“She knows we’re here. Judith.”
“It’s a positive sign.”
“I know a nurse here. She says that people wake up in different ways. Some just open their eyes and sit up. Others start to stir before they come alive. Either way, Tina is on the move.”
Back in my West End condo I took to the booze. I started a pan of bacon frying on the stove and threw in my last two eggs. I poured a second double whiskey before putting the coffee pot on and was about to enjoy a fry-up when my cell rang.
”I have a sad story for you,” said a familiar voice.
“Shoot. I’m hungry.”
“A guy on the force was busted tonight. Just after he arrived for the night shift.”
“Anyone I know?”
“Maybe. Do you happen to know a guy named Alfonse Vital?”
“Yeah. I think I do. I think I went to school with good old Bubble Boy. How did he go down?”
“When he doesn’t have a cruiser he drives an old jalopy to work. And guess what? We busted him tonight. He had three bags of smack tucked into the spare tire in the trunk of his car.”
“What? That doesn’t sound like good for old Alfonse.”
“No. It’s trafficking for Al.”
“Guess we should call him bah bah Black Sheep then. With three bags full.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“How did you know it was there?”
“We got an anonymous tip. I handled it. With a couple of the boys. He’s going down alright.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’ll bet you are.” Peter hung up.
I was busy patting myself on the back when my cell rang again. Well, so much for hot food.
“Charlie?” said a shaky voice. “Can you come right over?”
“Of course! What is it Julia?”
“It’s Jack. He’s had a heart attack.”
Talk about guilt! All the way over to the Properties I wallowed in it. Had I been a good son and followed in my father’s criminal footsteps things would be so different now.
Julia met me at the front door of 33 Terrace Place wearing black. She looked hot in her silk embroidered pajamas and high-heeled shoes with feathers on the toes. Her long dark hair had been freed from its clip and hung softly against her face. With a furrowed brow she shooed me into the living room where two tumblers of whisky sat waiting on a silver tray. “He’s sleeping, Charlie. The doctor says he’s best here at home. He’s lucky. It was a mild one. But he has to change his lifestyle. He has to slow down and get rid of the stresses. As many as he can.”
I walked to the windows past pairs of white leather sofas on Persian rugs. “Stresses. Like me?”
“No. Not like you. You he needs.”
“Right. To cause him more heart attacks.”
“I doubt you’ll do that. I’m hoping that you’re back to stay. We all are.”
“Even Tony?”
“You’ll work it out with Tony. You always do.” She leaned forward in her chair. “You have to forgive Jack, Charlie. For whatever you think he’s done. You have to make up. It’s killing him.”
I downed my whiskey and headed for the bar. But it wasn’t a good place to stand with all the glittery mirrors reflecting a bad guy who’d betrayed his own dad. I couldn’t look myself in the guilt.
“I don’t know what happened between the two of you,” Julia continued. “Jack doesn’t talk about personal things. He just said that you went away and wouldn’t be back. But there is something you need to know. Jack’s intention with the heroin shipment was to destroy it. Through Willy. He wasn’t into trafficking. Neither was Willy but Willy had some sort of fascination with that particular shipment. There’s more to it. Tony told me so.”
I shuffled my feet. “Did he say what?”
“No. He left it there.”
I refilled Julia’s glass and put the stopper back in the decanter. “It’s not all Jack’s fault. I’ll take my share of the blame.”
“I know Jack better than anyone, Charlie. He can be a monster. And I also know you. You have a good heart. He’s tromped on it a lot over the years and I’m surprised he hasn’t driven you away before. But you’re still here. And we love you. We’re not a family without you. We’re not whole. There’s been a huge void in your absence and we all feel it.”
I plunked down in the opposite chair. “Do you know that you were my first love?” It must have been the whisky.
She smiled. “I did know of your affections, I have to say. You have a hard time hiding them, Charlie. You wear them on your sleeve, so to speak. When you were a boy you always lit up like a neon sign when you saw me. And your homemade Christmas gifts radiated with love. Do you remember the earrings you made for me your first Christmas here? Hearts. Red paper hearts on copper wires. They were so adorable!”
