Scot Free Iii: The Last Outlaw

By Kerri Thomas

This is the final installment of the Scot Free series. A new Blood Brother comes to town to determine if Mikey is responsible for the deaths of two other bike club members. Is he finally going to be caught at his own game or will he once again slip through getting away with everything Scot Free?
The federal government spent more than twenty years pursuing him, wire tapping the phone lines, following him and at one point, through Scot Free II: The Lawless Biker, we know the feds even infiltrated the biker club. How will the new Blood Brother fair in his quest to solve the disappearances and death of two other faithful members when the FBI can’t even catch Mikey doing anything illegal?
Many tell me it sounds interesting growing up with a man who is a self-proclaimed hitman for the Mob. I can tell you that it was not. His choices affected our lives and not always for the better. Most of the time, it was for the worst.
Please, join me as Toledo’s notorious outlaw finishes what he started. Mikey Thomas continues to work under the cloak of invisibility the Mafia and his club brothers afford him. He was a man who had no regrets and in his own words, “I lived my life how I wanted and I will not apologize for anything.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: May 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663221094

Kerri Thomas

Kerri Thomas, the author of the first Scot Free, lives in a southern coastal town with her husband and two children. She continues to write and is preparing for the third book of this trilogy.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

It didn’t take long for the news to get around that I was out of prison nor did it take long for people to start coming to me and telling me what had happened while I was away. After years of the police trying to bust me on narcotics charges, they finally settled on contributing to the delinquency of a minor and statutory rape. I did about nine months of an eighteen-month sentence.

While I was in prison, my wife of over six years, Carol, attempted to leave me after discovering my mistress, Allison Morgan, and her son, Jacob, had been living with us under the guise of being my wife’s best friend. I convinced Carol that she was delusional and she conceded. My wife was in the habit of turning a blind eye to my shenanigans and often making excuses for me. I was okay with that.

I was partial to redheads. Three of my five wives, including Carol, were redheads. Allison was a dark-haired beauty. She and I were the same height and taller than my wife by an inch or so. Even though my family is predominantly English, I have Irish roots which is evident with my black hair and blue eyes.

Carol and I walked into the bar we hung out in a few days after my release. It sits on the corner of Phillips and Sylvania Avenue. The bar is owned and operated by my childhood best friend, Tony Martinelli, the boss of the Toledo Crime Family.

Tony looked like the typical Italian. He was small in stature, dark haired, and beefy. He worked out a lot as a teen and a young man. The muscle might have waned, but you could tell he once lifted weights. If his build didn’t intimidate people, the fact he was the Don, would.

Meat, a fellow biker, like myself, was in the same motorcycle club, The Blood Brothers. He stopped me at the door and motioned for me to go back outside with him. Glad to see you’re out, Mikey. We all missed you, he announced sheepishly when we had stepped into the parking lot of the bar.

Thanks, Meat. Same here.

I take it you ain’t heard the news on John Boy, he asked, leaning back on his bike and lighting a smoke.

No, what about him? Admittedly, I had not been able to keep up with current events and added, The only thing I heard was Fatboy had taken over as the president of the Toledo chapter.

Whatever Carol knew, she didn’t share with Allison and because my mistress had turned into a homebody since my imprisonment, she didn’t know what was going on, either.

He’s doing time, Meat answered, smiling mischievously.

For what?

Big stuff, Meat shook his hand like it was hot. I mean, real big stuff, man. We won’t be seeing much of him for a long time to come.

What’d he get busted for, Meat? Don’t be fucking around either, just tell me. I was scared to death it was for murder.

Unbeknownst to Meat, John Boy and I had done a few hits together. I was concerned that I would soon be dragged into the middle of it. John Boy, Webster, and I killed a fellow biker, Ogre. The big boss, Giant, was our club’s national president and he was on to us. After Webster tried to rat us out to Giant, we made him disappear, too. Needless to say, if John Boy was doing time for murder, I was very concerned.

Meat gave a hearty laugh. He caught someone diddling one of his prostitutes without his permission and worked the guy over pretty good. He got charged with assault and battery. He should be out in a few months.

Jesus Christ, Meat, you scared the shit out of me, I yelled.

Meat kept laughing until he choked on his cigarette smoke. Eventually, he was coughing and gasping, hunched over hitting his chest with his fist still fighting the barrel of giggles inside him. The sight was so funny that I started laughing, too, making it worse for him.

