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Eddie Bracchio settled into his first-class seat and closed his eyes, letting the scotch and the purr from the plane’s engine relax him. This was a nice change—this little bit of luxury. If anything good came from this trip, it was the chance to get away from Brooklyn on Primo’s dime. He dozed as he thought about his new assignment.
The flight landed on time—7:00 p.m. Eddie looked around as he waited for a cab outside The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The city’s crisp April air struck his face and cleared his mind.
As he settled into the back seat of an old cab, the familiarity of the drive tickled his memory. He closed his eyes and pictured his tiny, old gray house on the corner of Bedford and Beaumont Streets, just off the main drag—Payne Avenue.
He peered through the rain-coated window and tried to make out any familiar landmarks. Everything looked older, shittier than he’d remembered, with more traffic. It had been twenty-five years since he’d left. He was afraid of what other changes he’d encounter come sunrise.
The cab driver weaved through downtown St. Paul and pulled into a valet circle adjacent to a massive, creamy-stoned building. Its pillared front entrance emblazoned the hotel’s name etched in Roman type:
THE ST. PAUL HOTEL.
A historic building, the hotel is a downtown landmark overlooking Rice Park, a popular hub for festivals, concerts and the St. Paul Winter Carnival. He was anxious to get checked into his room. He’d call Primo’s sister-in-law first thing in the morning. He wanted to take care of the two punks as soon as possible; he was actually looking forward to it.
As he entered the hotel lobby, Eddie looked around and nodded to himself. Its lavish and extravagant décor suited him. As a plus, it was only a few miles from Primo’s sister-in-law’s house. He didn’t want to waste time traveling around in dirty cabs any more than necessary.
Eddie settled in and ordered room service. As he waited, he peeked out the window. The fractured moon shone brightly through the bare tree branches overlooking Rice Park. It felt strange to be back. He closed the blinds and contemplated his plans for the trip.
