Tony took over. “This Roxy Watkins didn’t have a social security number, a driver’s license, a job record, bank account, or anything else. We think she, with her brother’s help, decided she and her daughter were safer if no one knew she was alive. I am convinced she did not know about you, Kate. Ryan hired a skip tracer. A woman of her description lived in a hotel for a few years. She kept to herself.”
Sophie moved closer to Tony. “The story is that she witnessed a mob shooting in New York, was identified and killed. There must be more to it.”
Ryan got up. “Wine anyone?” Everyone said yes. “My detective said that isn’t all she saw. They killed Mickey Amato and his driver as they were walking to court to testify against Martin De Grasse.
“Margaret was a material witness in that case. She overheard De Grasse order and plan the murders of a banker and his family. No one knows how they found out about her or what she heard.”
“Yes, Tony said. “The Feds blackmailed her with charges against her family, namely Dominic if she didn’t testify. He set up the ruse where she was shot to death and never seen again. We all think you two were collateral damage. First we thought she died in an automobile accident, then a shooting, now a hit and run.
I took a sip of my wine. “I wonder what kind of life a woman with no identity can have.”
Ryan handed Sophie a glass of wine. “Like most mothers, her priority was her child. I agree if she did know, she would have never allowed you to be away from her. She went to the Compound every day she could and spent all of her time with Sophie. Tony’s mother told us that one day someone came to see Dominic on business and recognized Roxy. She was never seen again. There’s no record of her death. We can only go by what Rosa said.”
Sophie took a big drink. “I wish I could find Dominic and find out what happened to her. I remember how sweet and gentle she was. As I pull up those memories, I know it was the same women as in the movie. Jonathan verified it was her.”
I stood and walked to the kitchen to get another glass of wine. “I know how we could fill in the blanks and find out what happened to Roxy.”
“How?” They all asked.
“Mother.”
CHAPTER 29
T ony and Sophie cooked dinner for Ryan and me. It was delicious. We had cod stuffed with crab and shrimp, a salad topped with Tony’s homemade dressing and chocolate mousse for dessert. As we sat around the table satiated and relaxed, Sophie wanted to talk about what to do next. “I agree we should confront your so-called mother and lean on her to tell us the real truth about what she knows. Tony and I would like to go along on that trip. First we need to go home and see what and who’s there. The longer I stay away, the more complicated it could be to straighten out everything.”
Ryan filled his glass with the Moscato that accompanied our meal. “I know you must go. Since you’re going back blind, I’d like to send several bodyguards with you.”
Sophie slid her glass closer to Ryan for a refill. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve known these people for my entire life. No one would hurt me.”
Tony looked at her. “I think it’s a good idea. The men have been wandering around without supervision for almost two weeks. We don’t know if they accepted Martin for Boss, or whether the two leaderless factions have banded together with their own leadership, or they could have disbanded for lack of direction.”
I got an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hoped Sophie would never go back to that prison. “Would you like Ryan and me to go with you?”
Sophie didn’t hesitate. “No. it’s not the place for you. If there’s someone with a grudge, they won’t know if it’s you or me. But we do want to go to Florida with you. We’ll only be gone a few days.”
Ryan took his phone out of his pocket. “When do you want to leave? I’ll get the men ready. I’ll send six. That should be enough to keep you out of harm’s way.”
Tony cleared the table. “We would like to leave in the morning. If you don’t care, we’ll drive. If there’s trouble, I know your cars are bulletproof.”
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No one smiled. “My supervisor, Nathan will take charge of the men. Tell him what you want them to do and where you want them. There’ll be an SUV in front of you with three men and one behind you. Keep Kate and me posted. We‘ll worry.”
“I’d like to leave about four am. We won’t wake you.”
Tony shook hands with Ryan and Sophie hugged me. They went their way to make plans. Ryan and I finished the kitchen chores and took Chili for a long walk. The weather had tuned seasonal. It was below freezing with a cold north wind. The dog didn’t seem to care.
My phone rang as we stepped into the elevator for the ride up to the apartment. It was Amy. “Hi, partner. Are you ready to spend some time at the office? It’s a mess. We have callbacks, bills to pay and business to discuss.”
I took my scarf and hat off as we talked. “Yes. It would be a pleasant break and I’ll fill you in on my father. Want to meet at the office?”
She laughed. “How about Starbucks in U City? We haven’t talked in a long while.”
“Okay, I’ll be there.”
Ryan stood behind me when I turned around. “Am I going to lose you to a case before we have any time to spend on the house which is sitting empty and forlorn waiting for a family?”
I couldn’t help but give big him a giant hug. “We’ll have the rest of the evening and until noon tomorrow. We need to tend to our office and some book work.”
He let me go. “It’s too late to shop tonight. Let’s go over and look at the house. You couldn’t possibly remember much about it.”
I put my coat on again. “Okay let’s go.”
The house was more beautiful than I had remembered. The rooms were spacious. I couldn’t see the light pattern because the sun had set. I imagined the light came in from every direction. We made a sketch of the rooms and the window and door placement so we could get furniture to fit each room.
Ryan beamed from ear to ear. I was no longer nervous. We had shared the same space long enough for me to know it was wonderful. “Is there anything from the apartment you would like to bring over here?”
