The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 82 Utility Closet
Liam
After taking a shower at the hospital, I decided to dress into one of my casual suits and sat down on the couch in my father’s hospital suite. His leg was in cast and he was sleeping with an oxygen mask on to prevent any severe effects from smoke inhalation.
I asked my secretary to come down to the hospital to bring me the documents I needed to look over and sign. When I was done, I told her to cancel my appointments for the whole week and for her to lock up the office and go home. It was a sad day. The funeral home was gone and the hospital was packed with traumatized people from the fire. Although there weren’t any casualties among the guests who had come to pay their last respects to Cynthia McDowell, there were three bodies found at the back of the funeral home. I prayed that Leo and Benny were able to make it out in time, but I assumed the worst.
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I had my men guard the premises of the hospital. After speaking to the Sheriff, there other way to protect my father, but to do it myself. He reminded me if he were to arrest Pete, we would all go down. He had enough evidence on all of us to lock us up for good.
“I’m sorry, Liam. There’s not much I can do. What we can do though is use his problem with this De Vega fellow to our advantage,” Sheriff Combs suggested.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“We can kill him and bury him in the forest where no one can find him, then act as if he was
taken by De Vega. Or we can have someone kill him while he’s walking down the street and make everyone believe it was De Vega,” he answered. “It’s either you take matters into your own hands or you wait for Pete to do his worst. It’s up to you.”
Η
The Sheriff was right. I had to take matters into my own hands. But I knew Pete would also be heavily guarded after what happened last night. I had to wait until he lets his guard down before I made my move. I planned to make it look like he died of natural causes and not a
gunshot to the head. The people of New Salem would think it wasn’t safe under my leadership if Pete died while walking down the street.
Dan arrived at the hospital with a fruit basket in his hands wearing another one of his silk
shirts under his designer trench coat. I instructed my guards to keep an eye on my father and not to let anyone in the room while I spoke with Dan. I led him to a utility closet at the
far end of the hallway and locked the door.
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CHAPTER 82 Utility Closet
“What happened last night?” Dan asked in a hushed voice while we stood in the middle of mops and buckets.
“Is Lisa okay?” I asked. She was distraught when Cris and I left her last night.

“Of course. She’s at Hillcrest,” Dan said. “She’s under a bit of stress after finding out her
t we are husband killed a girl, that she might be the next target of some mafia boss, and that all tied up in this together. Then, there’s the little issue of Pete being our boss and that we deal drugs. Well, she had to find out sooner or later. I actually thought she had an idea, I just didn’t bargain she was oblivious to her husband’s extracurricular activities. Anyway, she promised to keep her mouth shut if it’ll keep her alive. So, Liam, talk to me. What happened last night at the funeral home?”
“That ba stard kidnapped my father,” I said angrily. Dan shook his head in disbelief.
“The big boss won’t like hearing Pete overstepped his bounds. Theodore Cohen is under the protection of the Angels of Darkness for services rendered,” Dan said. “First, he kidnapped and raped De Vega’s niece, now he f ucked with Theodore. He’s such an idiot.”
“That’s not all. He asked me to give him Virtue in exchange for my father,” I said. “And get this, he wants it done during the Spring Formal. I heard Dan mutter a curse underneath his
breath.
“Why am I not surprised? He really wants to ruin your chances at reelection. Anyway, he called me earlier to tell me he’s leaving. He told me to send his take to his offshore account: and make sure I ship the big boss’ money to Texas while he was gone,” Dan said. I stared at him, not believing what I had just heard.
“G od da mmit! I was planning on something. You sure of that?” I asked, knowing Pete was
such a liar.
“Like I would make this up. He said he’ll be leaving the country and that he’ll be gone indefinitely. That’s what he said,” Dan confirmed.
“Did he say why?” Dan shook his head.
“I assume because De Vega is hunting him down and that this little stunt with Theodore will earn him a visit from the big boss once she finds out,” Dan answered. “What I do know is he’s
scared. He told me ever since he left the hospital, he feels like someone is following him so
he’ll be doing the old switcheroo to get out of town.”
“Switcheroo?” I asked, puzzled. Dan rolled his eyes at me.
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CHAPTER 82 Utility Closet
es, let’s say, to the diner. Inside, there’s someone who looks like him, has the exact
ppearance. They exchange clothing, then that someone who looks like him
iner, gets into his car and he drives off to the nearest airport while Pete
ar and drives off to wherever, Dan explained. “That’s the old switcheroo.”
Doesn’t necessarily mean he’s leaving New Salem. He might just dye his hair and head. o his safe house in Bismarck,” I said, knowing he was clever.
Il have my men check just to make sure. If he’s there, I could definitely have someone shoot him while he walked though the streets.
“I doubt it. His capo will be in charge while he’s away, Liam,” Dan argued. I nodded my head, thinking this set-up was better. His capo rarely interfered just as long as the money came in. Technically, this meant I would be left in charge.
“Are you sure about this? Has his capo even called?” I asked.
“To answer your first question, yes, I’m sure of the arrangement and to answer your second question, no, his capo hasn’t called. But I’d rather have him in charge than Pete. Since Cynthia left everything to Pete, he has been a real problem. This thing he has with Cris and these women… He’s worse than a drug addict. So, what have you done to Cris?”
“He’s at the mansion. I was thinking of keeping him there until the election so I can keep
watch. But if Pete is leaving, I can send him home and have Jack keep an eye on him.
Without Pete here, he can’t go off and abduct women on his own,” I said.
“Where’s Jack right now? I was expecting to see him here.”
“Unlike Sheriff Combs, Jack is friends with the Sheriff of Arnold County. He’s still looking for our missing cargo. I heard they have a lead,” I said. Dan heaved a sigh of relief.
“Oh, thank G od,” Dan exclaimed happily, then he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Liam, whatever deal you made with Pete, I doubt if it’ll push through. Spring Formal is just around. the corner and Pete has to drastically change his appearance so he won’t be recognized. Even the best plastic surgeons can’t do that in two weeks. My suggestion, ask Virtue out, then propose to her. When she’s under your protection, Pete can’t touch her the way he wants to touch her. When you and Virtue get married, we can start opening boutiques within our territory to e
expand our business. F uck Pete. He’s bad for business.”
That didn’t sound bad. I didn’t want to marry whoever my father had arranged for me to marry and right now he was confined in the hospital. If I propose before he gets out, there won’t be anything he can do.
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