Meat finally collected himself, as did I, and said, Come on inside, I want you to meet someone. He’s a Brother from DC. Goes by the name of Taz. He tossed down a half-smoked cigarette and started inside.

A new Brother? I asked with pause as I followed him inside.

I was hesitant for two reasons. The first being because of the last new Brother had caused a lot of trouble. He turned out to be an undercover who penetrated the club using a confidential informant. They were the cause of my being busted in the first place. The second reason was this other new guy came from DC., Giant’s area.

"No, he’s not new. Been running with us for few years now. He says he’s from Toledo and moved away after he got married. The wife’s divorced him now, so he’s come home."

Meat and I walked back inside. He directed me to the back room. While I sat at the back bar and waited, Meat walked to a guy that is his polar opposite. Where Meat was about 220 pounds at 5-foot-6, the new biker stood at least 6-foot-1 and must have weighed a good 200 lbs. or better. He had light brown hair wrapped in a long braided ponytail that hung down the length of his back.

His T-shirt was draped over the back of a chair while he shot a game of pool. I noticed a tattoo of the Tasmanian devil on his back. In one hand, the cartoon character held playing cards of a Royal Flush. Around the waist of the devil was a banner that simply said Taz on it.

I noticed the tat because it was unique. I leaned up against a bar stool and watched as Meat approached the beefed-up biker. A few minutes later, the guy put down his pool cue and walked with Meat towards me.

Mikey, this is Taz, Meat called out as he and the new guy stopped in front of me. Turning to Taz he said, This is Mikey. He’s one of the Brothers we told you about. Mikey is a long time member.

How ya doing, Mikey? Taz said as he extended his hand.

I shook it. Pretty good, ’N you?

I’m hanging in there. Taz took a seat next to me. With a smile he said, I hear you are quite a prankster?

I smiled back and looked toward Meat. Who’d you hear that from?

Taz hooked his thumb in Meat’s direction. He tells me you’re an original; Says you fucked with some guy a couple times.

Yeah, we did, I laughed and slapped Meat on his back.

I knew he was talking about Johnny Games. We have pulled many pranks on this guy that included rebuilding a Mustang in the middle of this living room while he was gone on vacation.

It wasn’t anyone important, just some asshole. You’ll meet him eventually if you haven’t already.

I have already.

He’s still coming around here? I asked Meat.

Yeah, every now and then he hangs around, he answered, then he excused himself to go check out a new piece of ass he spotted in the bar.

By the end of the week, Taz had quickly managed to develop a friendship with me, or so he thought. I liked Taz and my only problem with him was that he and Giant went back a long way. They had been friends for several years. I knew Giant didn’t trust me anymore, if he ever had, and since he and Taz were friends, I was suspicious that maybe Giant put him on to me to check me out, to find out what I knew about Webster and Ogre.

Although, Giant was 6-foot-5 and weighed 400 pounds if I weighed an ounce, his size did not frighten me. It was his status in the club; the national president of The Blood Brothers. His position alone provided him plenty of influence to have me whacked.

For the next couple of weeks, Taz and I were almost inseparable, which made me all the more suspicious. The old saying keep your friends close and your enemies closer was clearly coming to mind. As far as I was concerned I would just ride it out, play it cool, and bide my time to save my own ass. I would do whatever it took to convince either party I didn’t have anything to do with Webster or Ogre’s disappearances.

Although Taz had met my family, I refrained from telling him about Allison and me. When he took a liking to her, I made sure to keep my mouth shut. I kept my cool. I sat back and watched as Taz continued to pressure Allison into a date. Finally, at Carol’s insistence, she accepted.

Allison and I talked about it and we had both agreed that if she kept turning Taz down, eventually, Carol would return to her old suspicions that Ally and I were involved with each other. I wasn’t all too sure Carol was completely convinced there wasn’t anything going on between us anyway. Therefore, it was in our best interest if the date took place.

My wife suggested we double date with Taz and Allison. I think one reason was that it’s common knowledge among everyone in our little clique that Carol is a nosy gossip. I suppose being nosy and a gossip go hand-in-hand though, so it didn’t come as any surprise that my wife invited herself along. She wanted the scoop firsthand.

The other reason I think Carol insisted on the double date would be to manipulate me into taking her out to dinner, using Allison as bait. This was highly possible, as well. Either way, I readily agreed so I could keep an eye on the twosome.

