Chapter 22: Aftermath

Brad had just finished heating up left-overs for his dinner when his cell phone rang. He assumed it was from his wife, so he didn’t look at the number. “Hey,” he said cheerfully.

“Brad, this is Ted.”

“Hey Ted. Say listen I’m sorry I didn’t get that return filed today, I,”

“Brad,” Ted interrupted, “you need to turn on the news.”

After hanging up, Brad turned on the local TV news and saw the Breaking News banner scrolling across the screen as a pretty reporter stood in front of the camera and spoke, almost out of breath. “Yes Tim, earlier today police arrested Giuseppe Manaford and another man. Both have reported have ties to a West Coast crime syndicate.” The TV showed the two half-clothed mobsters being led from the house with their hands handcuffed behind their backs.

Brad recognized the other hood. It was Gino, the bagman for the Monassario family. “Well, good for the cops,” he said. But then he felt puzzled. Why did Ted call him about this?

The camera stayed on them until they were placed in the backs of separate police cars and then it went back to the reporter, who then said, “Police aren’t releasing anyone else’s names and we don’t as yet know who this young woman is.” The screen then showed Marissa being quickly led out of the house and Brad exclaimed, “Oh fuck!”

He recognized the other woman as well. It was Agent Ferraro. Marissa held up her hands to shield her face and the reporter continued, “As you can see, the young woman has what look like leather restraints on her wrists and neck; the kind you normally associate with bondage sex.” The camera zoomed in on Marissa’s face and you could clearly see the leather collar around her neck, held in place by a small padlock and a ring at her throat with nothing attached to it. Her hair was all tangles, and it was obvious that she’d been crying as mascara smears ran down her cheeks.

“What the hell?” exclaimed Brad to the TV.

“Simone, do we know if the woman’s being arrested?” asked Tim, the anchor back at the station as the camera showed Marissa climbing into the back of an ambulance.

“No Tim, we have no more information at this time. It looks like they’re taking her to the hospital.”

The screen switched back to the anchor at the station. “Thank you, Simone. Now to the weather. Mike, what’s happening outside?”

Brad turned off the TV, picked up his cell phone and dialed his wife and was angry when it went to voicemail. There was one other person he could call to find out what was going on. He went to his desk and took out the card that had been given him what seemed like a long time ago.

“Ferraro,” the voice answered.

“This is Brad Henderson. Tell me what’s going on. Where’s my wife?”

“Mr. Henderson, oh, I’ve been meaning to call you.” She paused for just a second, making Brad fume under his collar even more. “It’s a long story.”

Brad interrupted, “Just let me know what’s going on. Is my wife all right?”

“Yes, she’s all right. She, uh, Mr. Henderson your wife has been working undercover for us for...”

“WHAT!” he exploded. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE’S BEEN WORKING UNDERCOVER?”

“Mr. Henderson, please calm down.” Ferraro waited for a breath and then continued. “It turned out that the casino group that she was working for in Las Vegas is connected to the Monassario family. Your wife has been providing us with intel on Alexandria Dodge and Terrance Rockford and when the connection with the Monassario’s came up we asked her to meet with one of their captains, Gino Manaford.”

“Oh, fuck me!” exclaimed Brad.

“During the meeting, another mobster showed up...”

“That fucker Gino, right?” said Brad heatedly. “I saw him on the news.”

“Yes, well they’ve been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and rape.”

“Oh fuck.” He paused for a minute before asking, “How is she? Is she all right?”

“Basically yes. It was obviously a traumatic experience. I think that she’s going to need quite a bit of emotional support.”

“Of course,” he repeated quietly. “I’ve been trying to call her, but it goes to her voicemail.”

“The doctor gave her a mild sedative and she’s asleep. Listen Mr. Henderson, I’ll drive her home in the morning as soon as she’s awake. I think that it would be best if you two talk in person.

There was no way that Brad could go to work the next morning, so he called his office as soon as it was opened and got his admin assistant. “Brad,” she said, “the FBI is here. They served us with a warrant for everything concerning that client of yours.” Brad didn’t need to ask which client; his partners were already upset with Brad concerning the business with the Monassario family.