by J. B. Reed
Vivie paid Ronnie for both guns and started to leave.
“Nice doing business with you, Vivian. And, you be careful with those coyotes. Nasty creatures they are.”
“I’ll be careful Ronnie. I think it’s the coyotes that need to start worrying now though.”
Vivie placed the guns in the trunk of her car and headed for home. “Coyotes are nasty creatures alright. Ryan Coyote and Joseph Coyote….two of the nastiest creatures I know.” Vive thought to herself. “Now all I have to do is tell Mama I have to make a trip to New York.”
Another month passed before Vivie had the courage to tell Mary she was leaving.
“Mama, I have to go back to New York for a few days.”
“Absolutely not. Why in God’s name would you even consider going back? Have you lost your senses, girl?”
“No, I haven’t lost my senses. I need some time with Michael. Now that I have a car, I can get to Michael’s without anyone ever knowing I’m in town. I’ll be okay, Mama. I’ll call you every day I’m away. Will you take care of Rose while I’m gone?”
“Why don’t you wait for Michael to come here, Vivian. I see no need for you to go there.”
“Mama, please. I’m going, now the question is, will you watch over Rose, or do I take her with me?”
Mary knew that once Vivie set her mind to do something, there would be no talking her out of it.
“You are not taking that child with you. Yes, I’ll watch over Rose while you’re gone. I wish you would reconsider this, daughter. You are not using the brain the good Lord gave you.”
“I’m going to leave tonight, Mama. It’s better that I go at night. Better to slip in quietly.”
“Does Michael know you are coming?”
“Of course he does, Mama.”
Vivie didn’t like lying to her mother but she had no choice. Michael would never permit her to come to New York. After dinner, Vivie packed her suitcase and tucked Rose into bed. Vivie hugged Mary and walked out of the door. As she started down the country road, her thoughts went to Luke. He would never know how much he had helped her. As she started getting closer to New York, she played out scenarios in her mind; how she would kill Ryan first and then Joseph. Hell’s Kitchen was just about an hour away now.
Vivie pulled off at a gasoline station and went into the bathroom. She changed her clothes and tucked her hair up underneath a ball cap. Looking at reflection, in the dirty bathroom mirror, she felt satisfied that no one would recognize her. It was 4:00 a.m. Knowing Tommy and his crew as she did, they would still be out, terrorizing someone. Vivie drove up and down the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, looking for any sign of Ryan. She parked her car a block away from Molly O’Hanlon’s. If Tommy is in there, Ryan and Shane would be as well. Vivie slid down in the seat of the car and watched the door of Molly’s. An hour later, she was not disappointed. Ryan came out of Molly’s with Shane.
“I do not want to hurt Shane. I think he’s paid for his sins. Ryan is the one I want. He’s the bastard that killed Papa."
Vivie watched as Ryan and Shane moved slowly down the street. She started her car and followed them. Keeping the lights of the car turned off she made sure she stayed far enough behind so they would not notice her; but close enough to keep them in sight. Shane and Ryan parted ways when they reached Shane’s apartment building. Ryan continued down the street three more blocks. He entered his apartment building and Vivie pulled the car over to the curb. She watched the building until she saw a light come on up on the third floor. She got out of her car and opened the trunk. Removing the shotgun and placing it under her coat, she crossed the street to enter the building. The apartment building was a flop house for winos and prostitutes. The smell of urine burned Vivie’s nose. As she reached the second floor landing, she noticed an old bum lying in the hallway. Vivie was careful to step over him, so as not to rouse him. Walking down the hallway on the third floor, Vivie counted the doors until she found what she believed to be Ryan’s apartment. She listened carefully for noise coming from inside. It was quiet. Realizing she was not strong enough to break down the door, she decided to simply knock instead. If Ryan was high, he would open the door with no concern who may be on the other side. Vivie heard someone coming. Ryan opened the door, and saw Vivie standing there, pointing the shotgun in his face.
“Fuck me….Vivian?”
“That’s right Ryan, it’s me, Vivian. Never expected to see me again, did you?”
“What the hell are you doing with that gun, Vivian? You know Tommy’s been looking for you, don’t you?”
“I’m sure he has, but this has nothing to do with Tommy. You and I have business, Ryan. You took something from me, something very dear. I’m here to settle the score.”
“You really think you can kill me Vivian? That’s an awful big gun for such a little girl.”
“Yes, it’s a big gun, big enough to put a hole through you.”
Ryan backed up to the kitchen sink. He was trying to get to the pistol he kept in the drawer.
“Don’t even think about it, Ryan. You’ll be dead before you can open that drawer.”
“Listen Vivian, the hit on your old man, it was ordered by Tommy. I was only doing what I was told to do. He figured if we killed your old man, you would come back and
that guy with you. It’s really him Tommy wants. Do you know what he did to Shane? Poor bastard is in a wheel chair the rest of his life because of your friend.”
“I am aware. I also know that Tommy ordered the hit. Just the same, it was you who pulled the trigger.”
Ryan started to panic. It was evident now that Vivie was quite capable of killing him.
