"Yeah, old money. The family has been in the import-export business since they came to this country."
"With no ties to the syndicate."
"Stereotyping?" Devin chuckled. "All Italians aren't mob connected."
"I know. Only speculating out loud."
"Anthony is supposed to be taking time off to travel and visit family, before settling down. He wants to start his own law firm when he returns."
"How ambitious. So now what?" Ewyn asked.
"Our contacts checking on Cecilia will try to track Calabria's whereabouts. What's with the smile?"
"You. I like seeing my very own headman--oops, no pun intended. Dev!" Ewyn squeaked when pulled off the desk onto Devin's lap and then tickled. "Sto-op! I meant boss…my very own boss man," he gasped. A knock on the door saved him from more teasing. Devin stood, kissed him, and dumped him in the chair. Ewyn called out, "Come in."
One of the staff entered, pushing a serving trolley ahead of him. "Thanks, Alberto." Ewyn jumped up. "We'll serve ourselves." Once the servant exited the room, he removed the dishes from the trolley and placed everything on the table.
"Patterson will be here around noon with Nicole's phone records," Devin stated. "We'll go over them and verify when she stopped talking to Calabria, coordinate the phone records with the journal entries."
"He's in Italy, why bother?"
"Well, he's supposed to be, but again, we're back to unconfirmed information." Devin gulped down his smoothie and started on the omelet.
"Dev. You're not thinking Niki married Calabria. No way! Why would she?"
"After talking to the Corbetts, I reread parts of Niki's journal. Remember, she wrote, realize the logic of his arguments, and the part about avoiding conflict."
"Yeah…" Ewyn wiped his mouth and picked up his coffee cup.
"We know she wasn't in touch with Korey. So what he would she confide in?"
"Hell! Why would she fall for Calabria's bullshit?"
"Remember, Nicole didn't know anything about the Corbetts, but I bet Korey let her know he was a law student, and maybe about the family law firm. He would have let her know he had family in Riverview," Devin explained. "Suppose she had made up her mind to have her baby and raise her on her own, but worried about Korey showing up and trying to get custody. Think about it." He paused. "At minimum, Korey would have wanted to share custody, which could have involved Kieki going back east. Nicole might have discussed those worries with Calabria."
"Why wouldn't she have expressed her concerns to Jennifer? They were like family, too."
Devin frowned. "I don't know. Maybe she didn't think Jennifer could handle it. But Niki must have had a reason for choosing Calabria to confide in, instead of Jennifer. Could have been because he was studying law." He shrugged. "However, what we do know, according to her journal, she and Calabria were like brother and sister, in the beginning. She thought he was straight up, he might have expressed concern about her and her child's welfare, and he came from money. She would have thought she wouldn't have any problems with him regarding her estate."
"Okay, I can see the sense in that." Ewyn sighed. "So yeah, why not marry him to protect her baby from the unknown quantity."
"Right," Devin stated. "Niki meant it to be a marriage of convenience, name only, and as she noted in the journal, he tried to make it real, tried to gain control."
Ewyn finished his meal and strolled over to the desk. "If he's from money, and he's our perp, I don't understand his motivation." Picking up the phone, he pressed intercom and two. "Mick, can you come down to the office?" He replaced the receiver and returned to the table. "We should notify the Corbetts, huh, since Kieki will be spending the day with them."
"Mick will handle it from our end, and Christopher is on his way over. I'll tell him what we know and let him handle security on his end."
"He's good, right?"
Devin pulled Ewyn down on his lap. "He's the best. I could take lessons from him."
The knock on the door announced Mick's arrival. Ewyn hopped off Devin's lap, sat in the chair next to him, and listened to Devin repeat everything he'd told Ewyn.
"Yeah, makes more sense to me than Cecilia. And you're right, he's supposed to be in Italy," Mick said. "We only have the family's word on that."
Another knock on the door and Christopher entered the office. He wasn't alone. "Hi, Kieki's Ew!" Niqui squealed as she ran across the room and threw herself at Ewyn. Stunned, he caught her in his arms, lifted her onto his lap, and looked at Christopher then Kristen.
