The Savage Son (A Nick Williams Mystery Book 6)

by Frank W. Butterfield

  Carter nodded. I never understood the mysterious tips and tricks that weight lifters shared with each other. It was like listening to a secret language. I'd overheard Dawson and Carter doing the same thing at the office.

  Sam sat down at the table while the two men drank their warm, but not boiling, water.

  Carter put down his cup and said, "Nick, you never asked me what I wanted out of this deal."

  I looked over at him. Sam's face registered a mild alarm. I asked, "What?"

  "I want a goddam Christmas tree."

  I rolled my eyes. We'd never had one in all the years we'd lived together. It reminded me too much of the long lost good old days before my mother left us.

  "Why?" I asked.

  Carter looked at me. "Because we need some Christmas cheer around here. I want a tree and I want lights and I want a goddam plastic reindeer on the front porch. I want the whole package. And I ain't taking no for an answer."

  Sam turned to look at me. He reminded me of someone watching a tennis game. And, in a way, he was. Carter had just served me and I had no way to return.

  "Fine. But you do all of it."

  Sam asked, "Can I help?" His voice cracked a little bit as he spoke.

  I just watched as Carter nodded enthusiastically and said, "The more, the merrier." My own eyes were wet but I was sure it was from being so tired.

  Chapter 9

  Offices of Consolidated Security

  Friday, December 18, 1953

  About 10 in the morning

  "Robert? Can you come in here?"

  I was sitting at my desk, reading over some mail with blurry eyes when I remembered something important.

  From behind the office partition, I heard Robert reply, "Sure thing, Nick. Be right there."

  About ten seconds later, he popped through the door and had a seat in front of the desk. He looked well-rested and happy.

  "How are things with Henry?" I asked.

  Robert smiled and said, "Great. He's such a swell guy and I think I'm in love." Henry Winters was Carter's best friend and ex-lover. They'd grown up together in Georgia and driven cross-country in '39 to move to San Francisco. He and Robert had been thrown together after our bizarre Halloween party that Robert's main squeeze at the time had planned and executed. It had all been a ruse for some agents from the local F.B.I. office. They were trying to get compromising photographs of Carter and myself to use for leverage. When they'd discovered they had inadvertently also set up a cocaine distribution event, the whole thing had been shut down and, so far, the Bureau had left Carter and me alone. But, in the end, Robert's heart had been broken. Fortunately, Henry had been there to pick up the pieces.

  "I like Henry. He's like the brother I never had." I smiled at Robert realizing, as his smile started to fade, that it sounded like I was about to make a threat. "What I'm saying is that I'm glad you two are together. He's a great guy. You're a great guy. And you two look good together." I said all that last part in a rush. I was thinking how glad I was that Carter didn't hear all that when I looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. I blushed as he smiled at me and slowly shook his head.

  Taking a sip of coffee, I asked, "You busy today?"

  Robert shook his head. He looked wary.

  I motioned to Carter to come in. As he sat down next to Robert, he said, "I wonder if you're thinking what I'm thinking."

  I nodded and looked at Robert. "We have a favor to ask."

  Carter laughed. "We? This is your idea, Boss."

  I turned my head. "You're getting a Christmas tree out of this, fireman, so I'd pipe down if I were you."

  Carter crossed his legs and just smiled at me. As always, that broke my concentration for a moment.

  Robert spoke up. "What is it, Nick?" He sounded concerned. Right then, I heard someone timidly knock on the door in the outer office.

  I smiled. "Look. It's nothing big. We just need you to help out with a problem we have."

  I looked up and saw Marnie standing in the doorway with Mrs. Kopek, who was holding an old-fashioned valise in her hands. I stood up as did Robert and Carter. Marnie took the valise and put it next to her desk.

  "Mrs. Kopek. Welcome. Won't you come in and have a seat?" Robert stepped aside from his chair and courteously offered it to the older woman. As she sat down, she looked up at Carter and said, "I see you in the newspaper, no?"

  Robert looked at me wonderingly. I motioned for him to stay put. He leaned against the wall. Carter and I both sat down.

  Using his southern charm, Carter smiled and replied, "Yes, ma'am."

