by David Nees
Tommy smiled back at her jab. “Damn, Doreen, you sure have gotten pushy since you got that college degree.”
“All good things come to those who wait, remember that, Mr. Hot Pants. Now good night.” She smiled and disappeared into the apartment building, leaving Tommy on the steps. He turned and started back to the subway with a grin on his face.
Chapter 11
Dan stayed in Montana with Rob and Lisa for two months. For the first two weeks no one talked about the fire. They lived completely in the present in all their conversations. He helped Rob with the ranching and repairs around the house and barn. He also started a workout routine on top of the chores. He ran four miles a day, did calisthenics, practiced the hand-to-hand fighting he learned in the army, and when he had time, charged up and down the surrounding hills for some intense interval training. One day Lisa caught Dan leaning against the corral fence after a grueling half hour round of calisthenics and fight maneuvers, staring at the mountains off to the west.
“You seem to be getting ready for something. What’s with all this working out?”
“Maybe I am.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“No.” Then after a pause, “But you do, don’t you?”
“Only if you want to. Keep it a secret if you need to or confide in your older sister if you think that’s a good idea.”
Dan cracked a hint of a grin. “So if I don’t, I’m a bad little brother? Since you put it that way, how can I refuse?”
“Well then?”
Dan was silent for a moment. “I’m going back to New York. I have some unfinished business to take care of.”
“You want to elaborate?”
Dan sighed. “I’ve got some things in storage to sell…from the house.” He paused, “and some other things to wrap up.”
“Those ‘other things’ wouldn’t include going after the people responsible for the fire would they?”
“Don’t want to talk about it.”
Lisa ignored the brush off. “Aren’t the police going to get to the bottom of that?”
“No. The investigation is over and you know what they concluded. It was an act of vandalism gone wrong. With so many homicides, they’re happy to put this aside. They don’t seem to have much appetite for uncovering local mob crime.”
“So you’re going to uncover it?”
“Always direct and to the point.”
“Anything else is a waste of time, so, are you?”
“I didn’t say I was going to do that. Just wrapping up personal things.”
“Which might include going after those you think are responsible.”
Dan turned to Lisa. “So I shouldn’t do anything? Just let it be swept under the rug? Give them a pass and move on?”
“Easy, Dan. I’m not saying all that. Whoever did this deserves to die for what they’ve done. And the mob, as far as I’m concerned, they’re parasites on the rest of society. But going after justice on your own, and maybe more…will that make things right?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you’re going to do something, right?
Dan looked at his sister. She wanted the best for him, he knew, but did she know what that was? Did she know who he was now, after Iraq, after the restaurant?
“Let me tell you an experience I had in Iraq. I’ve only told a few other people about it. When I was over there, I shot a woman.”
“Oh my God!”
He went on to tell her about the suicide bomber.
“That must have been so traumatic for you.”
“That’s the point.” Dan’s eyes bore into his sister. “It wasn’t.”
She looked at him in confusion.
“It was my job, to protect the troops on the street. I couldn’t not do it.”
“What happened to the kid?”
“Don’t know. After the blast, she got up and ran to a door and someone let her in. She disappeared.” He paused to reflect. “At least she got to live to think about it.”
“And afterwards?”
“Same. No regrets. I realized I could do something unthinkable for most people. It was about protecting my guys, my tribe.” He looked at the ground and kicked the dirt with his boot toe. “I realized I had something in me that maybe most people don’t have.” He looked up at her. “You disapprove?”
Lisa looked at her brother. She put her hand on his arm. “That’s a shocking story, but I think I understand it…and you. No, I don’t disapprove. But I remember your bouts of anger and bravado growing up. I don’t want to see that get you in trouble. The people who did that to Rita deserve to be brought to justice, but leave that to the authorities. You can’t buck the system, be the Lone Ranger. You’ll just wind up in trouble instead of the guys who deserve it.” Dan started to speak, but she went on. “And I worry about what any revenge mission will do to you. I don’t think there’s any healing for you there.”
“Lisa, I’m not looking for healing. I don’t think there’s healing from this tragedy.” He turned and kicked a clod of dirt by the fence. “How do I heal that hole in my heart? My Rita’s gone. My child is gone. They took my family away!” He startled himself with his outburst. A feeling of rage mixed with grief rose up in him. He grimaced and growled, “I think I’m just growing scar tissue around that hole, but it doesn’t go away.”
Lisa reached over and hugged him. Then whispered in his ear, “You do what you feel you have to do. But come back to me. We’re all we have left.”
“I’ll try.”
Two weeks later, Dan said goodbye and set off south, heading to Denver. There he purchased a make-up kit and various disguises along with instructions from a costume supplier he found in the phone book. He spent a week in a cheap hotel practicing with the kit. He had much to learn, but he was determined to be patient and become an expert in disguises.
