* * *
The theme song for Loki Green played on my private phone. “Oh shit. Hello.”
“Hi, Uncle Markie, it’s done.”
“It’s done?”
“Of course.”
“She said it!”
“Yep, and she’ll say it again whenever you need her to.”
“What else did she say?”
“Lots of stuff. Be on your helipad in ten minutes. Someone will be there with the recording. Eleven minutes later….”
“I know, I know, your money will be there. Thanks, Catalina.”
I rushed from my office to the roof, and sure enough, a chopper was coming in for landing. I looked at my watch, and it was almost to the minute. That kid is unbelievable.
I ran with my head down as the one inside didn’t seem like he was getting out. “And you are?”
“Russo! Bye!” I didn’t even take offense; all Mancini’s, or should I say Lyon’s, people act like that. The chopper was in the air before I made it to the door.
I went into my office and looked at the little chip in my hand. My heart felt sick, but I knew I had to get it over with. I took a deep breath, clipped it into my special phone, pressed play, and sank all the way into hell.
“Oh my, oh fuck, Mom.” I suspected this; I begged to have this investigated. My mother would never have left me. The woman I knew had been broken and weak, but I always believed that she would’ve pulled out of it if only for me.
“Fuck me, not my mother.” I felt it coming, but it was too late to stop the rage.
“Breathe, Marcus, breathe. CARL, get in here now.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know, but he’s about to destroy this whole building.”
“Marcus, look at me, breathe buddy, breathe brother, come back.”
“Close…door, don’t let her see...”
“It’s closed, Marcus, I closed it. Carl, do something.”
“Look at me, look at me, Marcus. There you go. Eyes on mine, pal, there you go. If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”
Sun Tzu.
“Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.”
King David the Great.
“Right here, buddy, you’re right here. Your wife is down the hall.”
“Did she see?”
“No, Monique went to stay with her so she doesn’t come this way.
“How bad is it?”