  Mrs. Kopek nodded. She turned to me. "He is the special friend, no?"

  I nodded and replied, "Yes, Mrs. Kopek. This is Carter Jones."

  She turned back and nodded at him. Carter smiled again and said, "It's a real pleasure to meet you, ma'am." His accent was so heavy, I could almost smell the Georgia pine.

  She frowned for a moment. "Is that English?"

  Everyone in the room laughed.

  I said, "Yes, ma'am. Carter is from Georgia."

  "Georgia? Soviet Georgia?"

  We all laughed again.

  "No, ma'am." This was Carter with the southern charm but without the thick accent. "It's a state on the other side of the country. Very pretty."

  I looked over at Marnie and said, "Mrs. Kopek, this is Marnie Wilson. She's my secretary."

  Marnie walked over and extended her hand. Mrs. Kopek tentatively shook. "How do you do, Mrs. Kopek? It's very nice to meet you."

  The older woman smiled and asked, "You work here?"

  I said, "She does and she's the best."

  Mrs. Kopek looked her over for a moment. "Widow?"

  I smiled as Marnie blushed. She said, "No ma'am. I just haven't found the right man."

  Mrs. Kopek said, "Very pretty. Some day, I think you will." She shook her head sadly. "But not here, I don't think."

  We all laughed again.

  Marnie asked, "Would you like some coffee, Mrs. Kopek?"

  The older woman smiled and nodded. "Yes, please. With sugar and milk. Thank you."

  I motioned over to Robert and said, "Mrs. Kopek, this is Robert Evans. He works for me and manages my buildings."

  She turned in her chair and smiled at him. He leaned forward and said, "How is Mrs. Kruggenhammer treating you Mrs. Kopek?"

  "She is very nice, thank you." Turning to me, Mrs. Kopek said with a twinkle in her beautiful green eyes, "You think I not know who you are?" She tapped the side of her head with the brown finger of her gloved hand. "I read the newspaper. Every day. I read all of them. You are very wealthy. I read all about it." I smiled as she echoed the familiar newsboy call. "I ask Mrs. Kruggenhammer. She tells me. This…" Her voice trailed off for a moment as she looked for the word. I suspected the word was "homosexual" but that Mrs. Kopek wouldn't use it. She smiled at me as she continued. "This Nicholas Williams. He is the owner of our building. Mrs. Kruggenhammer talks about you much. She say how nice. How courteous. How respectful. That is why I send my husband to you." She leaned forward. "How is my Ivan?"

  I said, "He's doing as well as we can expect, Mrs. Kopek."

  She sighed. For a brief moment, a look of worry crossed her face. Right at that moment, Marnie walked in with a cup of coffee and handed it to the older woman. Smiling courteously, Mrs. Kopek said, "Thank you, dear." Marnie nodded and walked back to her desk.

  Mrs. Kopek said, "I bring clothes for court for Ivan." She turned around and looked at Marnie. "I give to this pretty girl." I saw Marnie turn pink again.

  When Mrs. Kopek turned back in her chair, the look of worry was back.

  Before I could say anything, Carter said, "Don't worry about Ike, Mrs. Kopek. We're going to make sure he gets out. Nick is the best."

  I loved my husband so much at that moment.

  . . .

  After everyone was gone, I was back at my desk trying to read my mail. As I replayed the earlier conversation, I noticed that Mrs. Kopek didn't ask if she could
go see Ike. I wondered about that.

  "Robert?"

  "Yeah, Nick." He came around the corner.

  "There's more to the story than we let on with Mrs. Kopek. Have a seat."

  He did and I briefed him on Sam. "So, take a cab and head over to the house. He needs new clothes. I expect Sam has a special store he has to go to. He's as broad as Dawson."

  Robert rolled his eyes.

  "What?"

  "Henry says it's getting to be like a walking physique magazine around here."

  I laughed. "Yeah. He's not wrong."

  I reached into my wallet, pulled out two hundred dollars, and handed it over. "That should be enough. If not, call Marnie and she can arrange with the store to cover the balance. Besides walking around clothes, Sam needs at least one good suit of clothes and new shoes to match. He may have to testify in court on Monday. So pay for rush tailoring if you need to. Got it?"

