Crimes on Latimer: From the Early Cases of Marco Fontana

by DeMarco, Joseph R. G.

  “Don’t remember, exactly. Anyway, we don’t have anything. Not yet.”

  “But you think you have enough to go and talk to somebody?” The detective grumbled something under his breath. “Bad enough your Principal makes it hard to investigate, now you’re gonna go and get yourselves hurt.”

  “You told me you could use some help. Right? That’s all we’re doing. Nobody’s gonna get hurt.”

  “You were only supposed to nose around on school property. Off the grounds, that’s my territory.”

  “He’s telling the truth, detective,” Cullen said. “We really don’t know much. All we’re gonna do is ask some questions.”

  “Yeah, and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to close the case if we find out anything.” I said.

  “I’ll be lucky if the both’a you are still in one piece tomorrow.”

  ***

  “Where’re you headed?” I said to Cullen. We’ve gotta get goin’ on Sullivan’s case.”

  “Crew practice, remember? I miss one more and I don’t go to Henley if we make it this year. Short practice today. I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

  “Okay. We’ll head to South Philly when you get back.”

  I watched Cullen leave and imagined what it might be like to watch him change into his singlet. For some reason, the crew team looked even better in singlets than the wrestlers. I put those thoughts aside for the moment, and once Cullen was out of sight, I headed for the newspaper office.

  The office was empty. Papers were scattered everywhere from our recent meeting and no one had straightened up. The hand-done mock-up for the front page stared me in the face with its headline: Disciplinarian Murdered, English Teacher A Suspect. I didn’t like it. All it did was add to my edgy feeling. I needed to do something, not sit around doing nothing until Cullen got back.

  Physical activity was usually my answer for edginess. I knew the weight room would be empty, since it was mostly the crew team that used it this time of year and they’d all be down at the river. I went to my locker, pulled out some gym clothes, and went down to the weight room in the basement of the old building.

  The rambling, run-down basement wasn’t my favorite part of the building. Dim lighting from bare bulbs made lots of sinister shadows appear on the walls. A musty odor floated on the air and a small drip-drip-drip sound seemed to come from everywhere all at once.

  The old locker room was located in the basement and, from the smell, it hadn’t been given a good cleaning in about a hundred years. A series of winding corridors and unused offices in the basement would have made a great location for one of those Halloween horror tours. Except it was all real. The weight room was the nicest part of the area, and it wasn’t all that good. At least it was sort of clean and orderly because people used it regularly.

  I’d made the mistake of seeing all the Halloween movies, so of course, that was all I could think about as I moved through the grungy halls toward the weight room door. Every shadow made my skin crawl and when I thought I saw something move, the hair at the back of my neck stood on end. When I saw the dim emergency light over the door of the weight room, I felt relieved. Almost.

  The door was almost always locked, but since I maintained a nominal membership on the wrestling team, I still had access to the weight room. Unlocking the door, I flicked on the lights. More bare blubs and even more shadows. None of it did much to dispel the creepy feeling I had being there alone.

  I shook off the chill, placed my gym bag to the side, and went over to one of the weight machines. The dumb repetitive action of the machine would let me focus on Sullivan’s case and my next steps.

  Setting the machine for the levels I wanted, I settled into the seat and picked up the crossbar. As I lifted the bar, the weights made tiny bell-like sounds when they struck against one another. It always seemed strange how so much weight could make such a small clear sound.

  I tried clearing my thoughts and concentrating as I lifted. I felt my muscles work against the weight, felt the flow of my breath in and out. Each time I lifted the weight to a certain height, I paused. And that’s when I heard it. A small sound that was out of place in the weight room. It wasn’t the sound of equipment. Or of anything else in the room. I listened again.

  Nothing. I figured it must have been the building groaning. The old structure and made strange sounds as it settled, especially deep in the basement.

  When I started to lift the crossbar again, that out-of-place sound came again. This time it was more distinct, more clear. I slowly moved the crossbar down, and the weights it controlled clunked metallically into place. Turning to look around, I saw that I was still alone.

