| Subject: Second Generation - Parts #28-30 |
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Wanda
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Date Posted: 19:49:10 08/20/03 Wed
PART #28
Boudreau walked into the room as his parents were talking about the meeting for the following morning. Bow said, “Boudreau, I need to talk to you about Lenore and Lucia. Lenore has talked to the District Attorney and the Chief of Police about Hollingsworth. They now have enough evidence to arrest him. It is going to be necessary for Lenore and Lucia to be somewhere safe before all this takes place. Since Lucia does not know about her father’s involvement in crime, she does not have a clue that it was her father who hired someone to have you killed. Lenore is going to try to get Lucia to come with her tomorrow morning. She would like for her to meet with the District Attorney and the Police Chief. We would like for you to be there too, for we think maybe Lucia will take the information better if she knows you are aware of all that her father has done. Will you go?”
Boudreau said, “Dad, I don’t believe you realize how difficult this will be for Lucia to hear. I know how much she loves her father. Hollingsworth has spent years of his life doting on her. He would do almost anything for her, except for letting her have her own life. If you are wondering how she will accept this news; I have a feeling she won’t be able to absorb it.”
Bow said, “There has to be something to help her to see this clearly.” Boudreau aid, “Dad I know you must be right, but at the moment I am not sure what that would be. If you really think it would help for me to be there, I will go. I know she is going to need all the support she can get.”
That night a train was rumbling down the tracks with a destination of St. Louis. On this train sat a rumpled looking man with a hacking cough. Because he sounded so bad, people tried to avoid his presence. That was just fine with him for he didn’t want to have to sit around, and talk to anyone about the weather. The cough had become so well developed over the years, that Peter was able to convince anyone in close proximity he was terribly ill.
Peter was feeling sorry for himself. He could not understand why so many things had gone wrong in his life. There was much resentment in his heart toward Bow and Catherine La Faye. Every time he thought of that woman, he seethed with anger. He had worked hard at obtaining the Le Bleu plantation, only to have it snatched out from under him by a woman who had been married to Joshua Sallier for a period of four hours. She didn’t deserve what he had worked so hard to get.
He also thought of her husband who had been the son of a notorious pirate. What had he ever done to deserve the Le Bleu plantation? He was smart enough to marry the woman who had obtained it through a four hour marriage. Life had been so unfair to Peter.
As the train rolled on toward St. Louis, Peter thought of Hollingsworth Deverall. He was the man with the power and money in Lake Charles. What had gone wrong there? So, he was unable to kill Boudreau La Faye the first time. He would have managed to complete the task if he had been given the chance. What was Hollingsworth’s problem? Did he fear that Peter was going to upset things for him at Lake Charles? The longer Peter thought about it, the more he fumed. He had a good mind to go back to Lake Charles; and walk right into the police station, and tell them he had some information for them. Yes, perhaps that is exactly what he would do. He had been mistreated enough, and it was time for those people in Lake Charles to know he was not going to endure anymore. Peter made the decision to return to Lake Charles.
As the train approached St. Louis, Peter was working out a plan in his mind. He was going to go back, walk into the police station, ask for the police chief, and tell him he had some pertinent information for him. He would say he knew a man by the name of Alfonso De Nato who had been hired as a hit man to kill Boudreau La Faye. When the police would question him about the case, he would say, “Hollingsworth Deverall hired the hit man.” He worked all the details out in his mind and thought of every possible scenario. They would ask him, “How do you know this?” Peter thought, “I will tell them Alfonso had been drinking, and bragging about the assigned task of killing Boudreau La Faye. I can tell them I thought it was my civic duty to inform them.”
Peter thought about all the questions they might ask, “Why have you waited to tell us?” Peter would say, “I was fearful of Hollingsworth Deverall. I have been told he is into organized crime; and you know what those people do when you tell something that would get them into trouble with the law. But, the more I thought about it I knew I couldn’t sit back, and allow an innocent person to be killed.”
