Chapter 24 #2
“You need to be careful, Angie. These people are not playing around. Not only did they shoot Ralph, they shot a Chicago policeman. Nobody shoots a Chicago cop—even the mobsters know that. It tells me they’re not afraid of anyone and likely have connections inside City Hall that make them feel deserving of immunity.
” Eunice paused. “I hope the policeman is okay. This whole thing is out of control.”
Angie explained in vague terms about the storage unit and what Vinnie had stashed over the years.
She admitted that she had put the documents in a safety deposit box at her bank and that no one else knew the exact contents or had a key.
Angie rubbed her hands together as she studied Eunice.
My gut tells me I can trust her, and my gut is usually never wrong.
“Now, I’m taking a risk with you, Eunice, in case they try to off me.
I’m going to write down the name of my bank and give you the extra key the bank officer gave me.
I don’t know you at all, but you don’t appear to be the kind of gal who would have dealings with these thugs.
I don’t want my family to get in harm’s way, which would be where they would naturally go.
They don’t know we know each other, so they would never come to you. ”
“I think that’s wise, Angie. I’ve been with Ralph for over twenty years. He’s more than a boss to me; he trusts me with his life.”
“Well, you may have to protect him once he leaves the hospital. Remember Marlon Brando in The Godfather? He almost didn’t make it out alive. Thank goodness his son saved him.”
They couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“No wonder Ralph has a crush on you. You’re a strong, capable woman with a good sense of humor, just like his Alice. She always had me laughing. She was a beautiful human being all around.”
Angie reflected back at how mad she was at Ralph at Gibsons.
She’d stormed out and ignored his calls.
Then she was yelling at him to leave when he found her at work.
I’m not so sure he has a crush on me anymore, but it’s a sweet thought.
She glanced at Eunice. “We’ve certainly locked horns in the short time we’ve known each other.
I’m guessing Alice was a lot nicer than I am. ”
“I wouldn’t say that. She never tolerated any nonsense. Sound like anyone you know?” Eunice grinned at Angie.
“Well, who knows what the future holds? One thing’s for sure, I’m no Rebecca. What you see is what you get,” Angie said.
“Right now, we need to get him home to recover and make sure his business stays afloat,” Eunice said.
“I’m here to help in any way I can. I need to get my pension money, and my friend Lorna has worked at City Hall for a long time, so I know she’d help me navigate inside. And we both have keys to almost every office, conference room, and closet in the building.”
Eunice’s cell rang. “Hello … okay, we’ll be right up.”
Five minutes later, they were standing over Ralph, who was lying in the recovery room bed. Beeping sounds emanating from various machines filled the room. He had two IV lines, a chest tube, and an oxygen mask covering his poor bruised-up face, and the white bandage was still covering his nose.
Ralph slowly opened his eyes but didn’t speak. Angie softly placed her hand on his cheek. “You poor man, I am so sorry I was a bitch to you. I am so sorry I got you into this mess.”
Ralph slowly put his hand on top of hers and shook his head sideways.
He winced as he lowered his arm and the nurse came to his bedside holding a syringe.
“I’ll need you both to leave. I’m going to give him something for the pain.
We can call you when he gets transferred, but it’ll be at least three hours.
Do you have somewhere nearby you can stay? ”
“Yes, thank you,” Eunice offered.
“Will you remind him that we came by?” Angie asked. “Sometimes when they get pain meds, the memory is a bit foggy. I’m Angie and this is Eunice.”
“I will. Not to worry. Before you go, we’ll need you both to go into the conference room. There are several Chicago detectives here who want to ask you questions.” She pointed down the hall.
Angie gulped. “Detectives?”
“I’m just the messenger,” the nurse said, before turning to her patient.
Angie and Eunice sat across from the two detectives as they fired away questions. They directed the first set of questions toward Eunice, who summarized her twenty-year work history managing his office. The detectives turned to Angie.
“How do you know Ralph Conti?”
