Shark Infested Waters...part 6
Setting: Friday morning, the day after the emotional phone call Bobby made to Marina.
Authors Note: This story is a product of the tag-teamcollaboration between Lysa and Deb. The title of this story is borrowed from the film of the same title, directed by Stanley Kramer.
Not having slept well after his argument with Lindsay, Bobby woke early the next morning. When BJ woke, Bobby bathed and dressed him in royal blue corduroy overalls with a warm royal blue and green striped hooded T-shirt underneath. Being very quiet (Lindsay still slept on the sofa), Bobby fed his son breakfast then put him in the playpen while he made French toast and bacon, Lindsay'sfavorite breakfast. As the bacon sauteed, it's fragrant, inviting aroma filled the apartment. It drew Lindsay from sleep to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, Lindsay," Bobby said sincerely. I really tried to be quiet."
"You were fine. I smelled the bacon. That's what woke me."
"Have a seat. I'll get you some coffee." He turned toward the counter.
" Thanks." But with a touch of her hand on his arm, Lindsay stopped him. Immediately she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry about last night, Bobby. Of course you have to give Marina that money. While I admit I don't like her, I don't want anything bad happening to her either."
"I appreciate that, Lindsay." He smiled. "I guess the make-up breakfast of French toast that I'm making wasn't necessary after all."
"No, but I'll gladly eat it. I love French toast." She paused to look at him. "You're wearing jeans and a fisherman's sweater instead of a suit. What's up?"
"I'm taking a vacation day today. I'll take BJ to day care a little bit later than usual."
"OK. Do I have time to shower and dress beforebreakfast?" she asked.
"I'll make time. Want me to make you a lunch? It's supposed to snow late this morning. Then you won't have to go out for something."
"That'd be great. Thanks, honey."
Three hours later, Bobby dropped his son at the Wishing Well daycare and preschool. He then picked up his sister at the airport. As they drove, Bobby said, "I made an appointment with my FBI contact. He'll meet us at 11:00 a.m., at St. Thomas Church."
"Why there?"
"I wanted a venue where no one would overhear us, where we'd be safe. Father Martin said we could use his office. He's out visiting parishioners till later this afternoon."
"I hope the stained glass windows don't shatter when I enter the church. I haven't been to Mass since high school and Dad could no longer force me to go."
"No wonder you're in so much trouble," Bobby said, only half kidding.
"Yeah, thats what this is all about, Bobby. God's pissed off at me. Please."
He glanced at her, but ignored her comment. "We have time to stop if you want some coffee or something."
"No thanks. My stomach is knotted enough without coffee."
"I think I'll stop for a cup." Bobby drove them to St.Thomas Church, their childhood church and where Bobby still worshiped. He led Marina to the priest's office then closed the door behind them. He sat in Father Martin's chair and opened his container of Starbuck's coffee. He looked at Marina. She was pale and her hands shook despite her clamping them tightly together. "The FBI does this kind of thing all the time, Curt assured me," he said. "Relax."
"You aren't the one with the mob out after you while carrying an illegitimate baby! Don't tell me to relax."
"Justtrying to help, Marina." he said softly. Donâ't bite my head off."
"I know you are, Bobby, and I apologize for being snappish. I wish this man would get here already."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. Bobby opened the door. "Curt, hey. Come on in." Bobby stepped aside to let the FBI agent in. They shook hands.
"How you been, Robert! I see you didn't buy me a cup of that Starbuck's coffee, you cheap bastard." Bobby laughed. "You know how I love my coffee!"
The men laughed. Marina stood. She looked at the man in whose very hands her fate might rest.
Bobby introduced them. "Marina, this is Special Agent Curt Conner. Curt, my sister, Marina Donnell."
The tall African American man shook Marina's hand firmly. "Ms. Donnell. Bobby indicated that we might be able to find a win-win solution to your problem."
"I certainly hope so, Special Agent Conner."
"Please call me Curt. May I call you Marina?"
"Certainly."
"Why don't we all sit down?" Bobby suggested. He re-took his seat behind the priest's desk. "Marina, I filled Curt in on your current situation. He thinks he might have a way out."
