Charmed Life (2 page)

“That’s a great purse,” Grace said.

“Man bag, Princess, man bag. I have to have some sort of masculinity to me.”

Grace snickered.

“So how are you?” he asked. “Are you prepared for the break up?”

“I know what I want to say.”

“You’ve practiced.”

“Yes.”

“Let me hear.”

Grace cleared her throat. “Alfonzo, there’s something I have to tell you.”

Freddy nodded. “Good. Good start.”

Grace continued. “I want to break up.”

Silence.

“And?” Freddy asked.

“What do you mean, ‘and’?” Grace asked. “There is no ‘and’, that’s it. I want to break up.”

“He’s going to ask you why.”

“What am I gonna say? I’m scared to get further involved with you because you’re in the mafia. Which... by the way, I still am not convinced.”

Freddy chuckled outward once. “How? How can you not be convinced? Do you honestly think a man named Alfonzo Carlotta is a private banker and real estate agent with the way that man speaks?”

“What’s wrong with the way he speaks?”

“Princess he uses the word ‘ignorant’ instead of rude. I’m sorry, but a private banker and highly educated man would never find himself in the position where he misuses his vocabulary.”

“I’ve never heard him do that.”

“He does,” Freddy said. “He’s the mob. And you’re lucky you’re getting out of there before you dig in too deep. I can see it. A witness to a horrendous murder, a hit mind you, suddenly you’re having to run for your life, hide the rest of your years, live in fear. Or … worse yet. Take the fall for a crime and be stuck in prison wearing a hideous jumpsuit. Orange doesn’t work for you.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I am. I’m psychic,” Freddy said. “What does your father say?”

“My father seems happy I am breaking up with him. But, he evicted me today.”

“How does your father evict you when you don’t pay rent?”

Grace shrugged. “He wants me to move out of the guest house so the maid and butler can have it as a retirement place.”

“That’s sounds nice.”

“Yeah, but that means I have to move into the big house or move out.”

“Oh! Princess. Live with me. We’ll get a bigger place together. You can help me with my business.”

“I was thinking of writing a book.”

“You have that in you,” Freddy said. “You have such a knack with written word. I think it’s a great idea.”

“What? Moving out? Moving in with you? Being a writer?”

“All of the above. I had a dream about you last night. I dreamt that you and I got a fresh start. You know my psychic dreams mean something.”

Grace pulled the car into a parking space. She breathed outward looking through the windshield at the small office building. “Did you have a dream about this moment?”

“The break up?” Freddy shook his head. “No dream. No need. This is going to be a breeze.” He opened the car door. “Shall we.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.”

“What?” Grace’s hand hovered the car door.

“You didn’t use lip liner. Your lipstick isn’t crisp.”

“Shit.”

“Do you have some?”

“Uh … please. It’s part of the survival kit. Should I fix it?” She peered into the rearview mirror.

“Yes. I’ll wait.”

Grace reached for her purse.

While Grace checked out her lipstick once more in the car window, Freddy fixed his flip flop.

“Looks good.” Grace puckered and smacked her lips.

“Look, Grace.” Freddy pointed to the white van across the street. “Ernesto’s Espresso. What a fantastic name. I never heard of it.”

“Me either.”

“Oh, you don’t suppose someone finally came up with the ingenious idea of making an Espresso man?” Freddy asked. “You know, like the ice cream truck. Only when his bells ding you have men and women flying out of their offices screaming …” Freddy waved his hands high in the air. “Espresso man! Espresso man! Wait.”

Grace laughed. In fact, they both laughed as they approached the door. They stopped laughing when two men in black suits walked by them.

“Even the patrons are mafia,” Freddy whispered.

The building was empty as always and they took the elevator to the third floor. Most of which was Alfonzo’s office.

Double glass door with Alfonzo’s name set at the end of the hallway. They walked to the door and in.

Marilee, Alfonzo’s secretary had her head on the desk.

“Shh.” Freddy held his finger to his lips. “She’s elderly and napping.”

“He’s in there.” Grace gave an upward motion of her chin toward the open door of Alfonzo’s office.

Voices carried out.

Stepping closer they saw three men with Alfonzo. Alfonzo sat behind his desk, a second man stood to his side, and Alfonzo’s father sat on the edge of the desk.

They could see the back to the third man as he stood before Alfonzo.

Freddy mouthed the word, ‘meeting’.

Grace tapped her watch and pointed to the door, mouth, ‘let’s go.’

“You think you’re here because we owe you,” Alfonzo said.

