Mrs Mariano: Part 1

by L Neil

  When it’s all done, they will lay the large grey tiles that I selected and then I can paint the windows and pillars and add my other finishing touches. He expects to be finished their part by the end of the day.

  That’s so amazing, I could hug him.

  He and Dominic strike up a conversation about their grand-daughters, Mia and Bella. Dominic as a grandfather is a scary thought but then his face beams, making him a little less ugly somehow.

  I take the opportunity to pull Eddie to the side, near the kitchen and whisper, “I need you to give my number to Sam.”

  The smile on his face – he always seems to be wearing one – slips a little. But he says, “Sure,” and it grows again. “Are you going to hand it to me on a piece of folded paper?” He thinks this is funny.

  “I hadn’t planned this - I didn’t know you would be here.”

  “And miss my last chance at having an excuse to see you? My work here is done now.”

  I look at him then, really look at him. For some reason, it makes me a little sad that I won’t see him anymore. But at the same time, it’s exactly what needs to happen.

  Wait a minute, do I really want to ask him to contact Sam? I shake my head, “I’m sorry, I’ll find another way. You might not know how to reach him anyway.”

  But he quickly says, “No, no, I’ll do it.” He is almost pleading. He really wants to help me.

  Discreetly, he pulls out his phone. “Give me your digits. I’ll find him and pass it on.”

  “You have to promise me two things.”

  He nods quickly, the tips of his messy, dark blonde hair flicking onto his face.

  “You absolutely cannot call or text me.”

  He hesitates but doesn’t look up. “Okay.”

  “And please, please be careful around Sam. From what I hear, he is not a good guy.”

  “What do you hear?” He asks, puzzled.

  There is no time to get into it so I tell him, “There are rumours that people go missing around him and they might just be that – rumours – but…I just don’t want to risk you getting hurt.”

  His face goes soft and he smiles at me as if I just said the sweetest thing to him.

  “Promise?” I prompt him.

  “Okay. Promise.”

  When I get home, I ask about Frank’s whereabouts and am told that he’s out of town. Dominic tells the others that he has to run an errand and orders them to keep an eye out for me, should I leave the house. Which is perfect, because I don’t plan on leaving.

  Not too long after he departs, I sneak into Frank’s office and desperately search for any information he would have on Josh.

  As before, the office looks completely void of paperwork, except for the gunmetal grey filing cabinet in the corner that I didn’t pay much attention to the first time I came here.

  How on earth do I get in there? Where would the key be? The desk doesn’t have any drawers so that’s a no-go.

  I reach my hand underneath the desk, doubtful that he would tape a key under here, the most obvious place to look, but still…a girl’s gotta try.

  When my hand brushes the steel surface of a pistol, I swiftly decide to look elsewhere and my eye catches on that little cactus on the shelf.

  I lift the pot and…

  Nada.

  I could try and pick the lock. Jimmy taught me how to do it when I was a little kid, maybe I could find a pin somewhere…

  But then I remember something from last night. That burgundy folder in the safe would likely contain the information I’m after.

  I softly jog to the fireplace and push the panel open. If the safe contains documents about me, then it surely there are details of the team that investigated me.

  Hmm. Could the combination really be as obvious as Frank’s birthday? Or mine? I doubt it.

  I try them both with no luck.

  What else could be a significant date to Frank? A light switches on in my mind. Maybe the date that he watched me perform Fly Me to the Moon. He said that night was very special to him.

  Still nothing.

  I think about all the photos, the awards, the reports in the safe…they span my entire lifetime. Not just since that performance.

  At our wedding reception, he declared that he fell in love with me the very first time he saw me. I remember that Manny turned five two days later.

  I put the date in, and the lock gives. I don’t need to ponder this right now but... holy shit. I was feeling quite self-absorbed trying dates that connect with me, but there you go. This obsession with me cannot be healthy.

  On tiptoes, I reach for the burgundy folder behind the DVDs. Please be what I’m hoping it is.

  As I retrieve it, I realise that Frank has re-ordered the stack of files back to the way it originally was, and I smile. My meticulous, psychopathic husband is so cute.

  Back to business.

  I open the folder and…bingo! There are tabs for Max Brown, Tony Pisani and Joshua Hardwick. I flip to Josh’s file and skim over his dossier.

  He and Sam would have made a cute couple. They look kind of similar – the same dark, slicked back hair and confident, model looks. However, Josh is slightly darker and has brown eyes. He must have done a superb job following me around because I do not recognise him at all.

  He is the same age as me, making him a couple of years younger than Sam. There are notes about his qualifications and associations and so on and at the very back of his paperwork, there’s an entry about his relocation to Jackson, FL. There’s an address, phone number and an email address.

