Albany Park (34 page)

From the moment he shook her hand and sat down at his desk across from her, she liked his gentle manner and felt comfortable with him. Settling into her chair, she glanced around the room. The soft beige walls were sparse except for a few prints of an antique law office and some personal photos. To his right, across from the large windows facing Dearborn, were two simple black frames prominently displaying his License to Practice and his Law degree from John Marshall. Looking out the window, she saw the tops of the flags over the entry to the Sandard Club on the other side of the street. He leaned forward, smiling as he put on a pair of half-glasses and glanced at some notes; then turned his attention to her. “Your husband contacted me the day before yesterday and asked if I would represent the two of you; stressing that it was important that everything we discuss be held in strict confidence. I agreed and hope you understand that you can rely on me. He is concerned that because of what happened this week, he will have to make some major changes in your lives.”

Her mouth opened as if to say something, but nothing came out but a short gasp and then, holding up her hand motioning him to stop, she murmured. “Mr. Berman, what do you mean by major changes?”

Looking over his glasses, he pursed his lips and continued. “First of all, he wants you to know that he left town hoping to protect you and your son, because he knows that if he is here, he may be in danger. He also wants you to know that he will be in Florida working on your future and that you will be moving there soon.”

“Florida! What do you mean? What are we to do?” she whispered, her jaw quivering.

“I’ve contacted Phil Cantor about selling the house; he’s a real estate agent I recommended and your husband gave the go-ahead. When it sells, he and I will take care of the details. Howie knows this is abrupt and he is truly upset that he cannot be here, but he wants you and your son to be safe.”

Shirley raised her hand to interrupt again, but stopped herself and tried to listen as he went on. Fidgeting with her handbag, taking in slow deliberate breaths, she felt nervous as he matter-of-factly discussed changes that Howie had instructed him to tell her would be taking place in her life. Stopping to look up from his notes, he hesitated and asked, “Are you all right? I know that all this has to be a bit of a shock.”

She shrugged, moving a hand to her mouth, softly saying, “I’m okay.”

Berman stood and walked around the desk. Standing close to her, he said, “Are you sure?”

She shook her head, trembling. He reached out to lift her out of the chair and held her arms loosely, her hands tightly gripping her purse.

“Oh Fred, I know Howie wants to do the right thing, but he’s so secretive that I never can trust him. We’ve been run out of our home and are living with my sister and I have no idea how to deal with my parents. And this thing with Paschey, I’m worried that Howie’s scared and I’m in danger, or someone could be snatching David right now. Tell me Fred, please I beg you, what is going on?” Her hands shook and she dropped her purse. It bounced off the carpet, the latch springing open, a lipstick rolled out.

As she bent to retrieve her belongings, Berman stopped her, holding her shoulders and looking into her eyes. “Shirley, my friendship with Howie goes back to when we were kids. We lived on the same block and I knew him as one of the guys in the neighborhood. I‘ve only represented him in a few small matters over the years, nothing to do with his business with Paschey. So I can’t give you all the answers you need.”

He let go of her shoulders and bent down to pick up her bag and lipstick. Composing herself, she sat down as he handed back her purse and then returned to his seat behind the desk.

“You know,” he said, “I went to school with your older sister and brother-in-law, so I go back quite a way with people from Albany Park. My law practice specializes in real estate, and. when Howie needed a contract for the purchase of your house a few years back, he called me to do the work. Since then, I’ve had no contact with him. Then he called two days ago, from Florida I think, and asked me to do him a favor and help you while he was out of town. One other thing, he asked if he could call you at my office and I agreed as long as we set a convenient time for the call. He didn’t want to call you at home or at your sister’s or your parents’ house.”

She shrugged.

“Look, Shirley, Howie was an old friend and I didn’t see any harm helping him out. As for you, I want you to know that I won’t do anything that will hurt you or involve you in anything illegal. In fact, when he asked me for help, I sort of thought that was why he’d called me. He didn’t trust anyone else and wanted someone who was not involved in his business or connected to Paschey in any way. You know, wiretaps, traced calls, that sort of thing.” He waited, glancing at her to see if she understood. “I hope I’m not saying anything that upsets you, but I want you to know that you’re safe when dealing with me.”

