Chapter 34: What is it with this week?

March 7, 2001, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio

🎤 Steve

“Repeat exactly what Jerome said,” Jessica instructed. “Not what you think.”

I repeated Jerome’s assessment word for word.

“He said ‘inconclusive’ on the EEG? That specific word?”

“Yes. I’m guessing that’s code.”

“A conclusive determination of brain death, or severe brain damage, requires two EEGs done roughly twenty-four hours apart. He told you, in effect, that the first one showed something severe, and they need a confirmation to make a conclusive determination. That also allows for any after-effects of the anesthesia to dissipate. You know how sluggish you felt the next day after yours, right?”

“Yes.”

“Some people have it worse, and their EEGs look very, very strange for several hours after the main effects wear off. If they see the same results tomorrow, I suspect they’ll ask Trudy to remove the ventilator. He may have had a stroke when the aneurysm ruptured, or at any time after. He’s at severe risk for one, depending on which vessel ruptured. But remember, I’m not in a position to make an actual diagnosis, and I wouldn’t speculate for anyone except you. I hate to say this, but you know the drill.”

“I do,” I sighed. “Pete will be here just after midnight. I’m going to stay with Melanie and Trudy until he gets here, then Stephanie and I will crash at Joyce’s house. I’ll book the first flight home in the morning, and we’ll cross whatever bridges we need to as events unfold.”

“I had the impression you were going to stay.”

“It’s Pete’s job,” I replied. “Much like caring for Stephie was Red’s job. If I thought Pete was incapable, I’d offer, but I know he’s not. And Melanie isn’t one to lose her composure.”

Jessica laughed softly, “Knowing her past, that’s actually funny, because you used to make her lose her composure all the time!”

“True! But with Pete here, she’ll be fine. I have responsibilities in Chicago.”

“OK. Let me know if anything changes.”

“I will. Let Kara know I love her and I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Tell the girls I’ll call before bedtime.”

“Will do!”

We said ‘goodbye’ and I hung up. I went back inside, found Stephanie, and let her know the plan. She offered to call for tickets, and I accepted. While she made the call to Liesel, I called Jennifer and then Bethany to fill them in. About ten minutes later, we met up with Trudy and Melanie.

“He’s still unconscious,” Melanie said. “They’re being very careful about predicting when he’ll come to.”

I nodded, “I spoke to Jess and she’s obviously reluctant to speculate without examining your dad.”

“And?”

“And she said we have to wait for more tests, which is what Doctor Katz said.”

“Do you know the possible complications?” Trudy asked.

“I’m really out of my depth here,” I said. “Al Barton offered me a chance at medical school and I turned him down to start NIKA. Let me put it this way, and Melanie will agree - I know about medicine like I know about law. I know enough to know I don’t know very much, but also enough to at least understand when I’m talking to a doctor or a lawyer.”

“What’s your plan, Melanie?” Stephanie asked.

“We’re both going to stay. There’s a lounge on the floor with the ICU, but it’s limited to family only.”

“It’s still nearly four hours before Pete’s supposed to arrive,” I said. “I really don’t want to leave you and Trudy alone.”

“We’ll be fine, Steve.”

“You have my mobile number if you need it. Use it, Mel; I’ve used yours often enough over the years. Stephanie and I will be at Joyce’s house which is less than thirty minutes away.”

“Thanks for staying with Mom.”

“You’re welcome.”

Melanie and I hugged, I hugged Trudy, and then Stephanie and I left.

“You told me way more than you told Melanie,” Stephanie said when we got into the rental car.

“Jess very specifically said she was speculating to me, and that she wouldn’t do that for anyone else. Think of the ethical problem if what she says interferes with what Doctor Katz or Doctor Finlon say? They’re attending the case; Jess isn’t.”

“But what if they’re wrong?”

“Ethically, Jess can’t say anything without evaluating Frank herself. I remember how Al Barton was about Stephie when she had her cancer - he was very careful not to speculate nor make any recommendations other than listening to her oncologist and other doctors.”

