Chapter 20

Harrison absently gazed out the side window of the Cessna, paying little attention to the fast approach of the landing strip or the sound of the undercarriage moving into place as the plane prepared for landing. Touchdown’s modest thud returned Harrison to the present and he stirred restlessly in the seat, anxious to exit the plane. Impatient for the pilot to bring the aircraft to the far end of the runway, Harrison wanted to get on with today’s agenda. He was going to see Vera.

There was a car waiting for him at the end of the runway. Harrison climbed out of the plane, its propeller still spinning. Giving the prop a wide birth, he hastily made his way to the waiting vehicle, dodging the propeller’s furious windstorm.

It was a short drive to the private sanitarium. They were expecting his arrival and security was efficient. Harrison didn’t have to wait long. In a matter of minutes, he was inside the building and being led down the hallway to his wife’s room, while the attending physician told him of Vera’s progress.

When Harrison had delivered Vera to the sanitarium, the Sunday morning after the attack, he was relieved to find the institution not as depressing as he imagined it might be. His father had assured him it was the best place for Vera; they would give her the care she needed.

At first, she had begged him not to leave her, clinging onto his arm. He promised he would return, telling her they could provide the help she needed and that he was unable to give.

“You’ll be safe here,” he told her.

“And he won’t find me?” she had asked; her eyes still wild and fearful.

“No Vera, he will never find you here.” His promise seemed to calm her, and while the doctor on admission still insisted a sedative be administered, she took it submissively and did not resist.

He found her sitting in a chair, looking out her window. Had it been spring, the view of the flower garden outside her room might have been a cheerful sight. But no colorful blossoms were in bloom, and it seemed a sad and dreary picture.

She wore one of the casual dresses he had hastily packed for the trip. That surprised him. He expected to find her wearing a robe or nightgown. Vera heard him enter the room and turned to face him. She wore no makeup. His wife seemed younger somehow. There was vulnerability in her expression, which hadn’t been there before the attack.

“You came,” her voice was faint. She gave him a sad smile.

“I told you I would.”

She didn’t stand to greet him when he approached. Harrison leaned down and kissed her forehead. Glancing around, he noticed an empty chair across the room. He walked over and picked it up, then set it next to Vera. Harrison sat down. Reaching out, he took her right hand and held it.

“How are you feeling? The doctor says you’re making great progress.”

“I’m feeling much better. I want to thank you for bringing me here, Harrison. I’m sorry I fought you about it.” She gave his hand a little squeeze and withdrew it from his hold. Folding her hands together on her lap, she looked up at her husband. “Do you hate me, Harrison?” Her eyes searched his.

“No, Vera. I don’t hate you. I want you to come home. The doctor says you should be able to be home by Christmas.”

“I would rather stay here. I’m content here.”

“You can’t stay, Vera. Your place is at home.”

“He’ll find me there.”

“I told you Vera, you don’t have to worry about him. Ever again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Positive. He won’t hurt anyone ever again. But before you come home, there are some things you need to know. The FBI was looking for him.”

“Why?” Vera frowned.

“They suspect he killed someone the first week in November.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. It was a contract hit.”

“Anything else?” She looked as if she might get ill.

“They know about the note, the one he gave to Russell. It’s a good thing you told me about it.”

“What do they know about me… and him?”

“Just what I told them. I mentioned meeting him at the restaurant, the champagne he sent over. I fabricated a story about a discussion over men’s jewelry, saying he sent you a note, telling you he could get you a deal. I said I found the note that afternoon and after telling you whatever he might get would probably be stolen merchandise; you tore up the note and never called him.”

“Men’s jewelry?” Vera smile. “You’ve never worn anything but a watch.”

“It was the only thing I could come up with. When they showed up and asked to speak to Russell, the whole time—while waiting for Russell to tell his version of the story—I racked my brain trying to come up with something.”

“Thank you, Harrison. But really, leave me here. It would be for the best.”

“The boys miss you. You need to come home.”

“Garret? I find that hard to believe.”

“I suppose Garret is more angry because of Russell. He feels your hasty departure showed a lack of consideration for his younger brother. But he doesn’t understand.”

“Garret—we are a constant disappointment to each other.”

“Russell is sad you won’t be home for Thanksgiving, but I promised him you’ll be back by Christmas.”

“Christmas, I forgot. It’s almost that time. I suppose I’ll miss the annual Coulson party.”

