Worth Dying For (16 page)

Anger replaced Ron’s pain as he thought about this disease, how it was robbing him of the love of his life. He was angry with God, and he was angry with the people who had treated Lynn like a leper.

He remembered the hurt he saw in Lynn’s eyes when the men in the clubhouse, the men that were supposed to be his friends, shunned him. He was angry at the hospital where Lynn had surgery in ‘82. It was supposed to be a simple procedure, they said. After all, gallbladder surgery was one of the easiest. They never anticipated him needing blood, blood that would come from a supply that was never tested for the HIV virus, because at the time, AIDS was a relatively unknown disease.

He was mostly angry with all those people who claimed Lynn deserved to die because he was homosexual. They had claimed that AIDS was a gay disease and that God had created it to wipe out the sinners. He was angry at the world and didn’t know what to do about it. He didn’t know what to do about the bills. Lynn’s treatment had wiped out all their savings, and although Lynn had insurance, it was not nearly enough to cover everything they owed. He oftentimes found himself wishing that he had been infected, too.

He gently kissed Lynn on the top of the head and picked up his coat.

“Are you leaving?” Lynn asked weakly.

“Yeah, I’ll stop in tomorrow morning.”

Lynn smiled at him. “I love you, Ron.”

Chapter 11

The day was warm and sunny, and Pal Joey’s was bustling with the afternoon lunch crowd. Located in the business district of Palo Alto, it had quickly become a hotspot for the law-abiding—and not-so-law-abiding locals. In a booth at the far end of the bar, Big Tony sat with Sonny, eating lunch. Jay Farino sat at the bar laughing as he listened in on the argument between the two men. Jay Farino was not the only one listening in.

Directly across the street in their surveillance room, Laura and Stevens listened to the two men as they argued.

“And I’m telling you, the Lincoln has it over the Cadillac by a mile!” Sonny yelled back at Big Tony.

“How you figure?”

“Because the fuckin’ Lincoln’s longer.”

Big Tony’s look was incredulous. He scowled at Sonny. “You’ve got to be kiddin’ me!”

Sonny busted out laughing. Big Tony smiled when he realized Sonny was screwing with him. He threw his napkin on the table and turned toward the bar. “Hey, Louie, how about another scotch over here?” he yelled over the lunch crowd noise.

Henry walked up to the table. Big Tony motioned for Sonny to slide over, and Henry plopped down in the seat.

“I gave Roberto the extra package, like you said,” Henry whispered just loud enough for the booth’s two occupants to hear. “He was a real punk about it, making threats about the last couple boat shipments.” Big Tony raised an eyebrow, and Henry lit a cigarette before continuing. “The boys were talkin’ shit about him being named Under Boss.”

Sonny eyed him cautiously. “Who was doin’ the talkin’?” he asked.

Henry nervously tapped his cigarette in the ashtray. “Paulie and Georgie.”

“How’d you find this out?” Sonny asked, lighting a cigarette of his own.

“Card game at Nicky’s the other night.” Henry leaned his head back and blew the smoke up in the air.

Big Tony looked at Henry and then at Sonny. He clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth. “Is that right?” he asked. “They think they know everything and don’t know shit.”

Sonny nodded his head in agreement. “I’ll tell ya, the young ones just don’t have any manners like in the old days. They need to learn manners.”

“Maybe we should get together for a dinner meeting—you know, to iron out our differences and all,” Big Tony said.

Sonny took out another cigarette and used the one he had burning in the ashtray to light it. He looked at Big Tony. “In L.A.?”

###

Laura removed the headphones and looked at Stevens. “Do you think he’s serious about dinner, or did he just order a hit?”

“I don’t know. With these guys, you can never be sure.”

“Should I contact the L.A. office and let them know, just in case?”

Stevens shook his head. “Nah, let’s hold off and see if we can get something a little more concrete.”

Laura shook her head too, but for a different reason. “Okay, it’s your call,” she said. It was up to Stevens whether suspicious information gained from the surveillance was acted on or not. Stevens might have been the senior agent when it came to decision-making for Pandora’s Box, and he might have had a hell of a lot more experience than she did, but his answer just then didn’t sit right. She had an uneasy feeling. This one was going to bite them in the ass, and she knew it.

###

It was dark outside by the time Big Tony returned home, and Terasa greeted him at the door with a kiss. “How was your trip, Anthony?” she asked.

“It was good, real good.”

She followed him into the family room and watched as he poured a glass of scotch.

“Where’s Caroline?”

“Over at Rheyna’s.”

He frowned, trying to place the name. “The photographer?” he asked finally.

“Yes. I think she found herself a new friend.”

He hesitated, as if he were going to say something and then changed his mind. “I got some calls to make. I’ll be in my study if you need me.”

Terasa watched him retreat down the hallway. “I’ve been married for almost thirty years and have spent most of them alone. You’d think I’d be used to it by now,” she said as she poured herself a drink.

