Chapter 10 #2
“Come on, Ralph—you know you want this.” She pointed to her breasts and walked over to him.
He stepped away. “I’m not kidding, Rebecca. Put your clothes on and get out. This is unacceptable behavior.”
Rebecca studied his face, then gathered her clothes and put them on. She walked over to him and put her finger in between his lips. “I just can’t get my fill of you, and when I want something, I usually get it. I’m not used to being turned down.”
“Well, not in my place of business you don’t.” He opened his office door.
“I’ll see you tonight—your place. I must run, lunch plans.”
“I won’t be home tonight.”
She stopped and turned her head. “Where will you be? I’ll meet you there.”
“Business meeting in Oakbrook with some nervous investors, so it will run very late.”
“Your loss. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she retorted and left.
That’s not going to happen, he thought. He walked around to his desk and sat down and opened his email and went to work.
After Rebecca left, Eunice popped her head into his office. “Everything all right?”
“All good.”
He returned phone calls and emails until it was time to go meet Cookie for lunch.
He walked into the Half Shell and noticed her sitting at a booth near the back.
He studied her face as he walked toward the booth.
Her mouth turned down, she was tapping her fingers on the table.
He sat down. “You don’t look too happy. What’s going on? ”
The waitress came and they ordered lunch.
Cookie continued, “After we left Gibsons, I went to the Four Seasons to meet a retired baseball player. As we were going up to his room, the ruffian who pulled you outside when we were at Gibsons stopped me. He threatened me and said if someone doesn’t pay Vinnie’s gambling debt, he’s going after me.
What the fuck? I have no idea why he was coming after me.
He also threatened to go after Angie. Said he was going to get that money—one way or another. ”
As Cookie wrung her hands, Ralph said, “That’s the same thing he told me. I met with Mario for breakfast this morning and told him about my encounter with the mafioso dude and that you and I had dinner at Gibsons. Mario demanded I have no contact with you or Angie, said he would handle things.”
“Well, fuck Mario. He called my office early this morning and made me pull all Vinnie’s pension paperwork and make a copy to put on his desk.
Which is none of his business, but he was so angry that I got scared and did it.
I have no idea what’s going on here, but I’m really concerned about Angie.
Mario said we needed to change Vinnie’s pension beneficiary to him.
Said Vinnie had told him to manage the pension money since Angie doesn’t have any money sense.
I told Mario that’s illegal; his response was not if no one knows about it. Make it happen or you’ll be sorry.”
“Does he have something on you?”
“I don’t know you well enough to tell you that, but Vinnie and I have been working at City Hall for a long time, and he has discovered a few things about me that could cause me to lose my job.” Ralph decided to leave it alone.
The waitress placed their Caesar salads in front of them, ground some black pepper, and left.
Ralph looked at Cookie again. “Angie is in danger. Vinnie left a huge debt with the mob; I know Angie has no money. I can’t pay it, and Mario says he’ll take care of it.
Not sure what that means—maybe he’s thinking of using Vinnie’s pension. ”
As he dug into his salad, Cookie said, “I invited Angie to lunch this week so we could discuss Vinnie’s pension.
I’m hoping to get her a job with the city once I know what she can do.
I’m not going to let Mario steal her pension if I can help it.
That said, Mario could have me fired. He knows the higher-ups, and I can’t afford to lose my job. I’ve got a mortgage to pay.”
After a few bites, Cookie cleared her throat.
“If I’m not mistaken, I think I saw Rebecca walking into your building after we left Gibsons.
That woman is trouble. I have witnessed her telling outright lies to her husband about a city employee, and they were fired on the spot.
I’m sure she can make up all kinds of lies about you, and poof! No more city jobs for you.”
Ralph put his fork down and looked at Cookie. “I appreciate the info.”
“Just saying, if anything is going on, you should be careful.”
“I appreciate your concern, Cookie.” Ralph already knew he had to end it with Rebecca immediately. I am not going to let that woman take me and my business down.
Cookie wiped her mouth and stood up. “I need to get back to the office. Things are spiraling out of control. The city attorneys are doing an audit on all of Vinnie’s jobs before they recommend a replacement to the mayor.
Mario thinks he’s a shoo-in, but I don’t.