“What happened to staying with Melanie and Trudy?”

“They were going up to the ICU lounge, and once Pete is here, it’s his responsibility. I’ll call him now and offer any help of any kind, but he has to deal with it. And he’s perfectly capable.”

“True.”

Stephanie drove towards Joyce’s house and I called my dad to give him an update, then called Pete.

“Go for Carston!” he said when he answered.

“Pete, it’s Steve.”

“Hi, Steve. Sorry, I didn’t check the display before I answered. You’re on speaker. What’s up?”

“I’m sure Melanie updated you, and she and Trudy just went up to the ICU lounge which is family only, so Stephanie and I are heading back to Joyce’s house. I just wanted to let you know that I’m willing to help you in any way you need. As I said to Melanie, you both have my mobile number; if you need me, for anything, use it.”

“Will do. I’m making good time because I’m driving a car with government plates. I’ll be at the hospital before midnight.”

“OK. Again, if you need anything, call me. I mean it.”

“I will, Steve. Thanks for staying with Trudy and Melanie.”

“You’re welcome.”

We said ‘goodbye’ and I hung up.

“Did Jessica suggest a timeframe?”

“Not specifically, no, but they’ll try to take him off the vent tomorrow, and do a second EEG and that’s when they’ll present Trudy with her options.”

“None of which are good, I assume.”

“Despite what I said to Melanie, no, there are no good options. I think Donna Grossi had the right idea. So did Stephie, once it was clear there were no good options.”

“Do you and your wives have living wills?”

“Yes. Jess suggested we do that about three years ago when we updated our medical powers of attorney. Did Gwen have you change your will and medical power of attorney?”

“Yes. That’s all part of her ‘package deal’, if you will. Her biggest issues almost always revolve around state pensions because the law is completely unsettled and even ex-wives have claims, despite Illinois not being a community property state AND because, by law, the various pensions boards can ignore divorce decrees.”

“What the fuck?!”

“Don’t ask me, but did you know that the Illinois constitution guarantees that benefits can NEVER be reduced for anyone, even if the state were to go bankrupt?”

“I heard that, yes. But all it would take is amending the Constitution.”

“Not according to Gwen. She’s not sure the courts would allow that.”

“Uhm, a constitutional amendment would prevent the courts from interfering.”

“Her take is that the court would rule the amendment unconstitutional. She thinks even an attempt to replace the constitution completely, eliminating jurisdiction for the courts would fail, at least in Illinois. And nobody knows what the Federal Courts would do.”

“Given we’re guaranteed a ‘republican form of government’ I can’t see how they could prevent a wholesale replacement of the State constitution, assuming it met the requirements for ‘republicanism’. I’m going to run this one by Liz. Not that I doubt Gwen, but I need to hear it from someone else.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Not really; I just want to spend some time with Jake, Joyce, and the kids and get to bed so we can get to the airport and get home. I have a feeling that we’ll be back early next week.”

March 8, 2001, Chicago, Illinois

My mobile phone rang just after Stephanie and I walked out of the terminal at Midway Airport.

“Morning, Brian,” I said.

“Megan Nicole Frost was born at 8:25am this morning. Mom and baby are healthy!”

“Congratulations! Tell Samantha I’m very happy and let her know I love her.”

“Will do! How is Melanie’s dad?”

“No change as of when I got on the plane this morning. They’ll know more when they do the EEG after lunch.”

“Keep me posted. I’ll let the other men know, which will save you or Pete from having to make those calls.”

“Thanks, Brian. I’ll call as soon as I hear anything.”

We said ‘goodbye’ and I hung up.

“Megan Nicole,” I said to Stephanie.

“I’ll call Kimmy and have her send flowers and I’ll figure out a gift from NIKA and one for you, too.”

“What would I do without you, Squirt?”

“You would have had Kimmy or your wives take care of it. You know you can’t give Samantha anything too personal because her husband is WAY too straitlaced. He’s not as puritanical as Pete, though.”