"She's been talking Kieki's Ew and Kieki's daddy, nonstop, since she woke up," Kristen told him. "Is Kieki ready?" She looked over at Mick. "I'm going to take them to the park, to my place for lunch and a nap, then to my mom's for a visit."
"Okay. Here's my cell number." They exchanged numbers, coordinated their travel, decided Mycelia should drive Kiera, and meet Kristen and Niqui at the park. "You won't have to bring Kieki home, and I'll be close at all times," Mick told her.
"Got it." Kristen turned to Ewyn. "How is Kieki with dogs?"
"She hasn't had interaction with any," he replied. "The estate dogs are strictly security. Why?" Eyebrow arched, he glanced at Devin.
"I have two Dobermans."
"Oh. Dobermans." He nibbled his bottom lip. "How are they with Niqui?"
"They'll protect her with their lives."
"So it won't be a problem," Devin responded before Ewyn could say anything further.
Kiera skipped into the room dressed in black denim overalls, black and white striped turtleneck, a white fleece hoodie, and white Nikes, with black laces. She had a black knitted cap on her head.
Niqui hopped off Ewyn's lap and ran to Kiera. "Look, Momma. Kieki has the same hat and shoes, 'cept my laces are blue." She giggled. "Ready, Kieki. Momma's takin' us to the park, and to see my dogs."
"'Kay." Kiera ran across the room and kissed Ewyn, before turning to Christopher and Devin to kiss them, too. Niqui did the same. The two girls rushed for the door, but Kiera stopped on the threshold and looked back.
Ewyn watched her little heart-shaped face light up. Tears stung the backs of his eyes as he realized what an oppressive environment she lived in that such a simple treat generated so much excitement. Good thing Pre School started soon.
"Bye, Ew…Daddy. Gonna go out…miss you. Be back."
"Have fun, Kieki. Be good."
"Ew." She rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Mick, time to go." She skipped out the door with Niqui beside her.
Mick stood and glanced around. "Guess I've been given my orders so I better get a move on."
Patterson arrived as Mick was leaving, and Ewyn left the room to go put on his tennis shoes.
* * * *
"What else do you have for us?" Devin asked the detective.
"A lot. My contact is a PI. People are more willing to talk to him than the police," he said. "He discovered Calabria's family considers Anthony a risk. His money is in trust until he's forty, so it's doled out to him as the family sees fit."
"What do you mean a risk?" Ewyn snapped as he re-entered the room.
"They used terms like acting out as a child, narcissistic, always in some sort of trouble as a teen, but super intelligent. No one would say it outright, but my interpretation would be mentally unstable," he said. "He's supposed to be on medication to keep his mood swings to a minimum, if he remembers to take it."
"Why the hell didn't your contact get that information the first time out?" Christopher asked.
"He made the mistake of going to a so-called friend in the police department." Patterson went to the bar, grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the refrigerator, and returned to the table. "This time out, he decided to take another route. He talked to people who know people who know the family, but don't like them." He pulled out his notepad. "According to those upstanding citizens, Anthony's issues got him arrested, but, if he has a record, there are some high-powered people obstructing access to the file. My contact thinks the family owns the police d
epartment."
Devin scowled. "In Chicago?"
"No, a little burb outside the Windy City." He took a sip of juice, then continued. "Everyone who willingly spoke to my contact agrees on one point. Anthony lied to us. He didn't come out here to visit friends and decide to stay. His family sent him to California so he wouldn't be prosecuted."
"And no one in law enforcement is talking," Devin declared.
"True. Claiming ignorance. My contact is trying to find someone with the PD who'll talk." Patterson turned to Christopher. "I have to agree with you. If Calabria is our perp, he has nothing to gain, and going after Kiera is all about revenge. Making your assessment right on--stupid and insane."
"Oh, hell yeah," Devin exclaimed. "If we were dealing with a sane person, he or she would have realized we don't have any evidence, and leave it alone."
"I'm curious to know if Calabria's record involves a felony," Christopher remarked.
"Why?" Patterson questioned.
