Buried Secrets
The Chicago night life was flourishing now that the sun had settled down. The black Cadillac rolled through the other cars as it made its way towards the Chicago Grand Hotel up ahead.
"Hey Giovanni my dear boy what do you think about the rumors surrounding me?"
"People speak nonsense when their scared boss."
The boss laid back as he kept himself in deep thoughts about the grave situation he got involved in.
Present Day
The gang headed back to Bushwell Plaza after a fresh break at the Groovy Smoothie. Sam led the way with Carly and Freddie in tow. As they walked Freddie went into his thoughts about certain things. Why did his mom act so weird this morning even though she was already considered beyond weird and crazy. But this was a different kind of weird as if there was something really wrong going on. Either that or she is finally having the mental breakdown everybody's feared for their lives. Freddie felt a strong slap on his cheeks which snapped him back to reality.
"Earth to Fredweirdo!" Sam spoke to Freddie in his face as she delivered a second soft but strong slap to the boy.
"Huh what?"
Carly giggled at his dumbfounded friend "Freddie you look so adorable when you act like that."
"Umm...thanks." Sam hit him on the back of the head to gain his attention. She doesn't like being ignored most importantly she hates it when Freddie is all over Carly. "When will that boy learn?" She thought to herself.
"Spaceship lover I said that your helping me with my new computer on the weekend."
Freddie looked at her "When did I volunteer?" That earned him another smack to the head "Just now let's go!"
Over by the local hospital Mrs. Benson kept herself occupied on the front desk's computer. She frantically searched the internet and had the mouse pad hostage as she continued clicking on various sites. Most of these sites were news related with many having titles such as More killings in Chicago, Nicolosi strike back, Is Di Salvo to blame?Asshe paused for a moment to absorb all the information she covered her face with both hands to hide her frustration from the patients and fellow staff.
"It's really happening" She spoke "Oh god it's been so long."
Back in Chicago the meeting had taken a drastic new turn of events. The Castellano's longtime Consigliere and infamous capo were having a heated argument. The other attendants were watching the act from aside speaking their minds when needing to.
"The maledetto Nicolosi started this damn war!"
"Michael what matters is that we live beyond this."
"How...by hiding?" Michael waved his hand around the room. "Those bramoso porco are likely getting the other families to join their causa."
"Nonsense the Monterosso's have been our allies since the boss's son married their Don's niece." One of the men present responded to Michael's doubts.
"Micheletto is dead and so is the boss now." Michael answered him back in a low tone which showed signs of sadness. "He was the torch to this dark abyss and now that fire has burnt out."
That last comment hit everybody hard Joey had always lighted their spirits even in the toughest, hardest moments. Whoever was to be nominated as the new Don wouldn't have the same mystic that Don Perrino once had. The Nicolosi were on a mission to destroy the family's influence, steal their territory and run them out of town. They needed to be strong and fight back the aggression that threatened their survival.
"Michael we still have hope don't give up."
"I'm not Sal just furious that we're showing so much weakness."
Sal placed both his hands on Michael's shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Meet me tomorrow we've got much to discuss; this meeting is over for the day." He waved his hand and at once everybody started walking out the door. Michael stood there awhile looking out the window then headed towards the door.
"Michael." The young capo looked back at his Consigilere. "Take care of yourself."
"You too Sal."
Sal smiled back "I'm more worried about you so don't go on a killing spree out there okay."
"Sure." Michael walked out the door and back to the gritty dangerous streets of Chicago.
Once the gang reached Carly's place they went inside to find Spencer working on a new unique sculpture. It compromised of cereal boxes and a lot of soda cans. Sam crashed on the sofa as both Carly and Freddie walked to the kitchen. "Is that all the peppy colas that we bought just three days ago?" Carly asked his brother.
"Yeah." Spencer answered her question not taking his eyes of his masterpiece.
"Did you drink it all?"
"No way I poured it on an empty milk jug." Carly looked a bit confused there.
"You did wash it did you?"
Spencer raised his eyes up "Oops."
Freddie got grossed out and walked over to Sam as Carly placed her hand over her face in frustration. Freddie sat next to Sam as both watched the television. Sam looked quite different today Freddie thought. Maybe she put some make up? Naah she would never perhaps she got new clothes. Sam had been busy watching the television when she got this feeling next to her. She slowly moved her head to the left and caught Freddie square handed looking at her.
"What the hell?" She thought why was freddumbo looking at her. Was he...checking her out perhaps? Sam's heart rate jumped at that conclusion. They had dated last year, but it didn't work out, but that was last year. Maybe things were different now, things could be better between them. Sam blew away those crazy thoughts and spoke up.
"You lost something or you want something?"
