Chapter 49 #2
“After Francesca’s death there had been rumors circling for years that she had been involved with a Capuano.
But there was never any proof of it. The day of the wedding massacre I had a strong feeling the Capuanos were behind it.
They were more powerful than us and I knew every Marconi would be a target now.
I had to flee, so I did. Now I live here with Estella.
” She nods to the orange tabby cat sunning itself on the window sill.
“But I don’t know what help I can give to a mob family.
I’m just a little old lady with no mafia connections at all. ”
I take a deep breath, “The reason we’re here is for the past month, someone has been trying to take out our family. They are sending chess pieces and raven feathers just before they attack. As you know the raven feathers are synonymous with your family.”
“You think I had something to do with it?” Rosa raises her eyebrows.
“No. But I’m hoping you can provide us with some answers.”
Rosa pauses for a moment. “Yes the feathers are the Marconi symbol, but my family hasn’t been in power for thirty years. It could be another family using our name to hide behind.”
I lean forward clasping my hands on the table. “I think this is stemming from the incident surrounding Francesca Marconi.” From my pocket I pull out the obituary paper and give it to her.
Tears brim in Rosa’s eyes as she looks at it. “Ah, my beautiful niece, Francesca.”
“The rumors were true. The Capuano that she was involved with was my father, Vincenzo.”
Rosa cocks her head. “The son of the Capuano leader. My brother Tony, Francesca’s father, would have lost his mind. He was head of the Marconi family at the time. He had a horrible stroke and couldn’t carry out his duties so his eldest son Aldo took over.”
“What do you know about Francesca’s death?”
“From what I was told Francesca was out with Aldo. They were ambushed by masked men who shot at them. Francesca got hit. Aldo tried to save her but she died on scene. It was a shame, she was so young. There were rumors that it was men from the Capuano family who did it but they had no proof.”
I glance at Dominic who is wolfing down his second scone. Good thing those scones aren’t poisonous, there would be no saving him.
“Did you go to the wedding of Aldo’s daughter?” I ask.
“No. I had been fighting a cold for weeks. The day of the wedding I was having trouble breathing and went to the hospital. It turns out I had walking pneumonia. I told my husband to go to the wedding without me. It was an important day for Caterina, Aldo’s daughter, and one of us should be there.
” She wipes a tear from her eye. “I wish I had told him not to go. But I never thought an attack on our turf would break out. It was supposed to be a small private ceremony in the garden of Aldo’s mansion.
Only the family was invited. There were so many guards patrolling and guests had to be on a list in order to enter. ”
My fingers drum on the table as I listen. Sounds like the same scenario that happened at my party, only not as extreme.
“Just as the nuptials were finishing,” Rosa continues.
“Two giant trucks broke through the gates. There were a bunch of masked men with AK rifles that shot multiple rounds at everyone. There was no way to escape and nowhere to run. The men on those trucks shot close to two hundred rounds. Everyone died. Aldo, his daughter, her husband, everyone were all among the casualties, even my Franco. The only person who escaped was great-uncle Max because he was using the bathroom at the time.” A chuckle escapes her lips.
“That old man had a bladder the size of a pea. He was the one who phoned the authorities.”
“So you and great-uncle Max were the only ones who survived the massacre?” I ask.
Rosa nods. “Yes. Great-uncle Max died ten years ago. I’m the only one left.”
“Are you sure? Could someone else have escaped the party and they could be seeking revenge now?”
Rosa pauses. “That massacre happened thirty years ago. It seems like a long time to wait for revenge. Someone must be using our name to hide behind.” She takes a deep breath.
“Those days are a blur. After I buried my Franco, I escaped to Wisconsin. The other families didn’t do anything.
They just let it go. They justified the attacks because there had been rumors that the Marconis had turned soft and were giving information to the feds.
My brother Tony would be turning over in his grave at these accusations.
That’s why I came here. I knew that if I stayed either the Capuanos or another family would kill me.
It was obvious they wanted our bloodline eliminated. ”
I look at Dominic who is on his third scone. Damn this man can eat. “Do you have any pictures from the wedding or the guest list?”
Rosa scratches her head. “I might…I don’t know. It’s probably in one of the many boxes in my basement. I can take a look and mail you a copy of what I find, but it might take a few days.”
“Would you be able to scan the stuff and email it to me? That would be quicker,” I plea. “This is a matter of life and death. It’s really important we figure out who’s behind this before it’s too late.”
A confused look crosses her face. “I’m old-fashioned dear. I don’t have a computer. Those things scare me. But my neighbor has one and is very good with technology. I could probably ask him to help me.”
“Excellent.” Grabbing a piece of paper, I scribble down my email address. “Anything you can find, please send it to me.”
“I will.”
“Thank you,” I stand up and shake her hand. “I promise we won’t bother you again. As far as the world knows, Rosa Marconi doesn’t exist.”
“Grazie.”
After saying goodbye we get back in the car and drive back to Chicago.
