Wizards of Waverly Place
I've got a secret
Part Twenty: Day Twenty
It was October 21, 2010, and on the morning of this twentieth day there was nothing good to be said from any member of the Russo family, due to the shocking news that had been delivered to both groups. All of them were depressed, for they knew that within twenty-four hours it was very likely that somebody close to them, or they themselves, would be dead, and had no idea how to solve it.
It was early at the mob headquarters, just after seven o'clock, and Alex was still alone, for the others had not arrived to prepare for the arrival of their leader, who would be there that night to kill her. She was sitting, tied in the chair, thinking frantically of how she would escape, but with the nerve racking fact that there was no way, she had little success in having logical thoughts. She could only think of her family, where they might be, and how it they would soon face the same fate. "Uh, uh, where are they?" She demanded of herself. "All this time, there's always been a way out of anything like this, every time, we pull together, but without them, what do I do? He'll be here in twelve hours, they have no idea where I am, I, uh." Said Alex as she put her head down and began to sob quietly. It was then that the three came in. She quickly put her head up, her cheeks stained with tears.
"Ha, where is he, he said for us to be here at six thirty, and it's already seven." Stated de Havilland as he put his bag on the table.
"Leave it to him to be late on one of the most important days of the mob's lives, which we have both lost sleep and came in early to prepare for." Stated Susan. "Well, there she is, I assume you've been anticipating this as much as we have, I'd be thinking hard too." Stated Susan.
Alex just sat there with a look of fear on her face. "What, no slick comeback? No remark to make us look foolish?" Asked de Havilland.
"Uh, hu." Sobbed Alex, who was upset at the whole intense situation.
"There you are. I thought I told you to be here at six-thirty, it's already seven!" Yelled the mobster as he stormed into the headquarters.
"What are you complaining about? You just got here, what were we supposed to do before you got here, make sure all the filth is in place?" Asked Susan angrily.
"Very well then, well we have much to do before he arrives tonight, all of the keepsakes of the mob are on arrival in the next hour, we'll have to clean this whole place and make room for all of them, things have to be perfect for the first step in the greatest assassination this mob has ever pulled off, so no time is to be wasted!" Declared the mobster.
"I'll get a broom." Stated Susan as she went off.
"Who's stoppin' ya!" Yelled de Havilland. "I'll get one of those, uh, dirt platters."
"Pan?" Asked Susan.
"Ya, where do we keep those?" Asked de Havilland.
"Just use some old plates, and you!" Yelled the mobster as he signalled to Alex.
"Hu?" Said Alex in a shocked and upset voice as she looked up at the mobster.
"This operation needs no interruptions, so you'll be out of our way, de Havilland, dispose of her." Said the mobster.
de Havilland then took the chair which Alex was seated at the shoved it into a dark closet. "See you tonight." He said as he slammed the door.
"Uh." Groaned Alex as she jumped at the slammed door. "Uh, where are they, where are they, hu, hu." She began to sob again.
At the house, the entire family was sitting around, depressed, and all unwilling to act. Theresa was the first to speak. "I don't believe this, if we don't find Alex today Jerry is going to die, and we have no idea where she is." She said sadly.
"Ya, nothing like this has ever happened, it's never been this hopeless, at least not with something like this." Stated Mason.
"Ya, somehow, we've always found a way to get out of things like this, it's never failed." Stated James.
"I guess we've just been living under the delusion, that nothing bad can ever happen to us, and it took this to show us." Said Juliet dully.
"Mom, dad's gonna be alright, isn't he?" Asked Max sadly.
"I don't know Max, there's nothing we can do, I don't know." Said Theresa in a confused voice. Max began to sob, Theresa held him in her arms.
"Well, I guess this is it, there's nothing we can do, but there's always been something, some way to get out of situations like this, but not this fast, not this quick." Stated James.
"Well, I don't know what to say, I mean bad things have happened to us before, but never anything this life threatening, so all we can do is admit it. Admit that, Jerry's not going to make it, and try to move on." Said Theresa sadly.