  Robert stood up and smiled. "Got it, Boss."

  "Thanks, Robert."

  He saluted, grabbed his hat and coat, and was out the door.

  Marnie came back in as soon as he was gone.

  "Nick?"

  I looked up. "Yeah, doll?"

  "That Mrs. Kopek. Nice lady."

  I smiled. "I hope you didn't mind what she said to you."

  Marnie stood there for a moment. "No. She's right."

  "How so?" This looked like it might take a while. "Have a seat, doll."

  She did so and looked at me. "I ain't never gonna find a man here." She looked sad.

  I stood up, walked around my desk, and sat down in the chair next to her. I took her hand and said, "I thought you were just fine in that department."

  She nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I was until my mother started seeing someone."

  I was shocked. "She did? She is?"

  Marnie smiled and carefully brushed the tear off her powdered face. It still left a small trail. "Yeah."

  "Who?"

  Marnie blushed pink, looked at me for a moment, and then shrugged. "Some guy. You wouldn't know him. He's, uh, he's…" She faltered for a moment. "He's well off. Mother's smart like that."

  I nodded. This was no surprise. Now that Mrs. Wilson had restored my good name in the neighborhood, brought Carter back into his mothers' life, and slain countless other dragons, I imagined she had set her sights on landing a man. It wasn't a very nice thing to think about a lady, but I knew Mrs. Wilson well enough to know she was determined and could achieve any goal she put her mind to.

  "So?" I asked.

  "So, now that I don't have mother to take care of, I'm seeing how maybe I do wanna maybe finally get married. Settle down."

  I was stricken. I loved Marnie. I didn't want her to settle down. I wanted her to be my secretary. Forever. Taking a deep breath, I stepped away from the cliff, and said, "OK, then. Now that you know you want that, you go out and get it." I shook my head. "Him. I mean, him. Go out and get him." I was tired.

  Marnie giggled. "Oh, Nick."

  I leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. "You're the best, Marnie, the best." I put my hand on her chin, looked into her eyes, and said, "And never forget that."

  She smiled and said, "Thanks, Nick."

  . . .

  I walked down the hall to the office that Carter shared with Martinelli. Knocking on the door and getting no answer, I opened it and found Carter stretched out in his swivel chair with his size 14 shoes propped up on the desk. His hat was over his face and I could hear him lightly snoring, like he did. Martinelli was nowhere to be seen, so I stood there and admired my husband's long legs, and the rise and fall of his big hands folded over his belly as he breathed in and out.

  I quietly closed and locked the door. I walked over to the chair, slowly removed his hat, put it on his desk, and studied his face. He really was the most handsome man I'd ever seen even if there was small river of spit running down the side of his mouth.

  I leaned over and gently kissed him right on the lips. As I did, he stirred.

  "Nick," he said as we kissed.

  "Carter."

  "I love you."

  "I love you, too."

  "What do you want?" We were still kissing.

  "Nothing, really."

  "Good."

  . . .

  At noon on Saturday, the three of us piled into the Buick and headed south on Hartford. Carter was driving.

  Earlier in the morning, Carter and Sam had gone over to Sugar Joe's to lift weights. When they came back and were cleaned up, we had walked over to the Castro Grille for a bite to eat. Over an early lunch, Carter had told me he had the whole afternoon and evening planned. I knew what was coming and I wasn't looking forward to it.

  "Where are we headed?" I asked.

  "Down to Army Street to get a Christmas tree. Marnie told me about a place that will deliver the same day. Ho, ho, ho!"

  I smiled, but I wasn't happy.

  . . .

  I hung out by the car while Carter and Sam walked around looking for the right tree. I was feeling moody. I'd been avoiding this ever since our first Christmas in '47. I didn't want to get a tree. I didn't want to trim it. I didn't want anything to do with any of this. But this was the bargain I'd made with Carter, and I was gonna keep my part of the deal.

  They found the tree and Carter paid the man. Gave him an extra twenty to deliver it right at 5:15. I looked at my watch. It was just past 12:30. As I looked at the steel gray sky, I wondered what was next.