She swallowed deeply before answering. “He worked with my late husband, Vinnie Sortino, on building projects for the city.”
“Why was he at City Hall this evening?” The detective glared at her.
“He had offered to help me with my husband’s pension paperwork.” She wasn’t going to tell them about their fight.
The detective sat back in his chair and looked at Eunice and Angie. “Do either of you know why someone would want to kill him badly enough to shoot a cop too?”
Angie shuffled back and forth in her chair and looked over at Eunice. She didn’t know if these were dirty detectives who had a Mario connection, so she left his name completely out of her answers.
Eunice answered, “Nothing like this has ever happened to him. I can’t imagine anyone trying to kill him. He’s a well-respected businessman in Chicago. Feel free to ask around.”
Angie shook her head. Even though she was sure Mario was behind all this, she had no proof, so she kept her own counsel. “I have no idea, but I sure hope you find whoever did this to him and the policeman.”
After a few more questions, the detectives asked them for their phone numbers and home addresses and instructed them to stay in town in case they needed to contact them.
Cool, crisp fall air greeted them as they stepped outside the hospital.
Angie took in her first long, deep breath since this whole thing had started.
She gazed down at her wristwatch. “Oh my gosh, it’s almost midnight.
My family will be worried about me.” She always called either Gina or Connie to let them know she arrived home safely, as she usually took a city bus around eleven thirty each night when she was working on the night shift.
Sure enough, when she glanced down at her phone, there were multiple missed calls and unanswered texts from both of them.
“Why don’t we go to Ralph’s?” Eunice said. “I have a key, and it’s a ten-minute cab ride from here. You can return your calls and texts, and I can check my work emails. With all this bad press, no telling how they’re going to spin this in the media.”
They hopped in a cab and entered the lobby of Ralph’s condo. Hank, the doorman, recognized Eunice right away. “Where’s the big guy?”
“He’s been in an accident and is at Northwestern. I can’t give you the details, but we’re going to wait here until they call us and let us know. He’s in the surgical ICU.”
“Whoa, what a day he’s had, first his nose, now this. You ladies go upstairs and relax. I’m sure you’ve had one hell of a day and night. I’ll need you both to sign in; it’s protocol.”
When the elevator doors opened into his penthouse, Angie felt her eyes widen as her jaw dropped. “Wow, this is just like those places on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It’s beautiful and homey at the same time.”
Eunice walked into the living room and put down her briefcase. “Can I get you something to drink? He has every liquor known to man. I’m having some of his bourbon.”
“Do you think we should drink since we’re going back to the hospital?”
“Absolutely. Name your poison.” Eunice took crystal glasses off the shelf and poured herself a couple fingers.
“That looks good. I’ll give it a try, thanks.” As Angie sipped her bourbon, she slowly made her way over to each bookshelf where photos of Ralph and local and national dignitaries were arranged.
Angie picked up a photo of a younger Ralph standing with Harry Caray, who was holding a microphone.
Every loyal Cubs fan knew Harry Caray as the best announcer to ever call a game.
“Did Ralph sing the seventh-inning stretch with Harry? It’s always been a dream of mine to sing it with Bill Murray.
Vinnie almost made it happen, but some celebrity showed up so we got canceled. ”
“Yes, Ralph sang right along. He loved Harry back in the day, even invested in his restaurant. Ralph isn’t a good singer. Thank goodness Harry drowned him out.” Eunice was sitting on the couch pecking away at her keyboard.
“I’ll go in the dining room and call my family, so I don’t disturb you,” Angie said.
Eunice nodded.
Angie called Connie, who picked up immediately. “Where the hell are you? The news has been covering the shooting and Gina and I are going nuts. The media is not releasing any details or names except a cop was shot.”
Angie let out a long sigh. “It’s been a hell of a night, Connie.
I’m safe but I can’t really tell you a whole lot more until Chicago PD gives me the okay.
The less people know, the better. I guess they want to try to figure out who did this.
It’s scary, is all I can say, and I’m so glad I have you and Gina.