By the time the train had rolled into St. Louis, Peter had spent hours hacking, and thinking about his plan. When he reached St. Louis, he got off the train, went to the ticket counter; and purchased another ticket for Lake Charles.
PART #29
The next morning Lenore asked Lucia to take her out for some coffee. Lucia tried to beg off by telling her mother she really wanted to drive out to the Le Bleu plantation, and check on Boudreau. He hadn’t called her since he went home from the hospital, and she was becoming rather concerned about him. Lenore finally said, “Lucia, if you will go with me for coffee, I will ride out with you to see Boudreau. I would like to meet his mother, and visit with her.” Lucia found it difficult to believe what she had heard, for her mother rarely went anywhere to visit with people. When her mother told her she would go with her to the Le Bleu plantation, Lucia agreed to take her out for coffee.
Lucia thought her mother seemed very nervous on the drive to Anthony’s Bar and Grill. When Lenore said that was the place she wanted to go, Lucia felt that was strange in itself. She wondered how her mother even knew about Anthony’s Bar and Grill. She couldn’t imagine why her mother would choose such a place to go for a cup of coffee. She saw that Lenore seemed anxious, and she asked, “Mother, is there something wrong?” Her mother looked at her, and Lucia saw tears were dripping down her cheeks. She answered, “I will explain it to you later. Let’s just get to Anthony’s.” Lucia could not understand what was happening with her mother. What had prompted the tears? She simply was not herself.
The two ladies walked into Anthony’s, and found Boudreau waiting inside. Lucia looked surprised to see him there. She walked over to him, and asked how he was doing. He smiled at her, and said, “Lucia, I am doing fine. There are some people here who want to meet you. My parents are here; and there are other gentlemen in the back room. Shall we walk back there?” He motioned for Anthony to bring some coffee and pastries to the back room.
When the three walked into the room, Bow, Catherine, the District Attorney, and the Chief of Police were seated around a large round table. Catherine could sense the surprise on Lucia’s face when she saw there were several people there. The District Attorney asked for them to sit down; and then said, “Lucia, I am the District Attorney here in Lake Charles. This happens to be the Chief of Police, and of course you know Boudreau’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. La Faye. We have come today to help your mother share some information with you regarding your father.”
Boudreau looked at Lucia, and saw her turn pale. She gasped, “Has something happened to my father?” Boudreau took her hand, and said, “Lucia, nothing has happened to your father; but there are some things you need to know about your father.” “What do I need to know about my father?” she asked. It was obvious she was becoming quite concerned about the arrangement of the meeting. “Are you sure nothing terrible has happened to my father?” she inquired.
Lenore looked at her daughter, and tears were filling her eyes, as she said, “Lucia, your father is not whom he seems. Your father’s actual name is Sammie Pangallo. We came to Lake Charles from Pennsylvania.” Boudreau could see the look of shock on her face as she asked, “Why would Daddy change his name to Hollingsworth Deverall?” Lenore said, “He changed our name because he was fearful that he would be tracked down, and killed.”
The Chief of Police asked, “Lucia, have you ever heard of Sammie Pangallo?” Lucia shook her head, and said, “No, that name does not sound like any name I have ever heard.” The Chief of Police said, “I have some news clippings that picture your father. They were taken in New Kensington, Pennsylvania where your father lived before coming to Lake Charles. Do you recognize these pictures?” Lucia looked at the pictures and said, “These are pictures of my father. She started reading the articles that were with the pictures, and exclaimed, “Oh no, this cannot be true of Daddy. Daddy would never be involved in organized crime. Surely these pictures are not real.”
The District Attorney said, “Lucia, ask your mother if these pictures are fake.” Lucia looked at Lenore who was softly crying at this point. “Mother is this true? Lucia asked. Lenore nodded her head to indicate it was true. “Why have you never told me about this?” Lenore said, “I had hoped I would never have to tell you, for your father promised he was done with organized crime when we left Pennsylvania.”
Lucia asked, “What is different now?” Catherine saw how difficult this was for Lenore. She patted her shoulder and said, “You have to tell her Lenore.” Lenore said, “Lucia, your father is involved once again in organized crime, only using a different name. He is shipping alcohol and drugs illegally. But, even worse, he arranged for Boudreau to be stabbed.”