From Denver he drove to Oklahoma City and purchased a false driver’s license. While in town, he junked his car and purchased a used one. With a different car and the new license in hand, Dan then went to Dallas to get a complete set of ID cards: driver’s license, passport, social security and library card. Then he was off to Houston to repeat the process. From Houston, Dan traveled to Los Angeles where he acquired his final set of identity documents. He now had three complete and different identities, none of which were acquired with his true name. Only one set showed Dan’s true image, the others were made using disguises—a beard, wig, glasses, false teeth, and other facial changes. He was a different person in each set of documents.
Next he had to acquire weapons. Using one of his false identities he purchased the Remington 700 SPS. He added a .45, a 9mm, and a .22 semi-automatic pistol to his arsenal. The pistols were also equipped with suppressors.
The weapons and a used car were all purchased with the same disguise and fake ID. This look and ID would be discarded. It was a dead end for anyone trying to track him from these purchases. That person would never again show up. Dan’s last purchase was a replacement set of ID documents for the one he had discarded. His original car had disappeared and, if traced, would only show it abandoned in Oklahoma City. Dan Stone had disappeared. It was time to head back to Montana.
Chapter 12
It was a Friday, Dan had not yet returned to Brooklyn. Joey stopped by Tommy’s garage. Vincent wanted him to check up on the situation with Dan. Nothing had happened since he had left but Vincent thought it wise to keep a loose check on him through Tommy.
Two of his guys remained watching from his car as he walked up to the work bay. “Tommy, how you doing? What’s up?”
“Doing all right, Joey. What’s up with you? I already gave this week.”
“I ain’t here about that, you’re regular and everything’s cool with us. I just wanted to see how you are since I haven’t talked with you for a while.”
“Well, things are okay. Work could be a bit better, but there’s enough to keep me and Emilio busy. I got room for another mechanic, so if worked picked up
, I could bring one on.”
“Maybe I can help, steer some business to you,” Joey said.
“That’d be good…but what would it cost me?”
“Nothing. You’re a good guy so I want to help. I help you, you help me if I need it.”
“Joey, what kind of help do you want from me? Short of paying you guys each week.”
“Well, for one thing, you hear any more from Danny? I know he left town three or four months ago. Have you heard from him since? Is he coming back?”
“No, haven’t heard anything since he left. Don’t know where he is. You worried he’ll come back? He supposed to stay away from his home town forever?” Tommy put his tool down and turned to him.
Joey looked at Tommy. They were about the same size, both fit, but Tommy had more muscle, having been a high school athlete.
“Don’t go getting all militant on me, Tommy. I was just curious. Of course he can come back, but he made some serious comments about Mr. Salvatore after Rita’s death…about me as well. I’d hate to see him come back and stir up trouble.”
“He said some things out of grief. Look, I don’t have any pipeline to Dan, but if he gets in touch with me I’ll pass on your concerns.”
“Thanks Tommy. See, you’re a regular guy. I told Mr. Salvatore you’re all right.”
“Joey, let’s make sure we understand each other. I pay you regular, like you say, but that’s all the involvement I want. I got my business to run and I got my own life to lead. Leave it at that.”
“Sure, sure, Tommy. I just wanted you to know I’m looking out for you with Mr. Salvatore. So everything stays cool.” Joey gave him a wink and turned to leave.
Just then Doreen walked up. Joey stopped to stare at her, checking her out.
“What’re you looking at, Joey?” Doreen said.
Joey stared. He was trying to figure out who this was. She looked and sounded familiar, but nothing connected.
“Don’t remember me? I’m surprised. You certainly had a lot to say about me in school.”
“Doreen?” Joey finally asked.
Tommy spoke up. “You mean you don’t recognize her?”
“Doreen. What’re you doing here?” Joey asked.
“It’s a free country, I could ask you the same thing? I mean, right here, at Tommy’s garage?”
“Tommy and me was just talking…about old classmates.”
“And my name didn’t come up? I’m crushed.”
Joey stared at her. This was not the Doreen he remembered from school. Finally he turned to Tommy. “Just remember, let me know if you hear anything.” And he brushed past Doreen and got into the car.
“Joey Batone, what a scumbag. What’s he doing here? You don’t hang out with guys like that, do you?”
“No. Joey’s a punk, but he’s a made guy now, so he gets to push his weight around.”
“And you have to let him. Is that it?”
“Doreen, did you forget how things work on the street? I got a business, I got to get along.”
“Piss on that. What do you have to do to get along?”
Tommy could see Doreen’s anger showing. “It’s nothing to concern you. You’re smart enough to figure it out.”
“So, what is it Joey wants to hear about from you?”
“Nothing.”
“Tommy, don’t brush me off as some air head with big tits. I asked you a serious question. I’m not making casual conversation.”
There was a serious tone in her voice. Tommy figured he’d better let her in on the full story.
“Do you remember Danny and Rita? They got married after you moved away. Danny went into the army and when he got out they started a restaurant back here in Brooklyn.” Tommy related the events up to Dan’s leaving town. “So Joey’s nervous. If Dan comes back and starts trouble, starts talking about who might have killed Rita, Vincent Salvatore won’t like it and that’s going to be a problem.”
“Christ! Just for some talking?” Doreen looked shocked.