The four of us decided to go to dinner and later head to the bar. Taz arrived on his Harley since he had promised Allison a ride on it. We were all ready, except for Carol; she was still applying her make-up.

The four of us sat at the dining room table talking while we waited for Carol to finish. Taz and I had been talking about prison life and comparing notes when Carol leaned back in her chair and took a long heavy drag off her cigarette.

Through the smoke being exhaled from her mouth she said, rather dramatically, I have an idea, Mikey. Why not have Kerri write all about your experiences while in prison? She could write about your life.

Why would I do that? I asked my wife, knowing she couldn’t wait to tell me.

Kerri is my oldest child from my first marriage and my current wife always found a problem with her even when there wasn’t one to find.

Oh, don’t you know? Carol widened her eyes and lifted her eyebrows in mock surprise.

This was her way of telling me she knew something I didn’t and thought I might not like. She liked to make a big show with a huge presentation, especially if she thought I wasn’t going to appreciate the information.

Apparently not, Carol, I answered, bracing myself.

Your daughter is going to be a writer when she grows up. Carol said as she laughed in a patronizing tone. She thinks she’s going to be the next Stephen King.

Who is Stephen King?

Allison rolled her eyes at Carol and answered, "You know, Mikey, the guy who wrote Carrie… about the girl who had pig blood poured on her at the prom? He just had a new TV movie made, Salem’s Lot. It was pretty good, Allison added, snickering, We watched it on TV; scared the shit clean out of us. Kerri was watching it upstairs; Carol and I were down here. We heard her scream and next thing we knew, Kerri was sitting here with us."

Taz laughed and coughed into his hand, Yeah, I saw that one, too. Best vampire movie made.

I looked at my wife. So? What’s wrong with Kerri writing?

Carol tossed her cosmetics back into the bag and looked at me as if I had missed the whole point of her bringing it up in the first place. You’ll see, she answered.

No, tell me. What’s the big deal? I asked, leaning forward and folding my hands in front of me.

She never said she was going to be the next Stephen King, Allison corrected. "Kerri said she liked to write, that was it. Kerri just happens to like reading macabre. She likes Stephen King."

Well, she has the perfect source for macabre then: her father, Carol commented, standing up and collecting her bag of facial supplies.

Did she say she was going to write about me?

Carol was tossing her make-up onto the counter top as if to emphasize a point, then turned to me with her hip cocked out and one hand on it, Yup.

She’s pretty good for being fourteen, Allison offered, as a change in subject. She wrote that play for her class and they did a puppet show with it. She’s written a couple of short stories, murder mysteries, I think.

You’ve read them, Taz asked before I had a chance to.

Allison nodded in agreement. Oh yeah, I’ve read them. She’s got quite an imagination. I think she can do it.

What about you? I asked Carol, Did you read any of it?

Carol threw her hands up in the air as if she was at a loss. I don’t have time to sit here and read that shit. I’ve got more important things to do.

Taz laughed. At least she has a plan, Mikey. My kid changes his mind every other day.

So do my boys, I chuckled. After taking inventory of the room and deciding Carol was through dolling herself up, I stood to go. Are we ready?

Everyone took my cue and stood up to leave. Carol insisted we wait just a few more minutes so she could recheck her hair.

What difference does it make, Carol? You’re riding on the back of a bike, aren’t you? Allison asked.

Oh no, I’m not going anywhere on a bike. We’re taking the car.

We are? I asked, looking around surprised.

Carol stepped closer to me and threw her arms around my neck as she planted a kiss on my mouth. We are. I’m not quite ready for you to get back on a bike again so soon after your accident. I almost lost you the last time, Mikey. Don’t put me through that again, please?

My wife was referring to the near-death motorcycle accident I had lived through from the previous year.

Honey, I’ve been back on a bike since the accident.

I know, and I’m petrified every time you leave the house on your bike. Carol made a show of fear and shuddered to emphasize her point. Tonight, let me be worry-free, okay?

Since it was decided Taz and Allison would ride his bike and Carol and I would take the car, I grabbed the car keys and headed toward the door. I had threatened my wife that if she were not in the car when I got there, I’d leave her sitting at home.