After a quick glance to Freddy, Grace peeked in the office. Was he speaking to her?

“No,” Alfonzo shook his head. “Times up.”

Alfonzo’s father spoke up, “You have used your time unwise. You made promises... what else did you expect us to do. But really, the amount of money is not a lot.”

“Yes, yes.” The man said. “It isn’t. Twenty-thousand.”

“We wouldn’t miss the amount,” Alfonzo said. “We could write it off if you can’t pay.”

Alfonzo’s father added. “And from here on in, you won’t be able to pay.”

The second man standing next to Alfonzo pulled out a gun.

“No. no.” The man shook his head. “Please.”

Grace almost screamed, but Freddy quickly covered her mouth and pulled her away from the door.

Four shots rang out. In their view, they watched the man drop.

Freddy spun her around, and as he did, he saw the river of blood pouring from under Marilee’s desk.

Both Grace and Freddy silently screamed, shaking their bodies and hands.

“Some one out there?” Alfonzo asked.

With a whispering, ‘Run’, Freddy yanked Grace and they took off.

They didn’t take the elevator. They ran, without stopping, top speed, down the stairs, all three flights, out of the lobby, and into the car.

Both car doors slammed at the same time.

Freddy looked at the building. “Go. Go. Go!”

Grace peeled out.

“Oh, my god. Oh my god.” Freddy rattled fast.

“Oh, my God. Oh my god.” Grace repeated.

“Just go. Just go. Drive, Princess. Fast.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know. Just go.”

“Did they follow us?” she asked, speeding away.

“No one was coming. But I’m sure they have cameras.” Freddy grabbed his chest. His eyes went from Grace to the side mirror. “We have to get out of here.”

“Out of where?”

“Town.”

“What about the police.”

Freddy shrieked. “Police!”

Grace screamed. “You scared me.”

“Me? Me? Your boyfriend had a man gunned down, we witnessed it. Scared? Toots, you don’t know the half of it. These people will kill us if they know we were there. The police can’t protect us. That’s why cars blow up.”

“Oh my God. What do we do?”

“Take off. Fast. For a while. A quick vacation.” Freddy rambled. “My psychic sense is for us to go. My dream. Remember my dream. Fresh start. We have to do that. My psychic sense …”

“Why didn’t your psychic sense kick in before this happened!” Grace shouted.

“It did!” Freddy yelled back. “Remember, I said it in the car on the way here. Murder. Witness. Jail.”

Grace’s hand shot to her mouth. “I’m gonna vomit.”

“Vomit later, you’ll mess up your lipstick. Just drive.”

Grace glanced at him side ways. “Ok. Calm.” She took a deep breath. “Do you really think the cops aren’t an option?”

“Not until we’re secure in our safety.”

“So then how do we know?”

Freddy thought. “I don’t know. We’ll think of that later. Right now... we have to be on the lam.”

“Freddy ….”

“I’ve seen godfather!”

“You’re right.” Grace nodded, pulled onto a side street, and stopped.

“What are you doing?”

“No one is behind us. No one is around. Let’s plan.”

“Fast,” he said.

“Fast.”

The bank nearest her grandmother’s was the place deemed to go. It was small, in the upscale suburbs and they knew Grace. Freddy made some phone calls en route. They go to the bank, make a sizable withdraw. Enough to get them out of town, get them clothes and situated them until they could figure out what to do.

After the bank, they would go to Freddy’s cousin’s husband’s, sister’s best friend and trade cars with her. She was far enough removed to not be connected to her. They’d also give the single woman, five grand to keep her mouth shut.

All planned out.

Of course withdrawing fifty grand from the bank wasn’t as easy as they thought. It wasn’t a matter of filling out a withdraw slip, and going to the window. They had to draw up papers, have forms signed, identification verified. The whole process took twenty minutes. Not really a long time, but a lifetime in to both Grace and Freddy.

Both of their feet tapped in anxiousness, their hands perspired and shook.

“And that’s it.” The manager produced a tray of money. “Good luck in Vegas.”

Grace smiled. “We have a hunch on a big bet.”

“Yes,” Freddy quickly scooted the money into his man bag, sliding stacks for Grace to put in her purse. “We plan on tripling this.”

“Sounds exciting.” The bank manager smiled and stood. “Good luck.” She extended her hand.

After wiping the sweat from her palm, Grace shook hands, as did Freddy.

“Lovely hair,” Freddy told her and looped his hand through Grace’s arm. “Let’s go.”