No Saints (Part 3 of 6)

One hour into the evening and still no sign of Susan. Mike briefly talked to her on the phone, she was done with the hair, but stuck in traffic somewhere on the turnpike. I tried to help Caroline in the kitchen, but she'd push me out with a giggle and a kiss.

As time passed, we turned the television on. The incessant babble about the ruined lives of the rich and the famous made for more discussion topics. Mike's flushed cheeks and drawled speech told me he was getting drunk. "Yeah, I know that duuuude," he would say, dragging the u for a few seconds and pointing at some actor on the screen. I remembered Mike as funnier, that was when I used to drink with him, but he was still a hoot. "I defended his sorry ass from some bum rape charge two years ago. Some cute chick from some club claimed he forced himself on her. It was all bullshit." He finished his gin & tonic, which Caroline promptly refilled. "Got him free and clear in the preliminary hearings. She couldn't stand a chance against me. So much so, that she was my date the night after." And we laughed.

Caroline would pop in and out of the kitchen, being amiable and sociable, even to me. "Mike, you're a low dirt scumbag," she would say laughing. "Can anyone have a chance against you or your wily charms?" She'd sip on her long island iced tea, smiling, then she'd walk back to tend to dinner. She was the only woman I knew who could be wearing a sexy black dress, high heels, full make up, and at the same time cook, making a hell of a meal. Not to add that she was still a great hostess.

"Not if I really want it, babe!" He winked at her.

She laughed. "Danny would cut you to shreds if you'd try that with me," and put a hand on my shoulders. I doubted I could hurt him, maybe if he was threatening to hurt me or her first, but I chimed in with my best hick accent.

"Darn tootin'!" I waved a threatening coffee mug at him. "You lay an eye on her, Mikey-boy, and ye gonna have to deal with me!"

Mike laughed hard. "Naah, if I wanted to, I'd make it so that you'd be glad to hand her off to me!"

Caroline stuck her tongue out at him, still laughing, and went back to the kitchen.

Trying to keep up with Mike's perception of reality was a full time job, albeit a pleasant one. I didn't miss the booze, I actually enjoyed the night better. Tonight I wanted tell her everything, how much I loved her, how my love for her led me to change, to become a better man and stop wasting my life in a bottle. I smiled.

"Honey?" Caroline motioned at me to follow her in the kitchen, and I obliged.

"We're out of butter," she whispered.

"Use margarine?"

"Honey!" The conspiring tone of voice was gone, replaced by the Drill Sergeant command voice. "We need butter!"

"It's OK," I smiled and tried to dodge the inevitable. "You can go and I'll entertain Mike. I'm sure he won't mind. Heck, he's half drunk as it is.."

"No," she pointed a menacing greasy spatula at my chest. "You will go, and I will tend to the food. Unless you want the roast beef on the charcoal side of well done."

I didn't want to go out. It was late, it was cold, maybe even raining, and I liked to shoot the breeze with Mike. He might have been a loud ass, but he was my best friend and I hadn't seen him in ages. "Can't we do without?" I pleaded.

"Baby," she gave me that condescending sweet look mixed with the steely assurance that noncompliance would have resulted in a fate worse than death. "Corn on the cob. Mashed potatoes. Sauteed mushrooms. Cream of spinach. Roasted asparagus. Without any butter??"

I looked at her feigning complete and utter ignorance, even gave her my best I'm just here for the party look. She wagged the greasy spatula at me and I knew I had lost this battle. I wanted to point out that she had gone to the store three times in the past five days, but that would have just turned this situation into a major argument, so I huffed, slapped her butt and turned around to go get my coat and keys.

Mike looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

"Got drafted," I said with a crooked smile. "On times of crisis and dire dangers, it falls upon the boldest among us to face certain death in order to make the world a safer place."

Caroline was standing by the kitchen, a hand on her side, with a cute mock frown on her face. "Just make sure that the world is safe and you're back from the war before dinner is ready, will ya?"

Mike laughed. "Don't worry, buddy," he said with a wink. "I'll keep her warm for you!"