I almost cracked up watching her. Carol leaned over, snatched her purse off the back of a chair, and practically ran out the front door, nearly tripping over the dog in the process. Poor Adolph lurched up startled as Carol braced herself on the archway of the living room. I was too busy enjoying the show to tell her to slow down.

CHAPTER 2

The restaurant of choice was Top of the Towers located in downtown Toledo. Its name originated because of its whereabouts on the top floor of the River View Tower which was a fiberglass skyscraper built in 1968. It stood tall along the riverside of North Summit, a few blocks from the Cherry Street Bridge.

This tower gave credibility to the city’s nickname that made Toledo known as the Glass City. While dining, customers could enjoy the overview of the area along the river for miles long and wide. The mirrored windows reflected the city lights at night adding beauty to it.

On a full moon night with the reflection of lights, the water, and the glowing moon made for a very romantic scene for any budding romance. It was this scenic view alone that ensured my decision to tag along with Taz and Allison on their first date.

I sat behind the wheel of my car, a bright green Duster, and watched as Taz and my mistress climbed aboard his Harley. Allison turned back to smile at us and wave. I waved back.

What are we waiting for? asked Carol.

With her southern twang, she dropped the ing off words using that suffix and instead, pronounced words with an N at the end; wait’n for example, instead of waiting. I ignored her.

Carol gave an exaggerated sigh and propped her elbow on the passenger door. She sat slowly rubbing her forehead with her fingertips like a person would who was losing patience with someone ignorant.

I had the vivid image of her rubbing off all that hard work she had gone through putting on her face as she called it. I thought of her having a white streak across the top of her forehead and her fingertips covered in all that beige goo she had used.

Taz kick started the bike. Allison turned back again and smiled at us. Perfect timing because I smiled, too, but not at Ally, only at my thoughts of how horrified my wife would be if she actually did rub off the make-up.

I heard Carol speaking. Huh, I said, as my wife’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. I turned to look quickly at her with a blank face as Taz began moving his bike out into the street. What did you say?

Pay attention, Michael! I’m not talking to hear myself talk!

I backhanded her in the mouth. Watch your fucking mouth! You don’t scold me. I’m not your kid! Now what did you say?

I pulled out behind the duo as Carol checked her mouth in the mirror and then somberly repeated herself, I was just saying that I thought Ally had a good idea about moving out. You know, get on her own again? Of course, we’ll always be there to help her out if she needs it; I just think she should try.

Yeah, I responded, more or less still ignoring her.

My eyes were glued to Taz and Allison. I watched as Allison’s long dark curls bounced and danced in the wind as they slowed to make the turn down Cherry Street. Taz took the turn and popped a little wheelie. I thought it was a crazy thing to do when turning a corner and I started to laugh. However, the laughter quickly died in my throat.

Mikey, watch out! Carol screamed.

I screeched to a halt. Had I kept going, I more than likely would have ran over Allison who had slid off the back of the bike, her legs smacking the pavement and getting dragged a few feet. When she finally let go of the bike her head bounced once on the street. Taz had lost control of the motorcycle, and it tipped over on him, leaving Allison lying in the dust a foot or so from the vehicle.

Allison looked unconscious. She was not moving as she lay on the ground in the middle of Cherry Street. My car was directly behind her listless body.

I refused to move or pull over. Instead, I turned on my flashers and turned off the ignition. I blocked that lane of the four-lane road with my car, providing protection from the busy streamline of traffic that continued to zoom past us.

Oh my God! Oh my God, Carol repeated.

When it was safe, I got out and approached Allison’s body. I gently pulled back her hair and looked at her face. Her eyes were closed but it looked like tears had fallen. Her cheeks were still moist when I touched her.

Oh shit, Mikey, help me!

I looked over to where Taz still lay under the motorcycle. I’m coming, I called out.

I took a last look at the blood coming from Ally’s head and ran over to Taz. Carol had finally gotten out of the car. I noticed she was also crying.

Is she still alive? she asked, her voice filled with sobs.

I didn’t answer. I went to Taz, pulled the bike off him, and helped him to sit. Carol had gone to Allison and knelt down. A motorist had stopped. To me, he was nothing more than a faceless Good Samaritan. I couldn’t describe him to you if my life depended on it.

Do you need any help? he asked from his car window.

Please, call an ambulance! We need someone here, I pleaded.

The motorist sped off, I hoped to the nearest pay phone while I stole a glance in Allison and Carol’s direction.