I cringed. “You’re quite a lady you know.”
She plucked a small silver box from the table between us and threw it on my lap. “Open it.”
I did. Red paper hearts glued to copper wires. I wanted to cry.
“I’m only going to tell you this once, Charlie. You belong to us. Whether you like it or not. You’re ours. For keeps.”
I swallowed hard.
I took the stairs to Jack’s bedroom two at a time. And as I expected, the keeper was parked outside his door preparing to take a stand.
“Are you back for good, Charlie?” Tony asked sternly. “Because if you’re not you’d better scram. If you desert him again he’ll die.” He sat there with his arms crossed and with his squinting brown eyes staring me down.
“It wasn’t like that, Tony. You know how I love the guy.”
He raised a crooked eyebrow. “You don’t abandon people you love. Not for any reason. Especially when they’re down.”
Jillian came out of her bedroom wearing an oversized pink t-shirt and little else. “Whoops! I didn’t know we had thugs.” She darted back into her room and slammed the door.
“I won’t let him down again, Tony.”
He shook his old grey head. “You’d better not. Because next time you’ll be dealing with me and it won’t be pretty, Mister.”
Tony decided that I shouldn’t see Jack until I was ‘damn sure of things’ so I was sent away with a firm slap on the nose. I felt like a dog being paper-trained for the second time around.
He walked me down the stairs to the front door. “I’ll call you when Jack is well enough to take another hit.”
Boy, was I being spanked.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
IN THE TRIAD WORLD THINGS can suddenly take a turn. Drug lords can choose to become respectable citizens given the right ‘in’. Not that they change their spots they merely mutate. Thus it was with Richard Chang who, in my absence, purchased a multi-million dollar beach house near Horseshoe Bay and began to court Jack through Tony. Lovely.
I nodded to the guards on the steps of 33 Terrace Place and they nodded back. Inside, the place was abuzz with Jack’s usual party mix: his West Van cronies, his crooked cops, his thugs and his relatives. But this day was different; different due to a new element in the way of a very special guest of honor, Richard Chang. And Richard had brought his own thugs along. ‘What a swell party this is.’
Shoeshine greeted me in the foyer. “Charlie. Got any weapons?”
“Who me? Only a knife in my sock.”
“Try to be a good sport, ok? Jack is counting on you today.”
“Alright, Melvin. I’ll do my best.”
His glossy brown eyes squinted at me. “My name is not Melvin. Jack calls me that just to bug me. But you’re not Jack. Not yet at least.”
It seemed there was a reception line now as next to Shoeshine stood Fat Freddie Fong and next to him, Shorty Poo. I bowed. “Goons,” I said in a friendly voice. “I’ve been missing you. Like a toothache.”
They bowed.
The living room was packed like a barrel of sausages with the noise level rivaling a sonic boom. Peter waved me over.
> “Nice friends, Charlie. I hear they’re good with knives.”
I nodded. “They’ll come in handy at Thanksgiving. I won’t have to carve the turkey this year.”
Beside him Julia shook her sleek dark head. “I can’t believe Jack! What’s he doing with the Triad?”
“Staying alive,” I answered. “Jack likes to stay alive. And for that matter so do I.”
I shuffled off to the bar where Jillian grabbed my arm. “My god! He’s gorgeous! Don’t tell me let me guess. Richard Chang.” Her eyes were wild.
“In the flesh. He likes flesh. Especially flesh hanging off others.”
She ignored me. “He’s absolutely gorgeous!”
“And dangerous.”
“I like ‘em dangerous! Introduce me, will you Hampton?”
I could think of many reasons not to but before a good one popped into my head Richard was approaching. “Charlie! Good to see you, old boy.” He stuck out his hand.
I could see Jack glaring at me from across the room so I shook it. “Richard.”
He was ogling Jillian. “And this beautiful woman would be?”
