The Fisherman & The Mermaid - S01 E07

1 week ago

The Fisherman & The Mermaid - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

We walked into Macy's about five minutes after it opened. The women's department was right on the first floor just inside the entrance. What does that tell you? Women obviously buy much more than men. Luckily for me Marta was a quick shopper-I hate shopping. She looked at maybe five tops and another five sets of black Capri's before settling on the ones she liked best. I thought she was stunning in all of them, not that I was prejudiced. After the outfit came some costume jewelry and a new pair of matching sandals. It took us an hour.

We returned home, Jimmy's men with us all the way even though they looked way out of place in the women's clothing department. I made us a light lunch-a salad-and explained why. Mama would prepare enough food for feed a small third world nation even though there would be fewer than ten people there. We left at one. I stopped at the car to tell Jimmy's men where we were headed. They just nodded and commented that they could use a little time off. Even the White House wasn't as secure as Papa's estate.

We drove west on the Northern Parkway; I hated driving on the LIE -the Long Island Expressway-disparagingly called the world's longest parking lot by commuters almost every day. The government has made numerous improvements over the years including extra lanes, faster and safer interchanges, everything, but the traffic continues to grow. We exited in Dix Hills and drove north to Centerport. I pulled up to a wrought iron gate built into a high stone fence. I didn't have to identify myself-I'd been a frequent visitor over the years. "Hi, Pete," the gate guard, a man I knew as Marco, said, "so this is the mermaid, eh? You do have all the luck. You armed?" When I pointed to the car behind me he laughed, "No need, huh?" I laughed and he opened the gate.

We drove up the drive almost a quarter mile. I knew there would be a reception committee and I wasn't disappointed. Mama, Papa, Jimmy and his wife, along with his sisters Marianne, and Celia were all there to greet us. I climbed out of the truck and opened the door for Marta who was obviously nervous. I made the introductions-we hugged and kissed everyone as I had told Marta to do-as Jimmy shook his head, "You are one lucky S.O.B. Only you would find a model. Excuse me, Marta, but if you knew this guy like I do you'd understand. If he stepped in cow manure (he'd never cuss in front of Mana) it'd turn to gold when he tried to scrape it off. C'mon in. We have some news for you."

Marta and I joined Papa and Jimmy in Papa's office the women took no part in family business. First, Jimmy turned on the TV-a recording of an earlier CNN broadcast. There was Marta's asshole boyfriend telling how he had fought off pirates in Long Island Sound, being thrown from the boat into the cold water. He had been lucky when some boaters off the coast of Mystic had heard him and picked him up, but by then his yacht and fiancé were gone. "Flance? Since when?" Marta exclaimed.

"That, I'm afraid, is the good news, Marta," Papa whispered. In all the time I'd known him had never heard him raise his voice. I guess when you have the power he has there's no need to yell. "James, please give this pad and pen to Marta. Please sign your name three times quickly."

James brought the pad to Marta who was sitting close to me on a nearby loveseat. Marta shot me a questioning look, but I told her, "Do it, you can trust Papa and Jimmy." She took the pen in hand and wrote. Her penmanship was exquisite, exactly what I would have expected from an artist. She handed it back to Jimmy who returned to his father's desk. Papa looked it over and smiled. He nodded to Jimmy who left the room as Papa moved Jimmy's chair In front of us.

"First, Marta I owe you an apology. I had to check your signature with the one on this paper it's not the same and that's what I wanted to see. I needed to be sure you were everything my 'son' Peter says you are. My first obligation is to protect him, and now that obligation extends to you. Let me explain. Today is May 30th; on April 10th your David Cartwright and a woman who claimed to be Marta Vanek bought million dollar life insurance policies on each other at a Prudential office in Manhattan. Subsequently, they underwent physical exams because of the amount of the policies. Ms. Vanek-not you is five feet seven inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. I venture you've never weighed anything close to that and you're obviously taller. She had light brown hair and brown eyes. Yours are obviously blue. At the same time he told the Martucci brothers that he would be getting a windfall that would enable him to pay the debt he owes them-$264,000 at five percent interest."

Papa hesitated for a second when Marta seemed to ask a question. "That's five percent a WEEK," I told her.

"Is that legal?"

"The Martucci's do not operate a bank and it is also illegal to gamble with money one does not have as Mr. Cartwright did. It would appear that you were to be that windfall, my dear, especially if your body was never to be recovered. I'm sorry. We heard on the news that he has directed the authorities to the wrong area of the Sound, If the boat were taken as he has indicated it might never be found. No boat-no body-no discrepancy between the description and the actual body. For all anyone would know you could be deep in the ocean." Marta hesitated only a second before crying into my chest. I placed my arm around her protectively as Jimmy reentered holding a cell phone. I recognized it as a cheap pre-paid and untraceable unit. No doubt it would disappear later this afternoon.

"This will be Vincent Martucci who is, fortunately, a good friend of my son. Vincent," Papa spoke into the phone, "how nice of you to take my call on your holiday. I have information for you in this matter we have been discussing. Your friend was involved in an insurance scam that would have raised him one million dollars. Luckily, he has failed. I say that because his innocent victim sits before me this very moment. I am placing her under my personal protection. I want to be sure you understand. There will be no further attempts on her life, or heads will roll. I suggest you find this young man soon. My step-son who is a civilian will contact the police sometime this evening and I doubt they will do anything until tomorrow morning, so that's how much time you have. Be careful-I believe they will involve the Feds."

After listening for a minute he continued, "I will have four of my best men-uniformed and armed guards-with her every second until I know this matter is over. Yes...yes...thank you, Vincent. Same to you and regards to your father and brother." He hung up. "That's done, let's join the others." He rose and pulled Marta up. He hugged her, telling her that he considered her a part of his family now. "Speaking of family," Papa continued, "give me your address I'll have someone contact your parents. I'm sure they're devastated. She was safe. Marta hugged him back thanking him over and over for everything he had done.

We joined the others out by the pool. Marta asked why we didn't buy a suit for her. "Because Mama and Papa always have a load of suits-brand new-in their cabanas; this way I can turn you over to Marianne and Celia-they'll take care of you." Celia came right over, took Marta by the arm and led her away. I went to the Men's cabana, quickly finding my suit on a hook marked "Peter." I returned quickly to speak with Jimmy, my lifelong best friend, when I heard a muffled, "...but I can't wear that," followed by some giggles and other indecipherable comments. Jimmy was facing the cabana when he suddenly gasped, "Un...f-ing believable!"

"James, get those eyes back in your head if you know what's good for you, besides that's Petey's girl." It was Andrea, Jimmy's wife. I turned for find Marta wearing an incredibly tiny suit. The top was two small triangles of shiny black cloth heid together by a golden circle and the thinnest gold straps I'd ever seen. It did a magnificent job of showcasing her already fantastic body. It clung to her hips like a second skin, I could just make out her camel toe. The sides of her breasts bulged out the sides of each triangle of what could barely be called a bra. I couldn't help myself. I was drawn to her like iron to a magnet.