Bloody Shadows

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “He’ll be there, but he agrees with you. I don’t have any answers for Salvatore. Do I wish he wasn’t in our backyard? Yep. I don’t want to rain all over Jean’s new squeeze, but I think she’ll get over it by the time she’s ten.”

  “I heard that,” Jean had drifted within earshot while Gus and Nick were talking.

  “Sneak!”

  “I don’t want Sonny’s Dad to disappear, Uncle Gus.”

  “He won’t,” Nick said. “Gus’s job is to tell me stuff I don’t want to hear. He needed to point out our Phil Salvatore problem. With everyone else out of the picture, I believe we can simply ignore Phil. I’m glad you didn’t get behind in your schoolwork. I’ll talk to Dimah today and make sure we’re okay for the Washington trip. Chaperones for the dance arrive at 2:30, so I’ll make sure I’m there in plenty of time for the big show.”

  “It only lasts until four. We could go get some ice cream afterward with Sonny. I don’t know if his parents will be there or not.”

  “You can ask him. I’ll have my writing and workout done for the day before the dance, so you and I can go even if Sonny can’t. We’ll bring your Mom home something she wants too.”

  “Okay, but I already know what Mom wants. Pick out something with the most chocolate and calories, double it, and she’ll be fine.”

  “You are so lucky I don’t rat you out. You might not be so lucky with blabbermouth Payaso.”

  Jean stopped in mid stride. “What happened to what goes on the walk to school, stays on the walk to school?”

  Gus smiled at Jean’s hands on hips pose of annoyance as she waited for his response. “This is getting to be like walking a thirty year old to school, Nick. Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with blabbermouth Payaso. Don’t be surprised if your Mom tricks it out of Muerto. He’s an easy target.”

  Nick bowed his head, scuffing at the sidewalk with his shoe. “I’m so weak.”

  “Perhaps a few stories about the young Moms eyeballing the famous author would make for good dinner conversation too,” Jean replied.

  “You little wart. That’s blackmail!”

  Jean giggled and skipped ahead with Deke again.

  “I’ve created a monster.”

  “I won’t pretend to know kids, but I believe they get worse when they hit their teens.”

  “Gee, thanks for that happy thought, Payaso.”

  “That’s Blabbermouth Payaso to you.”

  “I stand corrected.”

  * * *

  Nick walked Jean to her classroom. Dimah Kader waited outside the classroom to greet her students and a few of the parents. She seemed glad to see Nick and Jean. After a quick wave hello, Jean skipped inside to where Nick saw Sonny Salvatore.

  “I’m happy to see you are both well and safe. I heard many rumors about bombs, gunmen, and your family going into hiding. Mr. Salvatore seemed to know quite a bit of what actually was happening. I believe he questioned the police as to your safety.”

  Yeah, I’ll bet he did. “That was thoughtful of him. We did have trouble, but it’s over now, and we want to make sure Jean stays ahead in her studies before our trip to Washington.”

  “I’m certain she will be fine. I saw your name on the chaperone list. It is nice you can come today. It should be fun. Will your wife be coming along?”

  “No, she’s a bit uneasy about some events because of her pregnancy being so far along. I’ll be taking movies though. I guess I’ll see you there.” Nick turned to leave, but Dimah grabbed his arm.

  “Nick, I want to speak with you, possibly at the dance where we’ll have more time. My cousin from New Jersey will be visiting on her next vacation. She wants to escape our family’s primitive and violent clutches as I did. My separation from the family out here has been an angry topic in the East.”

  Uh oh. “I’ll be happy to talk with you about it, but won’t your fiancé be coming home soon?”

  Dimah grabbed Nick’s hands in hers excitedly. “Yes… that is the other subject I wish to speak with you about. I wish to have a small wedding, but there will be close to fifty people there. I…I have nothing to do with my family anymore. Would you consider giving me away at the wedding, Nick?”

  “You really don’t have anyone else, Dimah? I mean… I’d be honored, but-”

  “Oh thank you, Nick. I am so blessed to have a friend like you! I will talk with you more this afternoon.” Dimah gave his hands a firm shake, and turned into her classroom.

