Contract Pending by Al Marsiglia

Author:Al Marsiglia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Infinity Books
Published: 2014-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

The scream of a semi fills the air as it speeds by a cheap motel on a New Jersey highway.

Inside the pine paneled room, Frankie sits on the bed dialing his cell phone.

“Hello, Ray,” he says, recognizing his brother’s voice on the line. “Where’s Pop? I’ve been tryin’ to reach him all day, but nobody answers at the store and...”

Ray cuts him off. “Frankie, Pop’s in the hospital,” he says.

Frankie doesn’t immediately comprehend. “What?...” he says.

“He’s in the hospital, Frankie. They beat the living shit out of him. They messed him up real bad.”

“What wait, wait! Say that again. They what?-who?”

“They came into the shop last night after he closed and did a number on him on his own machine. They hurt him bad,” says Ray.

“What do you mean, on his own machine?”

“On the finishing machine, they messed up his face on the machine.”

Frankie doesn’t speak as he fights back tears and pounds the bed with his fist in frustration.

“Frankie? Frankie? Are you there?” asks Ray.

“Yeah, I’m here. Why the fuck didn’t you call me? How bad is he?”

“Bad. Really bad. He lost a lot of blood. The doctors say it’s serious. I was going to call you as soon as I had more information on his condition.”

“What hospital is he in?”

“Forget it, Frankie.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know what you’re thinking. Forget it. It’s exactly what they want; for you to go see him. They’re not stupid. They’re going to be watching that hospital. They might have even paid off the cops to look the other way.”

“I don’t give a shit,” says Frankie.

“That’s brilliant, Frankie. Then they win all around. Listen to me, don’t do anything stupid. Get out of town for now. I’ll keep in touch with you. Our day will come.”

There is a long silence on the line.

“Frankie? Frankie, are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Call me as soon as you know anything about Pop. You got it?”

“I hear you. You have money?

“Yeah, I’ve been saving.”

“How much?” asks Ray.

“What are you, my banker now?”

“How much?” repeats Ray.

“Almost forty Gs,” says Frankie.

“If you need more, let me know,” says Ray.

“Yes sir,” answers Frankie mimicking taking an order. He continues, “Thanks, little brother talk to you soon.”

“I’ll be here,” says Ray.

Frankie switches off the phone and flips it onto the dresser.

He sits on the bed and watches out the window at the passing traffic. Watching but not seeing. Replaying in his head the past few months that have brought him to this point in his life.

Frankie is still seated in the same position as the waning day envelops the room in darkness. The only light is from the faint glow of neon from the motel sign.

He finally stirs and goes into the bathroom, removes his shirt and douses his face with water. He examines his face closely in the mirror as he dries it with a towel. He covers his reflection with the towel and sobs as he pounds on the mirror.

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