  A note at the bottom reads: Under no circumstances can Samuel Mariano be made aware of Mr Hardwick’s whereabouts.

  I hesitate. Should I really be going behind Frank’s back like this?

  Using the camera on my phone, I take a photo of the page and decide to think on it.

  As I walk back down the hallway and to the balcony, I spy Frank stalking through the foyer with a group of serious-looking men trailing behind him. I can only recognise Max and Seamus. In his grey herringbone suit, Seamus is the only one not wearing black.

  Actually, I do recognise the man beside Frank – his hair has greyed since I last saw him, but I am pretty sure that’s Leo Rivera. I suppose he is what you would call Frank’s underboss. I always thought he looked like Bruce Willis but with hair.

  He slowly looks up at me just now as they head under that balcony, about to disappear out of sight. The side of his mouth tilts up at me with a cool half-smile before he returns his attention to my husband and continues their discussion.

  Frank didn’t see me, thank goodness. Even though I’m not snooping around his office anymore, I know I would have a guilty vibe about me. And that man can read me like a book.

  I give it a minute or two before I sneak down the stairs and make my way to the den, which I assume would be where they are meeting.

  The guards being stationed outside the closed doors confirms that I was correct about their meeting place. It also means that I can’t listen in like I had planned to, for no reason other than my relentless curiosity.

  Still, I casually walk towards them. They had already seen me coming, it would be more suspicious if I backed away. Really.

  It’s Max and Alex. I think about the photo that Max took of me playing basketball all those years ago and try not to sneer at him. Alex doesn’t make eye contact with me.

  I saunter over and address them. “Boys.”

  Alex briefly looks at me and nods.

  With his Brooklyn accent, Max says quietly, “You can’t be here Mrs Mariano.” He seems determined not to interrupt the meeting inside.

  Behind the doors, Frank shouts, “Do I need to remind you that we are all fucked if the feds get their hands on him? I want the Taxidermist in my basement before the new Commissioner is appointed, you hear?”

  And now I understand why Max isn’t keen on disturbing them. Growing up, the Taxidermist was like the bogeyman of New Orleans. He is a serial killer who, after killing
his victims, would “stuff” them and put them on display in a random spot in town. Incredibly, he still hasn’t been found to this day.

  He went quiet after a three-year killing spree when I was in high school. But recently, there was a murder that the feds have apparently been trying to downplay as not another one of his victims. There is a tonne of media attention around it and because Frank is talking about him, I guess that confirms it for me – the Taxidermist is at it again.

  Maybe that explains all the security?

  I will always remember the day that Becky called me in hysterics because her and her father discovered his victims in Jackson Square.

  In junior, Becky’s father helped her train for athletics and they would go for runs nearly every morning. I never understood the appeal. To each their own, I suppose.

  It was on one of these runs that they spotted an odd-looking family of four poised on a park bench. As they neared the figures, Becky's dad realised what he was looking at but couldn’t shield poor Becky in time from seeing the work of New Orleans’ latest deranged serial killer.

  “No boss,” someone coolly replies, “we are fully aware of the implications should-

  “Well, then, fucking find him!”

  Eddie was right – my husband is a scary motherfucker. His deep, smooth voice can be as powerful as a lion’s roar when enraged.

  Surprisingly, I find myself wishing I were in the room with them. Not just because I want to know how we are connected to the Taxidermist but because there is a fluttering in my stomach, a serious need to watch Frank being in charge.

  Max snaps me out of it by saying, “Mrs Mariano, you need to leave.”

  “Any news on the other target?” Frank asks the men in the room and I could feel the danger simmering beneath his words.

  I wonder who he is talking about and from out here, I cannot hear the response to his question. But then there is a loud bang like something heavy has been dropped and Frank shouts again, “It has been an entire week! Leo...you are testing my fucking patience.”

  “Boss,” Leo replies coolly, “We’ll find him.”

  Another man chimes in, “Is there anything more you can tell us about him? Perhaps if we knew why-

  “You better mind your tongue, son,” Frank warns, his voice low but still loud enough for me to hear. “I have ripped a man’s out for less.”

  What? I picture him doing this and try to become disgusted. But alas, I only find myself intrigued.

  “Miss... please?” Alex pleads. Maybe it was the please or just the fact that Alex is even speaking to me, but I finally give in and leave them to it.

  I have something else to do anyway.

  Antonio is stationed at the back door, so he follows me as I make my way outside. I ask him for some privacy to make a phone call and he obliges by stopping as I continue. He’ll be keeping his eye on me but not his ears.

