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“It wasn’t difficult, Ralph. It was someone who was privy to inside information. The only thing that confused me was that you didn’t warn Carmine the intended target wasn’t going to be able to make the meeting at the restaurant. Then it dawned on me that Max called my private cellphone and you were told nothing until we were close to the venue. You didn’t have time to expose the change in itinerary. But once I realized your wife was gravely ill, I had your finances checked.”
I was surprised when Max lost it, driving the man against the front of his house with a booming thud.
“How could you? I trusted you! I fucking saved your life in Afghanistan. Why? Why didn’t you just come to me?”
Max’s outburst was understandable.
The tears in Ralph’s eyes were genuine, this time the gesture not something that sickened me.
“Because a man is supposed to take care of his wife! Do you think I wanted to do it? I just… Cash appeared on my doorstep one day. I didn’t know from whom, but I needed it desperately.”
“So you spent it,” Viper said.
“Yeah. Twenty thousand dollars. It paid for Maggie to go to the Cleveland Clinic. There was a new experimental drug, but insurance wouldn’t pay for it. After four sessions, the drug seemed to be working. Four. Then the money ran out. I don’t know how the fuckers knew but they did. They made an offer. Information. That was all they wanted. Nothing more.”
“As Max said. You should have come to us. Any one of us.”
“And say what at that point?” He was close to being hysterical, tears sliding down his face. “The treatments could cost as much as three hundred thousand dollars. More with living expenses. I have a small pension from the military and I’d be forced to leave your employ, which would mean no money. Every cent of savings was burned. Every cent. I’m sorry.”
This was more taxing than I realized it would be. “How is Maggie now?”
“The tumor markers are low. They say she might be in remission. But she must stay on the infusions. I don’t have anything else, Francesco. I’ve drained it all.”
I glanced at Max and for the first time since I could remember, I sensed he’d run out of patience as well as compassion.
Fuck.
“Please, if you’re going to kill me, don’t let Maggie see it. I beg of you. I know you don’t owe me anything, but she’s endured so much that this will break her.” When no one answered him right away, he sucked in his breath, wiping his eyes. “Maggie and I wanted children. That’s all she could talk about when we were first together. When she got pregnant, we were both so happy. We even found out the sex, a little boy. We decorated a tiny room in blue. Then when she was four months pregnant, I was deployed. It was going to be the last time, the last mission. At least that’s what I told my Maggie.”
I placed my hand on Max’s shoulder, nodding to encourage him to back down, at least for now.
In another surprising move, he did.
“The baby was stillborn and I was still overseas. I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t be there for her. Can you believe that? I wasn’t allowed to leave my unit because of the mission we were on. I don’t think she truly ever forgave me. We tried again and she miscarried. Then a third time. By then we realized her body was too weak.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Viper asked.
Ralph rubbed his eyes. “Joe Cavalini is a riddle. I’m certain of it.”
“Meaning what?” I asked, trying to keep from snapping.
“It’s a fictional character in a book. I’ve read it. It’s set in Virginia, somewhere near Smith Mountain Lake. I know that’s not very helpful, but I’ll guess you’re going to find your boy there. It’s a small town.”
“What’s the name of the book?” Viper asked.
“I’ve got a copy. I’ll get it for you. You deserve to have a chance at getting to know your boy. You’ll make a good father, Francesco. Your pops would have been proud.”
The statement he made was genuine, classy in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Just let me say goodbye to Maggie and I’ll get the book. That’s all I ask and I know I don’t deserve it.”
It was at that moment I knew what needed to be done. Plus, Christiana’s face slipped into the back of my mind.
“Get the book, Ralph, but don’t say goodbye to Maggie. Just let her know you’re going to move to Cleveland to a lovely house near the hospital. All expenses will be taken care of. But you will never return here. And if I learn that you provide any secrets to anyone about this organization or my family, I will hunt you down. Do you hear me?”
As I turned my head, I could tell Ralph was shocked. I hadn’t realized until now how much the poor man had aged.
He nodded, tears returning to his eyes. Then he slipped inside.