Freddie panicked and looked away quickly. That got Sam to regain her confidence as she enjoyed making boys feel weak and inferior to her. It was one of her many passions which included ham and wrestling. Though sometimes and she meant sometimes she felt bad for making Freddie's life into the ultimate man servant's nightmare. Just then Freddie's phone beeped and he checked his messages.
"My mom's coming back from work." He said as he stood up.
"Okay goodbye Freddie."
"See ya kido."
"Don't forget your special tick bath before hitting your baby crib." Freddie rolled his eyes and shouted back "Whatever." Before walking out the apartment. Once he left Carly threw a pickle at her best friend right over her head. Sam turned her head around at her.
"Was that a pickle?"
"Sam when are you gonna be more...sweet to Freddie?"
Sam laughed at her and herself, but after seeing Carly cross her arms and tilt her head sideways at her she got serious. "Wait your being serious right now?"
"Mm hmmm." She responded back at her.
"What's with the sudden protection for him?"
"It's not protection just caring for his emotions." What the chizz? Why was Carly acting like that to her maybe she want's something from Freddie. Carly's infamous for getting her way with boys for whatever reason that concerned her.
"Sure thing Mrs. Benson-Shay."
Carly dropped her arms down and placed them on her hips. "I didn't mean it like that Sam." Now it was Sam's turn to start having speculations. "What do you mean by that huh?"
"Look I understand your feelings and all..." She got interrupted by the same pickle hitting her new shirt. "What feelings!" Spencer slightly turned his face at the drama behind him, but didn't want in.
"Calm down we can talk about your situation some..." She dodged one of the couch's pillows.
"What situation!"
"You know what I mean or should I say it."
Sam got up and started reaching for the door "I'm done for the day."
"You can't deny it forever!" Carly shouted out to her BFF just as the door slammed. Carly released a satisfying smile as she crossed her arms again.
"So what happened now?" Spencer asked his sister blankly still very occupied on his work of art. "She still wants him." That's all she said as she climbed the stairs to her room.
Later that night Freddie was suddenly awaken by a rather loud "dud" that came from the living room. Curiosity gained the better of him as he got up from bed and slowly walked towards the door. Pressing his ear against the wood he could hear someone shuffling objects around. "A burglar!" He thought and began reaching back for his phone, but suddenly hesitated. What if he's able to take him down? He would most likely get awarded a medal by the city and gain a lot of respect from everybody. Better yet he would impress all the girls with his bravery and strength…especially Sam. "Sam…" Freddie shook his head and regained control of his mind. He grabbed his biggest spelling bee trophy and clutched it with a hard grip as he slowly opened the door.
The hallway in his apartment was rather short so anybody could've had seen him, but the advantage was that it was dark enough to sneak around undetected. He slowly headed towards the person, but instead was surprised to see his mother. He let out a relief and was going to talk to her when she placed a grey box on the kitchen table. Freddie's curiosity returned and he stood to the shadows. Marissa turned on a small lamp which brightened her small area. She opened the box and pulled out various sheets of papers with words scribbled on them. "Letters?" Freddie asked himself in thought as he kept looking on. But what she pulled out next shocked him beyond his guesses. A black coated .45 revolver with a dark brown wooden handle.
"What the fuck?" He whispered to himself
Marissa examined the weapon before placing it on top of the letters and continued digging inside the box. Then she pulled out a very small piece of wood which she toyed with. The piece had what looked like small squares with each one having one letter. As he continued looking Freddie noticed that the squares could be moved around within the piece.
"A puzzle piece?" Freddie couldn't understand why she had all of this in secret. The gun "probably" made sense since she's the ultimate overprotective mother in the universe, but it still didn't add up. Things took a different turn as she began muttering to herself.
"Oh why…why me?"
"Okay?" He thought as she continued.
"Why did I took this…I should've told him no."
"Maybe…they'll never find it which means they'll… never find us."
That last one caught his attention. Who are "they" and what is it about that puzzle that seemed so worthy to obtain? This was too much for Freddie alone to sum up even with that intellectual brain of his. Marissa began placing all the stuff back inside the box which meant it was time for Freddie to bail back to his room. Once in his room he placed the trophy back in its place and lay in bed wide awake for some time. He checked his alarm clock which read 2:28 that was the longest he'd ever stayed up late. He started regaining his sleep and left everything aside for tomorrow. He had a lot of investigating to do.
The smell of city smog filled the skies of a bright sunny Chicago ready to begin its day anew, but instead police sirens and distant gun fire was all that was really heard that day. The city had entered its second day of massive urban warfare between the families, local street gangs and the police department. Ambushes and strongholds were being set up all across the city. Most of the major fighting was occurring in the historical and industrial city districts. Nicolosi mercenaries were squaring off against both SWAT and Castellano militia to a rapid body count. But the Nicolosi especially the family's underboss was searching for one guy in particular.