“And ‘puritanical’ for Pete means accepting his wife giving me the best French kisses in the history of the planet!”

“I’m not sure who would be more offended by that - your wives, Elyse, or ME!”

“Ahem, uhm, perhaps I should revise my statement.”

“Perhaps you should! What’s your plan for the day?”

“Work and karate. Molly went home this morning because she had three clients to see, and Brett has a 10:00am shift, so I have to be at both daytime classes. Penny is already at the house and she’ll stay for the afternoon. I’ll come home for an hour between classes, but then she and I will work after dinner as well.”

“Are you doing OK with the hectic schedule?”

“Better living through chemistry!” I chuckled. “The drug Mary has me on has worked wonders. I need to go see Alejandra next week for a complete physical to check my vitals, have an EKG, and a full blood workup, but I don’t expect she’ll find anything, because I feel better than I have in years.”

“No booze and no caffeine for the rest of your life?”

“I’d say there’s a decent chance of no alcohol, though I did a bit of research and occasional drinks are OK, and Mary does allow me one cup of coffee a day. But until everything is stable for a year, I’m not even going to try to discuss it with Mary.”

“Because it’ll get back to Jess?”

“I’ll tell Jess. She won the point on tobacco, at least for now, but there is no way I’m going to miss my single bowl of pipe tobacco on the anniversary of Stephie’s death, even if I have to sneak away to do it.”

“Does Jess know that?”

“No, of course not! But some things are worth the risk, and in this case, the risk is so small that I’m more than willing to take it. I’m not cheating on anything else, and I’m doing everything Mary told me, including getting enough sleep, even last night.”

“Playing with fire?”

“You know I like to do that! I just haven’t been able to for quite some time.”

Stephanie laughed, “Some things never change!”

“You know Birgit’s diagnosis,” I chuckled as we walked up to a waiting taxi.

Stephanie laughed, “The same one EVERY girl who has ever known you, including me, has come to - ‘dumb boy’ or some variation thereof!”

“Exactly!” I said as we got into the cab.

I gave the cabbie the address and he pressed buttons on the taximeter then pulled away from the curb. About twenty minutes later, we arrived home to a mostly empty house. Only Penny and Winter were there, and after greeting them, Stephanie and I went to the ‘Indian’ room because she indicated she wanted to talk before going to the office.

“I want to ask you a hypothetical question,” my sister said quietly.

“Sure. And I’ll give you a hypothetical answer.”

“If it were necessary, could the original, unedited videotape be produced?”

“Hypothetically speaking, yes.”

“You know where it is?”

“As in the GPS location? No. But you know who has it and why it’s guaranteed to exist. Nobody would let THAT go if they had it hanging over someone. Why?”

“I’ve had Ted Farley poking around. Ed did hire those two punks and appears to still be interested in causing me trouble.”

“Enough to put him in prison for life?” I asked.

“You’re worried about Bethany.”

“Obviously! But Harry and Nora, too. I mean, yes, him going to prison would be just, but I have to consider everything. Why not just push back a bit?”

“Think about what happens if I do.”

“Fuck,” I sighed. “He files complaints against you for harassment, or whatever.”

“And imagine what happens if he says I threatened him to force him to take the settlement in the divorce?”

“Well, shit,” I sighed again. “Ask your REAL question.”

“Would you ask Anthony to deliver that tape to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think he was going to cause more trouble. And it’s not like he’s an upstanding citizen, given he’s taking payoffs.”

“You know I don’t have a lot of moral high ground to stand on in that regard, right?”

“Did you murder anyone? Take bribes or payoffs?”

“I didn’t kill anyone, no. But I did take the money from Theo and the unions back in the day.”

“Criminal activity, sure, but not corruption the way I’m talking about. And not murder!”

The State of Illinois wouldn’t see it that way - felony murder in Illinois could stem from something as simple as lending someone a car if you knew they were going to commit a crime and someone died in the commission of the crime. I’d actually driven the ‘getaway’ car, and despite not knowing Theo was going to get into a shootout, I could be charged. And THAT was why I kept the mountain of evidence against Theo, the unions, and the Aldermen, as well as the old data I had from when Becky and I had done work directly for the Outfit.

