The Story of Charlie Mullins

by Jim Wygand

  When he arrived to Gina’s apartment he was still chuckling in amusement at Sharon’s distress and the traffic ticket. Gina was up and around, contrary to her forecast that she would still be in bed when he arrived. “Did you stay for pizza and beer, sweets?”

  “No, Gina, I had to shake off some surveillance. The wackos are back!”

  “Didn’t I tell you?”

  Charlie told her the story about how Sharon had to follow him into downtown Wilmington where her surveillance was obvious and how he turned the tables on her by suddenly starting to follow her. Gina laughed out loud when Charlie told her about the traffic violation. “I’ll bet she is really pissed now, Charlie. Her little escapade is going to cost her a good bit of change. If she doesn’t tell her husband, she’ll have to eat a lot more beans and franks for a while to pay off the ticket from her grocery money.”

  Charlie laughed. “I guess it really blew her mind to see me turn around and start to follow her. I could see that it was Sharon and Diane Simms. Diane must have been in a nervous fit.”

  “Maybe you have bought yourself some time now Charlie. Sharon will certainly be a lot more careful and she is probably peeing her pants right now wondering if you will talk this over with her husband.”

  “You know, I think I’m going to let this incident slide, Gina. Sharon won’t know what the hell to do. She’ll be expecting me to tell Bill and raise a fuss. I’ll just sit tight this time. Diane will be a wreck in a couple of days. Changing the subject, we are going to your uncle’s place tomorrow, right?”

  “Yes. He called to confirm while you were out. He sounded happy. He likes you and he is glad to have us come around to visit him. Do you know what you are going to tell him? We haven’t exactly talked about anything, you know.”

  “That’s because there is nothing to talk about, beautiful. I made my decision a long time ago. You are my life and my happiness. End of story. Telling Carlo that I accept his advice and counsel is a mere formality.”

  “Oh Charlie, I am so happy. I just hope we will always be this way.”

  “We will, baby, we will. Now I am going to work a bit on my report. Later we can go out for lunch if you want.”

  Charlie sat down to the dining room table to polish up his draft report while Gina set about cleaning the apartment. She put some easy listening music on the CD player and when she finished fussing around the apartment she sat down to read a book. Charlie was immersed in his report. They went out for a light lunch and returned so Charlie could continue to work on his report. Gina rented a DVD from the local Blockbuster and watched a movie while Charlie worked. Later she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. They ate stuffed manicotti and shared half a bottle of wine. Charlie put his work aside and they took a cab to the trattoria just to get out of the house for a while. When they arrived home Charlie said, “Gina, I think we should go to your uncle’s place a little earlier than usual. There might be a lot to talk about.”

  “No problem, Charlie. He wakes up early. I’ll call and tell him to expect us about, what, an hour earlier?”

  “That’s fine.”

  They watched the late news on TV and then went to bed. Charlie was still amused at Sharon Gallagher’s discomfort and the traffic ticket.

  * * * * *

  The next morning Charlie fixed coffee and picked up the newspaper from the front door. He and Gina sat in bed, read the paper, and enjoyed their coffee. Breakfast would be light in anticipation of the feast that Carlo usually put out for lunch.

  They dressed for lunch and Charlie grabbed his baseball cap and dark glasses from the closet. They left for Carlo’s house at about 12:30, passed through the phalanx of “suits” who took the regular pictures of the car, and drove around to the rear entrance where Frankie stood at his regular post by the kitchen door. Carlo received them in the living room and gave Gina a tender hug and Charlie a bear-like embrace. “Ah, it’s so good to have you both over here. Have some wine and antipasto while we talk. How did each of you pass the week?”

  “Oh, it was just fine, Uncle Carlo,” Gina began, “I love being domestic. I used to go out so often and now I just love to sit around the house with Charlie.”

  “And you, Irish? How was your week?”

  “Uncle Carlo! You promised,” Gina protested.

  “Ah, I’m just kidding. You mind, Charlie?”

