Return To Forever (13 page)

“OK…let’s start with Robert De Laudanum’s activities right after he graduated from State. His family lived in Grand Rapids and he returned there and was hired as an accountant for the “New Horizons” chain of family restaurants. The owner was Douglas Zatkos and he took a liking to De Laudanum right away and trusted him with intimate details of his finances beyond the restaurant chain.

Within a year or so De Laudanum became aware of Zatkos’ ties to the Jackie Torelli crime family who was using Zatkos to launder money from various Ponzi schemes throughout the Lower Peninsula. In time, Zatkos expanded his accountant’s responsibilities to include the entire laundering activities. De Laudanum recorded every transaction all the way to deposits in various foreign accounts. Any questions so far?”

Joe stopped Rick and asked where Mary fit in to all this. “I found a mortgage document filed on a home De Laudanum purchased. Mary is shown as the co-owner and wife.”

Rick continued with his report. “The Justice Department had been watching the activities of the Torelli family and, in time, traced things back to the Zatkos connection but could not get enough concrete evidence for an indictment. Once close surveillance was placed on the employees of New Horizons main office, the money trail zeroed in on De Laudanum and he was brought in for questioning. It didn’t take the Feds long to break him and word went out from the Torelli’s that he was a dead man if he rolled over on the family….which he did, in exchange for being placed in the Witness Protection program.”

“No shit!” said Joe when it all started to sink in. “I remember reading about the trial. Didn’t Zatkos get murdered before he could testify?”

“He did.” Rick answered. “He refused to rat out his partners and wouldn’t take the deal the Fed’s offered but the Torelli’s couldn’t take the chance and took him and his wife out while they slept. Shotguns to the head. They also put a contract out on our boy but he and Mary were kept under wraps too well to get found before the trial.”

Joe interrupted with another question. “So did De Laudanum ever testify in court?”

“Yes”, Rick replied. He slid a photo across the table for Joe to look at. “This is a picture taken with De Laudanum testifying. You can see he has a vest on under his shirt and the witness box was shielded by bullet proof Plexiglas. I have no idea how this picture was taken as there was a total news blackout invoked by the judge. After his testimony was taken he was moved to a safe house and then…poof!”

Joe was silent and reflected on what he had just heard. “So he and Mary have new identities and are living somewhere at some unknown location…is that about it?”

Rick nodded yes, waiting for Joe’s next question. “Do you think Allison knows where they are living?”

“Joe, the Federal Marshalls are experts at running these operations and are given information on a need-to-know basis. The team assigned to Mary is the only ones who know these details and they are religious in maintaining total security. Keep in mind that being in WITSEC is entirely voluntary and if the participants want to risk contacting a loved one they have to live with the consequences.”

“Somehow, from what Allison was saying, I think she knows where Mary is living, otherwise why would she be avoiding me like this.” Joe was certain he was right.

“Remember when I said there were options that might require some under the radar payoffs?” Rick went on. “I have a good friend and ex-Seal teammate that is a Federal Marshall here in Michigan. He has been battling his ex-wife for custody of his kids and is really strapped for money to pay his attorney. I doubt he would have any personal knowledge of Mary’s case but he might be willing to do a little digging for us if the price was right.”

Joe was unsure how to answer. “How much would I need to pay and what kind of information do you think he can give us?”

“Listen Joe,” Rick answered. “What I’ve done so far was no charge for an old friend. Going forward you will be on the clock and time is money. You can figure around $500 for my friend and at least $1,000 for my work going forward. The $500 has to be cash up front. The rest I can work on an easy payment plan. As to information, I have no idea what he can come up with but if he is a dry hole it won’t cost you anything. It’s your call.”

Joe knew he could easily come up with the $500 but the real question was what he really hoped to accomplish by finding her. Was there even the slightest chance she still had feelings for him? He knew she was likely still married and embracing a new life she was forced to accept. His head was spinning. “I’ll have the $500 for you tomorrow. Let’s see what he comes up with.”

CHAPTER 24

T
rue to his word, Rick reached out to his friend in the Marshall’s service. It seems his friend’s financial situation was a lot worse than he thought. Rick broad brushed what he was looking for and his friend’s reaction was predictable….no fucking way!

“At least sleep on it, Bill.” Rick pleaded. “The guy’s not stupid and knows this kind of information won’t come free.”

“I’ll need $1,000 up front and that is not refundable. Best I can do is find out what state they are in and even that might be impossible. When the money’s in my hand I will go to work.” Bill laid out the conditions and it was up to Rick and Joe to come to the party.

Rick contacted Joe and outlined the money needed to move forward. “Fuck, man…that’s twice what you said it would cost!” Joe was shocked and said so. This might tilt the scales against continuing his search, he thought. “Man, I don’t know if it’s worth wiping out my savings to find someone who dumped me years ago.”

“I understand”, Rick answered. “If we do find what state they are in, we still will be a long way from actually locating her…and it will take more money. My recommendation is to just let it go man. She was a great gal but you guys were young and life goes on.”

“You’re right,” Joe answered. “Still, why did she just disappear on me with no explanation…not even a Dear John letter? Something inside me says I need to get this answer or I will never really be able to move on.”

“OK,” Rick replied. “Get me the $1,000.00 and let me go to work.”

The following week Joe hocked his Colt 1911 and pulled the rest from his savings account. He dropped off the envelope with the money at Rick’s office and waited for his report. In the meantime Wayne Cochrane and the CC Riders were coming in for three nights and the club was moving Joe’s band downstairs to the Jazz bar. This would open up a couple of dates for Joe to sit in at The Raven and earn some much needed extra cash.