"Well, if it's a felony, he's wasted a lot of money and several years of law school. A felony isn't an acceptable qualification for any form of employment, and I believe they still do criminal background checks for the bar exam."
"And he should have known that, huh," Devin speculated.
Christopher shrugged. "Money talks. Maybe the family has the necessary connections."
"And maybe the FBI needs to look a little closer into their activities," Devin suggested.
"Enough! Who cares? It's him, isn't it?" Ewyn hopped up. "I should have hurt him when I had the chance. Maybe I should turn Vince loose on his ass and his family if they try to intercede."
"Whoa." Devin grabbed his hand. "Calm down. All of us wrote him off as non-threatening when he left the state." He tugged Ewyn over to his side. "So before we rally the lynch mob, we have to sit tight until we hear from Patterson's guy, our contacts in Italy, and we recheck those phone records."
"Along with revisiting Calabria's alibi," Christopher said.
"That's going to be tough." Patterson gulped down the last of the juice. "Once his friends graduated, who knows where they are, three years later."
Devin nodded. "So we'll each take a few names and run with them."
"Fine." Ewyn looked down at Devin. "Does this rule out CeCe?"
Chapter 18
Damn, it's cold out there, but I had to take care of business. Next time, earmuffs under the hoodie. Ears are always so damn cold.
I need a shower and…whoa. Looks like the little rugrat is going out. Black knitted hat, black hoodie, light blue denims, white tennis shoes. Have to remember…is that a new nanny? Now isn't she special. They probably have a different nanny for different days.
Wonder where we're going. I need coffee. Hope I'll have a chance to grab some coffee when--the park! They're going to the goddamn park. Just what I need. A day hanging around a bunch of whiney brats. I hate kids. Hmm. Could present a better opportunity to get up close to the little brat than the condo parking structure. I think it's time the kid and I get to know each other. And look, there's a canteen truck…coffee!
Oh yeah, things are looking up.
* * * *
Mmm.
Heat. Feels good. Coffee's not bad either. Oh-kay. Let's see. Where did she go? Black knitted hat, black hoodie, light blue denims, white tennis shoes…ah-ha, there she is with her nanny, and another kid joining them, probably with her nanny, too. Typical. Rich bitches don't take care of their own snot-nosed brats.
Oh good, run off and play. Go to the sandbox. Yes! The further away from the nannies the better. One more walk-through. Only one adult nearby--man on the bench reading the paper. Brat sitting on the edge of the sandbox, her little friend sitting inside. If I jog by, I can grab her without stopping.
Yeah, that's right, nanny, ignore the kid, talk on the phone.
This is it.
* * * *
"Mick," Kristen said into her cell.
"I've got them," he said. "I'm on the bench, several feet to their left in front of the hedges."
"Did Kiera see you?"
Mick chuckled. "Yeah, she knows I'm here, but she's good. She only glanced at me as they passed. Devin and Tag have taught her well."
"Good. Ring me when they head back my way."
"Will do." Mick closed his phone, picked up the paper, and returned his attention to the girls.
* * * *
"Boss. You are not going to believe this."
"What's up?"
"There are two of them."
"Excuse me. Two of what?"
"Baby-girls. They look identical."
"Are you drunk? There was only one live birth."
"I'm watching them, and I'm telling you there are two. They're with Myce and another woman. Mick is hovering."
"Another nanny?"
"Don't think so. The other woman resembles the babies."
"Ah. Then I'd say they've found the father, huh."
"I guess."
"Damn. Listen. I'm still in Italy, but I think it's time Aianna and I--"
"Wait! That's the third time he's walked by the girls."
"Who? Never mind. Do what you have to do."
"It's a given. Shit! He grabbed her." He snapped his phone shut and took off.
* * * *
"Gotcha--ouch!" he growled, lost his grip and she fell to the ground. "You little brat, you bit me. Come here." He seized her arm again and tried to drag her away.
"Nooo…stop! Let go me!" Kicking and scratching, Niqui tried to pull away. "Kieki…Mom-my!" she screamed.
"Let go her, man!" Kieki threw herself at him, landing a barrage of kicks and punches, bit him on the thigh then squealed, "Mick!"