"Correct," Conner said. "From what Bobby has told me,you're involved romantically with a man who owes Scarponi's crew a lot of money from gambling. You've taken responsibility for his debt and you've promised Scarponi that you would pay them by next Tuesday."
"That's right."
"In addition to these gambling debts, Scarponi insisted that you repay him for such personal things as your apartment and furnishings that he paid for."
"Yes"
"What I propose is this. First, you pay Scaponi for your friend's gambling debts. Ifyou don't, your friend's life is forfeit. We don't want that."
"I'm willing to do that. Definitely. I don't want anything to happen to ---- my friend."
"Good. Second, I want you to sit down with a team of FBI specialists. We can do it here in Boston or in New York, if you prefer."
"Boston. 'm probably safer here."
"OK. I want you to stay with Bobby. You're safer there than in an impersonal hotel. Even the mob won't invade a home with a little baby. I'll assign an agent to sit outside the door just to be on the safe side."
"Marina staying with us is fine, Curt," Bobby said confidently. Marina wasn't nearly as confident, but she said nothing. You will meet with our agents and tell them everything you know about the Scarponi crime family. I want names, positions, and every specific detail about their activities that you can. Include their income, who they employ, who they shakedown, who they've had hit. No detail is too small. Can you provide any financial records?"
"Yes,but it's all in my computer at home."
"Not a problem. I can have one of your New York agents work through your computer files with you."
Marina nodded. Despite the despicable position in which Scarponi had placed her, she felt guilty at betraying him. There's no other way, she thought. I have to tell them everything they want to know.
"Third," Agent Conner said. "In return for all this information, we will arrange for you to enter the witness protection program. We will provide you with a new home and a new identity, complete with name and career change."
"Career change? You've got to be kidding! That is not acceptable! I've worked my whole adult life to become a successful lawyer. You can't take that away from me!" she nearly shouted from emotion.
"Marina, listen to Curt. He knows his stuff." Bobby said firmly but encouragingly.
Special Agent Conner said, "I know it must be hard to give up the practice of law. We can change everything about your identity but if you return to a flamboyant legal career, you'll be recognized. The ending to that scenario isn't a happy one.
Marina looked down and nodded her head slowly. She knew the FBI agent was right.
Setting: Friday morning, the day after the emotional phone call Bobby made to Marina.
Authors Note: This story is a product of the tag-teamcollaboration between Lysa and Deb. The title of this story is borrowed from the film of the same title, directed by Stanley Kramer.
Not having slept well after his argument with Lindsay, Bobby woke early the next morning. When BJ woke, Bobby bathed and dressed him in royal blue corduroy overalls with a warm royal blue and green striped hooded T-shirt underneath. Being very quiet (Lindsay still slept on the sofa), Bobby fed his son breakfast then put him in the playpen while he made French toast and bacon, Lindsay'sfavorite breakfast. As the bacon sauteed, it's fragrant, inviting aroma filled the apartment. It drew Lindsay from sleep to the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, Lindsay," Bobby said sincerely. I really tried to be quiet."
"You were fine. I smelled the bacon. That's what woke me."
"Have a seat. I'll get you some coffee." He turned toward the counter.
" Thanks." But with a touch of her hand on his arm, Lindsay stopped him. Immediately she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry about last night, Bobby. Of course you have to give Marina that money. While I admit I don't like her, I don't want anything bad happening to her either."
"I appreciate that, Lindsay." He smiled. "I guess the make-up breakfast of French toast that I'm making wasn't necessary after all."
"No, but I'll gladly eat it. I love French toast." She paused to look at him. "You're wearing jeans and a fisherman's sweater instead of a suit. What's up?"
"I'm taking a vacation day today. I'll take BJ to day care a little bit later than usual."
"OK. Do I have time to shower and dress beforebreakfast?" she asked.
"I'll make time. Want me to make you a lunch? It's supposed to snow late this morning. Then you won't have to go out for something."
"That'd be great. Thanks, honey."
Three hours later, Bobby dropped his son at the Wishing Well daycare and preschool. He then picked up his sister at the airport. As they drove, Bobby said, "I made an appointment with my FBI contact. He'll meet us at 11:00 a.m., at St. Thomas Church."
"Why there?"
"I wanted a venue where no one would overhear us, where we'd be safe. Father Martin said we could use his office. He's out visiting parishioners till later this afternoon."
