“I’m going to tear you apart one by one,” Purio Maccuzo said to himself.
Jack was seated in his apartment. He was paranoid, frantic, and scared. His apartment was his place of Solace, but Tom had invaded his solace by assigning people to watch him. He turned off the lights in his apartment. He walked to the window. The same black car was parked at the same spot for the third week in a row.
He had to do something. He had to think fast. He let Purio Maccuzo go. Maybe that was a mistake. Maybe he deserved to be punished for betraying Tom. He was impatient. It won’t be long before Tom decided he was completely useless. The order will be made. They’d kill him and make him disappear.
He thought about whom to call. He cringed. He sat down on his couch. He had already betrayed Tom once by letting Purio Maccuzo live. For doing that, he had an ally—the Mexican Cartels. He didn’t want to be trapped and watched forever. He had no choice. He made the call.
14
Chicago, Illinois. Bright club lights flashed pixelated beams of awesomeness. The dark club was filled with drunken college students. The scorching smell of cigarettes, sweat, alcohol and vomit combined together to form a mystical youthful scent. Tom walked towards the VIP section. He squeezed through the crowd of people, dancing like there was no tomorrow.
Dean and Peter struggled to keep up with Tom. Finally, they arrived at a glass door with two men standing at both sides. They were expecting Tom. They nodded then opened the door for all three men.
Tom walked in. He surveyed the entire room for his cousin, Ted Olivetti, son of Sebastian Olivetti. The room was well conditioned with imported furniture. The cool atmosphere masked the smell outside. Several paintings were precisely hung on the wall. Tom gazed at his cousin, Ted— a shorter version and better-looking version of his father. He was five foot eight inches tall with an average dark brown hair and a well chiseled physique that compensated for his height.
“Ha! Cousin! Long time no see!” Ted said with a smile as he dropped his cigar on the cigar bowl at the corner of the table. He embraced Tom with extreme delight.
“Yes! Yes! Been a while since we last saw each other,” Tom said as he observed his cousin’s demeanor. Ted Olivetti became the manager at his father’s club after several months of rehab, compulsive spending and compulsive gambling. Months earlier, he had dropped out of college due to a deep addiction to cocaine. After rehab, he decided to change his life. He figured out a way to make money, the legal way. He became the manager of his father’s club and made more money than his father would have made.
“A while? More like a century. Miss those good old days when we played flag football,” Ted replied.
“Yeah! You never got tired of your little cousin beating you in flag football huh,” Tom replied back with a smirk.
Ted laughed. “You wish!”
“Take a seat,” Ted said to Tom. Dean and Peter stood outside the room.
“You don’t need to tell me to,” Tom laughed as he sat down. All of a sudden Ted’s face became serious.
“So you know about the family crisis eh?” Ted said.
“I think it will soon be over,” Tom replied.
“Oh yeah? How are you so sure about that?” Ted replied.
Tom looked at Dean and Peter with a smile on their face, “well, let’s just say I have faith.”
“Hmm. Whatever! We are plagued with the deeds of our ancestors,” Ted said in a theatrical voice as he signaled to the waitresses.
Just then, two waitresses wearing pink leather bikinis and cowboy boots walked into the room with alcohol bottles and glasses.
“I invited you here to have fun Tom!” Ted added.
“Then fun I shall have. I see you’re living the life, Ted,” Tom replied, trying not to get distracted by the half-naked waitresses.
“Hey! One needs to learn to have fun while working, right?” Ted laughed.
Ted observed as Tom stared at the waitresses. The waitresses smiled back seductively. “You know they’re willing to…uhm…you know what…Just ask,” Ted said, laughing. The others laughed as well.
“No! No! None of that,” Tom said.
“C’mon loosen up! Dance! Have fun! There are so many girls who are looking for one night stands here!” Ted replied as the waitresses walked out of the room, still staring at Tom seductively.
“Hey! If you are not gone have any of that? I’ll help myself,” Dean said. Tom gave him the ‘go ahead’ nod as Dean stood up to grab one of the ladies away. Peter followed soon after.
“C’mon Cous! You gotta loosen up!” Ted said.
“Na! I’m not into any of that,” Tom replied. Just then, Ted stopped and smiled as if he had a bright idea.
John Baker, a fat middle-aged man with seemingly rough untamed hair and burned tanned skin, struggled to retain his anxiety. He worked for a private company that specialized in transporting important merchandize from one part of the country to the other. He mumbled nervously as he drove a trailer full of illegal goods on I-72, trying to maintain an accurate speed limit, and trying to act in a less suspicious manner.
He fought reckless negative thoughts. The last thing he wanted to see was an Illinois State Police trooper, driving behind him. He couldn’t wait to deliver the goods. His five senses were alert as he carefully watched out for cops. He had successfully bypassed the weighing station on the Interstate. He was focused, persistent and determined not to screw up.
The smuggling transaction was his most lucrative paycheck yet. He was being paid three times what he earned in a year as an ordinary truck driver, to deliver Tom’s products. Like every greedy man, he decided to keep the job. He was ecstatic. He imagined his duffel bag full of cash. He daydreamed about the other half of the hundred grand he’d receive after he had delivered the goods.
