COOL JOE Chapter 16

FAMILY SAGA

COOL JOE, Chapter 16

 

PETE

 

TWO DAYS LATER

I suffer with really painful headaches for the last week or two; a lot on my mind and not everything is resolved by far. Viv gives me this special tea to drink and some aspirin, but they still go on and on, stress I believe. I have nightmares about Robbie and Sylvia. The other night I had a dream about Robbie; he was able to break out of his weighted bag and swim to the surface and call me. I go to pick him up, damaged but not dead. Wow that really scares me.

Then last night I dream about Sylvia and Simone; they are fine and just enjoying their time away from the house; there was no dead body in front of her house. I don’t believe that dream for a minute.

 

I don’t know what to do about the boss’ threat to me; not to go searching for Sylvia. I can’t just walk away from this, but I don’t want to jeopardize my family either, by getting too involved. I don’t even know if the boss killed the body guard and her, although it could be a clean job, silencers and blood cleaned up in the house, who knows? But I have to save Sylvia, find her or else I’ll go mad.

 

Viv comes in the kitchen to get her morning coffee. I sit there staring out the window, my head spins, trying to think of my next step. Boy is this going to be hard.

“What are you staring at hon? He looks like he’s really out of it. “Where is your mind?”

“Oh, I’m just thinking about poor Sylvia and Simone, what their situation is and how we can help without getting too involved with the Boss etc.”

“I know it’s got to be grilling on your mind, dear, but let’s enjoy a cup of coffee together before you go to work. The boys already left for school, so it’s nice and quiet at the moment.”

“Okay, I’ll try to focus on you for a minute, I haven’t really been fair to you, with so much going on in the family, and that’s not right. “

“I understand, and you know I support almost everything you do for me and the kids.”

 

“Well, my new job is going well at J.C. Penney”, says Viv, And I was lucky to be in the cosmetic department, because you know how much I like to mess with my face and body. The standing for eight hours is tough, but they give me ten-minute breaks and half hour for lunch, and I get a ten percent discount on all of their clothes, furniture, sheets, perfumes and whatnot.”

“That’s great hon, and did you get a raise in salary?”

“Yup, a five percent raise, that’s all they’re giving to salespersons now, not bad.”

“Not bad at all, every little bit counts in our situation. Now, can I tell you what’s on my mind?”

“I know, says Viv in an expectant voice. “You don’t know what to do about Sylvia and Simone; so okay, spill it out.”

And, just when she says that the phone rings.

 

“Hello? (voice crackles for a few seconds), Sylvia?  Is it really you? Are you okay, and Simone?” I can’t believe it, I’ve been or we’ve been so worried about you for days now, even thought you might be dead; why did I say that? I don’t know where to begin Syl…”

Sylvia’s on the other end:

“It’s a long story Pete” she says, “and I’m calling from a pay phone so I can’t be tracked and there are some things I can tell you and some not.

“I’m listening with all ears” but shaking and sweating at the same time. I hear her breathing hard and I hear Simone whispering to her.

“Where are you Syl?”

“That I can’t tell you, or else I’m in big trouble, in fact, we all may be in big trouble, who knows?”

“Syl, tell me what you can okay?”

“Well first of all, I was getting some strange phone calls from the Boss and others.

CLICK. The phone went dead, just as I was about to get some information from her. Damn!

I wonder if she’ll call back. Maybe her money ran out.

I go back into the kitchen to tell Viv what happened.

“Viv, you’re not going to believe this but Sylvia tried to call me from a payphone and we got cut off, damn if I know where she is and most of the time you can’t track phone booth calls. Let’s stay off the phone for a few minutes and she’ll probably call back.

“What did she say Pete?”

“She just said that if she tells us everything, we all may be in big trouble.” My hands are sweaty and I have another headache.

“Do you want some tea? That always helps.”

“Nothing will help now, until I hear from Sylvia again.”

“Maybe we should watch some TV to get your mind off of this.”

“No, I can’t concentrate; I’ll just pace the floor until she calls.”

“Well, that’s silly”, say Viv, “But each to his own.”

 

So, I pace the floor back and forth in the hall, while my mind is spinning, thinking of all possible angles. I light up a cigarette and as soon as I take my first puff, the phone rings again.

I dash to pick it up.