  As we piled in the car, Carter said, "Next stop: Union Square." This day was just getting worse and worse. It would be a madhouse down there on the Saturday before Christmas. But Carter seemed to be enjoying himself, so I just sighed and looked out the window.

  Grabbing my knee, Carter asked, "You OK?"

  I shook my head.

  . . .

  We parked in the big Union Square underground garage and then walked over to the City of Paris department store. I looked up at the tower above the store that merrily flashed the store's name under the cloudy skies. My mother had brought Janet and me there many times for shopping or just to see the massive Christmas tree they put up every year in the rotunda under the beautiful stained glass dome.

  The tree looked larger than ever. The smell of the fir took me back to the Christmas of '28 when I was six years old, and Janet was two or three and being pushed around in a pram by the governess who'd worked for my parents then.

  I remembered wandering through the store, picking out gifts for Janet, for my parents, and for the staff in the house. My mother had followed behind and let me pick anything I wanted. It had been a magical day.

  Then we'd taken the cable car home, which we rarely did, even though we lived near two of the lines. While we'd been gone, a large fir tree, trucked in from the Sierras, had been set up next to the big staircase in the main hall. We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing and playing with the cook, the two maids, and the chauffeur. They brought out a picnic dinner, which we ate on the floor in front of the tree so we could watch as the lights were strung up. Everyone sat around, no matter their station, and we all had a wonderful time.

  I could even remember that the governess had that evening off. It had been a special request. She had been invited to go to the movies with her boyfriend. In my memory, I could hear my mother talking about it with the cook and how concerned they were that he was too old for her. She'd been around 20. And he was 30. They did eventually marry, but that was another story altogether.

  My father was away. He'd gone over to French Indochina to invest in a rubber plantation. He didn't return until January. Without him in the house, we'd had the best Christmas. Everyone was relaxed. I remembered how much my mother had laughed.

  Then Christmas was over, he came back, and by the next Christmas, she was gone.

  As I stood there in the rotunda looking at the tree, I could feel something inside of me give way. I looked over at Carter who was smiling like a three-year-old. Sam was awestruck. I looked a
round and watched the little kids who were looking up and pointing while their fathers and mothers walked with them. Everyone seemed to be happy and glad to be surrounded by the holiday cheer. I wondered if maybe this wasn't going to be such a bad Christmas after all.

  . . .

  As we stood there by the big tree, Carter quietly handed Sam a hundred dollars in twenties. I heard him whisper something about buying Christmas presents for Ike. As Sam walked off, I smiled at Carter.

  "You're a great Santa Claus, you know that?"

  "Why should you have all the fun?" he asked, smiling back. I wanted to kiss him right then and there but, instead, I just nodded.

  We walked down to the colorful spot below the store called "Normandy Lane." This was new to me, although I'd read about it in the newspaper. It hadn't been here back in the 20s. There were all sorts of little shops. It was just like being in France, or so we were told by enthusiastic store employees.

  We stopped at the cigarette counter. I decided to try a blue box called Gitanes and see how they tasted compared to Camels. The woman working there said the name meant "gypsy" in French. I pocketed the flat, squat box to try later.

  We sat down and had lunch at a small table where we could watch a man in a big white hat who was cooking whole chickens on a turning spit. The roasted chicken was rich and delicious. Even Carter liked it.

  After we had eaten, we walked down a bit further and came to their wine cellar. Carter suggested we find a case of wine that we could take with us to Christmas dinner. He said he thought it would make a nice gift. I just shrugged and let him make the arrangements, which he did.

  We walked through the rest of the store and picked out some gifts. I found an angora sweater that I thought Marnie would like. Carter picked up a cashmere coat for Henry. We chose a large bottle of Joy perfume for Mrs. Wilson, Marnie's mother.

  By then, it was around 3:30. Carter said, "We have to go to Gump's before we go home."

  I just nodded and said, "Fine."

  . . .

  We left City of Paris and walked down Geary to Grant, crossed the street in the busy Christmas traffic, and walked up a couple of blocks to Post. Gump's was half a block down and on the right. I wondered what Carter wanted specifically from this store. As we walked in the door, he said, "Wait here." So, I did.