105

BRUCE SINGER CELEBRATED AT home that Sunday morning by making poached eggs. It was his favorite breakfast, and one of the few things he ever learned to cook well. Carol joined him in time to measure out the right amount of fresh beans for the coffeemaker.

Word of Fiore’s withdrawal reached Singer and everyone else just after he finished a speech to the High Technology Association of Rhode Island in the packed Capital Room of the Pawtucket Holiday Inn the night before. After that, party leaders converged on the motel and an impromptu victory gathering stretched into the early hours of Sunday. Carol simply whispered “Congratulations” to him when he got into bed just before 3:00 a.m. and said she was too tired to talk about what happened.

Sitting at the kitchen table, they discussed whether he should continue campaigning for the next two days. She listened to Bruce express his sense of obligation about keeping the commitments he already made, despite the unforeseen events of the previous day. There was no reason to discourage him from doing so.

“You should also find some time to call Grace Fiore and inquire about Doug,” she said. “Or drop by Rhode Island Hospital and visit with whatever family members are there. I’ll send a ‘get well’ card to Doug from both of us.”

* * *

Frankie Scardino’s wife took a message for him late that morning from Mark Reed of the Reed & Reed Detective Agency. He was corroborating the fact that no pictures were taken at the Biltmore Hotel on Friday night. He also said that his photographer carried out the assignment on Saturday night at the appointed time, only to find that there was no one occupying Room 1021 when he arrived. The agency would send out a bill that week, and he hoped they could be of service in the future.

Scardino didn’t know anything about Fiore’s hospitalization and withdrawal until he was in his car driving home on Sunday afternoon. He and Janice spent Saturday evening watching several porno movies before going to bed, and she didn’t subscribe to any newspaper for home delivery. Scardino explained to his wife that the Reed & Reed Agency photographer was supposed to take a picture of a Fiore family surprise party, but that it had been called off when Doug went to the hospital.

* * *

The phones at 241 Atwells Avenue were busy most of Sunday. Sal Tarantino was heartened by the Herald publisher’s encouragement to the voters on the casino gambling issue. That went a long way toward persuading him to spend the money to get as many ballots cast for Fiore as possible. He and Sandy authorized their contacts and operatives throughout the State to hire drivers to get people to the polls and to keep workers on the streets with Fiore signs. They gave instructions to change the signs by writing in the words FOR NO STATE CASINOS under VOTE FIORE.

Sal was locking up on their way out of the office that afternoon. Sandy was already halfway down the stairs. “Salvy, tell me how much business you think is going to Fiore’s law firm from the different companies we’re invested in.”

Sandy stopped and turned around to wait for his father. “My guess, Pop, is that it averages at least half a million a year.”

“Then I’ll tell you something. I’ll be very disappointed if the number doesn’t go down to zero as soon as possible.”

* * *

By Sunday evening, Dr. Chiarenza realized that there was nothing seriously wrong with his patient, despite Fiore’s continued complaints of random pain in different parts of his body. However, in discussing his findings with Grace Fiore and Cyril Berman, both of whom arrived in the waiting room about 8:00 a.m. that day, he began to understand the enormous personal consequences for Doug in the event he was declared fit and ready to leave the hospital too soon.

In those circumstances, Chiarenza wanted no part of a freewheeling exchange with the media. Instead, he agreed to issue a statement to the effect that he was unable to locate any damage to Fiore’s heart thus far, although pain in that area still persisted. The statement included an assurance that his patient was also being diagnosed for other types of infections or disease that could be giving rise to his overall discomfort. Fiore might be able to leave the ICU on Tuesday, the release stated, but made it clear that he would remain in the hospital for an indefinite period until all the necessary tests had been administered and analyzed.

Privately, Chiarenza told Berman that he thought it all boiled down to stress. “I’m sure Fiore would have felt fine as soon as the election was over. It’s a shame he gave up his chance to be governor. This guy has the balls to do the things that ought to be done in Rhode Island.”

“You’re right, Doctor,” Berman told him. “The problem is he also has the balls to do what a lot of guys just fantasize about.”

“I don’t understand, Mr. Berman.”

“It’s too hard to explain. Let’s just say that what happened to Doug Fiore in the last few days is a fucking tragedy and leave it at that.”