My wife remained in a kneeling position over her body. She was stroking her hair and saying something soothing to her. I couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. I was dazed and felt somewhat disoriented over everything that had happened in the past two minutes.

Mikey, Taz croaked out, fighting the tears that were sure to come. I turned back towards him. He looked at me, eyes filled with so much remorse. Did I kill her? Did I kill Ally?

I stood looking at him, wondering how he could be so stupid. What possessed him to pop a wheelie while making a turn?

Are you all right? I asked, instead of answering his question.

I’m so sorry, he whispered, as he lay back, resting his head on the curb. He covered his eyes with his arm. I was sure he was crying, too.

Allison’s shirt was hiked up around her chest. I walked over to her and gently tugged down the hiked-up shirt that was exposing her skin.

Don’t touch her, Carol whispered.

I don’t want people to pass by and look at her like this, I explained quietly.

Carol’s eye makeup smeared from tears. She had black streaks running down her face. I couldn’t help but look at her forehead to see if the makeup was rubbed off; it wasn’t. Only the mascara and rouge, or whatever that stuff is called for the cheeks, was ruined. Carol nodded her head at my explanation and continued to stroke Ally’s hair.

In a reassuring tone, she said over and over, It will be all right, Ally. Everything will be just fine. I promise Mikey and I will take care of Jacob. He’s a good boy. I think it was all she could think to say.

Another motorist stopped and asked if we needed assistance. I asked that he please call an ambulance just in case the first guy didn’t. Like the first car, he sped off. Again, I hoped to find a pay phone.

I walked back to the curb and sat next to Taz. He didn’t move. He just continued to lie there with his arm draped over his eyes. I didn’t hear him crying. I didn’t hear anything at all coming from him. I didn’t speak to him, either. Instead, I sat staring at Allison’s motionless body and thinking about what she must have been feeling the night she was at the scene of my accident; and now, here I was, more than a year later at hers.

For some reason, my father’s face flashed before my eyes. In one split second, I felt jerked back in time; back to when I was just a boy and riding in the back seat of my father’s car. My father was trying to beat the red light and sped up a notch, but ran it instead and was broadsided by another car.

Fortunately, I was sitting directly behind my father when the car hit the back door of the passenger side. The hit was hard enough that my mother, who was riding shot gun in the front seat, jolted forward and smacked her head on the windshield, rending her unconscious. When she fell over, I saw the blood on the window and panicked. I was terrified that my mother was dead and I started to scream.

Michael, shut up, my father yelled.

She’s dead, she’s dead! I yelled back at him, hating him for this.

I knew the accident was his fault. If he hadn’t run the light, none of this would have been happening.

She’s not dead, Mikey. Now shut up before I knock the hell out of you!

I recalled when the ambulance arrived to take my mother to the hospital. My father, with no emotion, whatsoever, over the fact his wife was injured, not to mention because of his own stupidity, stood bickering with the ambulance driver. He wanted to take my mother himself so he didn’t have to pay the bill for the services. He finally relented and allowed them to take her to get checked out.

After they left with my mother, my father started kicking the car door damaged from the accident. He yelled and cussed about how it was going to cost him so much money to fix it. He yelled and cussed about the ticket he received for running a red light and, at that very moment, I hated him. I had so much hatred for him, I swore I would never forgive him for the rest of his life.

In the distance, I heard the distinct sound of sirens coming in our direction. I zoomed back into the present time. The days of my youth vanished before my eyes along with my father’s face. The only regiments that remained were the feelings of hatred I had once felt towards him. I sighed heavily and stood up again.

I walked to Allison. Carol was still talking to her; this time she was telling her how much we loved her. The ambulance is coming, Carol. You’re going to have to move away from her, I quietly informed my wife.

Carol bent over again and kissed Allison’s forehead, and told her one more time that we loved her.

CHAPTER 3

Several hours later, I walked through the door of the house, went straight to the kitchen, and started a pot of coffee. It would soon be time to get the children up for school. I knew that Kerri would be the first one up so she could get herself ready before going in to fight with Chad and Jacob in efforts to make them get up for school, as well.

I left Carol at the hospital and came home using the children as the excuse. The fact of the matter was, I had to get out of there. I needed time alone to sort out how I was feeling. Although, I felt this was an inconvenience to me, I was pretty sure I could spin it to work in my favor. I just needed time to think on it.