"Owww, damn it! What the…" Startled, the man released the child's arm and stared. "What the hell is going on here?" he roared, staring from one girl to the other. This is not right. "Oh, shit."
From his peripheral, he saw the nannies charging toward him. He turned--the man from the bench coming at him blocked his only other means of escape. Panicked, he dove through the hedges. Breathing heavily, he picked himself up, sprinted across the grass, jumped in his car, and peeled out. He kept glancing in the mirror to make sure no one was following him. When he pulled into the hotel parking lot, he made no move to get out of the car.
"What is happening?" He repeatedly slammed his fists on the steering wheel. "No! I'm not losing my mind." There's no record of twins.
Head in his hands, for several seconds, he massaged his temples. Feeling the tacky moisture beneath his fingertips, he looked in the mirror. Blood oozed from two deep cuts and several shallow scratches that tattooed his forehead and cheeks. He hadn't felt any pain. Nothing had gone right since he'd met Nicole, the bitch.
"Have to get out of here," he mumbled.
* * * *
Every cell phone in the room went off at the same time.
Ewyn snatched his cell from his waistband and flipped it open. "Hey, Myce…what!" he shouted and jumped to his feet. "Where…okay, calm down…who? Oh, my God. Is she all right. They did…yeah. On our way." He snapped his phone closed. "Son of a bitch!" He kicked his chair over, then turned to face a roomful of stunned people. "Christopher. He went for Kieki, grabbed Niqui instead."
"I heard." Christopher came to his feet.
The glacial look in those steely grey eyes had Ewyn taking a step back. He thought Devin could be scary. "She's okay," he quickly added, then looked at Devin, whose expression mimicked Corbett's look. "They're okay, Dev." He hurried to keep up with the two men as they strode toward the door.
"Where did this happen?" Patterson asked, following behind as they left the house.
"Riverview. Out of your jurisdiction," Christopher replied. "My family has a friend on the force down there. Trust me, Kristen will have contacted him." He shook his head. "Damn!"
"What?" Devin asked.
"She will have called her mother and my wife, too."
"Good," Ewyn growled. "I hope they caught the fucker and let the wom
en loose on his ass."
"I guess this means Calabria isn't in Italy," Patterson stated.
* * * *
Calabria scanned the parking lot before he climbed out of his car then hurried toward his room. Shit. I can't believe this is happening, after all my plans…twins! Why didn't I notice? Damn it, the pictures…I should have looked at the pictures, instead of trashing them. Jennifer and Kathleen should have said, those bitches. They were my friends first.
"Have to get out of here," he grumbled and started throwing clothes into his duffle bag. He had the passports and the house in France. He could live over there for quite a while. His family would pay anything to keep him away from home.
With everything packed away, he looked around the room. "Pills…" He opened and closed all the drawers. "Where are my goddamn pills?" He rushed toward the bathroom, but pulled up short when a knock on the door startled him. He tensed, glancing around, no escape. The door was the only exit. Tentatively, he called out, "Who is it?"
"Housekeeping."
He relaxed. "Just a minute." He snatched his pills off the bathroom vanity, grabbed his duffel, and hurried toward the door. One last look around and he opened the door. "Hey. I'm checking out--oomph!"
His world faded.
* * * *
After Christopher spoke to Detective Steppling at the Riverview Police Department, a statewide APB went out for Anthony Francesco Calabria. Patterson returned to San Bernardino, while Devin and Christopher rejoined the rest of the family at Marissa's house.
"Can Steppling be trusted?"
Christopher nodded. "He's been this route with us before. He'll work it under the radar and keep the Calderone name out of the limelight. If not, I'll put MacGregor on his ass."
Devin dropped down on the chair next to Ewyn at the kitchen table. "How are Niqui and Kiera?"
"Surprisingly, okay." Ewyn shook his head. "Bragging about kicking butt, comparing techniques. They're too young to understand the seriousness of what happened." He looked from Devin to Christopher. "I guess we owe the two of you and Tag a debt of gratitude for teaching our little warriors so well."
MemoriesErasedTreachery Page 21
