Chapter 9: Time to turn the page permanently
Three months later
"Greyer, you sly dog, what makes you turn up in my city again?", Vincenzo asked impatiently.
"Mr. DeMarco, I held and still hold your family in the highest regards and…", Greyer started moving uncomfortably in his chair.
"I only agreed to this meeting because my son,", he gestured a little unnecessary at Rafe who was standing in the doorway, "asked me to, but my time is precious and your past actions do not enhance my patience, so cut to the chase, Greyer."
Nicholas couldn't help but smile. Rafe looked just as uncomfortable as Greyer when his father wasn't even looking at him. Nicholas was sitting very relaxed on one of the brown leather sofas placed against the wall, eyeing the scene in front him with growing interest. He didn't know Greyer himself but he heard stories. Apparently Greyer used to be one of Vincenzo's trusted employees but pulled some kind of scam - it was rumored with the help of Rafe - but it failed and he ended up owing the DeMarco's a ton of money; a debt for which he payed in full with interest, but it destroyed his reputation and use for Vincenzo forever.
"Yes, sir. I've found reason to believe that a cop has infiltrated your organization. There have been rumors around the court house. DA Jeffers was practically boasting of this once in a life time opportunity of putting you behind bars. So I did some digging, called in a few favors and the thing is, there is a mole in your family. So I would like to run backgrounds checks on all your employees who joined in the last two years."
At this Nicholas unconsciously got up, but restrained himself in time. Unfortunately Rafe saw it.
"That would include me."
"Hiding something, little brother", Rafe asked sarcastically.
"Well, yeah my self esteem, I don't mind if it was really necessary, but I do mind this cockroach looking into my personal files.", Nicholas answered.
"Nicolas has a point, reason isn't proof. And I need a little more from you than just your solid word. Regrettably you forfeited that right a while ago. So I bid you a good day Mr. Greyer, I trust you can let yourself out."
When Rafe was about to protest, Vincenzo got up, thereby ending the discussion before it even began. Greyer got up as well and left fast with his tail between his legs, but he shot Nicholas a murderous look.
"Nicholas,", Vincenzo said, "Can you give me and my stubborn son a moment alone?"
Nicholas nodded and calmly walked out. The fight that followed was one of the worst in the DeMarco household. Nicholas could hear Rafe yelling from across the house and after another ten minutes Rafe drove off in a heated temper.
"Mental note: keep in mind never to get him so ticked off.", Tony added when he and Nicholas watched Rafe drive away, almost hitting the fence in the process.
"Not funny, Tony, I hope your cover proves to be a solid one. Rafe and this Greyer guy aren't going to leave this alone. Rafe needs to prove his father is wrong.", Nicholas said, looking anxious.
"Relax, we have gathered enough data already to put them behind bars. Clara is safe. And in a few days we'll unplug this whole thing and go home.", Tony reassured his friend.
Nicholas tried to relax but there remained an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach which didn't go away. He had yet to find out how naïve Tony's assumptions really were.
Four months later
The preliminary hearing for the trial finally came to an end and Nicolas sighted.
"All these cops and costumes in one room, not exactly my way of spending a pleasant afternoon.", he whispered to Tony who sat right next to him.
"Tell me about it, I would trade this for a dangerous car chase any day.", Tony answered. From his tone Nicholas could see he was joking but his facial expression begged to differ.
"I spoke to my captain again.", Tony continued while everyone got up and headed for the door, "But he refused, flat-out, said I was a witness myself and needed protection until after the trial."
Tony sighted. Nicolas knew how much this fact bothered his friend. When they pulled the plug Tony had promised Nicolas that he would be one of the agents assigned to Nicholas for protection until after the trial and even try to make Nicolas transfer to witness protection as easy as possible, but his superior refused. They already had two major arguments about it, but apparently Tony had decided to go for round three.
"And then when I said he couldn't control where I went, he said that he did and now I'm grounded! With two policemen posted in front of my door!", Tony exclaimed indignant. "Their probably rookies."
Nicolas couldn't help but smile at this comment, considering Tony wasn't a veteran himself. But he could relate, he too was bound, so to speak. The restless ache as a result of doing nothing was reaching its boiling point now that the end was near. He felt it wearing him down. The agents that were guarding him weren't unfriendly, but they weren't Tony either. They didn't feel the need to share information considering his welfare, so he felt like a puppet being dragged from safe house to safe house.
"At least you can sleep in your own bed.", Nicholas tried to comfort Tony.
"Yeah but I'm probably not allowed to invite someone. Damn, this is going to cramp my social life."
"What social life? You were undercover for months."
"Exactly my point, I've got a lot of catching up to do and a couple of babysitters outside isn't very attractive."
The following days of the trial weren't very promising. The cases the police build up for Vincenzo and Arturo were very solid, even bulletproof, since Nicholas and on some occasion Tony, had been a eye witness, but Rafe was another matter. All they had was circumstantial evidence, which wasn't enough for a long-term conviction.
"I can't believe it.", Nicholas said on the fifth day during recess, "He's actually going to get away with it." He was walking up and down the narrow hallway in front of Tony who sat on one of the wooden benches.
Tony sat in silence, probably thinking the same thing.
"And I'm forced to see him walk away! Just like that! While I'm sitting here in this monkey suite instead of being with Clara, man, I wish I could end this the old fashion way, just him and me.", Nicholas spoke with force.
"Easy there, Scaramouche.", Tony answered, "It could still work out fine."
But Nicholas heard in Tony's voice that he didn't believe it himself, not anymore.
One the final day Vincenzo and Arthuro were convicted for life. Nicolas felt a pinch of guilt when the judge read their sentence. From a point of view, his point of view, Vincenzo wasn't a bad person. In what way was he any different from him?
Tony obviously saw his discomfort. "Nick, it's just some freakish variant of survivor's guilt, it will pass.", he reassured Nicholas.
"A year ago I would have shot a rat without questions, just because Vincenzo asked me too and now I'm one myself."
"Just pray that he doesn't have any more bullets up his sleeve.", Tony said worried.
"Oh, I'm not worried about Vincenzo, I'm worried about Rafe.", Nicolas said. From where he was sitting he could see Rafe shooting murderous glances in his direction, while Vincenzo and Arthuro feigned his nonexistence.
Three days later
He should have seen it coming. He should have known better. Damn, the agents that were protecting him should have known better, he thought. They all had let their guard down now that the trial came to an end and the DeMarco's were locked away. How wrong had they been!
Nicholas was lying on the ground now, breathing heavily and felt the pool of blood under him expanding. In the corner of his eye he saw agent Dunn and agent Jenkins starring at him with blank eyes. He tried to grasp the events of the past minute.
They never even had a chance once the door was broken down. Agent Dunn was dead before he hit the ground, hit in the head. His brain splattered against the crème colored wallpaper. Nicolas and Jenkins reacted on instinct, trying to overpower their assaulters. There were four maybe five masked men, he couldn't recall. He knew he grabbed a gun and just shot. The flashes and shots turned the room into chaos and in the end Nicholas had sunk down, exhausted realizing he was hit as well.
He could hear his heartbeat, the only one left in the room, while the ceiling above him seemed to spin around. He coughed violently, tasting blood, feeling blood trickle trough his stone cold fingers when he grasped his chest in vain.
"Clara…", he mouthed barely making a sound, "I tried…"