Dance or Die (White Oak - Mafia Series Book 3) (13 page)

***

After dinner, Tess and Malcolm went upstairs and stood on the porch as her crew gathered before them.

“I need four volunteers who are good at assembling beds,” Malcolm said.

Eight men raised their hands. He picked four of them.

“I need eight men to carry stuff, potentially heavy, without doing any damage.”

The remainder of the men raised their hands. He selected eight men.

“Tess just learned that you don’t like camping quite as much as I claimed.”

They all chuckled.

“So she has graciously invited you into her house.”

A hearty cheer rang out, with a great deal of high-fiving.

“Hold on; there are rules. And anyone who breaks them sleeps in the cabin.” He pointed behind him.

The men seemed baffled. “What other cabin is there?” one asked.

“Some of you will see soon enough. How fast the crews can clear the extra-large room and set up the beds depends on if you’ll see it tonight or tomorrow. Also, two of you may be without beds until tomorrow, so don’t piss me off.”

He then read them the rules.

Some complained about the farting rule being stated in front of Tess, but otherwise, they accepted them.

“All right, those not in the first two crews get to tear down the camp and place all personal gear into tidy stacks on the porch. Let’s get moving.”

Just then, Sonny and Jack came out with their luggage. “Any chance you can give us a ride down to La Motte?” Jack asked.

She looked at Malcolm. “The beds are in the back storage room.”

He nodded as if he already knew that. No doubt sometime, probably in the early morning hours, he’d done a full search of the house by order of Sheriff Cobbs.

“Okay, then I’ll take them down,” she said.

He stepped closer. “Mind if Sanders joins you?”

She was about to say it wasn’t necessary but realized if she didn’t agree, Malcolm would probably send men down behind her, messing up his tidy crew plan.

“Sure, if the planks are needed, he’ll be a great help on the way back.”

***

To Tess’ surprise, no planks were needed. While the missing road section had yet to be repaved, it had been filled and was drivable, so she saw the boys all the way to their hotel.

She got out and helped them with their luggage from the back, then hugged each one. “It’s been great knowing you.”

Sonny frowned. “We aren’t fired. We’ll still see you at the mounds.”

“Probably not. I’ll be focused on my stuff. But I wish you guys the best of luck. Steel is a great archeologist, so learn all you can from him.”

They nodded in unison and reluctantly headed to the hotel.

When she returned to her house, the men had finished striking the campsite and were tidying up the place so it looked as if they’d never been there. “Great job, guys. Thanks for cleaning up.”

They smiled and returned to their work. When she entered the cabin’s kitchen, two guys were inspecting the ancient fridge where she kept extra vegetables. Their wrinkled foreheads gave them a Shar-Pei look. Given it only had two feet of space inside, she knew they had to be worried.

“I’ll get you guys a real fridge,” she promised.

Tony looked up. “We’ve got a large freezer and fridge unit outside, hooked up to your power box. I can’t believe Malcolm didn’t tell you. To think you’ve been storing your food in this Victorian appliance.”

She laughed. “I just store vegetables in it. Oddly, they seem to last longer in there than in my modern fridge.”

He playfully wiped his forehead. “Thank God. I was going to have to scold Malcolm and I wasn’t looking forward to that.”

“Scold me about what?” Malcolm asked as he stepped out of the kitchen closet, causing both his men to jump a foot in the air.

Since they were recovering from a heart attack, she answered him. “They thought this was my main fridge while you evidently have much nicer equipment outside.”

Malcolm ran his hand through his hair. “Hope you don’t mind, but with Andy no longer bringing us food, I needed to reduce the time the men spent driving these roads at night.”

“They’ve been driving these roads at night?” she squeaked. “They’re barely safe in daylight.”

“I know, but we’ve been working from dawn to dusk and I thought that a better use of all of our time, so I solved the matter by having Sam fly up a large fridge and freezer so we would only have to shop every two weeks. I should have told you, but I feared if I did, you would insist upon paying for them.”