Thoughts of Tom sprung through his mind. How does a kid have that much power? All his life he had worked hard. Yet, the little money he earned barely paid his bills. All of a sudden, Tom gave him an offer beyond his wildest dreams.
“He must be working for his father. Probably some mafia boss,” he thought.
He didn’t care. He thought about all the things he could do with a hundred thousand dollars; the booze, the women, the house and a boat. Well, maybe a boat was too much. He’d have to make more deliveries for that.
John Baker was so engulfed in his thoughts; he didn’t see the curve traffic signs on the road. The trailer veered off the lane. Suddenly, he heard the sound of his worst nightmare. John looked through the side view mirrors.
It was the Police.
Douglas, Tom’s employee, was seated in a black SUV, practically babysitting Jack to make sure he wasn’t snitching on the boss. He took a look at Jack’s apartment through his binoculars. His window blinds were closed, as usual.
“He hasn’t left his apartment in days. Something’s wrong,” He couldn’t understand why Tom saw Jack as a threat. After all, Jack was the weakling. A person too afraid to kill will be too afraid to rat out the Olivettis. Douglas brushed the thoughts off his mind as he looked at his watch. It was twelve midnight and it was time for his partner, Dave’s shift.
He leaned the car seat backwards, positioning himself to sleep, then handed the binoculars to Dave.
“Your turn,” Douglas said.
Dave mumbled. “I barely got any sleep,”
“Not my problem,” Douglas replied, laughing.
Dave turned the radio’s volume down as he took a sip of his coffee. He then glanced at the entire neighborhood through his binoculars. Something was strange. He noticed a black SUV. Men wearing ordinary outfits walked around the neighborhood suspiciously.
“That’s weird. At this time of the night?”
He glanced at the rear view mirror, there was a similar black SUV parked behind them.
“What the fuck!” he thought as chills ran through his spine. He reached for his gun. His heartbeat escalated as he fumbled with his gun.
“Could it be? Shit!” He turned towards the c
ar window as he stylishly looked through the side mirrors.
“Douglas!” He whispered as Douglas mumbled in response. He heard a tap on the window. A black object was pointed at him. Before his brain could think of an appropriate response, it went dark. He was dead. Blood splattered all over.
Douglas woke up startled by a gun shot. He had blood all over his clothes. He could see Dave’s brains. The car was stained with blood. Douglas panicked as he struggled to come out of the car. He tried to get his gun out of his holster. He looked at the window. All he could see was a black object close to his head. IT WAS TOO LATE.
His worst nightmare had occurred. Red and Blue lights flashed brightly—the police’s way to instill fear on the general public, or so he felt. John Baker pulled over to the side of the highway as other cars ignorantly drove passed him. He couldn’t control himself. His hands trembled like malfunctioning clippers. He tried to retain a false façade of calmness, but he couldn’t. “Keep calm,” he whispered to himself as he began to sweat rigorously. His body wasn’t reacting the way he wanted it to. It was rebelling against him.
He thought about calling Tom’s men, but brushed the thought away from his mind. “I can handle this. I should be able to handle this…” he said to himself as he gazed at the large side mirror. He could see a strong Caucasian State Trooper walking towards the car.
“Good evening sir,” the police officer said as he approached the large vehicle. He had a tired look. The wrinkles on his face and eye bags on his eyes showed he wasn’t one to show mercy. His fully grown comedic moustache and country accent portrayed the sense of a cop out to ruin the lives of citizens.
“Evening. Officer,” John Baker replied with a smile, still trying to create an aura of calmness.
The officer couldn’t help but notice the beads of sweat on the driver’s forehead.
“License, insurance and vehicle registration,” the policeman said. John nodded as he handed the officer his Driver’s license and registration. The policeman signaled to his partner to verify the driver’s license information.
“You know why I am stopping you sir?” the police officer asked with a smug look of ridicule. John shook his head.
“You were veering off from lane to lane and also going too fast for a truck this size?” the police officer replied impatiently.
“Oh I’m sorry about that. Have to deliver these diapers by dawn. Been on the road, all night!” John replied with a smile, trying to be as friendly as possible. The officer glanced at the logo on the trailer to confirm John’s story. Confirmed. There was a picture of a diaper brand he had never heard of. Then again, he didn’t have any kids so it made sense that he had never heard of the brand.
“Work at this time of the year is hectic right?” the police officer replied, trying to be friendly.
“Y—yes,” John stuttered. Just then, the other police officer returned with John’s documents.
“You have three unpaid tickets. Can you explain that sir?” the police officer asked.
“Money is tight, right now. I’m working more so I can pay off those tickets,” John said, trying to lighten the mood.
“You shouldn’t be driving with that much debt to the state. That’s not an excuse,” the stern police officer replied. John was trembling. His pupils were dilated. His sweat drenched his t-shirt.
“It’s cold out here. Why are you sweating? Are you intoxicated?” the police Officer asked. John shook his head.
“Please step out of the vehicle sir, we need to search your truck,” the police officer added.
