"The Heart of the Griffin"
by
WildDogJJ
Chapter 1
Lawndale, NJ July 2001:
Sandi Griffin was very upset. As she lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling fantasies of killing her mother swirled in her head. She'd been having a nice summer until Linda once again decided to piss on her parade. The trials of her senior year at Lawndale High had caused Sandi to value her friends in a new light, much to Linda's chagrin. Sandi and Quinn now got along quite well. Sandi had even reconciled with her childhood friend, Jane Lane. It was nice to know that Jane had at least forgiven her for turning on their friendship for the sake of popularity back in middle school. Sandi had hoped they could be friends again but it was not to be. She and Jane had grown into two completely different people. Sandi accepted this as she and Jane still got along despite this. It was mwde easy by the fact that she herself still had her other friends. She looked forward to one last summer before they all, inevitably, went their seperate ways. Stacy would be going to State U in New Brunswick while Quinn was going to East Coast University in New York City. They would still be close as both schools were only a half-hour drive from each other and Lawndale was only two hours away. Staying close to Tiffany would be more difficult. At the end of the summer Tiffany was going to LA to pursue her dream of being a movie star. Because of this the four of them tried to spend as much time as possible during the summer. Now Linda had ruined it.
The four of them had decided to spend fourth of July weekend in Seaside Heights. It was Sandi, Quinn, Tiffany, Stacy and Stacy's new boyfriend, Charles Ruttheimer. Sandi now cheered up as she thought of Stacy and Upchuck being a couple. It turned out that the whole Upchuck thing really was just an act he put on to seem more confident. When he dropped the act he really was quite endearing. As a result everyone else, including Sandi, gradually overcame their misgivings and warmed up to him. Now it was actually amusing when Charles put on his Upchuck persona because everyone now knew he was just clowning around. Being with Stacy had done wonders for his self-confidence. Sandi laughed as she recalled one awkward thing that had happened on the trip. After watching a fireworks show on the beach Stacy and Chuck had mysteriously disappeared. The other girls looked for them and Sandi found them. It was awkward as she found them under the pier in shallow water sans clothes making a few fireworks of their own, if you know what I mean. As awkward and embarrassing as that was they were able to laugh about it later. When Sandi came home from the trip she encountered a very upset Linda.
"So, have they stabbed you in the back yet?" Linda asked snidely.
"No," Sandi retorted, "They're my friends."
"Sandi" said Linda, "How many times must I tell you, friends are just enemies who aren't screwing you over at the moment."
"You're wrong, Mother. They would..."
"Shut up" Linda cut her off, "They will turn on you. You disappoint me, Sandi. I raised you to be strong and you're not. You let that Morgendorffer brat steal all of your status and think she's your friend. You go to a community college instead of a real school. You are a lost cause."
Sandi snapped "At least I don't obsess over being a failed anchor. You tried to make me into you. News flash, Mother, I'm not you. I'm me and..."
Linda immediately slapped Sandi with the back of her hand.
"HOW DARE YOU TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME!" she shouted, "I give you food, clothing, an education and a roof over your head and you disrepect me. You're grounded, you little ingrate!"
"But, Mother..."
"No buts, not now or ever. Not unless you want me to cut you off."
Sandi got right in Linda's face. Linda scowled.
"You have something to say to me?" asked Linda in a menacing tone.
Sandi said nothing as she knew that her mother was ruthless enough to disown her over this matter.
"That what I thought." said Linda in mocking triumph. "Never forget that you owe everything to me and that I can and will cut you off if you cross me again. You're grounded for the rest of the summer. You are to have no further contact with your so called friends."
Now, hours later, Sandi is alone in her room fuming. This was the latest in her mother's attempts to mold her. Sandi wanted to even the score. One thing she and Linda had in common was that they both hated being powerless. Linda always made her daughter feel powerless. Sandi suddenly remembered a story Quinn had told her a while back. Quinn's parents had been visited by some old college friends one weekend. Sandi never forgot that story as the old friends had weird names: Willow and Coyote. From their own son, Ethan, Quinn had learned something embarrassing about her own parents (she wouldn't say what) and used it to get both herself and Daria out of trouble. Now, Sandi wondered if there was some dirt she could use against her own mother.
Meanwhile, at the abandoned quarry...
Kevin and Brittany were riding in Kevin's jeep. Brittany was back in Lawndale for the summer and she and Kevin had gotten back together. Brittany had had a rough year at Great Prairie State in Illinois. She'd barely passed and so was transferring to a less demanding school. The school was Middleton College in Maryland. Kevin was going there too so Brittany decided they should get back together. Now they were approaching the quarry to do what they always did there, make love under the stars.