When the coffee finished, I fixed myself a cup of the darkened brew and carried it to the dining room table. I had just sat down and lit a cigarette when I heard Kerri upstairs roaming around.

I thought about how I was going to tell her about last night. I wasn’t sure how she was going to take it even though I felt sure my daughter was strong enough. She handled my accident very well. However, the other side of the coin was, I think Kerri loved Allison far more than she loved me.

I glanced to my left, in the direction of Allison’s room. Without thought, I got up from the table and walked in. It was just the way she left it. Clothes were strewn about; evidence of her indecision about what to wear the previous night. Shoes that were too inappropriate for her outfit or even for her ride tossed back into the closet. I knew she had finally decided on her black boots because they went with her blue jeans and were proper for bike riding.

I backed out of the bedroom, closing the door behind me. I turned around just as Kerri came in. My daughter closed her bathrobe tighter around her and sat down at the table.

How bad is she hurt? she asked, totally catching me off guard.

Who? I stuttered.

I managed to make it back to the table where I left my coffee and lit cigarette. I took a drag off my Winston which was now my cigarette of choice since prison, and extinguished it.

Allison, Kerri answered.

What about her? I was stalling, trying to figure out if and how Kerri knew, and if she didn’t know, I had to find the right way to tell her.

Didn’t she have an accident last night?

How do you know that? I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.

Kerri shrugged her shoulders and looked down into her lap.

"It’s one of those things again? When Kerri only nodded that it was, in fact, a premonition, a cold chill went down my spine. I shuddered and scolded her, You give me the fucking creeps when you do that shit!"

It was kind of one of those things. I had a feeling but wasn’t sure until I saw your face. What happened? she asked, looking up at me her eyes filled with curiosity.

You know, curiosity killed the cat, I offered lightly.

And satisfaction brought him back.

I smiled at her and clicked my partial plate with my tongue, a gift from my motorcycle accident. You think you’re pretty quick, huh?

Quicker than you, Old Ancient One, she said, smiling back at me. Are you gonna tell me what happened?

Well, Taz and Ally were on his bike and just as he turned down Cherry, he popped a wheelie, and lost control of the bike. Allison fell off the back and was dragged down the street a few feet.

Kerri placed both hands on the table in front of her and twisted her fingers. How bad?

I coughed to clear my throat. Taz got a few scratches, nothing broken, though. He’s not hurt. I think the exhaust from the bike might have given him a few burn marks but it’s nothing serious. My daughter just sat there looking at me, waiting for the part about Allison. He got lucky, Kerri. I mean, the bike fell on top of him and he was still able to get up and walk away.

Did he?

Did he what: get up and walk away? Kerri nodded her head. I laughed. No, he didn’t walk away. He went to the hospital and got checked out. He was released a few hours later. When I left, he was still there hanging around and keeping Carol company.

And Ally?

I propped my elbow up on the table and placed my chin in my hand. Allison won’t be able to walk for a while. She suffered a concussion and both of her legs were broken. Her left leg is broken at the shin and her right thighbone was broken, as well. She’ll have to sit in a wheelchair until they take one of the casts off. Allison came out of surgery a few hours ago. They had to put metal pins in her legs.

Do they know how long she’ll have her legs in a cast?

From what the doctors say, she’ll wear one cast for a couple of months, and the one on her thigh she’ll wear for about five to six months.

The ringing of the telephone interrupted our conversation. Kerri stood up to answer it.

I could hear her in the kitchen saying, Good morning to you too, Tony Baloney.

I smiled and clicked my partial plate again. Kerri was probably the only person in the world who could get away with calling Tony Martinelli, Tony Baloney.

You can’t shoot me in the foot, she said into the phone as she walked towards me. She gave a small laugh and said, Because you have to own a gun first.

I was laughing when I took the phone from her. Tony owned several guns, but I didn’t bother to tell her that. Go on upstairs and get ready for school, honey. Don’t say anything to the boys about what we talked about. Carol or I will tell Jacob when they get home from school today.

Bye, Tony, she said loudly into the phone then headed towards the stairs.

How’s Allison doing? Tony asked when I finally addressed him.

She’s doing good. She gave us quite a scare there for a while when she was knocked out. She came to when they were putting her into the ambulance.

I heard both of her legs were broken?

Yeah, they are.

Then she’s not gonna be moving out after all, he deduced.