"Things've never seemed this hopeless before, but I guess, when they are, you just have to admit it and face up to it." Said Juliet.
"Oh, this is all my fault, if I had never ran off, Alex never would have gone looking for me, and she'd still be here now, but she's not." Said Mason, ashamed.
"This isn't your fault, it's mine. I'm the one who gave this family to that crazy guy, if it weren't for me Mr. Russo never would have gotten hurt, I never meant for this to happen." Said Juliet.
"Look, this isn't anybody's fault, it's just, one of those things that happens, that nobody expects, and that nobody can do anything about." Said Theresa.
"I'm really going to miss him, I wish there was something I could do. I mean he was my dad, for almost eighteen years, and I was his son, and I never did anything to thank him, never bo..." Started James as he began to cry.
Juliet put her arm around him. "Justin, you were a great son to him, and you've done so much for all of us, don't be so hard on yourself." She comforted.
"Alright, hu, it's just, he's one of those people who you think will be around forever, and then this, uh, it's so hard to think about." Said James.
"I know, if we could only find Alex, only knew where she was, then we could bring her back, do the surgery and save Mr. Russo, but, where could she be?" Asked Mason.
At the mob headquarters, the mob was readying the entire place for the arrival of the mob leader, while Alex was bounded in the broom closet, thinking over her life, and how it would be over soon. "Uh, I don't believe this, they'll kill me, then they'll kill dad, and mom, and, Justin and Max, hu." She said to herself as she began to cry. "It's all because of me, because I drove Mason away, and, only thought of myself, it'd be fine, if it weren't for me. They'd all be better off, I'm no help to anybody, Juliet was right, we're all selfish, especially me, it's all my fault, all of it." She said as she put her head down and cried.
"Ha! Be careful with that, that's the oldest artifact in the history of this mob, our great founder brought it with him when he came across the sea from Orlando, do you want to disgrace him!" Demanded the mobster.
"Sorry, there." Said de Havilland as he put the old tooth brush in a rinse cup, very carefully.
"You know, our leader's father was that great founder, he'll be so happy to see all the relics of his past, and he'll be so proud of his mob, and that soon the greatest threat to it will be brought to his feet, all thanks to us." Stated the mobster.
"Sir, after all this is done, after all of the Russos are dead, what will become of the mob then?" Asked Susan as she put up some artificial plants and readied some candles.
"After Jerry Russo is dead, we can return to our primary goal, of expanding to be the greatest mob in the world. We'll find others, off the streets, merge other mobs, and soon be so strong and widespread that no man will stand in our way, that is what will come of our mob after all this, all of that." Responded the mobster.
"Jerry Russo has held us back for so long, I've personally wanted to meet this man ever since the news of him returned to this headquarter, who could present such a threat to our great mob. It will be a pleasure to watch him die at our fingers." Stated de Havilland.
"In time, we will, but now we must look to the present, to tonight, when we watch Jerry Russo's only daughter die at the hand of our great leader, which will lead Jerry Russo right into our hands. And think, none of this would ever have happened if not for your help in capturing Alex Russo, you are to be commended for that, and I'm sure our great leader will be just as thankful." Stated the mobster.
"Thank you, sir. This must be especially gratifying for you. You have actually laid eyes on Jerry Russo. You were there in the great apartment raid, although it was a failure, because you didn't actually kill anybody." Stated Susan.
"Yes, that was depressing, although we help one of the other men hostage for three days, he didn't give us any information, what was his name, new, something, eh, that's all in the past, now back to work! We have much to do." Stated the mobster.
"Alright, let's do it!" Yelled de Havilland as he banged his fist on the table, and the tooth brush and rinse cup fell off, and shattered.
"No!" Yelled the mobster as he picked up the shards of glass and screamed. "Ow! Cut, somebody get me some medicine!" He yelled.
"Dumb tooth brush." Said Susan quietly.