They were disappointed to find a car already there.
"Aw, MAN!" exclaimed Kevin.
As they drove closer Brittany recognized the car.
"Kevy" she said, "I think that's Mr. O'Neil's car."
"But, like, what's he doing here?"
Brittany thought for a moment, twirling her hair on her finger as she did. She got an idea.
"Park the jeep," said Brittany, "I'll ask him."
Kevin parked the jeep nearby. As Brittany got out and approached Mr. O'Neil's car he hoped she could get the teacher to leave and he'd be able to get it in tonight after all. Just then...
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! KEEEVVVVVYYYYY!"
South Philadelphia, a few weeks earlier...
Mama Mangano's was a popular restaurant in this predominatley Italian neighborhood on the south side of Philadelphia. People from all over the area came here for the warm atmosphere and traditional Italian cuisine. The owner was a man named John Magano. He was a local celebrity, but not because of the restaurant that served his mother's recipies. He owed his fame to being the boss of Philadelphia's Cosa Nostra family. He had a private office in the back that he used for business. He now sat behind the desk meeting with his underboss, his consigliere and one of his capo's.
John's nickname was "Handsome John", and it was appropiate. He looked more like a movie star than a gangster. He had short, expertly styled black hair and a perfectly chisled face. At the beach he was admired for his lean, muscular build. He always wore designer clothes and had a charming smile that would make people like him instantly. He was also smart and ruthless.
His underboss was Louis "Fat Louie" Sorentino. Louie was over 300 pounds and was constantly stuffing his face. He was also a simpleton. While he could make people fear him he lacked any true cunning. John felt he was the perfect right hand man: mean enough to be second-in-command, but to stupid to be a leader.
The consigliere was Dominic Valentino. Dominic was a withered, 75 year old man who was very respected. He was known for both his wisdom and brutal honesty.
The fourth man in the room was a capo by the name of Nicholas "Nicky Cowboy" Correlli. Short and stocky, Nicky was as strong as a bull. His face was rugged and harsh. He was known for being a good earner while also being fearsome muscle, a good combination in this particular line of work. He got the nickname "Cowboy" due to his kill first, ask later approach to problem solving. His crew had the best hit men in the family.
"Nicky, I called you in 'cause I got a problem you could maybe solve." said John.
"What's that?" asked Nicky.
"You been watching the news lately?" said John, "An anonymous tip led to the exposure of a friend of mine, Leonard Lamm. They haven't been able to implicate me in anything, yet. Louie, tell what you told me."
Louie immediately said "I got a source in the Lawndale County DA's office. Turn's out the whistle blower is some science teacher. A feminazi - named Barch."
Dominic said "This is no good. Lenny and John's business partnership made the news. Who's to say that this doesn't encourage others to come forward. We gotta nip this in the bud."
John said "Nicky, I want you to take care of this Barch whore. Do it in a way that sends a message."
With an evil smile Nicky said "Consider it done, John."
The abandoned quarry in Lawndale, a few weeks later...
"EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! KEVVVVYYYY!"
Upon hearing Brittany's scream, Kevin leapt out of his jeep and ran to her. She was standing by the driver side of Mr. O'Neil's car and shaking uncontrollably.
"What's wrong, babe?" Kevin asked.
Brittany nervously pointed at the car. Both windows were shattered. Ms. Barch was in the passenger seat and Mr. O'Neil was in the drivers seat, both of them were dead. Ms. Barch had a bullet wound in her right temple with an exit wound on her left temple, her brains splattered on her left shoulder. Mr. O'Neil was similarly wounded from the opposite direction. Ms. Barch had a dead rat stuffed in her mouth.
The following evening at a hotel in Atlantic City...
Handsome John was the bed of his penthouse suite in the casino hotel he owned. He lay naked under the silken sheets. Laying next to him was a naked woman. This woman wasn't his wife (who was back home with the kids) but his comare (pronounced Goo-mahr-a). She was also a business associate of his. Her name was Linda Griffin. The phone rang and he answered.
"Yeah?"
On the other end of the line Nicky was calling from a payphone on Dega Street.
"It's done" he said.
"Any problems?" asked John.
"Had to deal with the boyfriend too. Couldn't be helped."
"No problem."
With that, John hung up.
"Who was that, my Italian Stallion?" asked Linda.
"Just my wife. She knows how I worry about the kids."
With that, he and Linda started to make out.