“Jillian,” she squealed before I could respond. “Jillian Jones.”
He nodded. “Jack’s daughter. Jack’s absolutely stunning daughter!”
I wanted to barf. The mating dance of the Andean flamingo was being performed before my jealous nose and Jack was glaring at me from a distance. I grabbed my tumbler of whiskey and headed off.
Jack was smiling the smug Jack smile when I finally elbowed my way through the crowd. “Think of the possibilities, Hamster. Richard could be your new brother. “
“I can’t remember ever wanting a brother.”
“That’s because you’re selfish. You want all my attention.”
“Funny.”
King Chin was standing beside Jack looking serious. He came to his armpit.
“Is this your new bodyguard, Jack?”
“Maybe. King Chin can do anything he wants to do. I’m not saying no.”
We giggled.
Jillian and Richard approached looking far too happy to be anywhere near me.
“We’re playing tennis tomorrow at Richard’s place!” She beamed up into his lustful eyes. “I’m going to show him how it’s done.”
Oh, Jack, I said to myself on my way to the door. What have you done?
A short three weeks later Jillian was riding high. She called me on my cell with the summons. Like it or not, my presence was required at a dinner at The Salmon House on the Hill and it wasn’t optional. Eight p.m.
Usually I like salmon but I was suspicious. “What kind of dinner?”
She giggled. “I’m not sure but I think it’s an engagement dinner. I think Richard is going to propose.”
How Chinese of him! Skip the formalities of getting to know the bride you ordered. “What? You’ve known this guy for how long? Two days?”
“Three weeks. That’s what makes it so exciting! I’m madly in love with a man I hardly even know. I can’t believe it!”
“I can. And I hope it’s a long engagement.”
“Not. It’ll be a short one. I’m thinking September if we can wait that long. I’m dying to sleep with this guy. But he’s traditional. He wants to do it the old-fashioned way. He won’t even kiss me! I’ll be surprised if we don’t elope.”
“The man is a criminal, Jillian. A drug-smuggler. A murderer. Is that what you want for a husband?”
“Stop it! You’re turning me on! I’ll be wrestling him into bed tonight.”
I sighed. “Ok, Jillian. I’ll be there. With guns on.”
Usually I like salmon. Usually I like salmon. Usually…
Despite the amazing view of the city below I was cranky, crammed into a corner table by the windows with big-elbowed people and none of them tiny — other than for Shorty Poo across from me who started off the evening by kicking me under the table, not an easy feat for a vertically-challenged individual. His head disappeared, I felt a sharp pain on my shin, then out he popped like a Jack-in-the-box with a smug smile on his face. I kicked him back, hard, without moving an inch. “Touché,” I said. Shorty leaned back in his chair to think things through. Since he didn’t understand English I figured he’d suck at French.
Jillian and Richard were rudely pawing each other at the end of the table. If she didn’t stop glowing they might stick her outside as a neon sign.
“Get a room,” I hollered
Jack elbowed me in the ribs. “Where’s your date, Hamster? In the zoo?”
“Yep. In the trees swinging right along beside yours.”
King Chin choked on his water.
Richard ordered drinks for everyone except Shorty. Shorty was driving. I whispered into the server’s ear. “That little guy over there needs a drink. He has a slingshot in his pocket and he’ll break all the glass in this place if he doesn’t cheer up. Keep the booze coming and put his drinks on my bill. He likes coke so use that as mix. And bring me another coffee cup of whisky, will you? My dad doesn’t like it when I guzzle.”
“Got it.” He winked before hurrying away.
Shorty began to relax. And after his third coke he couldn’t stop smiling. It was a goofy smile like that of a little boy who’d just shit his pants. I motioned to the server. “I think the dwarf will skip the wine. But load his coffee up. I’d like to see him drive after that.”
“You’re devious,” he whispered. “I’m learning from you.”
Usually I like salmon but having a sudden taste for whiskey I passed my meal along to Fat Freddie who was eating everything in sight, even the bones off King’s plate. I have to admit I was pretty woozy by the time Richard rose to his feet. He was swaying like a skyscraper during an earthquake. Or was that me? Me, I now thought.