I walked out of the front door, saying out loud, "Women, can't live with them!"

As the door closed behind me, I was sure I heard Caroline say "Men, who wants to live with them?"

You could have heard Mike laughing even inside the car, and, as I feared, it started to rain.

No Saints (Part 2 of 6)

Mike was at the door, a bottle of sparkling wine in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. "Caroline! As gorgeous and sexy as ever!" He stretched his arms wide open. "Give me some sugar, babe!"

Mike was the kind of good looking charmer that could have sold running shoes to tetrapleagics. Eons ago, while in college, we met while selling overpriced junk for a small computer store. We would compete for clients, and he always got the best commissions, but we went along great, often working as wing-man during some though sales. Once I witnessed him talking an older man into buying an expensive model. Mike told him the cheaper one couldn't draw circles properly because it had square pixels, while the expensive one had banana shaped pixels. He went on to become a rather successful lawyer, while I made a career in sales and marketing.

Caroline chuckled. "Good evening Michael," and gave him her best smile. "As flattering and flirtatious as usual."

A hug and a peck on the cheek, and I winced. Mike dated Caroline first. She dumped him when she found out about his cheating habit, but that was over ten years ago. I swept her off her feet two years later, with Mike's blessings, but I couldn't forget how he used to talk about her.

He turned to me and put the bottle in my arms. "Danny! My man! Got something good for you here!"

"Hey, Mickey." We shook hands. He was flashing his teeth around like shark. "I'll put this away for later."

Caroline looked behind Mike. "Where is Susan?"

"She's running late. She wanted to get her hair done, right at the last moment!" Mike winked at me and smiled. "You know how women are."

"Yeah, women. Can't live with them, can't kill 'em!"

We laughed and Caroline gently rammed her elbow in my side.

She gave a saucy look at Mike. "For a second I thought you'd say that she was not your type, and that it was time to move along, spread your wings, break free, broaden your horizons." Mike grinned, and I gave a deliberate deep sigh while smiling. "Or was that what you said about Cynthia? Or Mariel? Or was it Annette?"

"Wait, wait!" He was laughing again. Was there a time when Mike didn't laugh? "This time is different, she really is the woman of my life, my perfect mate!"

Caroline tilted her head, looked up, put a finger on her face. "Funny, I could swear I heard that before," she hummed for a second. "Oh, right!" She looked at me, like he wasn't there. "He used to say that about me!" And we laughed again, only that this time I didn't feel amused.

"Come on you two," I motioned to follow me as I walked inside. "Get in before we all freeze to death."

Mike and I sat on the sofa around the coffee table, Caroline took Mike's gifts in the kitchen and then she joined us. We spent some time catching up with the latest events in our lives, making small talk and stupid jokes. Mike always laughing a bit too hard. Eventually Caroline got up and asked, "Anyone wants something to drink?"

"Yeah, sweetie!" Mike's smile seemed to grow bigger every time. "Get me a gin and tonic, if you don't mind." He smiled at me. "One for the big boy here as well!"

Caroline's eyes met mine with the kind of look that could pierce two inches of steel armor. I smiled and raised a hand as a peace offering. "I'll have some coffee." Then I looked at Mike and said, with a lower voice, "I got an early start, and I wouldn't want to end under the table already."

That white lie might have worked to keep Mike from asking embarrassing questions, but didn't fare well with Caroline, who didn't show any emotion and went in the kitchen without a word.

Mike and I exchanged questioning glances, I mouthed "Women" and we returned to talk about what interesting cases he had had to defend.

No Saints (Part 1 of 6)

Caroline wouldn't believe me.

"Not for an instant."

"I told you already. I quit drinking."

She made a disgusted face at me. "How many times have you quit and been on the wagon? And how many times have you quit that as well?"

"This time is different." I couldn't tell her that I had started going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. I have always taken care of my problems myself, head on, and wouldn't go to the doctor for anything less than a severed limb. How could I admit to her that I was incapable of remaining sober without help?

"So, if you haven't been drinking, where were you last night? What about last week? You were gone two nights without telling me where."

"Sometimes I need fresh air."

