Part 6

Each day he would pass through the lot, on his way to and from school, of the building with no signs on the outer walls, his curiosity got the better of him, he had to find out.

"You guys ever wonder what goes on in there?" Bobby asks already aware of the answer.

"It's a warehouse," T answers.

Bobby shakes his head, "It's a depot," Bobby states plainly. "The train drops off loads of crap and then the trucks pick it up and deliver it locally. I opened a few of the cartons and one of them had cassette tapes inside."

The two Tony's stop walking as Bobby walks past them. "What do you mean you opened a few cartons? How?" T asks.

"I walked in the front door," Bobby answers casually continuing to walk.

T and Tony B jog up to him, "You would do that," T laughs. "And I'll bet no one even stopped you." Bobby reaches into his pocket and removes a cassette tape, he tosses it and T catches it. "Bobby, its blank man."

"If they have blank ones," Bobby says with assurance, "They must have ones with music on them."

"And what if they do?" Tony B asks.

"We go in there grab a handful and…." He pauses for dramatic effect, the thrill bubbling inside of him for finally taking advantage of someone; he has to admit....is a rush. "We sell them at school, cheaper than the stores but…."

T nods his head, "I like it, we could make quite a score here."

The boys have reached their destination, the bleachers in the park. Bobby sits down as he nods his head, "Yes we could," he removes a cigarette from the pack, lighting it. "So we are in agreement, we do this?"

The two Tony's say in unison, "Shit yeah."

Tony wonders if his father has visited this place from time to time. He smiles with the thought that maybe he would finally be proud of him.

Friday Night

The doors were locked but not the windows, with assistance from Bobby and T, Tony B is lifted and due to his slim frame has no trouble fitting through the window.

"Shit it's dark in here." They hear him say after his feet hit the floor.

"Use your flashlight, genius." Bobby says as T laughs aloud.

"Funny, that's very funny."

"Come on man get to the door and let us in."

"Alright man, alright."

A short time later the front door is opened, Bobby and T enter, timidly. "This way," Bobby says as he gestures with his hand.

Bobby opens an inner door and the room before them is enormous, "Holy shit," T exclaims. "Where the hell do we start?"

"Split up, T you go to the right, I'll go forward and Tony you go to the left."

Moments later Tony B's voice is heard with much excitement, "I found them!"

The boys hastily open each box and one after the other are filled with blank cassette tapes. One of the boxes goes flying through the air caused by Bobby's boot hitting it. "Son of a bitch!"

"Relax man," T says. "Maybe there is something else we can lift."

Bobby's attempt at crime is short lived, "Hey, what the hell are you kids doing in here?"

It wasn't fear that filled Bobby's being it was anger and hatred. He rushes across the room, followed closely by T to confront the short, stout, balding man. Bobby raises the heavy flashlight and the beam shines into Tony B's eyes, "Don't do it!" T screams as he knocks the flashlight from his hand. Bobby stands motionless staring at the man.

"Come on let's get the fuck out of here." Tony B exclaims as he turns to leave the room. Tony grabs Bobby by the arm and pulls him backward. T heads off in one direction Bobby another.

Through the parking lot and toward the gate the Tony's meet up, their jubilation is short lived. They stop in their tracks when they notice two guards blocking the now closed gate.

Inside a Newark Jail Cell

"What do you think happened to Bobby?" Tony B asks of his cousin.

Tony shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know, I guess he not only runs faster than us, he found another way out."

Tony B takes a long drag of his cigarette, "Why did you stop him from hitting that guy?"

Tony sits down on the floor his back against the cot, "He's not like us."

"Huh," he takes another drag. "What did you say?"

"I wonder where the hell the ole man is? We've been in here long enough," he stands when he hears a metal door open.

"He better keep his mouth shut."

Tony removes the butt from his cousins fingers, "Don't worry," he takes a drag then hands it back, "He will."

The news about the break-in of the depot speeds through the neighborhood, every one has suspicions about who, but since the culprits are juveniles their names are withheld in the paper. Richard folds the paper in half, nods to Jerry the newsman and makes his way through the small crowd of people waiting to buy the Evening edition of the Saturday paper. Richard opens the paper again and continues to read the article. The police believe that these two boys along with another are involved in a string of break-ins in the business district.

"Bobby!" he calls to his nephew. Walking further into the apartment, he tosses the paper on the coffee table as he calls to him again, "Bobby!" Ready to call to him again, he looks up to see his nephew hands deep in his pockets walk in the room.

"You were there, weren't you?" Richard asks commandingly. He keeps his eyes focused on the door and not his Uncle. "Answer me Bobby." He nods his head slowly. "Goddammit, I told you to keep away from them." Richard sits down hard on the sofa, "How many other things have you and those punks stolen?"

Bobby sits back in the chair to gaze at the ceiling, "Nothing."

A pillow meets his chest, "Don't lie to me, what ever has happened in the past is the past, tell me what other things you and those two hoodlums have done?"