She would have.

“And that’s not right,” he said. “If not for your generosity, the men would be paying rent in La Motte and driving up and down every day. Your kindness has spared them that expense, the least they can do is pay for the storage and cost of their food.”

“So who exactly paid for the units?” she asked.

“We all did, from our very large first paycheck.”

“Oh good, you’re getting paid. I’m sorry I didn’t ask about that when I returned.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not a problem.”

“So you didn’t get paid until this week?” She had promised them they’d get paid every Friday, but then her life fell apart and she forgot to check.

“According to Tom Barkman’s secretary, we have to be paid every two weeks because that’s the way the system is set up and any attempt to change it would probably result in us never getting paid.”

“Oh…Is that okay with you?”

“More than okay. We’ve stored Helen’s furniture and belongings in the room where the beds were stored.”

“That’s fine.”

“In that case, I need to go down the mountain. Do you need anything?”

Now? It was getting dark. “Yes, I need you alive and well. Can’t this wait until tomorrow morning?”

“We’ve been starting work at dawn,” he reminded her.

“Not tomorrow. We can’t start until Dan gets here.” Recalling a comment that he’d made earlier, she added, “And what happened to Andy?” She’d been back for two damn weeks and had failed to notice he wasn’t among her crew? Yes, she’d been broken-hearted, but that was no excuse not to notice Andy wasn’t there.

“Shit…I have a letter I was supposed to give you, only I forgot. I’m really sorry. It’s just that so much has been going on.”

She could hardly blame him for not remembering a letter when she forgot the whole boy. “No problem, may I have it now?”

He stared out at the dusk sky. “You’re sure I’ll have time to do my chore tomorrow morning?”

She gripped his arm. “Yes. I promise we won’t start before eight. Now give me Andy’s letter.”

They returned downstairs to happy men building beds in Grams’ room. She paused and stared in the room that used to hold the only person who was ever there for her, through thick or thin, even when she screwed up.

“You okay with this?” Malcolm softly asked.

She sniffled and looked away. “I just miss her,” she whispered.

He led her to the other bunk room. It looked like an army barracks; it was so neat and tidy.

He went to his bed and pulled open a chester drawer, retrieving a white envelope. He handed it to her. “I’m really sorry I forgot this note.”

“It’s okay. The last month has been crazy.” She hurried to her bedroom and opened the letter.

Tess,

I’m sorry for bailing on you, but you were just doing me a favor. Every guy on your crew can outwork me. Besides, I wasn’t sure you’d be coming back. I hope you do, because those woods are yours, no matter what the state thinks.

However, Helen gave me enough money that I can go to any college I wish. So I sent an example of my programming work to UCLA and even though it’s really late to be applying, they’ve accepted me.

The professor said my program was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen and he had pulled strings to get me admitted. So I crawled out my bedroom window, got in my pickup, and headed out.

I saw Malcolm on my way out of town and asked him to wait while I wrote you this letter.

When my parents had learned from my big mouth bank that I’d just deposited two hundred thousand dollars in my account, they went ballistic, accusing me of all sorts of crap, saying they knew I’d never amount to anything and if I got arrested, they wouldn’t spend a dime to get me out.

Even worse, when I told them where the money came from, they started acting like it was their money, talking about what they would buy with it. When I said it was my money, not theirs, I got clocked on the head by my father. Upon reminding me (for the millionth time) whose house I lived in, he let mother start in. She re-lived (for the billionth time) the 38 hours of labor she endured having me, and how I cried non-stop for the first six months.

Before they went any further, I told them the money was for college. That set off their old choir about college being a waste for me, seeing as how I would never amount to nothing. Finally, I got sick of it all and stormed off to my room. That’s when I read my email from the Dean of Computer Science. Not only did he think I was college material, but he thought I was brilliant college material. So I opened an account with an electronic bank and transferred all but two thousand dollars over to it, climbed out the window, and headed off.

