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“Thank you. It’s good to hear.”
“Would you and your aunt like to join me for breakfast? I make a mean pancake and my coffee is legendary in the diocese.”
“Oh, well in that case, how could we refuse?”
He beams, seeming pleased. “Great. I’ll just go and fetch her and we can go to the rectory.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Iknow instinctively as soon as we arrive in New York City. I take a deep breath and beneath the stale air in the trailer, I can smell my hometown. The rancid smell of gingko yellow pods, the suffocating smell of exhaust and garbage as well as burnt street meat. I breath it all in, reveling in the feeling.
“I’m back baby!”
It seems to take forever before the trailer comes to a stop and someone opens the doors. I blink at the light, before crawling out, dragging my duffel with me. A tall, blonde man is there to greet me. He directs me inside the club house where someone brings me a beer. I sit down at the bar and drink it, relishing its refreshing coolness.
Once the bikers finish unloading the stuff, the blonde man approaches me. “So, I’m Caleb, this is my club. Tommy said not to ask who you are but that you’re a friend of his.”
I smile at Caleb. “Yeah. You can call me Romeo.”
Caleb laughs. “Yeah, very funny. C’mon, your room is right this way.”
I follow Caleb into the back of the clubhouse, down a long corridor to a door at the end. He opens it to reveal a small but neatly appointed room. It has a bed, a table and a chair. There’s a tap on the other end of the room from the bed.
“Shower’s down the hall, so’s the toilet. Clubhouse is mostly empty at the moment, so you’ll have the place to yourself.”
“Thanks man. I dig into my pocket and extract a wad of cash, handing it over, “I really appreciate it.”
He lifts his hands, “Hey no. I’m just doing Tommy a favor.”
I nod. “I know. And both he and I appreciate it a lot. This is just for the hospitality and the beer.” I hold out the wad to him again.
With a sigh, he grabs it, putting it in his back pocket. “Fine. If you insist.”
“I do.”
I’m impressed at the respect he holds for Tommy and glad for Tommy because it bodes well for his business. Caleb leaves me alone and I close the door then go and sit down on the bed. I need a shower and possibly a shave but for now, I just want to sit and think.
I tap my foot on the ground before I remember that Eric is supposed to meet me and tell me the plan. Taking my life in my hands, I shoot off a text, asking for him to meet me.
To my surprise, he answers promptly.
Tomorrow, 7:00 am by the pier. Don’t be late.
I frown. The pier is a very public place.
You sure about that location? I’m not supposed to be here, remember?
He takes a little longer to reply this time.
By then, it won’t matter. Just meet me.
Well… that does not sound ominous at all. But if it won’t matter that someone sees me on the pier tomorrow, that means I can call Father Lorenzo tonight, doesn’t it? With an internal shrug, I dial the priest’s number.
“Romano. I was not expecting to hear from you tonight.”
“Yeah well, I was tired of everyone being mysterious. How is Gigi? Is she okay?”
“She’s hanging in there. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