  Wonderful. Wait until Rachel hears about this… and Gus. I just got rolled.

  * * *

  “You did what?”

  Gus laughed while watching the Rachel hands on hips show as she reacted to Nick’s update on the Dimah Kader wedding.

  “I’m assuming that was a rhetorical exclamation,” Nick answered. “I got rolled. Don’t act like you’ve never seen it happen before. You and the Daughter of Darkness roll me quite frequently. Are you pissed off because an acquaintance did it?”

  Rachel took a deep breath, and let her arms slip to her sides as she straightened. “Maybe. I’m shell shocked. You only last night returned from ending an incredibly dangerous threat. I heard you wake to tackle Diego’s continuing adventures, all happy-go-lucky. Then, you walk Jean to school, and return with us as the main ingredients in Dimah Kader’s wedding, including you giving away the bride – at a wedding her family will probably send suicide bombers to. How am I doing?”

  “Pretty fair, except you forgot to mention my agreeing to help Dimah’s cousin from the East, also running from her psycho family,” Nick replied.

  “Madre de Dios!”

  “I’m getting a lot of that lately.” Nick turned to the very entertained Gus. “See, Payaso, I told you Rach would be calmly tolerant of my newly acquired duties.”

  “I want my husband back! You know… the one I married. The one who shot a woman right between her horns while petting her dog. Let’s see… what was it you said when I asked you if she was bad? Oh yeah… you said ‘she was to someone’. You probably ate the dog later. That’s my husband! Where is he! What have you done with him?”

  By that time both Gus and Nick were engrossed in amused appreciation of Rachel’s verbal tantrum. Rachel plopped down on a kitchen chair. “I’m glad you and Payaso think this is so funny, Muerto. You could have pointed out the fact there is such a thing as elopement to Dimah. You could have written them a check for a Las Vegas special with an entire hotel wing for her fiancé’s Marine detachment.”

  “Is there something you don’t understand about the admission, ‘I got rolled’.”

  “Never mind. I’m going to fix this for you. When you chaperone the dance, have Dimah call me. I’ll make some polite suggestions, and add an offer to help with a planned Vegas special. They have some great package deals I’m sure she’ll enjoy. I don’t think she’s considered the unintended consequences of having even a moderately attended wedding with her whacko relatives anywhere around.”

  “That sounds good to me, Rach. I’ll punt that ball out on her one yard line the moment I have a chance to discuss things with her during my chaperone duties.”

  “Sometimes, it takes a woman’s light touch in these matters.”

  “By the way… I didn’t eat the lady’s dog, you Philistine.”

  * * *

  Nick was stationed near the older kids at the dance. The principal rightly assumed with the reputation he had garnered, there would be less likelihood of any trouble with the students nearing their teenage years. Having accidentally on purpose killed a gunman in the school hallway went far beyond making gang signs with fingers, and wearing pants at the thighs. He was the real deal, and the dancers under his supervision respected that fact with relatively good behavior.

  Nick could see Jean interacting with her friends, and dancing with whatever boy was courageous enough to ask her. When she did, he recorded it with his small zoom lens digital cam. Since she didn’t turn anyone down, more of the boys gravitated to her. Sonny danced with her a
couple of times, but seemed more taken with her conversation between dances which Nick also recorded because he knew Rachel would think them cute. Nick had already relayed Rachel’s request to Dimah, who promised to call her before she and Nick talked. He saw Dimah approach hurriedly with a big smile as the song ended.

  “Rachel is so happy for me! She agreed to be Maid of Honor if Quinn is born on time. You two are the best! I have a beautiful spot picked out near ‘Lover’s Point’ amongst the trees there.”

  “That is a beautiful area. Well, what a nice surprise,” Nick said. “Rachel never hinted to me that she would be interested in being part of the wedding. I thought perhaps she had some other suggestions for you. I guess it’s all set then. It’s good you weren’t shooting for an April wedding. I will need most of this month to handle the book signings in Washington.”

  “I can’t possibly do it until June, which will be perfect. I believe Rachel hopes Quinn is early. She mentioned being very tired of her pregnancy.”