“Do you have any last words, Ryan?”
“Fuck you, bitch.” Ryan lunged toward Vivie.
Vivie fired the shotgun and Ryan’s body flew two feet back, landing up against the wall then sliding to the floor. A hole big enough to put her fist through was in Ryan’s chest. Vivie walked over and stood over top of Ryan’s body. A smile crept across her face as she stared down at his lifeless, bloody, body. Vivie spat on him and then walked out of the apartment.
Placing the shotgun back in her trunk she thought to herself how easy it was to kill Ryan. It actually took her a little by surprise just how easy it was for her to take another person’s life. She wasn’t sure if it was because he had killed her father, or if she was finally realizing what Michael had said to her was true; it’s just a job. One down, one to go
Vivie was not sure where Joseph’s office was located. That was one thing Michael had never revealed to her. She decided she would have to go to Michael’s apartment. He would be surprised to see her, and maybe even a little worried about why she was there.
As she pulled into the garage, she looked for an open parking place. Most of Michael’s neighbors should have left for work by now. Vivie found a spot, pulled her car in and turned the engine off. Standing at Michael’s door, Vivie started to feel slightly nervous. She knocked gently on the door. Opening the door, the look of shock on Michael’s face was exactly what she had expected to see.
“What the hell? Vivian? What are you doing here?”
Michael opened the door to let her in, looking first to the left and then to the right, making sure no one had followed her.
“Surprised to see me, Michael?”
“Surprised is not the word. How did you get here, Vivie? Why are you here?”
“Michael, you’re starting to make me feel unwelcome.”
“Unwelcome? No, not at all, I’m always happy to see you, I’m just in shock. What on earth are you thinking, coming back here? You know how dangerous it is.”
“I’m no longer afraid, Michael. I’m here to settle some things. As a matter of fact, one thing has already been settled. Michael, I had a dear friend in Matewan who was killed in a mine cave in not too long ago. He and I spent a lot of time together. He gave me the training I needed, the training you refused to give me. You would be proud of me, I’m really quite good. I mad
e a stop before coming here, Michael. I went to the Kitchen, where I found Ryan. He’s one problem we won’t have to be concerned with anymore.”
“What in God’s name have you done, Vivie?”
“Ryan is dead, Michael. I killed him.”
“Jesus Vivie. How; where?”
“Ryan’s apartment. I waited for him to come out of Molly’s and followed him to his apartment. We had a nice chat…about him killing Papa. I then shot him.” Vivie’s demeanor was cold and unfeeling. Relating how she killed Ryan was almost like telling him what she had bought while shopping. No, she was more exited when talking about shopping. Michael didn’t like seeing her this way.
“I can’t believe this. I must be dreaming.”
“It’s no dream, Michael. I’m really here and Ryan is really dead. Don’t you understand Michael? I had to kill Ryan. It was my duty. I couldn’t let anyone else do what was my job to do.”
“Vivie, do you know what is going to happen? When Tommy finds out about Ryan, he’s going to think I did it. Shit, Vivie; when Joseph hears about it, he’s going to think I did it. He has ordered me to stay out of the Kitchen and away from Tommy and his crew. I can’t very well tell him that it was you that killed Ryan, now can I?”
“I don’t want you to tell him, Michael. I want to tell him. I want to talk to him, face to face.”
“No fucking way, Vivian. You’re going nowhere near Joseph. Vivie, he thinks I killed you. If he finds out you’re alive, Joseph may very well kill me.”
“Not if I kill him, Michael.”
“Christ, Vivian….do you know what you’re saying? There is no way you can get to Joseph, and no way in hell you can kill him. He’s well guarded Vivie. You would never make it past the door.”
“Then I’ll need your help. You can either get me in to see him or you can have him meet you somewhere, where I’ll access to him.”
“You have lost your mind. Why would I do this? Why would I help you kill Joseph? Vivie, Joseph is not only my boss, he’s like a father to me. Asking me to be part of his assassination is out of the question. I won’t do it.”
“I’m sorry to hear you say that. I thought that a life with me and Rose was more important than Joseph, or anyone else. I guess I was wrong.”
“There is nothing I would like more than to be able to have a life with you and Rose, but this is not the way. If you kill Joseph, his entire family will be looking for you. There would be a hit out on you, Vivian, it would be open season.”
“Michael, are you forgetting this bastard ordered you to kill me? He is the reason we are not together, the only reason. You said yourself that he would kill you if he knew I was still alive. Is that the love a father for his son, Michael?”
“You don’t understand, there is creed men like Joseph live by. Loyalty is the key. If they feel someone, anyone, has betrayed them, that person has to pay; regardless of their position within the family.”
“What about our family? Have you forgotten we’re still married, that we took vows, Michael?”
Michael stood up and walked over to the bar. Standing with his back to Vivie, he was silent, thinking of what she was saying to him. To hit a man of Joseph’s stature was suicide.
“Very well, Vivie. I’ll arrange a sit down between you and Joseph, but I want to be there. I want to attempt to work this out with Joseph, try to make him understand why I couldn’t kill you. Joseph is a reasonable man if the facts are presented in the right way.”
