The Wicked End

“So tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Gerard swallowed a smile at the pout on Frank’s face. The short black hair had grown out into something wilder and it reminded Frank of a fallen angel. He knew he was pouting but the red eye flight back and some bad memories made him feel his age. The desire to grab that hair and twist a little made him smile and the returned gaze told him that Gee was thinking it too.
Mikey rolled his eyes at James, not exactly unnerved by the problem that they had gathered to discuss but pissed off at his name being raised near the law. Didn’t matter that they owned the President or that most of the high level cops were on their payroll, the prospect of being interviewed was winding him up. He stretched long legs out in front of him and the hazel eyes that matched Gerard’s fixed on Frank.
“Somebody is playing a game with us.”
“I was told he was one of ours, a doorman ?”
Taking the glass of scotch from Gerard, Frank settled back into the large comfortable leather chair behind his desk. He always found that decisions came to him easier when he was in that chair, in his own office and surrounded by family. He accepted the file from James, noting that Mikey’s lover looked a little uncomfortable and they were actively not looking at each other. Frank was an expert at reading people and sensed a lovers tiff.
“Vinnie Vargas. Foot soldier and not a bright one but good at the door job.”
Mikey flexed bruised knuckles, a smile crossing his normal poker face.
“He left with a blonde woman two hours early and got one of the other boys to cover for him. Next thing we know he’s turned up very dead in the hotel opposite the club. Took his pal sometime to admit that’s what happened though so it’s not information that’s been shared yet.”
“Let’s keep it that way. Local police need to stay behind us on this.”
Frank nodded, looking at the photo of the message scrawled onto the wall. Nothing unusual about it in the underground gangland, his own boys were well known for their calling cards but in a standard homicide it stuck out. The relevance of the bible quote and the person attached to it were not lost on him.
“It’s hard to remember handwriting from that far back. Do we know if it’s the same ?”
Gee and James looked expectantly at Mikey. He had been silent about the whole thing although they could both tell that it had spooked him. All that he would say was that Frank and he had seen this before, when they both started out and long before they became any kind of underworld players. James and Mikey had nearly come to blows after Mikey took out some considerable anger on the kid that had watched the door, now James looked to both his partners for some answers. He hated not knowing what was potentially going to bite them on the ass.
“I’ll dig the photos out but it can’t be the same, you know that.”
“I’m taking nothing for granted. We need to deflect attention until we know what’s going on and if there is anything else heading our way. Gee ?”
Gerard took a moment to answer, like James he didn’t like things being hidden from him.
“I’ll be with Mikes when the police interview him tomorrow. We won’t leave much to go on and I already have the CCTV tapes for us to see if we can recognise this woman. Now, are you going to tell us what is going on ?”
Frank smiled at the hint of steel in Gerard’s voice. His lover was still submissive in the bedroom but not so much anywhere else. He had grown to like it and to accept that Gerard’s considerable charm and negotiation skills were an asset. This time however it would be best if he didn’t have to divulge too much.
“I want to rule it out before we discuss it. We came across something similar back when we were kids and nearly ended up in a premature grave because of it. Personally I agree with Mikey, it’s someone who’s done some digging and is fucking with us. No more than that.”
Gerard knew that Frank wouldn’t deviate once he made his mind up and decided to drop it for now. Both he and James had intentions of working on their respective lovers once the mood had softened a little. Wasn’t called pillowtalk for nothing.
“In the meantime, double security here. Make sure the girls are protected and that the press is left with as little to gossip about as possible.”
Frank watched his associates nod, already deciding that he would need sleep and food before he attempted to confront his past. It was nearly five in the morning and he had managed maybe six hours sleep out of the last forty eight. Even the mighty Frank Iero couldn’t cope on that level of sleep indefinitely. The thought of Claire sleeping upstairs was becoming slightly intoxicating and the scotch didn’t help. He rubbed his eyes and smiled.
“Please tell me there’s nothing else and I can go to bed ?”
“Only one thing boss.”
James smiled slightly at the wink that Frank gave him. They had become closer lately, managing the Way boys tended to be a full time job and Frank had come to think of the young man as a protégé. Now he had hit thirty he was beginning to think about starting a family and maybe actually enjoying some of his wealth. He would need someone stable to delegate to and neither Mikey or Gerard fitted that bill.
“We have the Chinese delegation requesting a meeting next week. Considering what happened and the increased security should we put them off ?”
Frank waved a hand.
“No, this will blow over and Ray needs us to settle the China deal. Now fuck off so I can sleep.”
The other men chuckled and quickly headed for the door. Frank allowed them to reach the end of the hall and for the quiet of the house to settle before shutting the door again and heading over to his desk. After sitting back down and checking the revolver was still in the drawer he looked back at Mikey.
“Check the spelling, maybe it’s a clue and yes, before you say it I know it can’t be her.”
“I’ll kill whoever it fucking is.”
Mikey looked murderous, it had bugged him that he had fought with James and that it still bugged him a decade down the line. He had always been able to move on, to deal with what he did for a living and never look back.
“It’s nothing Mikey.”
Both men turned at the sound of the door, Claire appearing and smiling at the two exhausted men. It was typical that neither of them kept routine hours but she didn’t like to see either of them fall sick. The temper tantrums tended to be unbearable.
“You do know what time it is ?”
Frank stood again and Mikes took his leave, an apologetic kiss on the cheek telling Claire that something was clearly bothering both of them. Frank contented himself with pulling his wife into his arms and burying his face in her hair. It was too late to be worrying about a dead doorman and someone’s idea of a sick joke.
“Dear me Mrs Iero, is that a demand that I fuck your brains out ?”
“You couldn’t even get if up right now.”
Gerard’s laugh from down the hall caused Frank to turn the lights out and discard the image that slung itself into his tired brain.
A forest floor.
Mikey.
Someone screaming.
And a dead woman in amongst the autumn leaves.
That nightmare had haunted him for many years and it had been a few more since it had bothered him but still Frank found himself reaching in the bedside cabinet for the sleeping tablets that Gerard occasionally still took. Whatever was coming would need his attention, a murder that linked itself back was still bad for business. That last thing he needed was to be reminded of the old days and the blood it had cost to get him here. You could be a rich man and still have no peace of mind.
“This is nothing to worry about right ?”
Claire kissed his lips as Frank felt the pills take effect.
“No baby, nothing at all.”

Notes