The sun has risen higher in the sky, casting a warm golden hue across the highway.
The trees lining the road blur together in streaks of yellow, orange, and brown as we head south.
It feels like time passes by quicker on the ride home than traveling there.
Silence fills the space as Dominic and I are lost in our own thoughts trying to make sense of the conversation with Rosa Marconi.
Dominic drums his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Are you okay?” I look at him.
He glances at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “Yeah. I’m just trying to make sense of all this.”
“I didn’t think you were even paying attention with the way you were gobbling down those scones.”
He gives me a look. “I was hungry.”
“There could have been poison in them.”
“But there wasn’t, Cipi. Come on, that little lady looked like she wanted to die when she heard your name. She didn’t have time to make poisonous scones.”
“I guess you’re right.” I lean back in my seat. “I just wish we could get some answers. We have so many pieces to this, but none of them seem to fit together.”
“Well, we do know that all of this is about Francesca’s death and your father eliminating a whole mafia family. Whoever is behind this wants your father to pay for what he did and avenge Francesca.”
I take the last sip of my coffee now lukewarm but still sweet. “Aldo did a great job of making sure no one in the family knew he was the one who murdered his own sister. That’s so fucked up. How could someone murder their own sibling?”
“Did you know Aldo was about fifteen years older than Francesca? I doubt they were close. He was his father’s golden boy and he had a lot of people in his corner who would do anything for him with no questions asked.”
I tap the center console. “I think someone who was close to Francesca, and survived the Marconi Massacre, is the one who murdered my father. They knew that her relationship with him is what got her killed.”
Dominic glances over at me. “If the person’s goal was to get back at your father, it was accomplished with the poisoning. Why would they start trying to eliminate your family a decade later? Shouldn’t they have just killed everyone back then? No offense.”
I cross my arms. “None taken. I don’t know. This is so confusing. I can’t believe all this death and violence is because of love.”
“Some of the most violent acts have been committed for love,” Dominic adds. “It could have been jealousy too, you know. Maybe someone else wanted Francesca and was mad your dad got her.”
I stare out the windshield. The highway stretches before us like a ribbon of unresolved questions. “I’ve gone over everyone’s files. No one in our family has any association to the Marconi Family. Even our allies and partnerships don’t have a connection to that family. Madeline was the only one.”
“We’ll figure this out, Cipi. One way or another, we’ll put an end to this.” Dominic reaches over and pats my leg.
The Chicago skyline appears in the distance when my phone rings. “It’s Lucia.”
“Cipi!” The terror in Lucia’s voice makes my heart sink.
“What’s wrong?” I cry.
“They shot Matteo!”
“What? You were supposed to stay in the house!” I scream.
“We had to go to the pharmacy to pick up Nonna’s medication,” Lucia sobs.
“For fucks sake, one of the guards could have done that!” I yell. “Where are you?”
“At the pharmacy on Fourth Street.”
I turn to Dominic. “Drive to the pharmacy on Fourth Street, now please!”
He presses his foot on the gas, maneuvering around the cars like he’s in a race with them.
“Lucia, where is Matteo?” My fingers clutch the phone.
“Matteo couldn’t take it anymore, Cipi! He said he would go get the medication. He said he needed air, he wasn’t going to live like a prisoner. I tried to stop him, but he walked out, so I went with him. We were leaving the pharmacy when a car drove by and shot him. The ambulance is coming…”
“Where is Matteo?” I repeat.
An ambulance siren wails in the distance through the phone.
“What’s that?” Lucia asks.
I hear the sound of a car accelerating.
“Oh no.” Lucia whispers.
“Lucia, get out of there!” I demand.
A sharp scream cuts through the line.
“Lucia!”
“Get away from me!” Lucia screams. “No! Let go of me!”
There’s a scuffle.
Lucia is screaming.
But now the noise sounds muffled.
Then there is a loud thud as the phone drops onto the pavement.
“Lucia!” My hand tightens on the phone.
“Let me go!”
A car door slams.
Tires screech as a car peels away.
Silence.
“Fuck!” I punch the dashboard, tears filling my eyes. “They got Lucia!”
I dial AJ. “AJ! See if you can hack the camera for the pharmacy on Fourth Street and download the footage now!”
Dominic accelerates past traffic.
He takes the exit that leads to the pharmacy.
After running two red lights and taking a left, I see the pharmacy come into view.
Dominic swerves into one of the parking spaces and slams on the brakes.
Police cruisers and ambulances swarm the lot.
Paramedics crouch over a body.
I grab the handle and throw open the door when my phone dings.
It’s a private message.
A picture of two knights from my dad’s chess set.
Followed by a text.
Your next move decides who lives. Dismantle the empire before more blood stains your soul. Checkmate is close, Queen.
I shove my phone into my pocket and sprint to Matteo’s side.
Lucia has been kidnapped.
Matteo might be dead.
And I have no idea what my next move will be.