"Fresh air? You were out till past midnight yesterday!"

"I'm sorry, babe. I got lost." Last night I finally introduced myself. It took a lot to admit that I was an addict. I lost track of time retelling my life to a group of strangers.

"You never answered your cell! I called you four times!" She was nearly in tears. "I was worried!"

I wanted to take her in my arms, hold her, and tell her it was all right, that I was just trying to get myself back in shape. That I was doing this for her, for us, because I didn't like myself when I was drunk, and I couldn't stop. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was fear. But fear of what? That the would find me less of a man? That she would stop loving me?

I took a long breath and avoided looking at her. I knew I should have said something, but I bit my lip. I didn't want to do this now. "Baby, can't we talk about it later? Mike and Susan are going to be here any moment now."

She looked at me with hard eyes. "You can't avoid me forever." She wouldn't cry, not for lack of feeling, but because she was as strong as I was stubborn. "Once they are gone I don't want any more lies, any more excuses. You owe me some serious answers!"

It must have been fate, because as she finished talking the doorbell rang. I looked at her and gave her a humble smile. "Anything, babe." I meant it.

The doorbell rang again. Caroline nodded and together we went to open the door.

Money

With the last rays of the afternoon sun, Kelly's house looked even more empty and cold than it was, even for winter. In the kitchen Kelly sat quietly at the table and looked as the well dressed lawyer stacked wads of twenty dollars bills neatly in a pile on the table. The fluorescent light bulb flickered a couple of times, then it steadied, shining the even glare on the formica furniture.

Kelly stared at the money.

"Six hundred thousand dollars," said the lawyer while seating at the opposite side of the table. "Just like I said." He smiled, crossed his legs and made himself comfortable on the wooden chair.

Kelly tried to say something, but only a weak squeak came out. "That's.." she started, and then cleared her voice. "That's a lot of money." Her voice was still a whisper.

"Another six hundred thousand in two weeks. That's more than one million dollars Ms. Barnett."

"I could get cleaned up with all this money."

"You could do more than that. You could start a new life, away from here. Or go on a vacation, even buy a new car."

"A new car," she repeated.

"Anything you want."

She stretched a hand toward the money, without touching it, and looked at him. "And for this money, you want.."

The lawyer took a thick stack of papers from his briefcase and put it on the table. He split the stack in two separate paper and gave her a toothy grin. "Like I said on the telephone, all you have to do is sign this settlement and this waiver." Then he produced a gold plated ballpoint pen from his breast pocket and held it toward Kelly.

"And then I get the money?"

"And then you get the money. Exactly simple as that."

"But if I don't sign.."

The man's smile faded and stared right into her eyes. Kelly looked down. "If you don't sign, Ms. Barnett, I will take these six hundred thousand dollars away, and you will never see a dime from Mr. Villa."

"But he abused my son."

"Allegedly. It's just your son's word against Mr. Villa's." He stuck a finger in the air. "If you push this and it makes it to court, a very unlikely case mind you, there is no way to predict how it will turn." He then took the pen between his index and thumb fingers of each hand, like it was going to snap it in two if she made more trouble, and smiled again. "Even if it makes it to court, even with the best lawyers. The best and most expensive lawyers." His smile broadened. "Do you have a good lawyer, Ms. Barnett?"

Kelly stared at her feet.

"Ms. Barnett," he said with a softer voice. "This is a very generous offer. Drop the charges, issue a statement retracting those baseless claims, pocket the money, and put all this behind you and your child."

"My boy wouldn't lie to me." Kelly kept her hands steady on the table, but she was staring down and shuffling her feet. Her voice was faint and grave. "He wakes up at night, crying. He won't eat much and doesn't want to go to school."

The lawyer sighed, pushed the papers toward Kelly, and put the pen in front of her. "With this money you will be able to get him away from this place, to take good care of him. You will be able to get him the treatment he needs."

Kelly looked at the pyramid of banknotes and the table, then at the papers. "But it's not fair," she said. "Villa, your boss, is gonna get away with it."