At the house, everybody was now moving around, and seemed more upbeat. "Alright, if we don't find Alex by tonight, then it's all over, Jerry will be dead by tomorrow night." Said Juliet.
"Ya, but, it's not doing us any good just, sitting a moping about it, we have to, look to after tomorrow, and think of how we'll keep going, without him." Stated James.
"You're right. Well, one of us will have to get a job, because Mr. Russo made all of the money, so that's one of the things we'll have to do." Stated Mason.
"Okay, well I'm sure I could find a job in the Wizard World, being a full wizard, so that's covered." Said James.
"Uh, and we'll still have to think of a way to hide Kramer, I mean, who knows how long we have until the mob catches up with him." Said Juliet.
"We can do it, we've been hiding for almost two weeks now, I'm sure we can keep it up." Stated James.
"And, it's going to feel really lonely without him." Said Mason sadly.
"Ya, there's nothing we can do about that." Said Juliet as she sat down.
"Ya, Alex won't have a dad, neither will Max, and mom, she'll miss him." Stated James.
"Ya, imagine, how Alex'll feel, she's been in the captivity of some strange men for five days now, how she'll feel when we get her back, and tell her that Mr. Russo is, dead, she'll be so upset." Said Mason.
"Ya, but, we'll just have to wait, and take it as it comes." Stated James.
Theresa then walked in the room. "Ha, how's it going?" She asked sadly.
"Alright." Said Juliet.
"How's Max doing?" Asked Mason.
"A little better, it's hard for him. He's, only fourteen and his father is dying, he's taking it the worst of all of us." Said Theresa.
"Don't worry mo, Theresa, we'll do all we can, we'll help to make this work, no matter how hard it turns out to be." Stated James.
"I'm glad to hear it. All that's important, is that after this, things'll be just as normal as they were before, things don't have to change that much, even though this is such a big thing." Stated Theresa.
"It'll be alright, we'll make it work." Assured Juliet.
Kramer then walked into the room. "Ha, I was thinking, now that this whole thing with Jerry has come up, maybe I should move out, I don't want to be a burden on you all." He said as he started to leave.
"No, Kramer, you've been through just as much as the rest of us, I mean you've followed us all the way, in the good times and bad. I think Jerry would want us to keep you here, as long as possible, until things are safe, so we will." Stated Theresa.
"Thanks, and, I really appreciate all you've done for me, I mean you brought me into your home, let me stay with you, nobody's ever done anything like this for me. Thanks." Said Kramer.
"You're welcome Kramer." Said Juliet.
"And, don't worry, I'll do all I can, I'll find a job, do more around the house, do anything to help." He stated.
"That means a lot, I think we'll need all the help we can get, but we can get through this, we always have, just as long as we stick together." Stated James.
"That's right." Said Mason. The entire group put their hands on each other's shoulders.
At the warehouse, it was later that day, almost three o'clock, and the mobster was on the phone. "Really, that's great, well, we'll see you then good-bye." He said as he hung up.
"Ha, what's going on?" Asked de Havilland as he and Susan walked in.
"That was our great leader, it appears that he will be a half hour late, he had some business with a banker to handle, but he will be here promptly at eight o'clock." Said the mobster.
"Wait, half an hour, then he'd be here a..." Started Susan.
"Ya, we don't question our leader, not only is he great, he is also unquestioned, so, we have another hour to prepare, and we must not waste it!" He declared.
"Okay, let's see a movie so we won't be too tense when he comes!" Yelled de Havilland.
"Good idea. I'll bring the money." Stated the mobster.
"I got the butter." Said de Havilland.
"And I got the gun, so we can get in at senior price." Said Susan.
"Good, let's go!" Yelled the mobster as they ran for the door.
In the closet, Alex had been listening to everything that the mobsters said, and was still nervous. "Only five more hours, then he'll be here, to kill me, and pretty soon all of them, and it's all thanks to me, where could they be, they always find a way to solve these problems, Justin, he always could, and he's gonna die, because of me, hu." She began to cry again.