  I moved back around, settled myself in the machine’s seat. I placed my hands on the crossbar and was about to lift when the lights went out. Without windows, the room was pitch black.

  I fought the sudden, powerful sensation that the walls were collapsing in around me.

  “Hey!” I shouted. “Who is it? What’s going on?”

  No response.

  There was no choice but to move. I’d have to feel my way back to the door.

  In the total darkness, I turned and lifted my leg over the seat in an attempt to get out of the machine.

  As I turned again, I felt someone at my back. Felt hot breath on my shoulder. The heat of another body.

  One powerful arm went around my neck in a lightning quick move. Then my assailant locked his arm in place with his other hand and squeezed.

  I twisted and resisted. But he never loosened his grip for a second.

  My breathing was slowly being cut off. He knew just how to apply pressure. The vise grip grew tighter and I felt myself dropping to the floor.

  “Listen, you fuck up,” the voice was a ragged whisper. I didn’t recognize it.

  “I—” was all I could gasp out.

  “Don’t talk. Listen.” He squeezed again and I saw tiny fireworks displays. “Keep outta this case. Sullivan’s guilty. Leave it that way. Keep outta this or you won’t make it to graduation.”

  I could only make a guttural choking sound.

  “Got it, Fontana? Nod, so I know,” he ordered.

  I nodded as best I could, trapped in his muscular arm.

  When he was satisfied that I understood, I felt the pressure on my neck increase and then nothing.

  Next thing I knew, I was on the floor of the weight room looking up at Cullen and Simon peering at me as if they were worried. Cullen knelt on my right. Simon on my left. Both of them dripping sweat and dressed only in their singlets. If I was hallucinating, I liked it.

  “Marco?” Cullen gently tapped my cheek. “You all right?”

  “What happened, dude?” Simon asked. “You pass out from the exercise?”

  I shook my head but decided I didn’t want to tell them the truth. Not right then.

  “You’re lucky Simon and I got back early. Coach sees you layin’ here, you’ll never be allowed in the weight room again.” Cullen said. “Why’d you press yourself so hard?”

  “I’m o-okay,” I struggled to sit up. The dizziness wasn’t as bad as I’d feared and I was able to get to a sitting position. My throat wasn’t even sore. My assailant had known just what to do to knock me out. “S-should get goin’ though, right, Cullen? You were gonna come to South Philly with me?”

  “Dinner at Mama Fontana’s?” Simon laughed. “How come I don’t get an invitation?”

  “Next time. Promise,” I said. Looking at Simon, I realized that I certainly wouldn’t mind having him across the table from me. “This time Cullen’s helping me with some work. Dinner is payment.”

  “I’ll get changed and meet you in the foyer,” Cullen said as he and Simon took off for their lockers. “You sure you’re all right?” Cullen called over his shoulder.

  ***

  “You’re shittin’ me! Right?” Cullen’s expression registered shock and amazement. “Somebody strangled you into a blackout?”

  “You got it.” I said as we walked th
rough South Philly on the way to Nalan’s house.

  “You didn’t pass out from too much exercise?” Cullen laughed. “You’re still a runt, even if you’re a senior.”

  “Waitin’ for the growth spurt. It’ll come. But I thought this guy would finish me. Except he knew just what he was doing.”

  “And he warned you off the case?”

  “Right again. I must’ve touched a nerve.”

  “And you’re not giving up.” Cullen stood still a moment and looked admiringly at me. “You got balls, dude. Big balls.”

  “I’ve got a headache is what I’ve got. Let’s talk to Nalan and get to my house where I can get some food and some Advil.”

  Nalan lived in a part of South Philly only a few blocks from my house. But it might as well have been another town. It was a different parish and that made it another world. Even in the same parish different neighborhoods meant different territories. You had to know where you were and whose lines you might be crossing. According to my grandfather, things were way worse when he was a kid. There were gangs trying to control the neighborhoods, and if you crossed invisible lines, you’d end up with a beat down.

  This neighborhood was shabbier than mine. Quite a few houses were for sale and some others didn’t look well cared for. It was a sign of the times. South Philly was losing its Italian character fast.