Loosening the hold on her purse, her hand moved to her mouth as she leaned back in the chair, relaxing her shoulders. “Thank you,” she sighed.

“He said to tell you he’s sorry he can’t be here with you right now, but it’s only for a little while and the less you know, the better for you and your son until he can arrange for you to come to Florida. He wants you to know and understand that he’s safe. And he thinks that you and David will love Florida.”

“Are you just telling me this to reassure me?” she said softly.

“No, I’m telling you because he asked me to. And more importantly, he sounded excited and upbeat when we talked. I think he’s just being cautious. He’d never forgive himself if anything happened to you or your son.”

Shaking her head, her lips curled up slightly into a smile. Her first that day and she stood up, “I hope you’re right. I know my husband and I’m sure he’s doing what he thinks is best.”

Berman nodded as he rose from his chair.”He said he would be in touch with me soon and I’ll call you as soon as I hear from him.”

Early the following day, Fred called and said Howie would call her at his office that afternoon at four. She got there fifteen minutes early and was ushered into an empty private office to await the call. After she and Howie finished speaking, she crossed the hall to Fred’s office and tapped on the door. He stood, beckoning her to come in and close the door behind her.

Turning his way she smiled. “He’s in Fort Lauderdale and very excited about getting situated there. And he’s wiring money here.”

He nodded. “He’d told me that much when we spoke earlier today. Anything else?”.

“He’s being introduced to some important people that are interested in helping him. Other than that, he said to stay put and not worry about Paschey. He thinks it’ll blow over in a few weeks and that we’ll be able to move back into the house then. Do you think I should believe what he’s telling me?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, but I’m guessing these people in Florida are working out a truce with whoever might be upset with him in Chicago.”

“Do you think he’s in danger down there?”

“Look,” he said, his mouth forming a tight line as he watched her lower her eyes. “I know guys like Howie. I grew up in that neighborhood, too. Gambling, booking bets and loaning money is something a lot of guys do. It’s a risky business but Howie’s smart. He’s the kind of guy who keeps his head down and does his job and isn’t likely to get targeted. He’s also not taking any chances. So just relax and tell me a little about your son. And how’s Doris?”

She leaned in across the desk and they talked for over an hour, mostly about David, but also laughing about some of the neighborhood characters they knew growing up.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she finally said, looking at her watch. “I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time.”

She gathered up her purse as he came around the desk. Reaching to help her up, he suddenly leaned in, kissing her on the lips. Shirley returned the kiss, taking his hands in hers and pulling him closer.

After a minute, he shook his head and stepped back. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have done that, but somehow I couldn’t stop myself.”

Shirley looked at him and let out a soft laugh. “Don’t apologize, Fred. I needed that today, and I liked it. I feel safer now for the first time this week. I don’t have people I can confide in.”

“What about your parents?”

Shirley sighed. “My folks are wonderful but they’ve never really accepted Howie; my Dad, especially. And with Howie’s lifestyle, I don’t have any close friends besides Doris. But somehow, Fred, I feel that I can trust you and that you are my friend.”

With his forefinger half-covering a smile, Fred replied, “Thanks, you’re right; I do want to be your friend. And speaking as an old bachelor, I don’t know what came over me today, but it sure felt good.”

She grinned, “With sexy blues eyes like yours? I bet the ladies are after you plenty. You must beat ‘em off with a stick.”

He chuckled. “I’ve got a few girlfriends but nothing serious—and none can hold a candle to you. Howie did good for himself.”

Putting his arm around her waist, he walked her to the door. “I’ll call you in a few days or sooner if I hear anything. In the meantime, don’t worry. And call me if there’s anything you need.” He took her hand in both of his and kissed her lightly on the cheek as she left.

Closing the door behind her, he removed his jacket, loosened his tie and sat at his desk. Picking up the phone, he asked the secretary to hold his calls.