Nope. I told Carol before I left the hospital that she and Jacob would be staying here until further notice.

In fact, I had told Carol just that. I didn’t beat around the bush nor did I waste any time trying to make it look like it was her idea, either. I just stated it as a fact and that would be the end of it.

What’s Carol saying about that?

She agrees. I took a sip of my coffee and set it back down.

Does she still suspect you and Allison?

Probably. I think there’s still a glimmer of doubt in her mind, I answered.

Maybe she’s not as dumb as you think, Mikey? he laughed.

She is. I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. Okay, Tony, spill it.

Spill what?

I know you didn’t call me to check Ally’s progress or to see if my wife was still as dumb as a shit house brick. What’s going on?

Tony laughed again. Well actually, one of the reason’s I did call was to find out how Allison is doing. The other reason is I have another job for you if you’re up to it?

Where you at? I asked, leaning forward and propping an elbow on the table.

The bar.

Phone’s tapped?

Naw, they’re clean.

You’re sure? I asked, double-checking.

Yeah, pretty sure. I’ve been a good little boy. Tony laughed again.

Do you want me to stop by there or can you tell me now?

I heard Tony lighting a cigarette in the background. Impulsively, I lit one too. Someone took down one of my lieutenants. I know who did it. I want you to rectify the situation.

When did this happen? I asked, surprised.

Last night. It was on the news.

I didn’t watch the news last night, Tony. I was slightly preoccupied, I responded, dryly.

I took a long drag off my cigarette and slowly exhaled.

Oh yeah, sorry, he said, apologetically for momentarily forgetting that while he was at one hospital, I was at another.

So what happened?

It was a random mugging, Tony answered.

Are we sure it was random? I asked, not all too sure it was something that just happened. After all, we’re talking about someone from the Mob being taken down.

I could hear Tony drawing off his cigarette again, Oh yeah, it was random all right. He was out with his son and some gang members came up. They pulled guns on them and asked for their wallets. Roberto said when his Dad reached back to pull out his wallet, the gang members saw his gun and freaked. One shot my lieutenant with his own gun and the other one beat the shit out of Roberto. They fled before the police arrived.

What did Roberto tell the police?

Just that they were mugged and they shot his dad and beat him up in the process.

Roberto can finger the gang? I extinguished my cigarette and drained the last of my coffee.

Yup, and he did. Not to the police, though. He told them he couldn’t point them out. Get this though; Roberto went to school with one of the gang members’ older brothers; that’s how he knows who it is. He recognized him. He doesn’t think the guy knew who he was, though.

So you have who it is and where to find him then?

I had the dossier done an hour after my man came from surgery.

How’s he doing?

He’s still out, but I think he’s gonna live.

While Tony fumbled around with some papers in the background, I thought to myself, a job is a job. It pays the bills and puts food on the table. I had made my decision. I waited for Tony to stop shuffling papers before asking, So who’s the mark and how much?

The ‘how much’ is going to be about ten-G’s. The mark is a guy by the name of Mickey McDonnell. He answers to ‘Red’; I suppose because of his red hair. How original, right? he laughed.

Where do I find him? I asked, snickering along, too.

Come by here at some point today or tonight. I’ll give you all the information you’re gonna need.

CHAPTER 4

During the course of her stay at the hospital, I made it a point to stop in and see Allison several times a day. I would come in, visit for a few minutes, and then leave only to return a few hours later and repeat the visitations over again until visiting hours ended for the day. I often used Allison as an excuse to get out of the house for a while.

I spent the first few days after Allison’s accident going over the dossier. It didn’t require that much time; however, I couldn’t stay focused on the job. When I finally made up my mind to just do it, I burned the material to destroy the evidence.

Finally, on one of my last visits of the day to Allison, I called Meat to let him know I was stopping by to pick him up. As instructed, he was standing outside the bar waiting for me when I pulled into the parking lot.

Meat hopped in when I stopped next to him and asked, Where we off to?

We’re going to shoot some pool, I answered.

We can shoot pool here. Where and why are we gonna go someplace else?

I looked over and grinned at him. I wanna go check out this pool hall over on Monroe and Detroit. It’s a little billiards room facing the shopping plaza. I thought maybe we could do a little hustle then head back to the bar. We won’t be there long because they don’t serve booze.

So why we going?

I just told you: I want to check it out. I grinned again.

Meat nodded his head that it