Page 51 of Saved By the Pitcher

Maria shrugged. “I am an old woman. It was worth the risk for my boys.”

Mike placed a reassuring hand on Billy’s arm. “He won’t know it was her. Maria has cleaned his house for years and she’s never crossed him. Knowing your father’s bigotry, I’ll bet he wouldn’t think she’s capable of setting up the equipment. There are lots of people on his staff that have access to the office. He’ll spend the rest of his life wondering which one betrayed him. Ms. Hansen promised the information wouldn’t be divulged, even to your father’s lawyers, as it isn’t relevant—all a grand jury needs to know is that the D.A.’s office was able to infiltrate and record your father.”

“But…”

Maria cut him off. “Billy, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, the D.A. knows my immigration status. In return for my cooperation, she isn’t contacting ICE. And Mike offered to hire me once I resign from your father’s residence. Mike is going to help me secure my green card and work my way towards American citizenship.”

“That sounds great, but won’t it appear suspicious to my father when you resign?” Billy asked.

“Why wouldn’t I resign? I assume that your father will be going to prison and losing most of his assets. All I need to tell him is that I will be looking for other opportunities. I’m sure me leaving will be the least of his worries. Of course, I won’t tell him that I’ll be going to work for Mike.”

Mike grinned at her. “Maria, I thought we agreed? You’ll be on my payroll, but you won’t be working. I think you deserve a nice retirement.”

Though Mike and Maria were smiling, Billy was biting his lip, still working through the possible consequences of his friends’ actions. “So, it will come out that my father had me beaten? That he did horrible things to James and people he was close to?”

“I would think so,” Mike affirmed. “Billy, neither you nor James should be ashamed. There wasn’t much you could do, and I can’t imagine decent people being anything other than empathetic for your situation. In fact, it’s almost a blessing you and James were victims of your father’s crimes, I am sad to say. Nobody will think you two were complicit or supportive. You can avoid the fate that Bernie Madoff’s kids had to endure where people questioned whether they were involved.”

Billy grimaced. “Yeah, I’m so lucky.”

Mike nodded. “It’s going to be tough as all this comes out, but at least you and James will be free from your father once and for all.”

Billy scratched his head. “I wonder how James will handle hearing what you two did to entrap Father. Who’s going to tell him?” Billy looked at each and from the change in his expression, it became clear when he realized the answer. “Oh.”

Mike offered an empathetic half-smile. “He won’t meet with me, Billy. You should talk to him as soon as possible. Ms. Hansen was kind enough to hold off on the indictment until you and James were given a heads up. The charges they can make stick right now are orchestrating an assault and robbery, as well as accepting a bribe to commit additional crimes. Of course, the D.A. is more concerned about the corruption surrounding your dad. She is involving the DOJ as well, because she thinks there are federal crimes…even international ones where your father is hiding assets overseas. With all that will be hitting him, she thinks he might accept a deal to flip on his many high-powered connections.”

“And while he’s out on bail awaiting trial, are any of us safe?” Billy questioned.

“That’s another reason I kept you and James out of it,” Mike noted. “Your father has no reason to retaliate against you. You didn’t do anything. You may have to testify about the incident, but you wouldn’t be directly incriminating him. All you can do is describe the assailants and share that you’ve been told third-hand that it was orchestrated by your father. It isn’t like eliminating you as a witness would help his case. Everything is on tape. Who knows? They may not even need you to testify at all.”

“I guess.” Billy frowned. “What about James? And you?”

“I doubt the D.A. will pursue charges regarding the false institutionalization of James when he was younger. I think the statute of limitations has expired, so I don’t see James needing to testify. Still, I’m sure it will be revealed in court to demonstrate an ongoing pattern of abuse by your father. As for me, I think I’ll be safe. Eliminating me doesn’t rid your father of the recorded exchange between us. It would just add a potential murder charge to the mix. Nevertheless, I’m taking precautions. Ms. Hansen offered police protection for all of us. Considering your father’s ties with the NYPD, though, I thought we’d all be happier and safer with my own security team.”

The three of them sat for a few minutes, allowing Billy to absorb everything he had heard. Mike was surprised when a small smile started to form on Billy’s lips.

“So, this means you and James can get back together,” Billy noted.

Mike shook his head. “I don’t think that’s wise. While I believe we’re safe, until your father is neutralized, I don’t want to poke the bear. He’ll be angry enough without us resuming our relationship. Plus, I’m not sure your brother wants to be with me. Listen, I know the main reason we split was to protect you, but I sensed he was relieved to have an excuse. He was acting a bit off after he and I…”

Billy waited, then whispered, “Fucked.”

“Billy!” Maria chastised.

Mike blushed, but nodded. “Yeah. Well, he warned me he doesn’t do relationships. I’m not sure that’s all about your father.”

He saw Billy register something that looked like affirmation, and it cemented Mike’s decision to let sleeping dogs lie.

Chapter Seventeen

It had been several weeks since James had learned from Billy of Mike’s and Maria’s roles in his father’s arrest. He thought he might hear from Mike, but he never did. Enough information had been released to the press for people to know that his father was behind Billy’s assault, as well as the crime being motivated by bigotry against blacks and the LGBTQ community. While there had been a couple of extremist congressmen who had excused Charles’ actions as a man trying to protect his children, the vast majority—even in his own party—knew they had to cut ties. His father had resigned after the arrest and there had been no contact between him and his sons. So, it was a surprise when he awoke to a request from Charles to meet with James and Billy. It had been arranged that the visit would be at the Hudson Valley mansion since Charles had an ankle bracelet and was not allowed to leave his residence.

“I wish Father hadn’t chosen the day before the Tony Awards to meet with us,” James shared with Billy as they ascended the steps of the grand home.

“You could have refused to see him,” Billy pointed out.

James sighed and rang the doorbell. “So could you.”

Once they had been searched, the two rolled their eyes at each other and made their way to the living room where they found their father.