“That kind of talk could lead to an unwelcome focus on Vincent’s operations. He’ll strike back at anyone who stirs up trouble.”
“This is heavy, Tommy, and you’re in the middle of it.”
“Yeah. For better or worse, Joey’s acting like I’m a go-between. And I don’t even know where Dan is or how to contact him.”
Doreen’s face was pinched and serious. “Let’s go have dinner, up near my place. I want to talk about this some more. Then I want to do some research.”
“Don’t you get involved with this crap. This could get bad if Dan shows up again with a vendetta in mind. Part of me wants to see him come back to his roots and part of me wants to never see him again…for his sake.” Tommy had a knot in his stomach. Being in the middle was a dangerous place.
“I get it. Hurry up and change, Tommy. Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 13
Three days after leaving L.A., Dan arrived at Rob and Lisa’s farm, road weary and unkempt. It had been a month since he had left them.
“Don’t you ever stop to clean up when you’re on the road? You must scare everyone in the diners.”
Dan didn’t respond to her attempt at light conversation. Later that evening they talked.
“Dan, it’s like you’ve got this black cloud hanging over your head. I don’t like this. I think you’re worse off now than when you left. What did you do while you were gone?”
“Can’t talk about it. Just preparation for what I’ve got to do.”
“So you still want to go through with this idea?” He was silent, staring at the floor.
“Talk to me,” Lisa said, “are you still going back to New York?”
Dan nodded.
“I was hoping that you would decide to stay here with Rob and me. There’s nothing healthy for you back there.”
Dan looked at his sister. “I thought you said they deserved to die for what they did.”
“Yeah, but that was an emotional reaction. It’s not the best plan. My hope is that you don’t go back, and that you move on and build a new life.”
“Lisa, I have no life. They took that away. I can’t just walk away from that.”
“Do you think Rita would approve?” Lisa asked.
Dan looked at her sharply. Anyone but his sister invoking Rita would have been met with anger, or violence. “I don’t know. I talk to her about it, but she isn’t talking back to me.”
“What does your heart say?” Lisa persisted.
“Nothing. If you mean my emotions, the anger at those who killed Rita is there. My heart seems to be shut down. I don’t sleep well at night. I run through all sorts of scenarios where I can save Rita, or where Rita does something different and she doesn’t go to the restaurant, or arrives a half hour later, or earlier. That somehow she isn’t there when the restaurant is burned up and we go on with our lives.” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Now I don’t know how to live. I can’t see beyond bringing vengeance to them. It’s like a huge wall in front of me that I can’t see over. I don’t know what’s on the other side—what’s next in my life. Maybe nothing, but I won’t know until I finish this—until I break through that wall.”
“I can’t see how Rita would like what you’re planning to do.”
“Hell, Lisa, I don’t know, but I do know she never wimped out at standing up to bullies. We were in this together, in spite of what her dad thinks. I don’t think she would want me to back down now.”
“This is going to damage you, Dan. You know that, don’t you?”
“What happened damaged Rita and our baby more.”
Lisa sighed. She got up to get beers for everyone.
“Could you hire a private detective to uncover who did this? I mean, if the cops are not enthused about investigating, maybe you can, and get enough evidence so they have to act.” Rob drained his bottle.
“I don’t know. I think I would come up with the kind of evidence that would convince most people, but not a
prosecutor. Especially one that might be a bit crooked. No one would get arrested and then I’d be marked by the mob—a target. Even if I didn’t get killed, there’d be too much focus on me for me to act on my own—bring about my own payback. I’d be in a box.”
“So you want to act now, in secret,” Lisa said as she came back in the room. “You think no one will connect whatever happens back to you?”
“Sure they will, but they’ll never find Dan Stone when they go looking. He’s disappeared.”
“What the hell do you mean—disappeared?” She sat down to stare at her younger brother.
“Gone. No one knows where. Can’t be traced. You and Rob are the only ones who know anything about me since I left New York.”
“And all we know is that you came to visit and then left. Is that the story?” Rob asked.
“That’s it. Full of the truth, but with a little misdirection included. That’s if anyone takes the trouble to come all the way out here.”
“I’m thinking that might happen, if you do what you intend to do,” Rob said.
“And we won’t talk about what I intend to do. That’s for your protection.”
“Dammit, Dan! Lisa glared at him. “None of this will bring back Rita. It will only damage you. Don’t do this. This isn’t going to be good for you.”
As she looked at him, Dan could see the sorrow emerge in her eyes. He knew his face reflected his decision.
“You’re set on this,” Lisa said. “I won’t try to talk you out of it anymore. But will you be able to end it? Will you come back here when it’s over? We’re all we have for family and I don’t want to lose you.”
“Lisa,” Dan looked at her and his tone softened with affection, “I’m lost right now, no good to anyone, or myself. I’ve got no life now. I don’t know where this will wind up, but if it’s possible, I’ll come back. You and Rob are the only solid piece of ground I have to stand on, but until I knock this wall down, I can’t move on.”
The three of them talked late into the night, turning their conversation to the ranch and life in Montana, avoiding discussion of the terrible path that Dan was set on.
