Chapter 9
Melvern came to the feds with an offer: John would plead guilty to bribery and money laundering in exchange for the murder charges being dropped. At first, the DA was unwilling. Melvern pointed out all of the holes in the evidence for murder. Upon realizing that the murder charges wouldn't stick, the DA accepted the deal and John Mangano was sentenced to 10 years. In his absence, Fat Louie was to run the Scapelli family. His ineptitude soon became apparent, however, and the family fell into disarray. Without the need for a trial, there was no reason to keep Sandi in protective custody. Despite this, she was kept at Quantico until May just to be safe.
May, 2002...
Quinn Morgendorffer was back in her old room in Lawndale. She'd just completed her first year of college and was home for the summer. It had been an interesting year. Her roommate, Nicole, was one of her closest friends. She even had a steady boyfriend now. Trevor Anderson was an interesting guy. He was both a brain and a jock. He was the quarterback of the ECU Eagles. He was dark haired and handsome. They'd met at a party and hit it off immediately. Now they were a steady couple. Quinn was shaken out of her thoughts by the ring of the doorbell.
She opened the front door and was surprised to see...
"Sandi."
"Hey, Quinn" said Sandi, "Can I come in?"
Noticing the large suitcase Sandi had with her, Quinn said "Of course."
Sandi did not look good. Not only had she gained 30 pounds but the stress of the past year had aged her face about ten years. Quinn led her to the sofa. They sat down and talked.
"I was released from protective custody today." said Sandi.
"That's great."
Sandi immediately threw her arms around Quinn and started crying on her shoulder. Quinn responded by wrapping Sandi in her own arms.
"It's alright, Sandi" she said, "Let it out."
An hour later, after Sandi was done crying it out, Helen came home.
"Sandi, what a pleasant surprise." said Helen.
Quinn said "Mom, Sandi needs to ask a huge favor."
Sandi said "Mrs. Morgendorffer, my parents are dead and my brothers are living in another state with relatives that I'm not on good speaking terms with. I know I'm asking a lot, but I have nowhere else to go and.."
Sandi started to cry once again. Helen was sympathetic.
The poor thing she thought, She's lost so much already. I can't possibly turn her away.
"Of course you can stay with us." said Helen.
"Thanks, Mom." said Quinn.
Wiping away her tears, Sandi said "Thank you, Mrs. Morgendorffer."
Later that evening, Quinn and Sandi were in Quinn's room. Sandi looks at herself in the mirror and sighs.
"I look like hell, don't I?"
"Oh, Sandi" said Quinn, "you don't look like hell. Anyone who's been through what you have wouldn't look their best."
Sandi said "That's just a nice way of saying that I do look like hell."
"Sandi, it's easily fixed. Tell you what, tomorrow we'll go to the mall and I'll give you a makeover. You know what kind of magic I can work."
Sandi smiled. She marveled at how Quinn was always nice to her despite all the shit in high school.
I wish I had more friends like her.
"Um, Quinn" said Sandi.
"What?"
"Thanks."
The next day, they went to the mall. They bought some clothes at Cashmans, went to the salon, and had a carefree time. They were unaware that they were being followed. Carmine D'Amato had spotted them by chance and was on them both all day. When they returned home for the evening he went back to Philadelphia.
So he thought, that little bitch finally came out of hiding.
The next day, he followed them again. He learned that Sandi had gotten a job at Cashmans and hoped for an opportunity to strike. The opportunity soon came.
June, 2002...
Sandi Griffin stood in the cemetary staring at two graves. The first headstone read:
Hear Lies:
Thomas Griffin
March 5, 1952-Oct. 30, 2001
"Loving Husband and Father"
Sandi brushed a tear aside as she looked at her fathers grave.
It's so unfair she thought, You had nothing to do with any of this. You were just living your life. Mom betrayed you, betrayed all of us. I wish we'd been closer. At this point, she looked at the other headstone. It read:
Hear Lies:
Linda Griffin
Feb. 26, 1955-Oct. 30, 2001
"Devoted Wife and Mother"
Linda's epitaph made Sandi want to piss on the grave. Linda was anything but what it said. She was a cold and heartless bitch. She had business dealings with the mob. She cheated on her husband with a mob boss. She tried to make Sandi just like her. When Sandi refused to go along anymore, Linda turned on her. Her ultimate betrayal was in wanting her own daughter dead. Sandi tried to be forgiving in her thoughts. She tried and failed. She just couldn't forgive her mother, not after all that had happened.
If there is a Hell, mother, I hope you rot there for eternity.
Sandi spat on her mothers grave before placing roses on her fathers. She didn't see Carmine sneaking up on her. She muttered a silent prayer and turned to leave. She gasped as she found herself face to face with Carmine. He had a silenced pistol. Too shocked to run, she stared as he fired two shots straight into her heart. Sandi fell to the ground.
"Tell 'em I said 'Hi'" he said before walking away.
Sandi lay there as the life rapidly bled out of her, she knew she would soon join Linda in Hell. With that last thought, Sandi Griffin died.
The End*
*A/N: Not really, there's going to be an epologue.