“Sure,” he managed to say as he stepped out of the vehicle. John glanced around for a safe place to run away. He could see the corn fields. He shook his head. He knew he couldn’t run fast enough, for too long, with his heavy weight. He helped the police officers unlock the back of the truck.
Soon, another state police trooper arrived. He walked towards the vehicle with a flashlight, to search it.
“We might need to give you a Breathalyzer. You have a right to deny and we have a right to detain you,” one of the officers said.
“Sure,” John replied blankly. His thoughts were preoccupied with the contents of the trailer.
“WHOA!” the police officers yelled in astonishment.
Tom became subdued by Elizabeth’s beauty. Her excellent ‘hour glass’ body was eye locking. Her seductive voice, mesmerizing. Her perfume was highly captivating and her confidence was exhilarating. She knew her features could get her whatever she wanted. Her confidence made her different.
Ted had left the room. Tom and Elizabeth were alone. It only took seconds to build the sexual tension up. Her exposed thighs were inches away from his. Every microscopic cell in Elizabeth’s body wanted Tom. He exhibited so much power, intelligence, charm and dominance, compared to his cousin, Ted. He acted beyond his age.
“So where do you live?’ Elizabeth asked. Tom gave a perplexed facial expression as an initial response.
“Where do you live?” Tom replied as he dominated her question with his question. Her laughter sent a golden sparkle into the room. “You really do want to find out huh?” she said with a smile.
“First of all, how is an Italian from New York interested in a simple girl from Illinois?” she added.
“Some things are better left unanswered,” Tom replied her answer vaguely.
“Hmm I like the mystery, but I would like to know more,” she said half seriously.
Tom placed his wine glass on the front patio table. The atmosphere became seriously intense as Elizabeth anticipated his next move.
“What will you like to know?” he asked with a smile.
“Who are you, Tom Olivetti?” she replied almost immediately, like she had had the question stuck in her mind for centuries. He was half upset. Every girl wanted to know who he was. One had figured out his entire family history in one drunken night and the other, he had told voluntarily. The woman in front of him could be anyone; a cop, an escort, or simply a girl looking for some fun. Still, fun and business shouldn’t mix.
“Just a simple guy,”
“With bodyguards?”
“Bodyguards? No I consider them friends who act in my best interest,”
“Hmmm you have an exclusive way of deviating from the truth, Tom,”
They both chuckled. “And what is the truth? Let me hear it,” Tom replied in a skeptical voice.
“You’re a rich man’s son who is bored and tired of life because his father treats him like a possession…or a protected asset…you’re here in Illinois because you need to loosen up,” she said as she moved closer to him.
Tom gave a heavy sigh of relief. For a moment there, he thought Ted had told her the family secret, but then again, it wasn’t much of a secret.
“You have no idea!” Tom said almost locking lips with Elizabeth. His hands were on her thighs as they moved slowly to her groins. Her skin was smooth and unhindered. The taste of her lip-gloss lingered in his tongue as he pulled up her red dress. His awareness of their solidarity increased the sexual intensity in the room.
“Tom!” Dean yelled as he stormed into the office. “I’m sorry to disturb!” Dean said, apologizing to Elizabeth. Elizabeth uncomfortably adjusted her seating position as Dean whispered something into Tom’s ears. His mind flushed with thoughts of fear. He managed to keep a plastered smile. “I’m so sorry, I have to go,” Tom said as he stood up. Elizabeth glanced at Dean’s anxious demeanor then glanced at Tom’s calm reaction.
“Everything okay?” Elizabeth asked with her hands on his arms.
“No, but it will be,”
Chronic insomnia was slowly setting back in. Every day, Tom Olivetti found it difficult to sleep. The diaper truck was confiscated by the state police and the gangs in Decatur were getting restless. The diaper truck disguise had always worked. He couldn’t figure out what went wrong.
He tossed and turned in bed as he tried to figure out an appropriate solution to the problem.
“John Bak
er better not snitch,” he thought. Earlier, he had called his Grandmother to tell her he’d be at his Cousin Teddy’s apartment for a while. He needed enough time to clear his mess and didn’t want his family involved.
Ted was notorious for his inability to keep secrets. Therefore, he was left out of the loop. He would have told Daniel Olivetti, who would have told his father. It will take a lot for him to gain his family’s trust.
His mind began to skim through plans, but all led to a dead end of trouble. John baker was in jail. He had a high probability of ending up in prison after a trial. Jail was the least of his problems. His most nagging problem was Damon from the Decatur Mob. Tom needed the truck at all cost even if it meant breaking into the government facility.
15
Two weekshad passed. It was five o’clock in the evening. Tom had returned to his grandmother, Cecilia’s, house. He was seated on a couch in his grandmother’s living room. Her home was always warm, cozy and felt like a cabin in the woods. It reminded him of his early childhood. Her home had never changed in more than fifty years. Cecilia was obsessed with keeping things the way they were. The sixty year old leather couch had little to no sign of wear and so did all the furniture she had bought a year after she got married to Frederick Olivetti.
The only thing different about the living room was the new seventy inch high definition TV she bought for her grandchildren, so they could enjoy their stay. At the other end of the living room, Cecilia was knitting a warm sweater as she stared blankly at the screen.
Olivetti: Inception Page 10