“I’ve no doubt they’ve called the sheriff by now, but he’ll let me go once I explain matters. I wish I could have said goodbye to you in person, but I have to get to the airport and fly out in the morning. Malcolm will see the pickup truck is returned to my parents. (It’s in their name, even though I paid for it.)

I know I’ve no right to complain about my parents, given how terrible your dad was. However, you had a great grams, and honestly, she and you were the only positive people in my life.

When I get to LA and find a place, I’ll write and tell you where. Only don’t tell my parents. I’m 18 now. I have the right to leave if I want. And I checked. I am under no obligation to pay off their mortgage or buy them new cars.

Sorry for going off, but I’m angry at them for not seeing I had value. Thankfully, you and Helen did.

I hope everything works out for you.

Andy

Tess refolded the letter and placed it in her drawer. Andy had done what she and Steel didn’t have the good sense to do: escape what you cannot change.

But she had changed her situation. Instead of her running off to England to be belittled and out of place, she was exactly where she belonged: in her woods, creating the best state park in the country.

The next morning, the phone rang at six-thirty. When she answered, the caller identified himself as Dr. Sean Collins from the University of Minnesota. She was thankful she hadn’t slept in. Instead, she had woken up at five to make Malcolm breakfast before he left. Otherwise, he’d probably not get one.

“Don’t have time,” he’d said.

“Which is why it’s an egg and bacon sandwich. You can eat as you drive
after
you get down the hill. Do not try and eat on your way down.”

He’d taken the sandwich. “Thank you. And I promise not to touch it until I’m off the hill.”

The sheriff was right. Good deeds circle back and pay for themselves. Because she’d gotten up early to feed Malcolm, now she was wide-eyed and coherent for perhaps the most important call in her life.

“Dr. Collins, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. I have your book on erosion prevention and let me say, it not only sounds good on paper, it works in practice, even on our fragile soil.”

“You use my techniques?”

“Religiously. Although recently, it meant I made my staff zip-line down the hill rather than take the trail.”

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just not use the trail?”

“That wasn’t an option. We had time critical work that had to be performed.” Or so it seemed back then. As far as she could tell, Jack and Sonny hadn’t got a great deal done since Steel left. However, to be fair, that might be Steel’s decision, not theirs. It was possible he didn’t want anything done without him being there.

“Would you mind if I stopped by and see?” Dr. Collins asked.

She paused, trying to remember his last statement. They’d been talking about his erosion preventative procedures.

“Well, it’s a long way to come to see your suggestions in action, but I’d be thrilled to show you my woods.”

“Great. How about today around noon?”

“Today will be fine. My grounds crew is placing fencing today, which my security head will be in charge of, so today should be good.”

“Excellent. I’ll see you at noon.”

“Wait! Getting here is a little dangerous. Would you like me to pick you up, either at the airport or your hotel?”

“No, Tom’s driving me.”

“Then I look forward to seeing you both.”

She hung up both happy and worried. What if Dr. Collins found fault in the modifications she’d made to his suggestions?

She was still fretting over that issue when Dan arrived. “Can I safely hug you?” she asked.

“Absolutely!”

It felt good to be hugged. She hadn’t been a hugger before Steel…She shook away the thought and helped Dan bring his luggage in. Tony was standing on the porch watching them.

“Who’s that?” Dan asked.

“One of my grounds crew.” When they got closer, she introduced them. Tony took the luggage from her and carried it downstairs.

“Do you need one of us to go upstairs?” Tony asked.

“No, Dan has his own room,” she replied and led him to it. Upon entering, she indicated the luggage in the closet. “I packed Steel’s stuff. Hopefully, I can get Tom to take it to him.”

“Tom’s expected?” Dan asked as he sat upon the king-size bed and smiled.

“Around noon today with the Dean of Forest Management, who hopefully will admit me into his program for next year, and possibly will let me in this year, giving me credit for my work here.”

Dan smiled. “You deserve it, that’s for damn sure.”