Michael could hear the words coming out of his mouth, but he didn’t believe anything he was saying. There was no way Joseph was going to understand why he lied to him, why he didn’t follow his orders. This was going to end badly.
13.
VIVIE AND JOSEPH MEET AGAIN
Michael convinced Vivie to rest for a while; she had been up for nearly twenty-four hours. He needed time to sort out the recent events in his mind. Joseph’s family and the Westies were at war; he had been ordered to stay away from Tommy and his crew; he had told Joseph he had killed Vivie and now, Vivie was here in his home; and Vivie just informed him she had killed Ryan. Michael had to wonder how his life could have become so totally fucked up.
He thought that, perhaps, he should go see Joseph while Vivie was asleep. Maybe he could explain everything to Joseph and get him to agree to meet with Vivie. If he could just persuade Joseph to see that instead of being a liability, she quite possibly could be an asset to him. He could tell him about Vivie killing Ryan; and that she, just as he, considers family obligation a sacred duty. If only he could convince Joseph of this, then Vivie’s plan to kill Joseph would be a moot point. Michael opened the bedroom door to make sure Vivie was sound asleep. He scribbled a note to her, leaving it on the kitchen table, and then left the apartment for Joseph’s office. Michael could not remember the last time he had prayed, but if he ever needed Divine assistance, this was the time.
“Lucky? I don’t recall asking you to come see me. As a matter of fact, I believe I told you to stay put until you heard from me. I’m assuming the reason you are here is important. Come in and have a seat. Talk to me.”
“Joseph, what I’m about to tell you will anger you. All I ask is that you let me say what I came here to say before you react.”
“I’m listening.” Joseph lit a cigar and sat down behind his desk.
“The first thing you should be aware of is that one of Flannery’s crew, one Ryan Kelly, was hit early this morning. He wasn’t involved in the fur heist, but this guy was the trigger man in old man Clancy’s hit. The person who whacked him was a member of the Clancy clan. And, this person, in my opinion, has become one of the best cleaners I’ve ever known. Joseph, the person I’m talking about is….Vivian.”
Joseph didn’t say a word, but Michael could see the fire in his eyes.
“I know I lied to you Joseph, I told you that I killed her; but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I got her to agree to leave town and that’s exactly what she did. While she has been away, she has used her time to train. Joseph, this woman is, without a doubt, one of the best. Her hatred for Flannery and Kelly fueled her desire to become the best. She now wants a sit down with you Joseph. She feels, and I agree, she has gone from being a liability, to an asset for you. She wants to work for you Joseph. I know that you’ve never employed a female in this capacity, but if you would just talk to her Joseph, you would see what I’m saying is true. I know you are angry with me for not carrying out your orders; for lying to you. I deserve whatever you give me, even if it means killing me.”
“You finished now?”
“Yes, I guess I am.”
“You’re right about one thing; I’m angry as hell with you. You betrayed me once before, Michael, when you told the girl that you were working for me. Now you come here telling me that, not only did you not whack her, but she’s become a fucking mechanic and wants to work for me. She wants a sit down with me. Forget the fact that I think everything you just said is bullshit; give me one reason I shouldn’t blow your head off, right now? You know how I feel about betrayal and yet you’ve betrayed me twice. Do you think I should forgive you because this girl whacked the fuck that killed her father? That this should make the fact you didn’t carry out my orders to whack her, okay? And what makes you think that I wouldn’t agree to the sit down just to get her here, and then whack you both?”
“Joseph, you’re an honorable man. If you agree to meet with her, to hear her out, you wouldn’t harm her. As far as I go, I’m in your hands, whatever you decide to do with me, Joseph.”
“A fucking female mechanic. Jesus Christ. Why do you expect me to believe I can trust her? How do I know she’s not coming here to off me?”
“Because that’s not what she wants. She wants to work for you, not kill you.” Michael was lying again; he just hoped that he would be able to convince Vivie that working for Joseph would be better than killing him.
“You know, I am a man of vision, Michael, and I could possibly see where having a female mechanic c
ould be useful. No one would ever expect a girlie to whack em.”
Joseph stared up at the ceiling, puffing on his cigar. Michael was praying that he would agree to at least talk to Vivie.
“When can she be here?”
“I can have her within the hour, Joseph.”
“Get her here; I’ll talk to her, see what she has to say. If she can convince me of her ability, I will consider it. But she has to convince me, and I’m not easy; you know that better than anyone. But as for you, Michael; you’re not off the hook with me just yet.”
“I understand. I’ll have her here as soon as possible.”
Michael left Joseph’s office and headed for home. Now the only thing he had to do was convince Vivie this was the better option, for all concerned. By the time he returned home Vivie was up and sitting at the kitchen table, having a bite to eat.
“Hope you don’t mind, I just helped myself.” Vivie stated as she smiled at Michael. “Where did you run off to, Michael? The only thing your note said was that you had to run out.”
“I went to see Joseph. He's agreed to a sit down with you.”
