Five Ways by Joe A Webber

Author:Joe A Webber [Webber, Joe A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-22T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER twelve

A little more than an hour later, Gerard and a tall muscular man wearing entirely black are stood either side of a thick steel door – the entrance to the New Jersey Mafia safe house. The tall man in black is Kane Coppola, a veteran member of the family whose primary job is security. Kane and Gerard are smoking cigarettes impatiently as if they’re waiting for something.

A car recklessly drives in to the parking lot. Gerard instantly knows who it is and heads towards it, throwing his cigarette to the ground in frustration. Jackie exits the car and slams it behind him, aware he’s disrespectfully late to work.

‘Fuck sake, Jackie,’ Gerard yells, ‘you’re late!’

‘Forget about it,’ Jackie replies, uninterested, continuing toward the safe house.

‘You gotta start taking this seriously,’ Gerard says. ‘There’s only so many times I can let shit like this slide. Donati would have both our asses if he knew how many chances I’ve given you.’

‘Well nobody asked you to.’

Gerard intercepts Jackie’s march and pulls him to the side by the arm.

‘Dammit, Jackie. What’s the matter with you? I’m trying to help you have a good life. You’re like a son to me. You’ve got potential!’

Jackie nudges Gerard’s arm off him. ‘Listen, you’re not my father! You don’t have to groom me! Let me live my life my way.’ Jackie puts his hand in his pocket and pulls something out, then shoves what he has into Gerard’s hand. ‘And you can have this back.’

Gerard knows what it is. He opens his hand up slowly and inspects the closed switchblade. He’s heartbroken, watching Jackie walk away. ‘Jackie… Jackie!’

Gerard returns to the door beside Kane and lights another cigarette.

‘Why do you give that guy such an easy ride?’ Kane asks.

‘It’s complicated,’ Gerard replies trying to remain tough. ‘He’s only started acting like this recently. But he’s a good boy who’s never been given a chance. Maybe I’ve been pushing him too hard.’

Gerard takes one last look at the switchblade before he puts it safely in his pocket.

Back in the Staten Island Internet Café, the game of poker between Ted, Anthony and Rick is starting to wind down. They each have their cards close to their chests.

‘So, what made you choose to join this operation?’ Rick asks to nobody in particular.

Anthony throws ten dollars in to the middle of the table.

‘Good question,’ Ted replies. ‘Why not? I got nothing to lose… I raise.’ He slides fifteen dollars in to the middle of the table.

‘How’s that?’ Rick asks, keeping a low-chin and checking his cards again.

Ted pauses momentarily but eventually gives in to the question. ‘My daughter’s been missing for three years. I’ve tried everything I can to find her but at some point you’ve got to move on. With all the memories here, getting away seems like the best move to make. And I’m convinced she’s not even in New York anymore.’

‘I’m… sorry. That’s terrible. How old is she?’ Rick asks, shocked. That wasn’t the answer he expected from Ted.

‘She’d be nine now.

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