  Walking through the perfectly landscaped gardens, with red rose bushes and large stone borders swirling around the lush green lawn, I find myself a French style bench seat. Satisfied that there is no one in earshot, I dial the long-distance number that I can still remember at the top off my head.

  “Hello?”

  “Sarah? It’s me, Hel.”

  There’s a moment of silence before her British accent returns. “Is everything okay?” It feels so strange to hear her voice and I start to feel a bit lost. Should I really be doing this?

  “Yes. I just...I need to speak with your brother I was hoping you could give me his number?”

  The phone goes quiet for a moment and I can hear a slight thud, as though she has put the receiver down.

  “Helena?” It’s Luke and, shit, I am not ready to talk to him just yet.

  I stutter, “H-hey you,” and give a light, awkward laugh.

  “I can’t believe you’ve called,” he sounds whimsical, maybe even hopeful.

  I quickly say, “I have a question for you. I hope that’s ok?”

  He is quiet for a moment. Then he says, “Go for it.”

  I ask him if he ever received a visit from anyone that wanted to talk about me. “I know it’s an odd question and I’m sorry this is so random and to the point, I just need to know.”

  He considers it for a moment and I then I hear him tell Sarah to leave the room. Soon after, he says, “Yes. An older man. He was very...intense.”

  My mouth dries up

  “Did you get his name? Why did he say to you?”

  He seems to be thinking. “It was some time ago and really, I should have told you earlier, it’s just, with us breaking up and all-

  “It’s okay Luke, anything you can tell me would be helpful.”

  “Are you in trouble?”

  “No.” I hope not.

  “Okay. I remember he was taller than me, he had mostly grey hair and he sounded really important, maybe even...dangerous. He was American.”

  I would say that sounds about right. “Was his name Frank?” I ask.

  “I don’t think he told me but...I was high when he came around. You were at work and there was a knock on the door, and I think he pushed his way inside. He wanted to have a “little chat” with me.”

  I take a few deep breaths.

  “You still there?” He asks.

  “Yes, sorry...” focus, “what did he say to you?”

  “It’s more about what he asked. I really should have contacted you sooner, I’m sorry. He threatened me – said he would flay me if I uttered a single word to you. But I mean, I still should have said something, I’m sorry.”

  Flay.

  “Luke, tell me,” I breathe.

  He sighs. “Well, he asked a lot of questions about us...about... what you liked… in bed. He wanted to know if I was any good at pleasing you. Stuff like that.”

  “Jesus,” I whisper.

  “Yes, I remember now, he said that he would leave you be but that I was no good for you, that I was a lowlife junkie.” He continues softly, “He was right.”

  “Luke-

  “No, I... Hel, I’m so sorry.” His voice breaks.

  “Really, everything is fine, Luke. I’m happy.” Or at least I was until a couple of minutes ago.

  “He made me leave you - said he would make it look like an accident...” He starts to sob and I need to distract him because I cannot stand to break his heart like this.

  “Where is Siobhan?” I ask, hoping to change the subject. “I was expecting her to answer the phone.”

  “Mum's getting ready for bed, the whole family was over for Danny’s birthday.”

  I tell him to wish Sarah’s son a very happy birthday from me and convince him once again that I am happy, and everything is fine.

  When I glance toward the mansion, I see Frank emerging from the large doors. He spots me and I must end the call quickly.

  “Luke, I have to go-

  “Will you call me again sometime?” He asks, still fragile.

  “Sure,” I lie.

  Just as I hang up, Frank halts a few feet away from me and smiles cheekily to the side, one eyebrow arched. There is no sign of the angry boss-man now.

  He can’t know what that phone call was about. Whatever I am feeling about all of this will have to wait until I figure out a way to breach the topic without compromising Sam or Luke.

  I shove it all down and smile back at him.

  “I didn’t realise you were home,” he says. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

  We enter the dining room and Leo stands to shake my hand, wrapping both of his around mine.

  He introduces himself as, “Leo.”

  “Helena,” I reply.

  “I know.”

  His smile is warm but there always seems to be some hidden amusement behind it. In fact, I can recall that his resting face seems that way too, so maybe there is nothing to it.

  “I’m sorry I missed your reception. I have been away on business.”

  His hands and gaze linger for some time and I start to feel awkwa
rd until Frank slides my chair out and casually tells him, “That’s enough.”

  I take my seat and Leo, seeming to gather himself, walks around the table to take the seat opposite to mine.

  As expected, Frank sits at the head of the table, between us. He leans back to one side to have a better view of me, it seems, and crosses one leg over the other.