“I’ll be with you until eleven-thirty and then I’ll have to come up.”

“We’ll be fine.”

She sat beside him and hugged him again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Nowhere I’d rather be.” He pulled her tight to his chest. “How are you holding up?”

“Pretty good. After a great deal of consideration, I’ve decided that Steel’s anger wasn’t justified and his over-reaction and inability to forgive are traits I don’t want.” She couldn’t mention his attempt to send her to prison for twenty years to anyone, not even Dan, but that was the real reason she’d never forgive him.

“Well done!” he cheered and rewarded her with a kiss on her temple.

She untangled herself and stood. “Should I give you a few minutes to take care of stuff before we get to work?”

“Nope, I’m ready.” He stood and they headed out.

Malcolm and the crew were already down at the junction. Dan carried his layout map and pinned it to a large white oak missing its limbs on the hillside. “This map shows the GPS location where each fence post should be drilled. However, if you hit impediments that prevent building at the precise location, let me know and I’ll decide our best course of action. Any questions?”

Dan made sure the men using the fence post driller knew how to operate it, and then he got out of their way.

She and Dan watched from afar. “It’s hard not to help,” she complained.

“Well, get used to it. You’re the boss.”

“My grounds crew seems to perform best when they work on their own.”

“They are amazing,” Dan admitted. “Sheriff Cobbs can pick quality workers.”

“Yes, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. Every task they do gets done in half the time I planned. Makes me look brilliant, but honestly, it’s my crew.”

His hand rubbed the small of her back. “It’s you, as well. You inspire people to give their best.”

She gripped his arm. “You know you gave your best, right? If we had only listened to you—”

“Water under the bridge. And I don’t regret a decision I made. While we took a beating, we all survived, and more to the point, the Campinelli family is wiped off the map.”

She sighed with happiness. “Do you think it’s wrong that their destruction makes me happy?”

“No. I think it proves you were never one of them. I’m still pissed at those Feds who interrogated you. Between my recording and Sheriff Cobbs’ contacts in the Bureau, they are now enjoying desk jobs.”

She leaned against his shoulder. “I really like Sheriff Cobbs. He’s like the father I always wanted, only better.”

“For a man bent on revenge, he’s remarkably kind and thoughtful. And now that his mission is complete, I think he’ll settle down into a happy life.”

“He had reasons to hate our family. My grandfather killed his wife.”

“An FBI agent actually fired the bullets that killed his wife. He was trying to kill Eddie Campinelli who used the young woman as a shield while he escaped.”

His version shocked her. “But that’s what happened to the assassin’s wife—Sheriff Cobbs was the assassin who intended to kill Grams?”

“Yes.”

“But the assassin worked for a rival mafia.”

“That’s right. And more than likely, most or all these men owe allegiance to the Regelli family. However, I should point out that their leader is nothing like your father. Other than their determination to destroy the Campinelli family, they appear to have legitimate businesses.”

“But Sheriff Cobbs was an FBI agent before he retired.”

“And a very good one, who helped put away more mobsters than those two yokels who interrogated you ever will.”

“So he’s a good guy?”

Dan nodded.

“So why didn’t he want you to know about his tortured men?”

“You can never repeat this,” Dan warned.

She nodded.

“He intended to kill your father and brother for what he did to those men. The FBI planned to arrest Benito and put him in a federal prison where he could run things from his cell.”

“And you agreed that was a good idea?” she asked knowing her father would have continued his revenge. Neither she nor Steel would have ever been safe.

“Not at all! But the sheriff didn’t know where I stood on the matter, so he wanted me out of the mess, which is something I appreciate. I would have probably been fired and lost my pension if I had known and not extracted Steel at once…never mind that he would have refused to leave. As it was, I had to pass a lie detector before I was cleared of knowing about those men.”

“Is Sheriff Cobbs in trouble?”