I’ll let you know when I get home. It’s going to be late.
” She didn’t want to tell Connie she was at Ralph’s as that would open up another can of worms.
“You be careful now. We love you. Want some good news?” Connie asked.
“I’d love some,” Angie said.
“Last Bite is ramping up. Gina needs you sooner than later; they’re already getting calls from the funeral parlors, two events tomorrow. They’re going to have to expand their menu.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Would you call Gina and let her know I’m fine? I’m so happy for them.”
“And you too. Once this thing starts picking up speed you can quit that cleaning job. Love you, Ang.”
“Love you too.” Angie slumped back into the dining room chair.
If I’m still alive I can help. What if they come after me?
Who can I trust? She glanced across the room at the wall in the finely appointed dining room and saw a beautiful oil painting of a woman who had to be Alice.
She was beautiful in a simple way, with sparkling blue eyes, short black curly hair, and a sweet smile.
Some of her features were indeed similar to Angie’s, and she felt a tingle down her spine. Maybe he does have a crush on me.
Angie glanced around the dining room and kitchen and then went back into the living room. Eunice was still at it on the computer. Angie slowly went from photo to photo. “Wow, he knows President Obama?”
“He does. He worked closely with him on his Chicago campaign. What a gift to our country.”
Angie noticed Steuben crystal pieces placed on several shelves between the photos. She could tell Eunice was deeply engaged in her work so decided to sit down and put her feet up.
“Angie, honey, wake up. The hospital called. We can go over and see Ralph. We can’t stay long.”
Angie blinked and rubbed her eyes. “Gee, I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?”
“It’s almost two. I called down and the doorman is calling us a car. They’re going to drive us to the hospital and then after take us both to our homes.”
They arrived at the surgical ICU and were escorted to Ralph’s bedside where he was sleeping sitting up, hooked up to all kinds of wires and machines.
“Hey, boss.” Eunice approached first. “What am I going to do with you? First your nose and now this. I’m so glad you’re going to be okay. We spoke with your surgeon; you’re not going to be in an arm wrestling contest with your left arm for a while.”
Angie noticed the genuine affection in Eunice’s voice. If this good woman regarded Ralph with so much respect after more than twenty years of knowing him, maybe Angie had been rash in her judgment.
He grinned at Eunice and then looked at Angie.
“Oh, Ralph, I am so, so sorry. This is all my fault.” Angie’s chest tightened when she saw all the bandages, IV lines, and monitors he was hooked up to.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you; I’ve got the goods on Mario. We are going to take him down,” Angie said.
Ralph grinned and gently shook his head back and forth. “Wait … until … I’m … better—promise me.” He uttered the words slowly. The beeping sounds on his monitor started to go faster and the nurse came to his bedside.
“I’m sorry, ladies, you’ll need to leave now. Mr. Conti has been through a lot with the blood loss and two surgeries today. He needs to rest. Hopefully you can come by tomorrow, but please call first in case he has a rough night.”
Angie glanced back at Ralph. He was already asleep. She and Eunice left. I was so angry with him and now I hate to leave his side.
The car was waiting for Eunice and Angie downstairs. They exchanged few words as the driver took them toward Eunice’s home first. She lived off Diversey, not too far away from Gina.
Before Eunice got out of the car, she turned to Angie.
“Don’t blame yourself, Angie. There was no way you could have known what was going to happen.
Mario has been after Ralph since Vinnie died.
” She handed Angie her card. “I wrote my personal cell number on the back. Call me tomorrow and we’ll talk.
I will not let that bastard take Ralph down or the business we’ve built together. You get some rest.”
Angie touched Eunice’s hand. “Thank you for everything. I’ll call you in the morning. Good night.”
It was almost three when Angie got home. As she walked into her bedroom she saw the book and vibrator on her bedside. Not tonight. I’m too tired. She showered and fell into bed. Before she turned out her light, she texted Ben; she felt safe with him living down the hall.
I need to see you first thing in the morning. I need your help.