Bang, bang, bang, bang was the sound that a silver 9mm was making as it hit its targets with precise accuracy. One of the targets hid behind a heavy dumpster as he's partners were shot down like glass bottles.
"Come on shoot me you cazo." The attacker shouted.
"Up yours guido!" was his response back.
"Guido?" the gunman shouted back "Fuck you nigger!"
He squeezed the trigger with more bullets hitting the dumpster. The man's gun had run out and he ducked for cover to get a quick reload. The other guy jumped at the moment to return fire at his aggressor. As the shooting happened the second guy had realized he was out of clips. 'Cazo!" and acknowledged his situation. The gangster that he was attacking slowly walked away from his cover and towards the man.
"Listen up asshole!" he shouted out.
"Nicolosi is giving out a big reward for your corpse so…"
That was all he was able to say as a flying pistol hit him right in the nose. The Italian charged at the guy tackling him towards the same dumpster and repeatedly bashed the back of his skull at the same structure. The blood spot began flowing down to the floor as the Italian got to his feet. He looked at his dead adversaries then pulled out a smoke. Suddenly the sound of a gun cocking behind him raised his concerns. He didn't bother moving and stood still with his lighter and cigar in his hands.
"Bang…you dead." The voice behind him sarcastically said.
He turned around to look at the guy and flipped him off. "Fuck you Donnie." His friend laughed with joy and walked over to him. "You should be more careful Mikey."
'I hate that name." Michael glared at him. Both began walking away from the alley and to the main street.
"So what happened?"
"What do you mean…didn't you see those dead spooks over there?" he pointed his thumb backwards.
"Yeah, but word is that our greedy pal Nicolosi is finally growing a pair and sending everybody to your doorstep."
"Let me worry about that dumb fucker." Michael grabbed his cigar and continued. "The only thing Bart was ever good at was licking cocks." That comment made Donnie giggle to himself and Michael followed his lead.
"Why else would his uncle let him be second in charge?"
"I don't know about that, but let's meet with Sal over at his place."
A well-dressed man walked towards an elderly man in a light blue rolled up long sleeve and black suspenders. The old man had been reading a brown leather book in his fireplace for quite some time now. His attention shifted to the bodyguard by his side.
"Nothing else you might need sir?"
"Not now, but inform me when my visit comes."
"Sure thing boss."
Just then a loud knocking came from the front door. All the guards present went on high alert and aimed their pistols at the same direction. Sal was moved to the corner as one of the guards approached the door. Everybody else stood their ground awaiting the worse.
"Who is it?" the guard demanded.
A voice on the other end replied. "The pizza guys, but we can deliver love notes too."
"The fuck?" He thought and slowly opened the door, but only to be hit hard by it as two men entered forcefully. Michael looked down at the guy who landed on the floor. "Note to self never trust pizza guys okay" He looked at the rest of the men in the corridor as they lowered their weapons with grunts and mutters. "How's the day treating you fellas?" Michael asked them as he and Donnie headed towards the main living room where Sal looked him with frustration in his face.
"Are you asking for a fucking quick funeral?"
"Maybe in twelve years, but not now."
"Ahhh…follow me." Sal groaned at him as they walked over to the couches. So as they both sat down Donnie inspected all the fine china decorated in the glass cabinets.
"So we got a counter attack on those figli di puttana?"
"Not quite Michael, but it's something far more…interesting." Michael gave an odd look at his longtime friend.
"Cosa si intende Sal?"
"What I mean is that good ol' Joey had some deep skeletons in his closet."
"Are you saying Don Perrino kept stuff hidden from us?" Michael began feeling uneasy. Sal gave him a nod as Donnie approached them. This unexpected news gained his attention as Joseph Perrino had always been an honest man who lied only when the situation demanded it. Michael suddenly rose from his spot with a pissed look in his eyes.
'How do you happen to know these things?" He raised his voice.
"I barely discovered it too you now." Sal replied back. "And the biggest one involves a lost treasure."
Michael quickly faced him with his expression in disbelief. "A lost treasure that was stolen then hidden by…"
"Those are lies Sal and you know it!"
"Hey Michae…" Donnie was cut off. "Shut up Donnie!"
Sal lay still in the couch not bothering to get up or do anything. 'I understand how much Joey meant to you, but the truth has been uncovered."
"That train robbery did happen okay, but he had nothing to do with it!"
"Yeah at least 43 civilians lost their lives that day…" Donnie told Sal. "No way Joey would participate in a massacre like that."
Sal looked at the ground in silence then reached for an item on a small lamp table. "Take this and read it Di Salvo." He tossed the book he had been reading from earlier on the coffee table. Both Michael and Donnie looked at it for a while. Donnie picked it up and examined it as Michael spoke again.
"What's in it?"
"That my dear bambino is Joseph Perrino's secret journal about his private life."