Chapter Three
C alderone hissed as he looked upset about this news. “You never told me about that, Dad.”
“There was no need to, son. Pachio, my head of security, had him cornered and took his weapon. He was here before you, John.” Leon nodded at John.
“Stephano was a weak man and Gianno’s ranting had him so confused, he didn’t know what to do.
When I sat the man down and told him the truth, he told me he couldn’t believe it.
I had to show him this file and the police reports in order for him to believe me but he saw the truth.
But that was fifteen years ago and maybe his father’s insanity has had time to take hold.
I don’t know. But that young man seemed to be taking after his father in the drinking and the fits of rage. ”
Calderone looked angry as he scoffed, “What did Gianno’s family do then, Dad? Did they turn their backs on Gianno’s family as well?”
Leon shook his head. “I don’t know, son.
I never asked as the old man would have never answered me anyway.
It was their own family’s business, not anyone else’s.
Certainly not mine and I respected that.
But I don’t imagine Stephano’s growing up was any fun.
New York had a very tight knit Italian factor.
Everyone knew everything and what they didn’t know, they made up.
If they ever turned their backs on you, no one would help you either. ”
Calderone nodded. “Si, I remember very well.”
Leon closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as he said, “John, I want you to find out everything you can about Gianno’s family. Check into Stephano, especially.”
Donavan snorted. “If he’s the one who gave his kid those bruises, then he is no better than his own damn father.”
Leon stared at him. “She was beaten up?”
“Yeah, she was. Makes me want to...” Donavan shook his head as he was angry about seeing the poor girl with those bruises.
Leon slowly shook his head and looked back over at John.
“Find out what happened to the family after he went to prison and what’s been going on since then.
Then find Stephano’s family and let me know where they are living and what he does for a living.
” Leon looked at Donavan again and asked, “Did the girl say what her name was?”
Donavan nodded and replied, “Rowen Caldousce.”
“If she comes back, bring her to see me immediately,” Leon ordered.
Then he sighed and steepled his fingers against his lips and asked, “What I want to know is why she felt she had to warn me about her grandfather getting out of prison? That’s very puzzling to me.
I would never have expected that from her. ”
“Why? Do you think she’s like her father and grandfather?” Donavan asked. Shrugging he said, “Just because she’s family doesn’t always mean they all have the same beliefs.”
Leon nodded. “That’s true enough. And with Gianno in prison, she wouldn’t have had to listen to his hate everyday either. But she would have heard the stories from her father.”
“You are forgetting about her mother here,” Calderone suggested.
“Her mother would have heard the stories as well. And what about her father’s family?
Were they cut off from Gianno’s father? Did Gianno have other brothers and sisters?
Stephano would have been a man almost when this went down?
Did he go to the trial? Did he know what his own father did and why?
Maybe he doesn’t believe his dad’s story. ”
“Or maybe he does,” John countered. “Maybe he does believe his father’s story and he lays the blame on Leon’s shoulders as well?”
Calderone snorted. “For what? For not being in the place Salvador was? For not being the one Gianno shot? That’s just stupid.”
John nodded and agreed. “Yes, it is but so is getting so lost in a blind rage aided by being drunk enough to not know who you are shooting.”
Leon shook his head. “I have to admit something here. I’m not exactly blameless in this situation.
I went to New York, back to the old neighborhood to check in with old friends.
It was a couple of years after I lost Evelyn.
I was feeling like looking for a little trouble.
We drove to Boston to get lost in the world of music, women and drunk.
The woman Gianno wanted didn’t want him and I was more than happy to stick with her.
It was a good thing I did though, he was trying to force her to be with him and she wanted nothing to do with that.
” He looked at John and said, “See what you can find out about Stephano, and Rowen. See if he ever visited his father in prison. I need to know everything you can find so we know what’s coming. ”
John nodded and said, “I’ll find out for you.”
“Also, see if you can find this woman, Rowen.” Leon looked troubled. “She didn’t have to warn me and I’d like to know why she went out of her way to do it.”
John nodded. Then he and Donavan left the office leaving Leon and Calderone behind.
Calderone went over to the bar and poured two drinks. He walked back to the desk and handed his dad his. Sitting down opposite his dad, he sipped his whiskey.
Both men were quiet for a few minutes, Calderone could see that his father had a lot on his mind, but he felt like it was more than this recent visit from the young girl. “What are you thinking?” he finally asked.
“I was thinking this morning about stepping down and allowing younger blood to take over.”
Calderone visibly started and turned his head to stare at his father. “Are you serious?”
Leon nodded. “Si, I was serious. I even discussed it briefly with Evelyn.”
Calderone sat back and asked curiously, “And what did she have to say about it?”
Leon shrugged. “She was ok either way with it actually. She told me she would live with me whether we lived here or in a small cabin. It made no difference to her.”
Calderone snorted a bit. “Of course she did, Dad. She lost you and waited for you to find her for thirty some years.” Then he leaned forward and asked, “But what are you going to do now? If Gianno gets out of prison, you know he’s going to come after you with all he’s got.
And who knows what contacts he’s made in prison. ”
Leon nodded. “Si, I am aware of the threat. But he is as old as I am and there is always a chance he’s too old to hold onto a grudge that long.”
Calderone shook his head. “Dad, Rowen came here this morning to warn you about him getting out of prison in three weeks. If he had let go, why would she do that? I think you should take this threat to heart.”
“Oh, I’m taking the threat to heart all right.” Leon shook his own head. “I just can’t believe he is still holding onto a grudge this long.”
“The hate he had for you back then has probably grown over the years and been the only thing that’s kept him alive this long,” Calderone warned him.
“Si, I can see that. But he is also part of the old school mafia. Probably with the old beliefs too.” Leon acknowledged the thought. “La vendetta è un piatto che va consumato freddo.”
“Revenge is a dish best eaten cold,” Calderone translated it as he rolled his eyes. “Like he needs revenge...By this time that hate he eats has probably grown and he has become that hate.” Calderone snorted. “Sei quello che mangi.” You are what you eat.
“Clever play on that old saying, son. Very clever.” Leon smiled at him.
Calderone didn’t look amused. “I am concerned for your life, Dad. This revenge has probably taken over every part of his being. So when he walks out of those walls, he will come after you. That is his only thought now and we have to prepare for that.”
“Si, we do,” Leon agreed. “That is why we have to arm ourselves with the facts as we know them now. We need to find out what Stephano is up to and we need to find this Rowen. Find out why she came to warn me.”