Part Five

Charlie and Tom left the suit shop and went back over the Cadillac. As they were were putting the bag filled with the suit that Tom had been wearing into the car, Charlie spotted Meyer and Joe and called them over. Joe handed the bag over to Charlie but no change was forthcoming.

Charlie merely shook his head and brought the bag to Tom. He opened it and then pulled out the box before opening that as well. Charlie looked them over. They were quite nice and would go with just about anything for now.

"Here Tom, sit in the can and change your shoes."

"You got me shoes?"

"Of course, can't have you running around in uncomfortable footwear."

"I don't want to impose on you further-"

"Don't worry about it. It's my money to spend."

Charlie saw Tom blink and he opened his mouth, probably to again ask about money but Charlie interrupted him, "Take those off, they're Joe's anyway." Charlie's tone broached no argument so Tom sat on the seat and took off his shoes. Charlie took the scuffed used pair and handed them back to Joe's before handing the new ones over one at a time. The new patent leather practically gleamed. Tom slipped the shoes on and his face pulled into a smile.

Ah...

Charlie smiled back and helped tom out of the car when he finished. Joe had gone to put the extra shoes in the other car but Meyer was still there, "What's the plan now, Charlie?"

Charlie looked around before spotting the municipal hall down the street, "We'll go file that missing person's report with the sheriff and if he hasn't heard anything, we'll go get some lunch at the pub."

Meyer and Joe said nothing though his Jewish friend sported a knowing look while Joe just looked dubious. His friends were well aware they wouldn't find anything. He was thankful that it was Joe and Meyer with him on this trip. Both were of above average intelligence and were very good at keeping their mouth shut.

Tom looked over at him as they walked, "Do you think they'll have some information and maybe we can find my family?"

Charlie forced an encouraging smile, "That's what we're hoping for. Just make sure you don't forget your friends when we do eventually find your people, alright?"

The green eyed man smiled at him and Charlie felt a little light headed at the sight, "I would never forget you." And that made it worse. Charlie clapped the other man on the shoulder good naturedly as they entered the large stone building.

They were greeted by a woman behind a desk, "Good afternoon gentlemen, Can I help you?"

The Sicilian man smiled in return, "Yes, we need to know where to go to file a missing person's report. My friend here,"He gestured to Tom, "We found him out in the woods in a bad sort. He hit his head and he seems to have..."Charlie looked over at Meyer, "What's it called?"

"Amnesia"

"Yeah Amnesia. He doesn't know who he is."

The woman's eyes widened as she looked at Tom before gesturing down the hall to her left, "Oh, you poor dear. You boys go right down that hall all the way to the double doors. That's the Sheriff's office. One of his deputies will take your information and will be able to help you."

Charlie nodded and thanked her before they all proceeded down the hall towards the doors at the end. Charlie pushed the door open and supposed he shouldn't have been surprised at how quiet the room was. Montabella was no New York.

One of the deputies was quickly walking towards them, "Hello, Is there anything I can do for you gentlemen today?"

"Uh, yeah." Charlie explained the situation with Tom once more and the Deputy nodded before leading them to his desk. Charlie and Tom sat down while Joe and Meyer stood behind them.

The deputy was writing on his pad as they spoke, "So you found him in the woods? He was unconscious?"

"Yes, I think he got hit on the head."

The deputy nodded, "And was he wearing this when you found him?"

"No, he had on brown knickers with a tan and blue sweater. The stuff was ripped and dirty so we got rid of it."

The deputy nodded, "Alright, well thank you for taking care of him. We'll find him a place to stay until we get this sorted out."

Charlie's eyes widened, "Actually, I was thinking he could stay with me until his people are located. I've got a big house so it's really no problem."

The deputy looked up from his pad, "Sir, you're obviously from out of town. When you go back, where will he go?"

Charlie's lips pulled into a smile, "You're right. I'm from New York. He'll be going back with me to the city. I'll leave my contact information here with you and if you find anything, you can contact me or my staff at home."

The deputy sat back, "Sir with all due respect, You've already more than done the right thing helping this man but you don't know him or where he came from. And while I am not making a judgment on you personally, I need to know what's to stop you from simply throwing him out once you get tired of playing good samaritan."

Charlie's face twisted into a grimace and he felt Meyer's hand on his shoulder, a warning that they were in a police station and to calm down. The Sicilian took a breath, "I enjoy Tom's company and like being around him. I want him to stay with me and if only to help you or him feel more secure about his place there. I have connections all over Manhattan so I'll find him a job and he can save some money. If he,"And Charlie placed great emphasis on the fact that is would be Tom's decision, "decides to leave, he'll have some money set aside to either come back here or try an make his way for himself there."

The deputy could see he wasn't making any headway with the New Yorker so he turned to the so-far silent Tom, "Sir, you can stay here and we'll make sure you're taken care of. You lost your memories and New York is a dangerous place-"

Charlie cut in, "I live two blocks from Central Park, it's not that dangerous!"

The deputy gave Charlie a withering look before turning back to Tom, "Sir, I can't force you to stay but you need to be aware that bad things happen to people who don't know what their doing in New York. People are killed everyday there."

Charlie could see fear creeping over Tom's expression before his companion turned to him, "Charlie, is it really that bad?"

Charlie reached over and put his hand on Tom's arm and squeezed in reassurance, "He's trying to scare you. Yes, New York is a dangerous in some places. But I live in one of the nicer areas. You'll love it, there are tree-lines streets and it's nice and quiet. You can walk right to the park. You've never seen anything like Central Park. You'll be safe, I promise."

Tom nodded and turned back to the deputy, "I'd like to stay with Charlie, sir."

The man apparently saw defeat when it was looking him in the face and sighed, "Alright," he turned back to Charlie, "What's your address?"

"55 West 95th street, Manhattan."

The man nodded and continued to take information from them for a few more minutes before seeing them out of the building. Charlie thanked the deputy and turned back to say something to Meyer. Charlie caught the man giving Tom a long assessing look. Charlie wondered what it was about Tom that inspired everyone, regardless of gender, to be interested in him. The deputy's mouth twisted with what looked like a hint of regret before he went back inside the building.

Charlie turned back to his friends as Joe proclaimed, "Alright ladies, I'm starvin'. Let's get some grub!"

Meyer nodded and the two led the way towards the local watering hole. As they walked they passed a barbershop and a man with a fresh cut walked out. His hair was the current style. Short on the sides and back and long on the top. Charlie saw Tom examining the man's cut, his hand absently coming up to finger his own longer locks. Tom's hair was a riot of dark curls that were much much longer than the current trend. However, the look suited Tom and Charlie was not about to encourage the man to get his hair cut.

Time for distraction, "So, Tom, what do you want to eat?"

Tom tore his eyes away from the barbershop and looked at Charlie, "I don't know."

Charlie smiled, "Well then we'll just have to try everything on the menu."