At the house, they were all sitting around, quietly, reading, and doing whatever loosened their tension. Max then walked down the stairs. "Ha guys." He said quietly.
"Ha, how're you doing?" Asked Juliet.
"Alright, what about you guys?" He asked.
"We're fine, don't worry Max, it's all going to fine." Said James.
"I guess. Justin, I mean, James, without dad, won't mom be really lonely?" Asked Max.
"Ya, I'm sure she will be Max, but, we're going to help her through it, and we'll help you too, we're all in this together." Stated James.
"Ya, um, do you think, I mean after dad, do you think mom's going to start, dating, other men?" Asked Max.
"Max, mom loves dad, a lot, I don't think she will for a while, and, even if she does, it'll be just to make us all a little less lonely.
"I know, it's just, without dad, and, James, you'll be, getting a job, Alex is gone, well, there won't be anybody to be with me." Said Max sadly.
"Ah, Max, don't worry, we'll be here for you." Said Juliet as she put her arm on him.
"Ya, no matter what happens, no matter what or who comes into our lives, we'll always be here for you, because we're a family." Said Mason comfortingly.
"Ya, as long as we're here, we could be moved half way across the world, but you'll never be alone." Said James.
"Thanks, that means a lot, I hope Alex is okay, and we find her soon, because, I really miss her." Stated Max.
"She'll be fine Max, we'll look all over for her, and we'll find her, it'll all be alright." Assured James.
"Thanks." Said Max as he hugged James. Juliet and Mason went in and hugged them too.
It was nearly six-thirty when the three returned back to the warehouse, and ever since they left Alex had been mourning over what she had done to her family and also her death which she knew was near. She was sitting, her head down, crying in the chair when the door to the closet was suddenly opened. "Hu?" She sighed out of shock. It was the mobster, and standing beside him were de Havilland and Susan.
"Our great leader will be here in less than two hours, and everything is perfect, you!" Yelled the mobster as he pointed at Alex.
"Uh!" Whined Alex from shock.
"She must be prepared. You two, bathe her and dress her in the ceremonial clothing, we want the best for our great leader.
"Yessir." Said Susan as she grabbed Alex, untied her, and pulled her up.
"Time is of the essence, I want this all prepared once our leader has arrived, and I am confident you will be prompt." Stated the mobster.
"We will sir, come on!" Yelled de Havilland as he pulled Alex along.
"Uh, hu." Whined Alex as she followed, her arms and legs weak, her expression confused and hopeless as she was dragged along like a little girl, thinking only of her fate which was about to come.
Later that night, it was about seven o'clock, and James was standing over an old grave. He was in Dodreick's Hollow, that home and birth place of his parents, and the grave he was looking over was Ignaceous', his fathers. He stood, looking at it, the stone, the dirt, the epitaph, and was just thinking. He picked up some flowers, and lowered them on to the dirt of the grave. "Rest in peace, Dad." He said to the stone. He laid the flowers on the dirt, and just felt the earth with his hands.
Suddenly, a wave of light came over the stone, and the worn letters on the grave changed, except now they were clear, so that one could easily read them. "Hu?" James said the himself. Magically, the grave re-writ itself, and when it was finished, James looked at the inscription and read it aloud. "Have I never met my true son, the touch of my kin to the earth of the grave to him shall reveal in the waters all that he wish to see, so by the last will and testament of his father, Ignaceous Dodreick." As James finished reading the inscription, a change came over the grave where his flower lied. The dirt began to fill with water, and the flowers sank in with it. "Hu?" James said to himself. The entire plot became a flat and still water surface. James looked over it, wondering. Suddenly, the water began to form out a picture, and it began to move. Slowly, the picture became clear, and James watched it carefully. It showed the mobster who now holds Alex at the warehouse, and with him, Susan and de Havilland, taking Alex from Mason. Although James had never seen him before, he soon realized who he was, and why he had done it. He realized that he was a member of the mob who hunted Jerry, and he had taken Alex to lure him in. "Hu?" He sighed to himself. The waters then showed the warehouse from the past day, and the mobster announcing his plans, stating that the head mobster would be there, within the hour, to take Alex's like. "What, no, that's just an hour from now, what do I do?" He asked to himself.