“Straighten up,” Jack ordered. “You’re sliding off your chair.”
“I’ve shrunk. My chin is only as high as the table.”
“Hamster,” he warned. “I’m going to tan your ass.”
“You can’t. Because it’s on the floor.”
Blurry Richard started to move his mouth. He looked like Howdy Doody to me now. “He looks like a fucking puppet,” I said to Jack.
Jack shook his head. “If you don’t shut up I’ll stuff a napkin into your big mouth. This isn’t about you.”
“Oh, yeah?” I said. “Oh, yeah?” I was too drunk to muster anything further.
Howdy Doody produced a velvet box and went down like a hydraulic lift. He was behind the table somewhere but I couldn’t figure out where. “Where did he go?”
“Shut up. He’s proposing.”
“Who to? Is someone else down there?”
The last thing I remember was a lot of clapping. My hangover lasted three days.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
IMAGINE MY SURPRISE UPON WAKING up in a bed I’d grown out of twenty years earlier, then having to sneak out. It wasn’t any easier than sneaking in, given that the front door was two flights up. Tony caught me in the entry before I could escape.
“Not so fast, Charlie.” He was wearing a red smoking jacket over black trousers and was looking smug, as though he’d just caught a burglar. “Put those shoes down.”
“It’s five a.m. Don’t you ever sleep?”
“I could ask you the same question. Are you trying to sneak out without breakfast?”
I pointed to the statue of David in the alcove by the door. “He said I could.”
“I have seniority. And I have the coffee on. Humor me, Charlie.”
I put my shoes down and trotted behind the godfather to the kitchen. He did make a good cup of coffee. I parked myself on a stool at the island where I tried to view the city through the clouds below. My eyes hurt.
Tony set about mixing a hangover concoction in the blender, a disgusting mess of tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper sauce, lemon juice and a raw egg.
“I’m not drinking that shit.”
“You will when you see the next ingredient
.” He removed a bottle of vodka from the cupboard and poured in several glugs. “Hair of the dog.”
“Hair of the dog sled, you mean. That’s enough for a team.”
He poured the mess into a crystal beer mug and slammed it down in front of me. “Sissy.”
I pinched my nose for the plunge. It wasn’t half-bad.
“Told you.” He smiled like a Cheshire cat. “You weren’t fooling anyone last night with the coffee cup. And getting Shorty drunk wasn’t cool. Richard was pissed when they had to take a limo home.”
“I’m shaking.”
“Yes, you are. But I think it’s from the booze. You were pretty drunk last night. Freddie and King had to help you to the Rolls. Jack was not impressed.”
“Tough shit. In case you haven’t noticed I don’t live my life for Jack.”
“I’ve noticed. You live it for yourself. It must be lonely where you are.” His glossy brown eyes danced.
I was beginning to feel remarkably better with each gulp of tonic. “I suppose I should be happy for Jillian. I should be happy that she’s marrying a monster. Jack’s certainly delirious over it all. He’s looking forward to having another mobster in the family. A bigger one than himself.”
Tony laughed. “And me? What’s your take on my view of the engagement? I can’t wait to hear it.”
“You think that Richard is a nice Chinese boy. You understand the Triad and think that Richard has good manners for a cold-blooded killer.”
That made him happy. “Close. You’re close. I’m not unhappy having Richard on my side. You should consider the possibility. You could be friends.”
“When hell freezes over.”
“You may be in for a big surprise one day down the road. Richard just may come in handy.”
“Richard hates me. If I were drowning he’d put his big foot on my head and hold me under. My guess is that Richard will do everything in his power to eliminate me. Everything.”
“Well, brace yourself, Charlie. Because the wedding is only a month away.”
I choked on my medicine. “A month? What’s the rush? She told me September.”
He nodded. “September first. That’s a month away.”
“Just family then?”
Jack in a Box Page 13