  “No, I’ve been called a lot worse in my time,” he laughed.

  “See, Gina, he’s not upset.”

  “OK, OK, you guys win. It must be a kind of guy thing, this nickname stuff. Have it your way.”

  Charlie said, “Well Carlo, I spent most of the week working on my draft report. I’ve brought a copy for you to look at. I don’t think it comes as a surprise that I agree with our conversation of last week and I will need your help and counsel. I can’t afford to make a mistake.”

  “Take my word for it, Charlie, I am used to not being able to make a mistake,” Carlo laughed, “let me see your report while we have some antipasto.”

  Charlie handed Carlo a copy of his draft report. Carlo read attentively while they all munched on the antipasto. “This looks good Charlie. I have no way of knowing how accurate the figures are, but the report is tight and seems logical in view of the numbers you present. I think I can help you. Let’s talk.”

  Carlo Rizzo shared his thoughts with Charlie and offered some suggestions as to how to devise a strategy for accomplishing the objectives of the assignment. The strategy was a simple one and Charlie thought it might be deceptively so. But it seemed airtight from what Charlie could discern. He was certain he could make it work. “You understand, Charlie?” Carlo asked.

  “Yes, actually it seems quite simple. I wonder if I am not missing something.”

  “I don’t think so. Most of these kinds of things are extremely simple. Bankers, who are none too smart in my book, do it all the time. Some of them do it with a head full of cocaine, so it can’t be that tough. But think it through carefully, Charlie. You have to be confident and you will need nerves of steel in the beginning – at least until you get comfortable with the plan. I suggest we talk it over as you move forward and we adjust as you go. I’ll get started immediately on my side so we have appropriate lead time.”

  “Agreed,” said Charlie, “I understand the basic mechanics of the plan and it looks seamless to me. But I will need your help if there are any glitches and I’m sure there will be some. When the whole thing has been done, Gina and I will announce our engagement.”

  “Wow,” said Gina, “it looks like I have finally figured into the calculations.”

  Charlie kissed her, “You are the calculations baby. This is all designed so we can be together.”

  Carlo said, “OK, let’s have lunch. Paola has prepared a linguine with red clam sauce that is unequaled anywhere in the world. We eat, have some good wine, and laugh at the world. How’s that?”

  “Sounds good to me,” said Charlie. “Count me in,” said Gina.

  Carlo Rizzo was in an expansive mood over lunch. He talked about the future and how he had always wanted a “nice guy” for Gina. He laughed and said he hoped he would live long enough to have 300 grandchildren. Gina blushed several times as Carlo hinted that Charlie would certainly enjoy making that many babies. She interjected, “Uncle Carlo, this is my figure and my body you are talking about. I don’t want 300 babies. I don’t want to be one of the big Sicilian ‘mamas’ or one of those skinny hags dressed in black all the time. I’ll settle for just one or two kids, thank you.”

  Carlo laughed, “Yeah, if your Irishman can keep his hands off you!”

  Charlie noticed that Carlo always spoke of the future but never told any stories from the past. When they left Carlo’s house he turned to Gina in the car and said, “It’s interesting, Gina. Your uncle was really in a good mood but I noticed he never talks about the past or tells any stories.”

  Gina broke out in a loud laugh. “Charlie, my uncle could never talk about the past. Are you kidding me?
If he wanted to discuss the past he would have to join a witness protection program! Don’t forget that he is Don Carlo Rizzo to everybody in this town! You have to learn that Sicilians don’t have memories. The only thing a memory is good for is a vendetta! Honestly, Charlie, sometimes you are so naïve it’s actually funny.”

  Charlie laughed with Gina, “Yeah, sorry, I forgot. It’s just that your uncle at home and with you has nothing to do with the Carlo Rizzo that people talk about.”

  “That’s because he is not doing business, Charlie. At home he is dealing from the heart. You don’t want to cross his path in business, believe me.”