(Crackle), “Hello Syl, is it you? “

Sylvia on phone:

“I’m sorry Pete but my money ran out and we’re in no-wheres-ville so I have to talk fast. So, as I said, strange phone calls, threatening me if I rat on Boss Johnnie for the death of Robbie, I’ll be dead soon, and maybe some revenge on you too. There’s more… (voice fading…)

“Syl, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, now I can. What were you asking?”

“Syl, who killed the body guard?”.

“I’m sure it was the Boss’ hench- men, but ordered by him. Then I believe I was next, cause he didn’t want me alive or I might get the gang in trouble. So, when I heard this news, I ran with Simone to an undesignated place. Oh, I can tell you a little more. After I ran, calmed myself and Simone down, I called the police.”

“You did what? Pete says in an astonished voice. “Why didn’t you call me first, Syl? You were really smart to run though, before the bodyguard was shot, you could have died too. I couldn’t get you on the phone; I try and try, then I go over to your place to check on you, and find a dead body on the street, blood all over the place. After that, I search the house for you, but you and Simone are gone and the house is totally clean. Whew, what luck! Syl, you still there?

Phone: “Yes I’m here, but not for long. So, as I said, I call the police while I’m driving and they say to go to the nearest town where there is a police station. So, that’s where I’m heading. But, Pete, I would love to tell you where I am but I can’t right now; do you understand? I’ll be dead and you too. After I talk to the police, they may bring in the FBI, since this is a mob murder that we know about, at least I’m pretty sure, and the FBI might get involved.”

“How far are you from the nearest big town?”

“Oh, I’d say about 20-30 miles, not too far. After I talk to the police, I’ll find a phone booth and call you.”

“About what time will that be Syl?”

“I don’t know, in fact, I don’t even know what time zone I’m in, but I can ask.”

“Oh Syl”, says Pete, “I just can’t imagine what you’re going through, it must be frightening.”

Phone:

“Yes, both Simone and I are quivering, fearful, on the run, and who knows what’s in store for us in the end. But we’re holding up, saying our prayers, and hoping nobody in the family gets hurt, because of me.”

“Don’t say things like that Syl, we love you and we will do anything to protect you.”

Phone:

“I don’t want you to get in trouble, so please do not get mixed up in this mess; they’ll maim or kill you, like they did to Robbie, you know their power.”

“Okay, but I don’t want anyone following you or finding you, after you speak to the police.”

Please call me, promise?

Phone:

“Yes, of course, Pete, but it may take a while until they finish interrogating me, so don’t go into a funk if you don’t hear from me for a while. It’s only 5 miles now to he next big town, so keep the cool and I’ll be in touch, promise.”

 

She hangs up the phone, and I start to cry. I’m devastated, and can’t even think at the moment. My mind wanders to all these horrible possibilities; we may never see her again, the mob network is big and if hey find out she got involved with police, etc. they could still kill her or us.

I don’t even have the strength to call any of my siblings, just worn out.

 

“Hey Viv, do we have any anxiety medicine around?”

“Why, what happened on the call with Sylvia?”

“You don’t even want to know, all I can mutter at the moment is bad, very bad.”

“Okay, I’ll see what we have in the arsenal, but you have to tell me what happened.”

“I will as soon as I calm down.”

 

Reviews

[Lorry]

I knew Sylvia wasn't a murderer, but who knows, the story's still young, right? Maybe she'll just be pushed too far and go all Tarantino on everyone... But nah 😊
A good time to bring them back into the tale too, what with wondering if maybe the bosses warning was a red herring and he'd already taken care of Sylvia, and Simon, but thankfully they get to live another chapter 😊
So all Pete has to do now is have a kip, sort his life, come up with a cunning plan for retribution and help the girls back home... Sounds easy if you say it quick 😊

[Betty Hermelee]

Loyal Lorry.. thanks again for your careful and thoughtful reading; the keeps evolving, my lips are sealed!
Best
B

[Paul Bell]

So Sylvia and Simone are on the run cos they witnessed the murder and were probably going to get whacked next. Now they've gone to the Police which is never a good idea as far as the mob is concerned. Will the mob catch up with her.

[Betty Hermelee]

You'll see!!!
Thank again Paul for the review and your loyalty to my book!
Best, Betty