  “It would not be good for her to have Quinn on our trip, but what happens… happens. As long as he’s healthy, inconvenience means very little.”

  “Yes, so true. How do you like our April dance for the kids. I bet you pictured all manner of scenes with your imagination.”

  “I think it’s great,” Nick agreed, motioning at the kids dancing. “I told Rachel and Jean, boys mostly stood along the wall, and girls danced with each other when I was a kid. These kids are all dancing, and they seem competent doing it.”

  “They dance all the time to their iPods and phones. I can always tell when they are listening to something by Bluetooth when they should be paying attention in class. They cannot keep still. I have confiscated many electronic gizmos this year. I of course give them to the parents. In the old days teachers probably confiscated only chewing gum, and comic books. We are well beyond those days.”

  “Agreed. You mentioned your cousin. Will she be visiting in time for the wedding?”

  “She is trying to arrange her escape so she doesn’t attract attention. I don’t know if she will make it for the wedding. Her name is Cala. I believe she plans to drive, so she can simply disappear. Once Cala settles here, and gets a job, it will be very difficult for my family to pressure her back. I will find out more soon. Thank you for asking, Nick.”

  Nick spotted Phil Salvatore entering the gym, dressed in a dark gray suit, and looking formidable in a banker type manner. Sonny intercepted him, but Phil patted his shoulder, and continued on toward Nick. “I think Sonny’s Dad is heading our way. By his expression, I hope he wants to talk with you.”

  “Gee, thanks Nick. Pardon me, but I am hoping he wants only you. Sonny is a good student, and apple of the teacher’s eye, a wonderful-”

  “Suck-up,” Nick interrupted Dimah’s comical listings of Phil Salvatore’s son’s good qualities. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Ms. Kader.”

  Phil was approaching too fast for Dimah to get in a last retort, so she elbowed Nick, while smiling at Salvatore. “Hi, Mr. Salvatore. I’m glad you could make it. Nick has been policing the older kids for us.”

  “Call me Phil.” Salvatore smiled charmingly while shaking Dimah’s hand, and then Nick’s. “Yes, I’ll bet Nick has been policing these kids very well. I was wondering if I might have a word with you, Nick.”

  “Certainly.”

  “I will get closer to my bunch of young rebels. I will talk with you both later. Nick, I will discuss my cousin’s situation with you after this weekend if that is alright with you.”

  “Of course, Dimah.” Nick and Phil waited until Dimah moved across the gym. “What can I do for you, Phil?”

  “Have you heard the news from DC?”

  “I’m working on a new novel I’m titling ‘Dark Interlude’. With book signings in the state of Washington this month, I’ve been trying to get as far along with my new novel as I can before the signings. We authors have to hawk our wares past, present, and future at every opportunity. The novel so far is going very well, and I admit I am out of touch concerning current events away from my keyboard. My wife Rachel didn’t mention anything out of DC. What happened?”

  Salvatore stared at Nick, obviously trying to gauge whether he was indeed as innocently ignorant of the recent news or being deliberately obtuse. “If you had come up for air from your keyboard you would have noticed the National Security Advisor to the President, Lee Collister, died of mysterious causes last night.”

  Nick furrowed his brow in an award winning look of questioning concern. “My condolences. Was he a friend of yours?”

  Salvatore’s mouth tightened into a thin lipped clamp on something it took control not to disgorge. “No… he was one of my mentors… a boss, if you will. I had some trouble at my previous posting in DC because of a woman I worked for named Nancy Pettinger. She was accused of being a traitor, and died rather ignominiously in a sex scandal. I was caught in a web where the powers that be decided we were all tainted. Collister aided me in getting the posting here, and a way to earn my way back to DC. All I was to do besides grunt work in the office was report on happenings concerning your actions.”

  Nick smiled. “My actions. You mean writing novels?”

  “No. I mean finding men planting bombs on your house, and hitmen sent to your house you killed in cold blood. I know you were a consultant on the Nancy Pettinger case. Now she’s dead. A man I greatly admire had me looking into your adventures on the coast, and now he’s dead. Maybe all this is just a big coincidence, but I’m wondering if I’m going to be found dead of mysterious causes soon.”