I’m guessing they’ll pull all your paperwork too.
Hope your house is in order, Ralph.” She left a twenty on the table.
As she headed toward the door, she glanced over her shoulder.
“And no matter what, we have to take care of Angie. Vinnie may have made mistakes, but he was a good guy. Always so nice to me. And, boy, did he love his Angie. We owe Vinnie to take good care of her.”
Ralph threw two more twenties on the table, which more than covered the bill. “I agree. Angie has no idea what’s happening. She shouldn’t have to pay for Vinnie’s sins. How about I meet you at City Hall so I can review all my projects before the lawyers comb over all the records?”
“You need to come over tomorrow before noon,” Cookie responded.
“I’ll be there at nine.”
Cookie hopped into a cab and gave Ralph a thumbs-up.
It was clear to Ralph that Mario was not going to help him at all, and, after his talk with Cookie, Mario was likely going to take advantage of Angie. Ralph called Ben, who he knew was a stand-up guy who cared about Angie. Ben picked right up. “Hey, Ralph, what’s up?”
“I’m concerned about Angie. Okay I swing by your place in a bit?”
“Sure, no problem; I’m home. That poor woman almost collapsed when her niece brought her here. Angie couldn’t stay in their apartment, too busted up over Vinnie. That was love those two had. She had to sit in mine while Gina was packing some of her things.”
“I’m on my way.” Ralph put his hand out to hail a cab. “See you soon.”
Ralph had enjoyed Ben’s company with Vinnie over the years. Ralph had also offered Ben investment advice from time to time, and Ben had done very well by it. It made for a trusting relationship. Too bad Vinnie hadn’t done the same.
Ralph rang the buzzer and Ben let him in. Ralph went up the stairs and down to Ben’s apartment, Ben received him out in the hall, and they went inside and sat down.
“Can I get you anything?” Ben offered.
“No, I can’t stay long, but I need to talk to you about Mario and Angie. Glad you were available.”
“No problem. Now that I’m retired, I have all the time in the world.
Is Mario giving you the runaround? He’s good at that.
I saw him in action over the years when I worked at the city.
He was gunning for Vinnie’s job from the start, but the higher-ups knew Vinnie had more street smarts, even if Mario had a degree. ”
“Mario is running off at the mouth about how he’ll manage Angie’s money and that Vinnie made him promise to do that if he died,” Ralph began.
“That’s bullshit! Vinnie had zero trust in Mario. You know the old saying ‘Keep your friends close but your enemies closer’? Mario was no friend of Vinnie’s. Vinnie always knew if anything happened to him, I would take care of Angie, and that’s what I plan to do,” Ben said.
Ralph continued. “I just had lunch with Cookie, and she shared some disturbing news: Mario is making her change the name of Vinnie’s beneficiary on his pension to him. He wants Cookie to remove Angie’s name.”
Ben sat back and crossed his legs. “I’m not surprised Mario is pulling this crap.
Jesus, Vinnie’s barely gone. Looks like I’ll need to drop by HR tomorrow and visit with Cookie.
She’s a straight-up gal. I know between the two of us, we can iron things out while still allowing Mario to think he’s running the show.
That said, there’s one big problem I can’t help with. ”
“The gambling debt?” Ralph asked.
“They already came by my place threatening me. I told them I had no idea what the hell they were talking about. Which is partially true. I knew Vinnie gambled, but I didn’t know how much and who he owed. He kept his own counsel there.”
Ralph stood up. “I need to head to the office. Would you let me know how your visit goes with Cookie? I’ll give Angie a call later this afternoon.”
Ben followed him out into the hall. “Vinnie was a couple months behind in their rent, so I paid that and the next two months until Angie can figure out what she can afford.”
The two men shook hands. “You’re a good man, Ben.”
Ben smiled. “They’re family. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Outside, Ralph hailed a cab and headed back to his office. He called Angie on the way and got her voicemail.
“Hi, Angie. It’s Ralph again. Would you please give me a call when you have a chance?
I just had a nice visit with Ben, and we’d like to help you out until all the pension paperwork gets done at the city, since it can take a while.
I look forward to hearing from you and scheduling our lunch when you’re up for it.
Take care, Angie. These are tough times, I know. ”