“No. Benito’s feral dogs started firing on the Feds. That’s all Cobbs needed. The Feds couldn’t hit them, but Cobbs and his men were better situated and hidden. They took out all three, but not before Benito fired twenty-two times into the barn. Inspired by his father, he used his boys as human shields.”

She remained quiet, taking it all in. How could she have come from such evil? Her mother was gentle and kind, but shouldn’t there be some poison in her blood from the other side?

“Is there any blood of my father remaining?”

He stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.

“I want to do a DNA test.”

He relaxed. “The Feds did that for you.”

“And?”

“Sure you want to know?”

“I’m sure.”

“You are Helen’s great-grandchild, but Benito was not your father.”

“Then who? Uncle Jeffrey?”

He tapped her nose.

“But how did that happen?”

“Want my guess?”

She nodded, but honestly she wasn’t sure she did.

“I think Jeffrey came to Benito’s home when he wasn’t there and raped your mother.”

“Oh God. That’s why he’d beat her for the slightest thing. And always held me in contempt.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have shared that…” he said.

“Actually, it’s better I know. I no longer feel guilty hating Benito and his feral dogs, or being relieved they’re dead.” She thought of her Uncle Jeffrey who would basically ignore her whenever they were in the same room. “Is Uncle Jeffrey in jail?”

“No, he tried to escape and was shot while in Sheriff Cobbs’ custody.”

“Oh…” She wondered if she should feel guilty that she didn’t care about that either. “He would have become head of the family.”

“The security video shows him clearly breaking out of jail, holding a gun to the deputy. The sheriff had no choice but to shoot him.”

“I’m glad Cobbs didn’t get in trouble for that.”

“He knows exactly what he needs to be cleared in a fatal shooting. I was most impressed. I see why he did well in the FBI back then.”

“You sound envious.”

“I think I would have preferred my work better twenty years ago. It was more about stopping crime instead of making good statistics. Now anyone in the FBI gets slammed if their kill stats are too high, no matter how justified they are in each situation. Fortunately, the sheriff has no stats to burden him. And since all the bullets retrieved from the bodies belonged to the sheriff and his men, the higher ups in the FBI are most appreciative, even if they can’t say it.”

“So you’re the only one who got screwed.”

He smiled. “I’m not feeling terribly punished at the moment.”

She leaned against his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too, or who would send you off to meet your professor now?”

She glanced at her watch and yelped “Thank you!” before running back to the cabin.

When she arrived, Tom’s jeep was pulling into the driveway. She hurried out the decoy cabin and walked out to greet them as they approached. “What happened to the road?” Tom asked.

“Is it damaged again?” she asked, worried they must not have reeled in all the Campinelli family.

“Not a bit, besides a few hairpin curves and being much too narrow. I didn’t even find a pothole.”

She laughed, realizing he was questioning its improvement. “I think Sheriff Cobbs put a fire under someone.”

“Well, now Sean thinks I’m full of shit,” Tom complained.

“I didn’t say that,” the tall, dark-haired man in his mid-thirties said as he held out his hand. “Miss Campbell. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She liked his grip, strong, but not bone-crunching. “Tess, and the feeling is mutual, Dr. Collins.”

“Sean. All my grad students get to call me Sean.”

She grimaced. “I’m still working on my undergrad degree.”

“Well, I’m here to determine if that’s really necessary. Either Tom’s lost his mind or you know enough about forestry to be classified as a graduate student.”

She smiled. This was far better than she had even thought possible. “Then allow me to show you my woods.”

***

As she led them down the hill, she pointed out his techniques, which she’d adopted. “You discussed this using stones, but as you can see, it works with white oak as well.”

He knelt down and pulled out a level. “How long have these been here?”

“Only five years. That’s when your book came out.”

“Remarkable. I would have thought they’d show more wear than this.”

“Well until three months ago, it was just me and Grams walking this trail.”

“The drain level on these is perfect. Mind if I take pictures? I want to add this to my lecture slides…and my next edition of my erosion book…if you don’t mind.”

“I’d be honored to have my trail in your book.”