“You don’t have to. All your friends have been told the story about your ankle and how you’ve been in private therapy. They’ll be delighted to see you.”

“Yes, I’ve received the letters and cards you forwarded. But I haven’t heard from Sonny.”

“Well, you know Sonny. He’s never been good at letter writing. Of course, we had to tell him the ankle story, in case he called the house. I haven’t spoken to him, but my father talks to him once a week.”

“Harrison, what happens when I return home? What happens with us?”

Studying his wife’s expression, he did not answer immediately.

“We’ll go back to how we were before. Before Anthony Marino came into our lives.”

Harrison returned to Coulson that afternoon. Only his father and the pilot knew he had gone out of town. Before leaving the sanitarium, Harrison again discussed Vera’s progress with the doctor. They agreed that if things continued to proceed as they had been, she could come home by Christmas.

Thanksgiving dinner around the Coulson table lacked a female presence. Randall invited John Weber to share the meal with them in Vera’s absence. Bored with the company and dinner conversation, Garret made his hasty departure after dessert and took off to hook up with friends whose parents didn’t insist they hang around the house Thanksgiving evening.

Russell was not so lucky. He took his slice of pumpkin pie into the living room to avoid the stinky cigar smoke clouding the dining room air. After finishing their dessert, the three men remained at the table, discussing business and politics.

Instead of turning on the television, Russell sat on the couch and silently ate his pie while thinking of his friends. Wondering what they were doing today, he couldn’t help but envy them their lives.

Ryan had a kid brother to hang out with. While Russell had Garret, Garret never wanted to play army men or games. The cool thing about a kid brother, if you didn’t want to hang out with him, you didn’t have to. But, if you wanted someone to play with, he was always willing. Jimmy was always anxious to be included in whatever Ryan wanted to do.

Russell wasn’t sure he would want sisters. Tommy’s sister’s liked to play with silly dolls. However, he liked looking at girls. He didn’t know why, but they fascinated him. He also liked Tommy’s mom and dad. They were different from his parents. Sometimes Mr. Chamberlain would play ball with the boys, and Mrs. Chamberlain would talk to him, like she really cared about what he had to say.

The day after Thanksgiving, Wally Keller stood on the ladder hanging Christmas lights on the motel, while his sons watched from below, ready to hand him whatever he might need. Just as he was making his way down the ladder, a car pulled into the motel parking lot.

The car stopped and a young woman and small child got out of the vehicle. After taking the toddler’s hand in hers, the woman walked toward Wally and his sons.

“Good morning,” Wally greeted. Absently, he wiped his hands on his denims.

“Hello, are you Mr. Keller?” She was a pretty thing, with large brown eyes and thick raven colored hair cascading down her back. Curvy and round, she was about five feet two inches tall. If he was to guess, he would say she was Italian.

“Yes.”

“My name is Gina Carracci. Anthony Marino is my brother.”

Wally didn’t respond immediately. Finally, he asked, “How can I help you?”

“My brother is missing, and I understand he was staying here.”

“Yes, he was. He rented a room for November, but I haven’t seen him since the first part of the month. I assume he decided to leave at the last moment. He didn’t leave anything in his room.”

“I’ve talked to the police, but they won’t help me. Everyone seems to think Anthony just took off. But I know he wouldn’t have left without contacting me. He’s never gone a week without calling me, letting me know he’s okay.”

“I’m sorry Mrs. Carracci; I don’t know what to tell you.”

“Can I see his room, please?”

Wally considered her request for a moment. Then he smiled and dug his keys out of his jean’s pocket.

“Sure, it’s this way. Boys, put the ladder and my tools away while I show Mrs. Carracci room ten.”

Gina followed Wally down the walkway as he fumbled with his keyring, looking for the right key.

“I haven’t touched the room,” he told her. “He did pay until the end of the month. I was planning on preparing it for another renter on the first.” Wally unlocked and opened the door. After flipping on the light, he stepped aside so Gina could enter.

Wally followed her into the room. She looked around, as if some secret to Marino’s disappearance would be written on the walls.

“This is not like Anthony,” she whispered, looking around the room. “Something is very wrong.” She turned and looked at Wally.

“People do not understand my brother. They say he has done bad things. But he is my brother; I love him. When I was a child, he always took care of me.”

“I wish I could help you ma’am. If he comes back, I promise I’ll call you.”

“He won’t come back.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I can feel it. Anthony died in this room. His spirit is still here, trapped. Something evil happened here, Mr. Keller. Something very evil.”