"I can't, if I do I'll be labeled a…."

"I'll label a footprint on your ass if you don't tell me."

"Do what you have too, but I can't."

Richard chuckles softly, nodding his head as he speaks. "Well I can't belittle your loyalty," Richard sits forward placing his elbows on his legs. "I'm only going to say one more thing," he raises his index finger. "Loyalty to a friend is noble but you should try and pick honest and deserving ones to be loyal too," he slaps his thighs as he stands, "Go to bed." Bobby offers no argument for retiring to bed at 8 P.M.

Later that Night

Newark Jail

T and Tony B walk out of the station following Tony's Dad Johnny and his Uncle Corrado Soprano, who they have nicknamed Jun.

They deliver Tony B to his home and Uncle Jun accompanies Johnny and Tony to their home. Johnny opens the door and gestures for his son to enter first, as Tony steps through the threshold he feels a hand on his back then finds himself on the floor, "You stupid little fuck, never…." Junior closes the door, "Come on Johnny, take it easy."

"He's my son Jun, not yours." He points his finger at his son, "Never put me in the middle of your shit again. You're damn lucky I have friends on the force. Next time," Johnny grabs his son by his shirt, "I'll let you rot in there, understand?" Tony nods.

Tony's hope of his father being proud of his venture has been squashed as with everything that he does. No matter what I did it wasn't good enough. He thinks as he concludes his part of the story to his associates.

Monday Morning

1977

8 a.m.

Bobby slides down the side of the building and sits on the cold ground. He pats his chest for his cigarettes and finds none. "Here," a familiar voice says. He looks up, then stands. "Thanks T."

"I said you were alright before and now I know for sure," T lights his cigarette then hands the matchbook to Bobby.

Bobby lights his cigarette then takes a long drag, "I ah….I….my uncle says that I can't….if I don't do what he says, he'll kick me out and I don't want to live in foster care."

T stuffs the pack of cigarettes in Bobby's jacket pocket, "It's cool, see you around," he jabs Tony B on the arm, "Come on, let's go."

Goren Home

2009

"The guards that caught T and Tony B suddenly got amnesia and couldn't remember if they were the kids that he discovered inside the building. Since the parking lot was used daily for teenagers as a short cut from one part of town to other. It was not unusual for kids to be seen on the property."

"The cops had to let them go, I assume." Alex says.

Nodding as he speaks, "Yes they had to cut them loose." He pauses for a moment, "We both know that Johnny Soprano got to them and the cops had no way to prove it. After all it wasn't exactly the crime of the decade. But we had nothing to do with those other break-ins."

His wife stares at him unable to speak. He can feel her eyes on him knowing her thoughts are about that night so many years ago, "I really did want to hurt him." Bobby stands and begins to pace around room. "A perfect stranger, someone who I'd never met before but I wanted him to feel as miserable as I did." He resumes his spot next to her on the bed. "Say something," he implores.

Shaking her head, "I'm not going to judge you for something you did when you were 16. You were just a kid, living your life without any thought about your future. But," she pauses as she takes his hand in hers. "After Tony knocked the flashlight away you didn't bend down to pick it because you knew in your heart that the rush you may have felt for a minute would fade away very quickly and you would just end up feeling guilty and nothing would change."

"Tony should have taken his own advise."

"Tony Soprano knew from an early age what sort of person he was going to be and he wasn't strong enough to change it. You were and have always been. I am in awe of your strength Bobby." she leans over and kisses his cheek. "So did you get to meet with Anthony Junior."

Nodding his head as he speaks "Yes, he was very helpful. He did see Stephen leave the club with two guys, Peter Vollmer and Mike Romano. He remembers seeing Pete and Mike later on about 2 in the morning but not Stephen. Anthony said that he had heard that Stephen not only owed Pete money but that he had sex with his girlfriend."

"Jesus sounds like a X rated version of Peyton Place."

"I know," he exhales as he stands. "We haven't been able to track those two down, no one has seen them."

Alex can certainly relate to that, "I know the feeling." She stares at her one time partner who is now her husband and father of her son.

He turns slowly, somewhat embarrassed. "What?"

She walks across the room, "You look very sexy standing there."

He stretches out his arms as she reaches up to place her arms around his neck. "Why Mrs. Goren are you trying to seduce me?"

She chuckles softly, "Damned right."

He removes her arms from around his neck and picks her up carrying her effortlessly to the bed. He lies her down and straddles over her. "I love you Alex more than I could ever imagine I would ever love someone." He leans down and covers her mouth with his.

He raises his head and Alex frowns at the move, "What's the matter?"

"Two nights in a row."

She moves up on the bed, "Well if you'd rather not...."

"I didn't say that, it's just that since...."

She places her arms around his neck and pulls him close to her, "Bobby?"

"Yeah."

"Shut up and kiss me."

That is all

FYI there are more installments waiting to be posted. Hope you all continue to read.

Later

The Mominator