The water cleared, and the earth and flowers returned, neither at all wet or moved and inch by the mirror water. "Well, we gave it our best, oh well." Said Justin. As he began to leave, he noticed a small bowl by the tombstone. "Hu, what's this?" He picked it up, it was an old, dark brown bowl, and inside it contained a mysterious pink dust. "I've seen this, mental lock dust. When used it gives the owner control of the victim's mind, but what does it mean?" He asked himself.
Back at the house, it was nearly seven thirty. "Well, it's getting late, I guess we'd better turn in." Said Theresa sadly.
"We're sorry we couldn't do more Mrs. Russo." Said Juliet sadly.
"It's fine, there was nothing any of us could do, I guess Jerry isn't going to make it." She admitted sadly.
"Sorry mom." Said Max as he hugged Theresa. She comforted him in her arms.
"Guys!" Yelled James as he ran in.
"James, what's going on?" Asked Mason.
"I found out where Alex is." Stated James excitedly.
"What, how?" Asked Theresa.
"It's complicated, but she was kidnapped by the mob, the one who wants dad, and they're going to kill her, tonight." Said James frantically.
"What?" Asked Juliet.
"This is awful." Stated Mason.
"James, what do we do?" Asked Max.
"I don't know, but, okay, I was at, my dad's grave, and, I found this bowl, of mental lock dust, I think it's a sign, and I have to use it, to help Alex." Stated James.
"But how, James, you don't even know who these people are." Said Juliet.
"I don't know, but I have to try, we don't have much time, I'll be back, I promise." Said James as he started to leave.
"Um, good luck James." Said Max as he hugged him.
"Thanks Max." Said James as he hugged him. He then left the house.
At the warehouse, it was now a quarter to eight, and the mobster was looking over his watch nervously. "Uh, what is taking them?" He asked himself.
"Sir, we're ready." Said de Havilland as he walked into the main hall.
"Good, where is the hostage?" He asked.
"Right here." Said Susan, who had just finished bathing Alex. Alex was dressed in a tight, red dress, with a black corset, and looked nervous.
"Excellent, our great leader will be here within fifteen minutes, and he will be pleased with the work we have done. This is a great day for us." He stated.
"Thank you sir, and most of all, thank you." Said de Havilland as he looked menacingly at Alex.
"Uh." She groaned, afraid, and lonely.
"He will be here soon, ready the knife, make sure the table is sanitary, and make sure our hostage, is comfortable." Said the mobster in a maniacal voice.
"Hu, hu." Said Alex as she breathed, nervously and could barely keep from crying.
It was ten to eight, and James was walking down the streets of the suburbs, and was looking around, waiting. "Uh, what am I doing? How am I gonna find anybody this fast, why would this..." He spoke to himself.
At that point, he saw a man walking in a suit and tie, and he had a black top hat. James took one look at him, and realized that he was the leader of the mob, the one who was to kill Alex, and knew exactly where he was going. "Hello." Spoke the mobster. As we all know, he was Pauly, the one who had met Jerry for the first time, fifteen days ago the one who had started it all.
"Hi, you look familiar, do I know you from somewhere?" Asked James, making time.
"No, I don't believe so, well, I'm late, say, do you know the way I'm going, it's a warehouse, just out of town?" Asked Pauly.
"Uh, ya, let me check, my map." Said James. He opened his hands, which held some of the dust. Nervously, he took a deep breath, and silently, blew the dust from his hands. It followed the wind, and landed inconspicuously into Pauly's face.
"Uh, hu?" Asked Pauly in a confused voice. The magic dust had taken effect on him. "Uh, now, where was I?" He asked in a confused voice.