###

The ending credits for the movie
Beaches
scrolled across the screen. Caroline wiped her eyes with a tissue. “I love that movie,” she said between sniffles.

Rheyna tried not to laugh, but couldn’t help herself. “You’re such a wuss.”
 

Caroline made a pouting look with her lips and playfully shoved her. “You can’t tell me that you didn’t cry the first time you saw it.”

“I didn’t say that, and for your information, I did. I just didn’t cry the second, third, or fourth time,” Rheyna continued to tease.

“Okay, smarty-pants, you pick the movie the next time.”

“Okay, I will.”

“I can only imagine what type of movie you’d pick.”

“Really? And what would that be?”

“You probably like movies like
Terminator
or
Die Hard
, or one of those that blow up everything in sight,” Caroline said smugly.

The woman was amusing, to say the least. “I do like those movies, but I prefer something more along the lines of the
Godfather
saga or
Scarface
,” Rheyna said, wanting to see if she would get some kind of a reaction, and she did.

Caroline made a disgusted sound in her throat.

“What? How can you not like those movies, Caroline?”

Caroline took a sip of her wine. “I live it. Why would I want to watch it? I’m not stupid, Rheyna. I know what my dad does. I know what he is. I read the papers. I see what they say about him.”

“You can’t always believe everything you hear.”

“All I know is that I don’t want any part of it, and I’m nothing like him,” she said, draining the rest of her glass before refilling it again to the top.

“Why don’t we talk about something else, then?” Rheyna asked.

Caroline eyed her curiously. “I have a feeling that you and I could be very good friends.”

“Me, too,” Rheyna said, meaning it.

“Are you sure I’m not wearing out my welcome?” Caroline asked.

“No. You’re not wearing out your welcome. I really enjoy your company, but it also helps that I don’t know anyone else, so that kinda makes you a lock.” Rheyna laughed at the expression on Caroline’s face.

“I’m not sure if that was a compliment or a putdown.”

“It’s definitely a compliment.”

“Do you like boats?” Caroline asked, completely changing gears on their conversation.

Rheyna nodded. “I haven’t been on one since I was a child, though.”

“Would you and Annie like to go out … on our boat this weekend?”

Rheyna pretended to think about it for a second. “I think we could handle it,” she said as her mind began to race with images of Caroline in a bathing suit. I need to stop this before I drive myself insane. It’s the wine. It has to be, she told herself. She could also tell the wine was affecting Caroline. It was evident by how much her words had begun to slur in the last five minutes. The two of them had finished one bottle and were nearly through the second.

“I think it’s about time … I head home.” Caroline set the empty glass on the table and attempted to stand and nearly fell sideways. Rheyna instinctively reached out with her hand to steady her. No doubt about it—Caroline was drunk.

“I don’t think you should drive,” Rheyna said, still holding onto Caroline’s arm.

“I’m … I’m fine,” Caroline laughed just before she fell back onto the couch.

“Sure you are. You aren’t going anywhere.”

“I need to call my … Mom,” Caroline said through a hiccup.

“I’ll call her and let her know that you’re here.”

“Are you sure?” Caroline asked.
 

“Yes, I’m sure. How about I make you some coffee?”

“Coffee? Coffee would be nice.” Caroline chuckled as she said the words.

By the time Rheyna scooped the coffee grounds into the basket, flipped on the switch and turned around, Caroline had fallen asleep. She got a blanket from the linen closet and covered Caroline with it. She sat down on the end of the couch and unlaced Caroline’s shoes. She looked so peaceful. Without thinking, Rheyna reached out to smooth several strands of hair back from Caroline’s face. She gently brushed the back of her hand against Caroline’s warm cheek. She knew she shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t help herself. It felt like the most natural thing to do.

She went over to the counter, picked up the phone, and dialed the number to the Castrucci house. Their housekeeper answered. “Hello, Esther, this is Rheyna. May I speak with Mrs. Castrucci please?”

Within seconds, Terasa was on the phone. “Rheyna? Is something wrong with Caroline?” she asked, her voice full of concern.
 

“Everything’s fine, Terasa. I just wanted to let you know that Caroline is spending the night. I’m afraid she’s had a little too much to drink, and I don’t think she should drive.”

“I can send Vincent over to get her,” Terasa offered.

“That’s really not necessary,” Rheyna said. She wanted to add, “Besides, I really don’t want her to leave,” but didn’t. She liked having Caroline there, even if she was passed out on her couch.

“Are you sure?” Terasa asked.

Rheyna looked at Caroline and smiled. “I’m positive.”
 

“Okay, Rheyna, thank you for letting me know and … for taking care of my daughter.”

“You’re welcome.”

She hung up the phone and checked to make sure that Caroline was still asleep. She went back to her bedroom and got her cell out of the nightstand. She took the phone and went back to the living room. She slowly slid the patio door open and stepped outside to make her call to Laura.