  “Yeah, Bill Cummins told me the same thing about Phillip Shaw. He said that Phillip is a real hard-nosed son-of-a-bitch under his affable surface.”

  “Well, like I told you before, my uncle came up the hard way. He has his enemies and his loyal friends. But they are business friends. They come to the house through the front door and they are received formally. I used to have to leave the room whenever his associates came by. I learned early on that you never ask my uncle how was his day. He will always tell you it was OK. Never good, never bad. Just OK. If he told stories from his past a lot of people would be in jail and you would be surprised indeed as to who they are. I learned long ago never to see or hear anything and never to talk about things I heard at home. You also saw that he is ‘old country’. You guys talked business and while you were doing so he said nothing at all to me. Women are not supposed to hear anything that is said and never to understand why things are done as they are. They know, of course, but the men pretend that they believe the women don’t know and the women pretend they don’t know. Everything works well that way. The world of the Sicilian is a man’s world only, Charlie. And don’t you even think of converting to Sicilian ways!”

  “What would you do if I did, Gina?” Charlie asked laughing.

  “That’s easy. I would just pour boiling olive oil in your ear while you slept. How’s that?”

  “Oh my God, it hurts just to think about it.”

  “Good!” said Gina resolutely. Charlie was not sure if she was kidding.

  “You want to stop by the trattoria for a glass of wine before we go home?” asked Charlie.

  “You want an honest answer, Charlie?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, I would rather go home, put on some soft jazz and just cuddle on the sofa. It’s been a great day and I’d like to just savor it. Is that OK?”

  “It’s better than my suggestion,” Charlie responded.

  While Charlie and Gina were sitting on the sofa listening to quiet jazz Charlie said, “Gina, I’ve got an idea for dealing with those wacko wives over in Shoreville. I’m going to go over there early on Wednesday. I’ll mow the lawn and make myself seen around the neighborhood. I will make it a point to run into Sharon Gallagher and Diane Simms. I’m not going to mention anything. I’ll just make them uncomfortable and let them think I might discuss the matter with their husbands again. In short, I’ll let them think there is a different Charlie Mullins behind the one they have known over the years.”

  “Charlie, you’re getting positively sadistic. I think you might have a hidden mean streak,” she laughed.

  “Maybe, but I think it is time to turn the tables. They knew I was chasing them as they left Wilmington on Saturday. Why not let them think I intend to persecute them a bit? It will certainly get them off balance.”

  “The hunted becomes the hunter, huh?”

  “Yep”

  “I like it Charlie. It might scare them, at least at the outset. They will be confused and afraid you might take the matter up with their husbands again. Good thinking.”

  “I’m going to tell Fred that I want to leave early on Wednesday because I have some things to do at home. He won’t object because right now he is not objecting to anything.”

  Gina snuggled up against Charlie and they sat quietly listening to the music until they both were hungry. Charlie was the first to say something, “Gina, you want to get something light down at the bakery? After that lunch I don’t think I could handle a dinner, but a croissant and a cappuccino might go down well.”

  “Took the words right out of my mouth, Mullins! Let’s take a walk and then get something light. Good idea.” They left the apartment and walked for about an hour before returning to the bakery near Gina’s building. They enjoyed croissants and cappuccinos and then went back to the apartment. After watching some TV, they went to bed. It had been a good day and Charlie now knew not only what he was going to do but also how he was going to do it.