In the ride from downtown, Shirley wondered what had come over her in Fred’s office. She was a little embarrassed, but something about his touch had excited her. And it felt good to have someone to hold onto and to reassure her. As she drove up the Outer Drive, she smiled, fantasizing about holding and making love to Fred Berman.

That night he called her at Doris’s and she took the call in the darkened kitchen, while David did some homework in the bedroom.

“What, you’ve heard from Howie again, already?” she said.

“No,” he said. “Just calling to make sure you got home okay.”

Smiling, she made a mental note to get to the beauty shop before their next meeting.

The next day, Shirley met Molly at the Walnut Room at Marshall Fields for their usual Thursday lunch date; a tradition they’d started ten years before when Shirley began working part-time in the exclusive Personal Shopper department at the store.

Lifting a forkful of chicken salad and holding it in front of her, Molly cleared her throat, “I stopped on the eighth floor a little early and they said you hadn’t been at work since last week. What’s going on?”

Shirley took a deep breath. “Howie’s got a new job opportunity in Ft. Lauderdale and it looks like we’ll be moving to Florida. I’m going to go downstairs and give my notice after lunch.”

“Isn’t this sort of sudden? What about Paschey Cohen? Is this because of him?”

Looking up, Shirley hesitated, letting out a deep breath. “My husband is going to work in Florida. He has nothing to do with Paschey Cohen.”

Mrs. Siegal looked away, asking slowly, “Are you going to stay at Doris’ house until you leave?”

“No Mom,” she retorted exasperated. “We’re going to stay only a few more weeks and then we’re going back to our place. I have to start getting ready to move as soon as we sell the house and Howie finds us a place in Florida.”

They sat silently for several minutes, pretending to nibble on their chicken salads, not looking at each other..

Finally, Molly broke the silence. “Look, honey,” she said, “I know this is difficult, but your father and I are concerned. I know Daddy wants to talk with you. Come to dinner tonight and bring David.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Mom.”

“Please, dolly, I’ll talk to Daddy. I know he’ll behave, especially with David there.”

The dinner started out well. The Siegals fawned over David and casually talked about Shirley and David planning to join Howie in Florida. After dessert, David went to watch television in the parlor while Ben finished his coffee and Shirley helped clear the table.

As Molly ran water in the sink, Ben called Shirley back to the dining room table. “Sit down, sweetie. Your mother can take care of the dishes. Now tell me—what’s going on? I know it’s not good. Paschey Cohen had a lot of enemies.”

Sliding into her mother’s chair immediately to her father’s left, closer to the kitchen than the parlor, Shirley held her forefinger to her lips, saying softly, “Please, Daddy, I don’t want David to hear us.”

“Don’t worry about David,” he whispered hoarsely. “Your no-good husband is in a lot of trouble, which I told you was gonna happen sooner or later.”

“How would you know, Daddy? I talked to him and he’s busy in Florida starting a new job. And as far as Paschey is concerned, I don’t know a thing about what happened except Howie told me he hasn’t had much to do with him for some time.”

“God dammit,” Ben hissed, jumping to his feet and glaring at her. “You’re gonna let that bastard move you and your son fifteen hundred miles away just like that? And you think he had nothing to do with Paschey Cohen? Are you crazy or something? It was no secret he was part of that
goniff’s
organization. Something serious is going on. These guys play for keeps.”

Standing in the doorway to the kitchen, wringing her hands on a towel, Molly cautioned, “Please Benny,
sha, sha
.”

Eyes blazing, Ben shot her a glance.

“I got a phone call yesterday from a longtime customer, Herman the manager at the Terminal restaurant. He was scared. He told me that one of Angelo’s guys had been in and said they were taking over. Paschey Cohen’s guys, including my piece of shit son-in-law, were out. So don’t talk to me like I don’t know what’s going on.”

Shirley sat with her face buried in her hands. Canned laughter from the living room TV floated into the quiet of the dining room.

Lowering his voice, Ben said, “I’m sorry, baby, I just can’t stand what’s going on. You know I love you and David.”

“I know, Daddy. I love you, too.”

Ben took a breath. “Honey, you’re a great mother, but you’re worn to shreds. I think that it might be best if David stays with us till the end of the school year while this blows over.”