"I hope the stained glass windows don't shatter when I enter the church. I haven't been to Mass since high school and Dad could no longer force me to go."
"No wonder you're in so much trouble," Bobby said, only half kidding.
"Yeah, thats what this is all about, Bobby. God's pissed off at me. Please."
He glanced at her, but ignored her comment. "We have time to stop if you want some coffee or something."
"No thanks. My stomach is knotted enough without coffee."
"I think I'll stop for a cup." Bobby drove them to St.Thomas Church, their childhood church and where Bobby still worshiped. He led Marina to the priest's office then closed the door behind them. He sat in Father Martin's chair and opened his container of Starbuck's coffee. He looked at Marina. She was pale and her hands shook despite her clamping them tightly together. "The FBI does this kind of thing all the time, Curt assured me," he said. "Relax."
"You aren't the one with the mob out after you while carrying an illegitimate baby! Don't tell me to relax."
"Justtrying to help, Marina." he said softly. Donâ't bite my head off."
"I know you are, Bobby, and I apologize for being snappish. I wish this man would get here already."
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door. Bobby opened the door. "Curt, hey. Come on in." Bobby stepped aside to let the FBI agent in. They shook hands.
"How you been, Robert! I see you didn't buy me a cup of that Starbuck's coffee, you cheap bastard." Bobby laughed. "You know how I love my coffee!"
The men laughed. Marina stood. She looked at the man in whose very hands her fate might rest.
Bobby introduced them. "Marina, this is Special Agent Curt Conner. Curt, my sister, Marina Donnell."
The tall African American man shook Marina's hand firmly. "Ms. Donnell. Bobby indicated that we might be able to find a win-win solution to your problem."
"I certainly hope so, Special Agent Conner."
"Please call me Curt. May I call you Marina?"
"Certainly."
"Why don't we all sit down?" Bobby suggested. He re-took his seat behind the priest's desk. "Marina, I filled Curt in on your current situation. He thinks he might have a way out."
"Correct," Conner said. "From what Bobby has told me,you're involved romantically with a man who owes Scarponi's crew a lot of money from gambling. You've taken responsibility for his debt and you've promised Scarponi that you would pay them by next Tuesday."
"That's right."
"In addition to these gambling debts, Scarponi insisted that you repay him for such personal things as your apartment and furnishings that he paid for."
"Yes"
"What I propose is this. First, you pay Scaponi for your friend's gambling debts. Ifyou don't, your friend's life is forfeit. We don't want that."
"I'm willing to do that. Definitely. I don't want anything to happen to ---- my friend."
"Good. Second, I want you to sit down with a team of FBI specialists. We can do it here in Boston or in New York, if you prefer."
"Boston. 'm probably safer here."
"OK. I want you to stay with Bobby. You're safer there than in an impersonal hotel. Even the mob won't invade a home with a little baby. I'll assign an agent to sit outside the door just to be on the safe side."
"Marina staying with us is fine, Curt," Bobby said confidently. Marina wasn't nearly as confident, but she said nothing. You will meet with our agents and tell them everything you know about the Scarponi crime family. I want names, positions, and every specific detail about their activities that you can. Include their income, who they employ, who they shakedown, who they've had hit. No detail is too small. Can you provide any financial records?"
"Yes,but it's all in my computer at home."
"Not a problem. I can have one of your New York agents work through your computer files with you."
Marina nodded. Despite the despicable position in which Scarponi had placed her, she felt guilty at betraying him. There's no other way, she thought. I have to tell them everything they want to know.
"Third," Agent Conner said. "In return for all this information, we will arrange for you to enter the witness protection program. We will provide you with a new home and a new identity, complete with name and career change."
"Career change? You've got to be kidding! That is not acceptable! I've worked my whole adult life to become a successful lawyer. You can't take that away from me!" she nearly shouted from emotion.
"Marina, listen to Curt. He knows his stuff." Bobby said firmly but encouragingly.
Special Agent Conner said, "I know it must be hard to give up the practice of law. We can change everything about your identity but if you return to a flamboyant legal career, you'll be recognized. The ending to that scenario isn't a happy one.
Marina looked down and nodded her head slowly. She knew the FBI agent was right.