  The Nalan home was ratty. The brick front was badly in need of pointing. The rickety storm door had a screen that bulged making the door look pregnant. The building had an air of despair.

  I could sense Cullen’s nervousness. He didn’t get to slum it often and was used to well-mannered Main Line districts. We stood together outside the house, and I knew Cullen had probably never in his life seen a neighborhood quite so run down. It was almost funny. Tall and muscular, Cullen sort of hid behind me for protection. I kinda liked the feel of his body brushing up against mine.

  I opened the screen door and the faint aroma of something cooking wafted toward us. The family was getting ready for dinner, like everyone else in the neighborhood. Teddy would probably be there waiting to be fed.

  I pressed the doorbell and heard muffled voices inside the house. The door opened halfway and sullen, dark-haired Teddy peered out at me with dull, vacant eyes. His droopy face and slack lower lip were as unappealing as the rest of him.

  “Teddy! Got a minute?” I tried being upbeat. But I could tell that he knew we weren’t here to ask him to come out and play

  “Whaddayou want? I’m busy.” It was a challenge.

  “Hey, Teddy,” Cullen said. I was impressed with his cheerful tone. “We gotta ask you something. Won’t take long. You’re probably getting’ ready for dinner. Smells great!”

  “You guys are fuckin’ nuts. You never even say ‘Boo’ to me at school and now youse wanna talk?” Teddy wasn’t part of the in group at school. In fact, word was he was one of St. T’s charity admissions, placed on the rolls to make it look like the school was diverse, accepting, and open to a variety of students.

  “Yeah, I know. And I’m not gonna shit you, either. Things are complicated.” I said, trying to sound apologetic. “Doesn’t mean we can’t change stuff. And right now we could use some help. Can you spare a minute?”

  I knew that even if he was as tough as a box of nails, he still wanted to be liked by kids like Cullen and maybe even me. Nalan didn’t get much attention from anybody at school. Probably not even at home. So, bad ass as he might sound, I knew he’d talk to us.

  Teddy turned back to look into the house, then peered at us again. He looked unsure, like maybe this was some kind of joke. I was sure he’d been the butt of practical jokes all his life, which is why he turned so sour once he got to St. T’s. Sour and bitter and ready to tear down anything he didn’t like because he knew it didn’t like him. He wouldn’t be easy to crack.

  “Listen,” Cullen said, leaning in as if to take him into his confidence. “We got a line on something fishy goin’ on at school and I figured you might be the guy to go to for information.”

  “Get the fuck out! Whadda you think I am, stupid? Gonna implimate myself in something’ I don’t know nothin’ about?” Teddy glared at us, one hand twitching at his side.

  “Nah, Teddy. Cullen didn’t mean anything like that,” I stepped in closer to Teddy. “What Cullen meant was that you get around at school like other kids don’t. You’ve got friends all over the place there. You know things because you keep your eyes open. You probably see more and know more about what’s goin’ on than almost anybody else. Am I right?”

  Teddy maintained his suspicious stance, but a small self-satisfied smile worked its way onto his face. His dull piggy eyes almost gleamed with this new attention he was being paid.

  “Yeah?” he said as if he didn’t care what I’d just said. “So, what if I do?” He tried sounding like he was above us, better than us, but he moved in closer, which said to me he wanted to be in with us. Maybe be us.

  “Somebody tagged the wall where Bidding was killed. You hear about that?” I asked.

  “Course I heard,” Teddy bragged. “What’s the big deal?”

  “Just cool that somebody had the balls to do something like that,” Cullen said. He knew what I needed and we hadn’t even rehearsed.

  “But that detective… You know who I mean, right? That black guy who’s been nosin’ around school?” I asked.

  “Seen him. Looks lost most’a the time.”

  “Well I overheard him talking to somebody. And he says whoever tagged the wall is probably also a suspect in the murder.”

  “Big fuckin’ deal,” Teddy spat out the words. “Sounds like they got a lotta nothin’ if you ask me. How’s taggin’ a wall put you down for a murder?”