"Ms. Barnett. Kelly. Mr. Villa hasn't done anything wrong, you and I know it. There is nothing to get away with."

Kelly looked at him. "A lab, like those you see on TV. They could find the signs, prove that my boys isn't making this up."

The lawyer shook his head. "There aren't any signs," he said. "Just allegations. Words. Lies."

He leaned forward, put the pen in her hand, then held her hand like a good friend. "Make the smart choice. Sign the papers, Kelly. Take the money. Trust me, you don't want to go against Mr. Villa."

She clasped her hand on the pen, considered it for a few seconds, then gave a hard stare at the lawyer.

"I believe my baby. A jury would believe my baby if they'd listen to him."

"Kelly, seriously.."

"I want justice for my boy. The jury would see he's saying the truth!"

The lawyer let go of Kelly's hand and sat back, his lips thin as razors. "What jury? There isn't a case here. There aren't hidden clues, just the words of a child. There is not a jury in the country who would believe the delinquent son of a crack addict over one of the city's most influential businessman, a man who has brought honor and jobs to this city."

Her face flushed red. "My Jeremy ain't no delinquent!"

"He has a felony conviction, Ms. Barnett, and he's only twelve."

"How do you know? The record is sealed!"

"I know. Everybody knows. Mr. Villa has many friends."

"Yeah, I heard that he's in bed with the mob," said Kelly with a louder voice. "He's the real delinquent!" She slammed her fist holding the pen on the table. "Not like my boy. Why should he get a pass, when my baby got nothing from no one?" Tears started rolling down her cheeks. "Why should he get a pass from me? He hurt my baby, he abused him! He thinks he can buy my silence?"

The lawyer huffed, took one of the stacks of cash from the pile on the table and thumbed through it. "You know," he spoke slowly. "You could buy a lot of stuff with this money. A new house, clothes, cars." He looked at her. "A lot of crack too."

Kelly swallowed hard and looked at the money.

"Angel dust too. Have you ever tried cocaine? It's a rich man's drug, only rich people can try that."

She shot straight up from her chair. "Get out of here!" she yelled. "Get your filthy money away from me!"

"Ms. Barnett, you are making a big mistake," said calmly the lawyer. "This is a one time offer."

"Get your filthy money and get the fuck out of my house!"

"Mr. Villa is not going to be pleased, Ms. Barnett."

"I said get your filthy money and get the fuck out of my house NOW!"

The lawyer stood up, gathered the paperwork and the money deliberately and without saying a word. Then he headed toward the door with Kelly behind him.

"You think you can buy me?" She yelled at his back. "Get the fuck out of here! I have my dignity!"

The lawyer opened the door, took two steps outside and turned. "Last chance, Ms. Barnett. I strongly suggest you take this offer and reconsider your actions against Mr. Villa."

"Fuck him and fuck you too!" She made an obscene gesture with her hand. "You tell Mr. Villa that I will see his mobster ass in court!" And with that she slammed the door closed.

- o -

The streetlight's glow filtered through the dusty windows in the living room. There were no shades or blinds, the lights were off, and the darkness inside made everything look crystallized in place.

"Mom," called softly Jeremy.

Kelly was lieing relaxed on the worn sofa. "Yes baby?" She said without turning.

The noise of slow, heavy steps accompanied Jeremy. "Mom?" he called again. There was pain in his voice.

Her voice was mellow, distant. "You're home early, baby? Or you haven't left yet?"

A stingy haze hung in the air, its tendris propagating from Kelly into the dark.

Jeremy started crying. "Mom? Please?"

Kelly put the glass pipe down, propped herself up, and turned toward Jeremy. "What's up, baby? Again nightmares?" Her eyes fluttered over his figure, unable to focus.

"I'm sorry mom," said Jeremy sobbing, and Kelly noticed the tall dark figure in a thick overcoat standing behind him.

"Who are you? What.. How did you get in here??" Kelly tried to get up, but her knees wouldn't support her. "What do you want??" She asked while slipping back on the sofa.

The figure put a hand in his overcoat. "You should have taken the money, Mr. Barnett," said the intruder, and drew.