—

Why was it that every time Joe played at The Raven the weather was shitty? This night it was raining like a motherfucker which you would think would thin out the crowd but it didn’t. By the end of the third set only the most loyal patrons were still left for last call. The final tune was most appropriate, “Stormy Monday” which Joe played with more passion than usual.

By 2:30 Joe had packed up his gear and moved it towards the back door where he would pull his car up for loading. He said goodbye to Troy and the band and pulled is jacket over his head for the dash to his car in the heavy downpour. As he exited, he noticed someone standing in the shadows and getting soaked to the bone. As he got closer he saw that it was Allison.

“Allison, what the hell are you doing out here at this hour?” Joe asked, truly concerned about his young friend. “You’re wet and freezing….follow me.” Joe covered Allison with his jacket and they ran to his parked car a block away. Once they entered the car Joe cranked up the heater and turned to Allison for some answers.

“Joe I have been feeling like shit for the way I have treated you. I think you deserve to know some things about Mary that will help fill in some of the blanks. I should have been more trusting because of how much you loved each other.”

Joe drove around to the alley and loaded up his gear while Allison dried out in the car. “Where are you parked?” he asked. “Why don’t you follow me to my apartment and we can warm up over some not too good coffee?”

Allison shook her head. “No, let’s just go now. I can get my car tomorrow if you don’t mind driving me back.” Joe fired up the old Torino and headed to his apartment with Allison fast asleep and leaning her head on his shoulder as he drove. He looked down at her face and recognized for the first time how truly beautiful she was, even with running mascara and stringy wet hair. As he drove, he debated whether he should let her know what he found out through Phil and Rick. He decided to hold off until he heard what she had to tell him that was giving her such feelings of guilt.

“Welcome to my humble bachelor pad.” Joe announced as Allison entered and sat at the small dinette table. “Let me get some coffee brewing.” Joe pulled out his trusty Mr. Coffee and prepared a pot of very strong brew. After pouring them both a cup Joe waited for Allison to tell him what was bothering her. “So, what brought you out in the rain tonight?”

“Joe you need to know some things about Mary that will help you understand why she cut off contact with you so suddenly. You remember how strict my father was with us girls and how determined he was to make sure nothing got in the way of us attaining the goals he established for us…regardless of our feelings on the matter. Well you opened Mary’s eyes that there was another option for her life….having fun and loving someone who loved her back just for what she was, not for what she was supposed to become.”

Joe listened intently, knowing Allison was spot on in her understanding of what he and Mary had shared. “I know how tough it must have been for Mary to hide her real feelings from your parents. It tore me up inside but I accepted seeing her when she could sneak away. I guess the breaking point for me was not taking her to the prom.”

“She had to go Joe. I understand now that not going would have tipped her hand on still seeing you on the sly. At the time I thought she just liked another guy.” Allison was never totally aware that Joe was still in the picture but had her suspicions which Mary later confirmed.

Allison continued. “Mary counted the weeks, days and hours until she would be on her own at State College and free from the pressure of our father. Once she moved in to her dorm room the real Mary emerged, a social butterfly eager to experience new things, meet new people and just enjoy life. Her roommate was pretty wild and talked Mary into going to quite a few frat parties with her. Mary was never much of a drinker and being such a small girl, it didn’t take much to get her lit up.”

“You’re right.” Joe said, remembering how tipsy Mary would get after just one or two beers.

Allison went on. “Well one night Mary and her roommate were at a party at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, one of the real party frats on the campus. Some guy named Bob had his eye on Mary and watched as she got out of control and finally just passed out on a couch.

Well Bob moved in and had her pants off right in the middle of the party. People all around were laughing and drinking and never paid any attention to this girl getting screwed right in front of them.” Joe was speechless.

“It didn’t take long for word to spread across campus and Mary was humiliated beyond belief. She stopped going to classes and wouldn’t leave her dorm room. When she missed her period her world totally came apart. She returned home to face the music and, just like that, everything our dad had planned for her went out the window.”

Joe needed something stronger than coffee. “Want a beer?” he asked Allison who was also stone sober and in need of something as well. With beer in hand Allison continued her story.

“By then Mary was almost three months pregnant and my dad wanted the father to accept his responsibility and marry her immediately. He took Mary back to campus to confront Bob, who as it turned out, came from a very wealthy Grand Rapids family who was equally shocked when they heard what happened. The wedding was arranged quickly and Bob’s family agreed to cover all of Mary’s living expenses including pre and post natal care.”

“Did Mary and Bob quit school?” Joe asked.

“Mary did but Bob only had one semester to go and continued taking classes. He graduated on time and avoided getting drafted with help from his family’s money and influential friends and went back home to work for some restaurant chain. He bought a small home and waited for Mary to give birth. Mary started spotting way before her due date and ended up losing the baby. The whole thing was such a tragedy; I cried my eyes out for weeks.”

Joe’s eyes began to fill up with tears. He had been so wrong about everything. “Did she love this guy?” Joe asked.

“Joe, she didn’t even know the bastard. She loved you but couldn’t get up the courage to face you with all the baggage she was carrying. She thought it best to just disappear from your life altogether.”

“Are they still married and together?” Joe asked, already knowing the answer.

Allison was done. “Sorry Joe but that is all I can share with you. There is more to the story but nothing I can say without truly jeopardizing Mary’s safety. Please try and understand. I’m sorry.”

CHAPTER 25

A
fter dropping Allison off at her car, Joe called Rick to see what he was able to find out from his friend in the Marshalls Service. His gut was telling him that the final chapter on Mary was yet to be written.

“Hey buddy, I was just getting ready to call you,” Rick said when he answered Joe’s call. “They are living in Arizona. Have no idea what city or what name they are using but this was a major accomplishment for someone in WITSEC.”