Splitting Nines (1)

Chapter 19. Untouchable

  Gene continued. “I thought the wave and smile was a come on. What else could it be? I went over and found her still nude sitting at her dressing table, brushing her hair. I said, ‘I think you’re beautiful’. She turned, saw me and asked, ‘Whatta ya doing in my house?’ I told her, ‘I thought...you now...that...maybe. She laughed out loud. ‘With you? Who in their right mind would want to fuck you?’ I stood there, speechless and scared half to death.’ ‘What’s the matter, pervert, one of your cats got ya tongue? Doesn’t matter, I’m calling the cops.’ she said as she went for the phone. I pleaded with her. ‘Get an eyeful, asshole,’ she hollered. When she started to dial I grabbed the phone and threw her on the bed. She screamed so I covered her mouth with a pillow. I didn’t mean to kill her.”

 

  Mario turned off the tape recorder. “Good job. Very convincing. Now, don’t you feel better?”

 

  Gene gave Mario a dirty look. “What are you going to do with that tape?”

 

  “Don’t worry. It’s not for the police and don’t you call them.” Mario got up. “I guess we’ll be going. Thanks. Ya don’t have to show us the way out.”

 

  Cookie advanced through Roger Williams Park on a bright sunny day. She came across Linda on a bench facing the lake and sat next to her. “Hello, stranger.”

 

  “Hi, prettier than me.”

 

  “Well, what did ya find out?”

 

  “Notta. I’m seeing him again, tomorrow night. His house. We’re gonna shoot some pool. We were going dancing tonight but he cancelled on me. A bumma!”

 

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “You sound jealous.”

 

  “I am. He’s such a hunk.”

 

  “He can touch the tip of his nose with his tongue. He told me so. Maybe I’ll marry him.”

 

  “Go for it. Sounds like a classy guy.”

 

  Gene, holding a pool stick, stood by a 7' long pool table eyeballed Linda shooting the nine-ball into the corner pocket. “Nice shot.”

  Linda chalked up the tip. “Thanks. Where was the daughter that night?”

  “She left with some guy before nine. I never saw his face. A little guy with no class. He rubbed Cookie’s butt when he walked with her. Why the interest?”

 

  Linda shot the fourteen ball in the corner pocket. “Just curious. Why won’t you tell

  me what happened to your face?”

 

  “I’d rather not. You know what they say about curiosity.”

 

  Linda held the cue by her side and glared at Gene. “Are you suggesting I’m a pussy cat and you might have to kill me after you told me?”

 

  Gene shook his head. “No, no, please forgive me. Some very evil men did this to me. I don’t want to do or say anything that might get you hurt. You mean a lot to me.”

  “How sweet. I like you too, Gene.”

 

  From the beach, Tom waited for Gene's guest to leave and the lights downstairs to go out before making his move. By the time the light went on in Gene's exercise room Tom reached a downstairs window. He removed a screen and climbed through.

 

  Gene sat on his weight machine and pushed the handles in front of his chest out and back ten times. He stopped and took in a deep breath. A cat HISSED. Gene listened.

 

  Tom held a handgun in front of his chest as he climbed the stairs.

 

  An empty black wooden scabbard hung on the wall.

 

  Tom stepped on the fourth step down from the top and stopped for a couple of seconds looking around in the dark. He put his foot onto the next step and then saw Gene step out of the darkness, holding his sword above his head in a classic Samurai pose.

 

  Tom, imitating Sean Connery, said, “Just like a rapist to bring a sword to a gunfight.” A cat brushed against his leg. He glanced down, a reflex, not thinking.

  SWISH. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. Tom’s head bounced down the flight of wooden stairs. His headless body fell and slide down the staircase.

 

  Tom’s head stopped on the floor about seven feet away from the bottom step. A cat walked up to it and batted it with its paw. Tom’s eye opened wide. It twitched.

  Dave and Cookie sat in their spacious, luxurious living room. They looked tired and sad.

  Dave lifted a drink off the glass coffee table and took a sip. “The newspapers made him out to be a hero. He’s responsible for all those deaths. He murdered Florence. Recently I heard him confess."

 

  “You never told me that. When?”

 

  “Last week. A guy who used to work for pop had a recording. He was looking for something in return, I guess. Maybe he even thought I’d have Evans killed. He was wrong thinking I might be like my dad.”

 

  “You can’t let him get away with it.”

 

  “My hands are tied.”

 

  “He plans on blackmailing you. I got Linda to get close to him after he contacted the police. I knew he was up to something and had to find out.”

  “Let him try. I got nothing to hide.”

 

  “Politically, he could destroy you. That’s why he came forward now instead of years ago. They have your fingerprint. That and him seeing you leave the house are enough to end you hope of being Senator.”

 

  “It’s old news. It had no effect on my first election. I won by a landslide.”

 

  “He killed my father. You promised me justice.”

 

  “Yes, I’ll do everything I can to see him brought to trial”

 

  “If ya love me, you’ll hear my proposal.”

  “You know I adore you. Always have, but I’m not going to have somebody killed to prove it.”

 

  “Now, after my father went through Hell in prison. He chopped his head off, for Christ sake,” Cookie yelled. “Sometimes ya have to stop being Mr. Nice Guy and do the right thing.” She stormed out of the room.