  Nick shrugged. “I don’t know, Phil. Have you done anything that would warrant someone killing you? You said yourself Pettinger died in some kind of sex thing gone wrong, and you don’t even know yet what caused this Collister guy’s death. It doesn’t seem like you’ve done anything to get killed for yet… according to what you’ve told me.”

  Salvatore’s face took on a flushed appearance as rage seeped into his features. “Are you playing with me, McCarty?”

  Nick allowed the Terminator to surface, not to impress Salvatore, but because he was getting awfully tired of talking to him. “Believe me, Phil. I don’t play with anyone. I’ll tell you what though. I will do you a favor. Wait one.”

  Nick took out his iPhone, and called Paul Gilbrech.

  “Nick?”

  “Yep. I have Phil Salvatore here at our kids’ dance with lots of curiosity. Would you talk with him for me so I’m not forced to make an adjustment?”

  “Put him on. Thanks for calling me first.”

  “Happy to do it, my friend.” Nick handed the phone to Salvatore. “This is for you.”

  Salvatore took the phone. “Who is it?”

  “Paul Gilbrech, the Director of the CIA.”

  Salvatore nearly dropped the phone. He put it to his ear tentatively. “Hello.”

  Nick watched him cringe as he heard Paul taking Salvatore through a litany of louder than normal voiced conversation. After a few minutes, Salvatore said, “Yes Sir, I understand, Sir.”

  Salvatore handed the phone back to Nick. His face had much less color. “I’m glad you called anyway, Nick. I knew you wanted to know. Clyde took the job as driver.”

  “Outstanding,” Nick said, pleased the kid didn’t take one for the team. “Thanks for letting me know. I liked him.”

  “The feeling is not mutual. Be talking with you soon,” Gilbrech disconnected.

  When Nick put away the phone, and turned his attention to the dance floor without commenting any further, Salvatore could only stay silent for a minute. “I have to ask. What did ‘forced to make an adjustment’ mean?”

  “Let’s leave it with an old school cliché, Phil. Curiosity killed the cat, and satisfaction did not bring it back. In fact it ate the cat’s nine lives like chocolate covered Cheerios. Through no fault of your own other than trying to get ahead in DC, you crossed paths with the wrong people. Take this to heart. Enjoy your time here in this beautif
ul place. Work your present job with distinction, and live within your means. I’m afraid you won’t be returning to DC any time soon. Please don’t make mention of me to anyone, for any reason, or in any reference. Is that clear?”

  Salvatore nodded. “Clear. I don’t think it’s a good idea, or a safe one, for my son to visit your house. Is that a problem?”

  “Nope. I understand completely. They’re nine, and going to school together. They’ll be okay. Does that mean you don’t want Jean to visit your house either?”

  “Can I get back to you on that? My wife is upset over everything to do with my being sent here. I believe she figured Collister’s chance for me to get my old job back was a sure thing. She loved the Washington D.C. scene.”

  “You mean the parties, and socializing?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Do you or your wife golf?”

  “Ah… yes. It’s kind of a must in DC social circles.”

  “Good,” Nick said. “I have a connection with Corral de Tierra Country Club in Carmel. It’s a private club. I’ll have a friend of mine, Julius Danvers, invite you to join. It’s by invitation only. I’ll take care of the fees. It will please your wife.”

  “That’s very generous of you, but I-”

  “Don’t say no, Phil. Take the offer home to Clarice.”

  “Okay… sure… thank you. Are you a member?”

  “I have a membership because Julius is a big fan of my novels, and I did a favor for him once. He has a shipping line. He asks me in for a consultation once in a while, and we meet at the Corral. My Rachel doesn’t care for golf or country clubs, so other than having dinner with Julius once in a while at the Corral, we’re not active members. You won’t have to fear running into me there.”

  “Why would you do this for me?”

  “Jean likes Sonny, and I want you to know there aren’t any hard feelings about getting into my business, just so you never do it again. Leave everything at ‘our kids go to school together’ and we won’t have any problems.”

  “Don’t worry about that.”