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t, big brother. This isn’t me being vindictive, this is me watching out for myself and my kids. And YOU watching out for me and your niece and nephew.”

“When we go back to Cincinnati for what I expect is the inevitable funeral, I’ll speak to Anthony.”

“You know there’s other stuff, too, right?” Stephanie asked.

“I don’t know, but I assumed. I mean, if Ed was making collections and was muscle, there had to be. But you know I’ve been out of that for a LONG time. He was out, too, and should have stayed out. Well, I guess it depends if he’s just involved in the usual day-to-day Machine system here, that’s different. The Outfit is in real trouble here - even loan-sharking and prostitution, which were their bread and butter are basically out of their control. It’s mostly pimps and two-bit hoods now. Only the unions, trucking, and construction are Outfit controlled, and those are being investigated. The FBI may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they have the advantage of time and government power.”

“I just want him out of my life for good, and I can’t manage that with simple threats, not even threats of prosecution.”

Which reminded me of the REAL reason I couldn’t actually do what Stephanie was requesting.

“And when he accuses you and me of having had an incestuous relationship?”

“Who’s going to believe that at this point?”

“And my underage lovers? Well, there aren’t any currently, but he knows my history.”

“Again, who’s going to believe a murderer?”

“Jailhouse stool pigeons are a common trope for a reason. I think it’s too risky. He’ll know I had a hand in turning over the tape, and that’s the end of any leverage. Right now, he can’t say anything because he’d be ensuring he went to prison for life in exchange for making my life difficult. You and I would deny anything happened, and you know the girls Ed knows about would deny having had sex with me. I wouldn’t go to jail, but it would mean the end of my involvement at NIKA in any way, and yours, too. Call the situation ‘Mutual Assured Destruction’.”

“And when he’s busted by the Feds?”

“Same thing - so long as that tape exists, and Ed knows it exists, which he does, he can’t reveal anything. You upgraded your security system, right?”

“Yes. The same one you had installed two years ago.”

“Then just have Ted Farley collect and keep the evidence and wait to see what happens.”

“OK. I think I’ll head home, then to the office. Call me if you hear anything from Melanie or Pete.”

“Will do.”

We hugged, she left, and I went to join Penny in my study.

“Any news?” she asked.

“No. I only have about an hour now before I have to go to the dojo. What’s hot?”

“Besides me?” she teased.

“Yes, Pretty Penny, besides you!”

“A weird bug in the backend that we haven’t been able to track down.”

“Then let’s take a look,” I said.

An hour later we still hadn’t found the source of the problem, but we could easily replicate it, which meant it was only a matter of time. Penny stayed at the house to continue working while I walked to the dojo. I unlocked the doors, said what amounted to ‘entry prayers’ then went to the office to check for messages and await the students. There was a message from a Chicago PD detective asking me to call the precinct as soon as I received the message, but given the amount of time I had before class was supposed to start, I simply made a note of his name and number to call after class. That strategy didn’t help when about two minutes before class, two plainclothes detectives came into the dojo.

“Are you the owner?” a black male detective, who appeared to be in his forties, asked.

“The dojo is owned by an LLC,” I replied. “I’m one of the senior instructors, but I’m not the master of the dojo. May I ask what this is about? And may I see your IDs?”

“Detective Sergeant Allen,” the male detective said, showing his ID.

“Detective Alvadalejo,” the female, a Latina of about thirty, said, showing her ID. “May we see yours?”

I got my wallet from the drawer where I kept it while teaching and handed over my driver’s license.

“Thanks, Mr. Adams,” Detective Alvadalejo said, handing it back.

“Detectives, I’m the only instructor and class is about to start. Is this of such urgency that it has to be right this second? I can have one of the senior students lead exercises, but I need about five minutes to get it going.”