Amnesia Ch. 08-09

"Mellows! Well, well, how about that. I heard something about a gun," Martin continued, oblivious to the frustrated looks from the other two detectives.

Tony picked up the signals. "How about I just tell this story once, guys. I'm sure we all want to get this over with as soon as possible."

Tony began to tell the events of the past half-hour as best he could recall them. Carl confirmed his observation of Mellows when he staggered into the bar and then burst into the kitchen. He had called 911 when he saw the gun in Mellows' hand. Erik supplied further eyewitness information that corroborated Tony's version.

It was almost midnight when Carl and Tony closed up. Erik had left a half hour earlier. Both men were mentally and physically tired. It had only begun to hit Tony that he had been in a life-threatening situation that could have ended tragically.

He had called Nina earlier to tell her he would be late, but left the reason vague. She said she would wait up for him.

Nina was still up, waiting anxiously for him. He walked quietly into the living room after hanging up his coat. She met him halfway across the room and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Martin called me," she said.

"Oh. I guess you know then."

"Tony ... I don't know what I would have done if you'd been hurt ... or even ...." She let the thought go.

"It didn't hit me until later, Nina. I guess I was lucky. Maybe that's what all this is about. I'm lucky. They hire a hit man to kill me and he botches it. I lose my memory, but I get a better life in return. Then, Stanton wants to kill me, but ... again ... I get lucky. Maybe we should buy some lottery tickets," he joked.

Nina leaned back, smiling through her tears. "I know one thing for certain. I got lucky when I found you again." She looked at him lovingly. "Is it over now?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Stanton was the last of the four. He's virtually convicted himself. I just wonder if he'll live long enough to see prison. You should have seen him, Nina. A sick, tired old man. It's hard to believe he was ever the dynamic Wall Street warrior."

"As long as we don't have to worry about someone else coming after you," Nina moaned.

"I think we can quit worrying. There's no point in adding murder to a fraud charge for the other guys. No profit in that. Stanton was just drunk and angry. It's hard to believe he really would have tried to kill me. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. I just have to testify at the trial, and even then, they have enough evidence to convict even without me. Nothing's going to save them now."

Chapter 9:

The "Mellows Incident" as Tony referred to it, stirred up the interest of the media. While Tony had escaped the spotlight when the three vice presidents were indicted, he wasn't able to dodge the reporters this time. A leaked police report and an informant in the local F.B.I. office made sure of that.

Martin was sure the F.B.I. leak was deliberate to get favorable press coverage of their "bust." He was angry that someone in his precinct thought it was clever to release the police report, but the damage had already been done. Tony was being besieged with requests for interviews. Reporters were banging on his door at all hours and Nina had retreated to Magda's apartment just to avoid them.

Finally, Tony agreed to grant one interview to one television station; a private not-for-profit cable outlet. He called the F.B.I. to inform them what he intended to do, and while they were unhappy they realized that they were the authors of this situation with their own information leak. They advised him what to stay away from in terms of evidence. They did not want him compromising the trial with inadvertent help to the defence.

The interview focused on Tony's recovery from amnesia and the bizarre story surrounding it. There was little interest in the technical details of the fraud, merely that it precipitated the attempt on his life, his memory loss, his new life and new identity and finally, his reuniting with his wife and regaining most of his memory. It was a great human interest story and the cable station ran the interview several times to milk the maximum value from it.

A major publisher contacted him and offered a sinful amount of money for the exclusive story, but Tony put them off, citing complications with the forthcoming trial. Perhaps afterwards, he hinted. He would at least do them the courtesy of discussing it.

Aurelia Chinetti had passed them on to Tom Hanson, an associate who specialized in commercial property, and in April, he had found a suitable site for Tony's restaurant. Ironically, it had been a photography shop. The location was good, the size was right and the access for commercial deliveries was in place through the traditional lane in the back. The space would have to be gutted, but that was no surprise. By very good luck, there was public parking available across the street, an unusual benefit in this district.

For a while, Tony was concerned about short-term financing and a need to dip into his special reserve, but got a surprise from Mr. Leung. He was willing to act as banker for the venture at bank prime rate. Tony and the elderly man sat down and hammered out the details in contract form. Repayment terms held no penalties for early retirement of the loan. Mr. Leung's English hadn't improved very much, but his confidence in Tony had. He was pleased to have the opportunity to be Tony's partner.

In addition, he had held preliminary talks with Picardo Publishing regarding a ghost-written account of his story. They amount they were offering as an advance, one million dollars, was too much to ignore. If he could manage that project without sacrificing his time with Nina and the family, he would probably go ahead with it.

In the meantime, work on the new restaurant was about to get underway. The approvals and permits were now in place and a contractor had been hired. Expected opening date was September, the day after Labor Day. It was going to be a hectic summer.

Tony had convinced Nina to participate in the development of the restaurant. She had a good eye for color and style and she could bargain hunt with the best of them. She happily accepted the challenge and set about finding the furnishings and decorations to make their new bistro come to life.

On a cool, spring Sunday, Tony and Nina sat on a park bench, quietly enjoying their afternoon walk. Everything in their lives seemed to be falling into place. The turmoil of the past had been replaced by the hope of the future. Nina was confident that they would thrive in this new life if she could keep Tony from working too hard and falling into that old trap. She promised him she wouldn't stop hounding him about it if it looked like he was getting too far immersed.

Tony expressed a feeling of accomplishment. A new life, a new home, a new career, and a new resolve to be a better husband and father.

As they sat together, neither heard the approach of the two men. When they came to a stop in front of the bench, Tony looked up.

"Mr. Milano," agent Thorson said quietly.

"Agent Thorson ... Pellegrino ... I didn't expect to see you here," Tony said with slight smile.

"Would you come with us, please," Thorson asked politely.

"Why?" Tony asked, puzzled.

"You're under arrest, sir. You are charged with fraud, breach of trust, and interstate commerce violations."

First with a look of shock, then with a look of resignation on his face, Tony turned his head slowly to see a horrified Nina.

"I'm sorry, babe. I really am."

*

Authors Note: Originally, this story ended here. The response I got from my readers was overwhelmingly negative. I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise, but ... there you are.

For those of you who were disappointed, I am writing an epilogue. For those of you who are satisfied, ignore it.

Otherwise, Cheers,

Coaster