  “Don’t know,” I said. “All I know is what I heard. Sounds like the detective had some other evidence.” Okay, so I didn’t really overhear anything and the detective was stuck on this case worse than a Great Dane in a Chihuahua-sized doggie door. But if I was gonna help Sullivan, I needed something to go on.

  “Anything in the wind about who might’a tagged the wall?” Cullen asked. “I mean, maybe we should warn whoever it is. Personally I think he’s cool doin’ something like that.”

  “Yeah… it was kinda cool,” Teddy said and a look of surprise crossed his face quickly replaced by his usual scowl. “Like when I saw it, I thought it was cool, y’know? I figured whoever did it deserved a medal.” He smirked.

  I guess he thought he’d made a good save by trying to change his facial expression. Just like Cullen had told me, Nalan didn’t know that Cullen had actually seen him mark the wall. The fleeting expression on his face confirmed what we knew.

  “So? Is ‘at all youse wanted?”

  “Just thought you could pass along that warning… in case you know whoever did it,” Cullen said. “Personally I’m not gonna miss Bidding. He was a pain in my ass.”

  “Tell me about it,” Teddy said, an evil glint in his eye. “Fat pig deserved what he got.”

  “I heard you didn’t get along with him either.” I said making him think I belonged to the same club. “Somebody said you argued a lot with him.”

  “I bet that bitch in his office blabbed, didn’t she?” Teddy’s right hand formed a meaty fist at his side. He began pounding his leg. “She’s got a big mouth. Wants’a get me in trouble. She hates me.”

  “Same person told me that you argued with Bidding on the day he died.”

  “What if I did?”

  “Fine by me,” I said. “But if she tells the police, who knows?”

  “She’s the one who argued with Bidding. All the time. And she’s the one who told us we should stand up for ourselves.” He jutted out his chin.

  “She’s right,” I said. “We gotta stand up for ourselves. Guys like Bidding take advantage—”

  “Damn right!” Teddy said. “She said we shouldn’t let him, and she was right. She’s a bitch but she was right about that.”

  “Who else did she tell
that to?” Cullen asked. “She told me I hadda be careful around him but I thought it was only me.”

  “Nah, she told that to all of us. She thinks she’s like everybody’s mother.”

  “Well, somebody said they saw you writing on the wall at the crime scene. I heard that when I was in her office and she said they’d call your father.”

  “They better not…” Teddy glanced around, fear in his eyes. And for the first time I saw the scared little kid under all that tough talk.

  “Your father won’t believe them, I bet,” Cullen said.

  “I… I don’t know.” Teddy said. His voice shook, all the bravado gone. “Last time they called he nearly punched my eye out. And my mom’s too.”

  “If you know anything about who tagged the wall, maybe you’d better tell the school before the police call your father.” I said.

  “I ain’t a rat.”

  “Witnesses placed you in the stairwell, Teddy. Maybe they’re lying, maybe they just want you to take the fall. Must be a really good friend, if you’re gonna take this all on yourself.”

  “Fuck off and get out,” Teddy growled. But there was a note of uncertainty in his voice, and he didn’t move like he really wanted us to leave.

  “Look, Teddy, we just came to warn you and maybe see if you knew anything. Don’t blame us.” Cullen said. “But if I knew something, I’d tell. Rat or no rat, I’m not spendin’ time in jail for anybody.”

  “I guess we should go, Cullen.” I said and stretched.

  Cullen threw me a puzzled look. “Huh?”

  “We did what we came to do, right? We warned Teddy. So, I got a lot of homework and—”

  “S-sure.” Cullen agreed reluctantly.

  “Hey, Teddy,” I turned back to him. “You belong to the Kronos Elect, right?”

  Teddy flashed a sinister smile, “Yeah – wait! How’d you know about that?” The look he gave me was pure evil anger.

  “I didn’t. Not exactly, but you just told me.”

  “Fuck you, Fontana!” Teddy glared. Get the fuck away from me.”

  “So, is it a group at school?” Cullen was wide eyed. “Teddy, you gotta tell me, man. What kind of group is it?”