"Sir, I know who you are, you are the leader, of a mob that runs this town, am I right?" Asked James.
"Uh, why yes, I am, I'm on my way, to kill, Jerry Russo's only daughter." Stated Pauly, stopping every so often.
"Sir, Jerry Russo has left the state, he is headed for California to gather the rest of his mob. Sir, I assure you, if he return soon, he will kill you and the rest of your men, you don't have a fighting chance." Stated James.
"What, oh, what do I do?" Asked Pauly in a confused voice.
"Shut down your mob, Jerry Russo won't give you a second thought if you don't pose a threat to him. So, call off your men, divide your mob, and hand over his daughter to me." Demanded James in a negotiating voice.
"Okay, but, who are you?" Asked Pauly.
There was a pause. "I'm, Justin Russo, Jerry Russo's oldest son, and heir to the mob thrown. So, what do you say?" Asked James.
"Alright, I'll do it, come with me, she's at the were house, I can call them off there." Said Pauly.
"Good, let's go." Said James.
"Follow me." Said the mobster as he lead him towards the mob.
At the warehouse, it was only five minutes past eight, and all three of them were waiting, while Alex sat, nervously, not able to think, on the table she knew would be her death bed. "Oh, he's late, where could he be?" Asked Susan. It was then that Pauly walked in, with a serious look on his face. "Oh, great leader, you're here!" Proclaimed Susan.
"'Hu, uh." Groaned Alex as she barely turned her head to see him.
"Yes, but I have come bearing bad news. Jerry Russo is currently recruiting is whole mob, to come here, and destroy us." Stated Pauly.
"What?" Asked de Havilland.
"How can this be?" Asked the mobster.
"Yes, his army is in the hundreds, they will surely over power us, it is inevitable." Stated Pauly.
"Oh no oh no." Said de Havilland as he walked around in circles.
"Sir, what do we do?" Asked the mobster.
"We must shut down immediately, and return his daughter to him, then he will be called off, and our lives will be spared." Stated Pauly.
"But, how, by who?" Asked Susan.
"By me." Said James as he walked in.
"Justin?" Asked Alex, quietly, in a confused voice.
"This is Jerry Russo's oldest son, and he has told me all of this, all we have to do is disperse, return the girl, and he will tell his father to spare us, is that correct son?" Asked Pauly.
"That's right, just, give back my sister, shut down, and all this will blow over." Stated James in a relieved voice.
"Wha, alright, if the great leader says we must disperse, then we must." Said the mobster.
"Good, as of this moment, the nameless mob of New York City, is officially out of business, you are all dismissed, and Mr. Russo, you may have your sister back." Said Pauly.
"Thank you sir." Said James.
The mobsters began to depart. "What do we do now?" Asked de Havilland.
"All I've ever had is the mob, I don't even have a job." Stated Susan.
"Well, too bad for you, I'm a detective." Said de Havilland.
"No you're not, that was all a ploy." Stated the mobster.
"Oh, man." Said de Havilland. The group exited.
"Justin, you did it, you saved me, how?" Asked Alex in a timid, but relieved voice.
"It's a long story, was that Susan Lucci?" Asked James.
"Ya, Justin, what happened, is Mason okay? Did you find dad? What abou..." Started Alex.
"I'll explain on the way, we have a lot to do, and a lot you have to know." Stated James as they began to leave.
"Thanks Justin, ya know, I've never told you this, but I'm really glad I have you, you're a great brother." Stated Alex.
"Thanks Alex, come on, there's so much I have to tell you." Said James as they walked out of the warehouse.
"Alright." Said Alex as she followed him. They walked all that way home: they didn't make it back until late that night, but it was still, of this twentieth day.
Will the family be able to do the surgery in time? What will happen to Alex when she realizes all that has come of the family? Will Jerry make it out alive? What will happen to the family after all this? You'll know if you read the other 345 days in the year in the life of the Russo's, "I've got a secret."