  * * * * *

  On Monday Charlie told Fred Perkins he had some problems with his house and wanted to leave early on Wednesday. At Charlie’s level of management telling Perkins was a mere formality but he wanted to make sure that Fred agreed and was informed. Perkins grunted his agreement in his usual manner for agreeing with anything. Charlie thanked him and went to his office to work on his assignment and clear his desk of pending work. On Wednesday he left the office at lunch time and drove to Shoreville. When he arrived to Shoreville he stopped by a local sandwich shop to purchase a take-out lunch and a soft drink He went home, took his time eating his lunch, then changed into some work clothes and went outside to mow the lawn. He took his time cutting the grass and then trimming along the sidewalk. He made sure some of his neighbors saw him and he waved to them. He checked his watch and noticed that it was time for the local school to let out and was betting that Sharon Gallagher would drive by his house after picking up her children at school. He was right. He saw Sharon’s car coming down his street and he thought he saw surprise on Sharon’s face when she saw him in the yard. He put on a wide smile and waved as she passed. “Hey Sharon, how are you?” he yelled. With the windows of her car closed Sharon could not hear him, but she clearly understood his greeting. Charlie laughed to himself as he saw Sharon’s discomfort. She was not sure if she should wave back to Charlie and she almost lost control of the car in her confusion. “What’s the matter Sharon?” Charlie thought, “You look surprised. Gotcha!”

  He was certain that Sharon would call Diane Simms and they would both drive by the house again before he went off to the bowling alley. He put his yard tools in the garage, swept the grass trimmings from the sidewalk and edge of the driveway into a trash bag and went into the house for a beer. Again he was right. Sharon was already on the phone to Diane. “My God, Diane, I drove by Charlie’s house after picking up the kids and he was working in the yard. He must have left work early or something. You think something is up?”

  “Jeez, Sharon, he was just working in the yard, right? I mean what’s so special about that?”

  “It’s Wednesday, Diane. Why doesn’t he do it on the weekend like everybody else?”

  “Because he is not here on weekends, remember? That’s why you want to follow him around.”

  “Well, anyway, he flashed this big smile and me and waved yelling something I couldn’t hear.”

  “Well now, that might be a bit weird. He knows we followed him on Saturday. By all rights, he should be at least a little bit angry. In fact, he should be very angry. He sure was last time!”

  “Let’s drive by just before he should be leaving for league night. We can see if he is still at home or in the yard. You think he’s up to something?”

  “I don’t know, Sharon. I wonder if he is going to tell our husbands about our following him on Saturday. He knows we got stopped by the police so he has some proof. I don’t like this, I really don’t.”

  “Well, it’s a little late now to be worried, Diane. Let’s just drive by his house. I’ll pick you up in about 10 minutes. We have to try to figure out what’s up.”

  Sharon drove by Diane’s house and they headed toward Charlie’s place. Charlie had pulled his car out of the garage and was washing it. He saw Sharon’s car approaching and Diane was in the passenger seat. “Just as I thought,” he said to himself. As they drew near he flashed a large, friendly smile
, and playfully pointed the hose in the direction of the car as if he meant to spray it as they passed. He laughed and then lowered the hose and waved to them.

  “Oh Christ, Sharon, he’s acting silly. He doesn’t appear to be the least bit upset about Saturday. I think he is going to tell our husbands tonight. Oh my God! Bob will lock me in the basement. Oh, I am in deep trouble now. I don’t even want to think about it!”

  “Hang on, Diane. We need to have a story just in case he does tell them. Why don’t we just say that he is imagining things? We saw him in Wilmington as we were driving around and he just thought we were following him. It’s his word against ours after all. We’re just going to have to tough it out. And the traffic ticket doesn’t prove anything. So what if he saw us getting a ticket? That doesn’t prove we were following him, does it?”

  “No, I guess not, but I wonder if saying that Charlie is imagining things will work. I mean he is not one for being paranoid, you know.”

  “Well, suppose we just say it was probably the strain from the extra work he has been doing and his recollection of the last time we followed him. We just have to deny, Diane, just deny and keep denying. They’ll believe us. I’m sure they will. Remember, you just have to say we did see him and he saw us. After all we were over there shopping. Our husbands knew that. It’s not our fault if Charlie thought we were following him. Just stick to your story and deny, deny, deny. OK?”

  Sharon dropped Diane off at her home and then went to her own. She had agreed with Diane that neither would be out of the house when their husbands returned from bowling and they would wait to see what Charlie had told them.