Chapter 23 #2
Charlie did a great job of explaining the various buildings: Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, Tribune Tower, and the Aqua Tower, built by a famous female architect, Jeanne Gang.
So much breathtaking architectural history.
Ralph regretted how he rarely made the time to discover just how amazing his own city was.
He decided to find a seat, put his phone away, and enjoy the rest of the tour.
Charlie knew his stuff. When the tour ended after about two hours, Ralph gave him a twenty and continued to make his way down Michigan Avenue.
It appeared no one was tailing him. He stopped at Shaw’s Crab House, had some raw oysters, a salad, and a beer and checked his watch. Time to walk back to City Hall.
It was just before five when he entered the lobby and a security guard stopped him. “Sir, we’re closed for the day. You need to leave.”
“I’m here to meet my wife. She’s a cleaning lady, and we have a family emergency.”
“What’s her name?”
“Angie Sortino.”
Ralph watched as a fifty-something woman with dyed blonde hair and a penciled-in large brown beauty mark on the left side of her lip approached the guard.
“Hey, Lou, I know where Angie is. I can escort her husband.”
“Thanks, Lorna, but he needs to talk to her and leave the building. You know the rules.”
“I’ve been here for over twenty years, hon, I know.” Lorna led Ralph into the elevator and pressed the button. “So, you’re married to Angie?”
“Yup.” Ralph kept his eyes on the elevator buttons.
“Glad to meet you, Vinnie Sortino. I thought you bit the dust a while ago. Maybe Angie has been lying all this time.”
Ralph could see Lorna was staring him down. The elevator door opened to the basement and they both stepped out.
“Look, buster, I don’t know who you are, but you’re not Vinnie and I’m Angie’s boss. What do you want with her? Don’t you even think about fucking with my friend.”
Ralph cleared his throat. “I’m not going to mess with her. I really need to see her. It’s urgent and she won’t return my calls.”
“Hmm, sounds shady to me. You look like you’ve been roughed up pretty badly. We don’t want you bringing your troubles here. Wait here and I’ll see if she’s clocked in and, more importantly, if she wants to talk to you. What’s your real name?”
“Ralph Conti. She knows me.”
“We’ll see about that.” Lorna left him standing at the elevators. Ralph waited. He had to talk to Angie. After about ten minutes, Lorna came back alone.
“She wants nothing to do with you, Ralph. You are a—how did she describe you? Oh, right—you’re a ‘fucking asshole who only thinks about himself and sleeps around.’ Does that sound about right?” Lorna cracked her gum and waited for his response.
“Part of that is true. I just need five minutes, and I promise I’ll leave. Please, Lorna.”
Lorna took her time, continuing to size him up. “You’re the guy who was on the news. Your fancy company ain’t doing so well right now.”
“That’s me, and our company is in trouble, for now. That’s why I need to speak with Angie.”
Ralph heard the squeaky wheels of a cart coming around the corner. “Angie, is that you?”
As she appeared, Angie pushed her trusty cart right into him. “Out of my way, Ralph. I have work to do, and I don’t appreciate you coming to my place of business. Please leave now. I have nothing to say to you.” Angie pushed the elevator button.
“Please, Angie, just give me a few minutes. Please.”
“You have as much time as it takes me to get to the fifth floor.” Angie looked over at Lorna. “If you don’t hear from me in five minutes, call security.”
“You got it, girl.”
Angie pushed Hazel onto the elevator and Ralph followed her in. The elevator began to rise.
“Angie, I understand you’re upset with me, and I don’t blame you.”
Angie stared at the elevator doors as they ascended.
Ralph tried another approach. “It’s Mario; he’s coming after you for Vinnie’s pension. He will not stop until he gets your well-deserved money and takes down my company.”
“I don’t care about you or your company. I’ve got the goods on Mario. It was in Vinnie’s storage unit. He won’t stand a chance of getting anything once I show HR the evidence I have, thanks to my faithful—loyal—husband.”
The elevator opened and Angie pushed Hazel out. Ralph followed. “Please, Angie, I’m begging you to please consider forgiving me. I need your help. Please.” He got down on his knees.
“Please, Ralph, save it. I’m sure your lawyers will save your ass. I need to get to work.”
Ralph stood up. “No, they won’t. Mario is having me followed. He is very connected, and he will kill me and you without any remorse. You have to believe me.”
Angie stopped and turned around. “You’re probably right. And for what it’s worth, I thought we were becoming friends. I can’t help you. Please stay away from me. Stop calling me and please don’t send me any more flowers; I threw them away.”
“Angie, I need you to know that I have become fond of you since we’ve spent some time together. I have no interest in Rebecca, and I haven’t seen her since I began to get to know you. I was hoping we could spend more time together,” Ralph said.
“If you weren’t such an idiot, Ralph, I could see giving you a chance.
I’m sure there’s a nice guy in there somewhere, otherwise Vinnie wouldn’t have called you a friend.
He was picky about who he called a friend.
Now I need to get back to my job. Please leave.
” Angie glared at him as she pushed her cart away.
Ralph summoned the elevator and, as he was getting on, he gave it one last chance. “I’m not giving up, Angie. Take all the time you need.” He arrived in the lobby and was escorted outside by a Chicago policeman.
The minute Ralph stepped outside, he heard gunshots.
He quickly turned around to try to get back inside City Hall as more shots were fired by a slowly passing car.
The officer was down, and Ralph felt a searing pain in his arm and back, then fell to the sidewalk.
He could hear the officer yell into his hand radio.
“Officer down at LaSalle entrance to City Hall. Officer down!”
The sounds of sirens filled the air. Ralph gazed up and saw red lights swirling in his peripheral vision and police cars arriving en masse. The last thing he remembered was a warm fluid running down his arm.