Lucia stood up, “I don’t believe Daddy would do that.” Lenore said, “I heard your father talking to the hit man after Boudreau was stabbed. He was angry because that man did not succeed; and he decided to get rid of that hit man, and use Alfonso De Nato to finish what the first man did not accomplish. That is the time I knew I must contact the police, and let Boudreau know his life was still in danger.”
Lucia was sobbing; and saying, “I don’t believe this; I don’t know what you have against my father, but he is not like that. You must be mistaken.” Lucia pushed her chair back, stood up, and ran from the building.
PART #30
Lenore dissolved in a barrage of tears. What had she done? Lucia would hate her forever. How could she bear the pain of losing her daughter? Catherine came over to Lenore, and said, “Lenore, give her some time. This was shocking news for her to receive. She has to have time to think this through.” Lenore wailed, “She hates me; I know she hates me.”
Bow motioned to Boudreau to go after Lucia. The Chief of Police said, “We must get something worked out to get Lenore and Lucia away where they will be safe. Time is of the utmost importance now. We have to move fast before some of this information leaks out.”
Bow said, “Let’s wait a few minutes, and see if Boudreau can help Lucia to understand this situation. Perhaps he can persuade her to come back so we can work out a solution for her and her mother.”
Boudreau caught up with Lucia at the end of the block. He was running along behind her shouting, “Lucia stop; please come back.” When he caught up to her she was sobbing so hard people were turning to look at her. Boudreau knew she needed to be gotten away from curious onlookers. He turned her around, and put his arms around her. She continued to sob on his shoulder. He said, “Lucia, I know this was difficult to hear; but what you heard is true. The man who attempted to kill me was a man called Peter Dunkirk. He is my father’s old enemy, and has been in jail for many years. He tried to steal the Le Bleu plantation from my family years ago, and his connection with your father has been carefully planned on his part. I have no doubt he still wants to take the plantation from my family. Killing me was a way to get to my family.”
Lucia tried to calm herself as they walked back toward Anthony’s. Lucia said, “Boudreau, I cannot believe my father would try to have you killed. Why would he want to do that?” Boudreau said, “Lucia, I do believe that is a question you should ask your mother. She knows why Hollingsworth wants me dead.”
They returned to the back room where Lenore was still seated. Lenore looked up when they entered the room; and said, “Lucia, I am so sorry to have to tell you the news about your father, but I was fearful for Boudreau’s life. I could not have lived with myself, if I had remained quiet, and Boudreau would have been killed.”
Lucia asked, “Mother, does that mean there is still a hit man after Boudreau?” Lenore said, “Yes, it does mean that. The man’s name is Alfonso De Nato. He has worked for your father for sometime now. Surely, you have seen him Lucia.” Lucia said, “I do know Alfonso De Nato. He has always made me nervous.”
Bow said, “Lucia, it is going to be important for you and your mother to leave for a while, so the police and District Attorney can do their jobs.” Lucia asked, “What about Boudreau? Shouldn’t he leave too? If there is a hit out on Boudreau, he must leave the area too.” Boudreau said, “Dad, I think Lucia is right. I know George and Jean Baptiste will be patient about the time for me to begin work.” Bow said, “All right, we will go to the police station, and we’ll set this up. Boudreau, we are going to have to be very careful, for no doubt you are being watched closely.
Lucia said, “What if Alfonso was watching this place, and saw us all together?” Bow said, “We are hoping that was not the case; it would be extremely dangerous for your mother if she were seen with us. Lucia, it would probably be safer for your mother if you did not let her out of your sight. Stay with her every moment. I don’t think your father is as apt to do bodily harm to her if you are with her.”
Lucia agreed to keep a close eye on the home situation, and not to let Lenore do anything that would separate her from Lucia. On the way home both women were very quiet. Lucia was still shaking from hearing the news about her father. Lenore was shaking because of her fear for both of their lives. One could only hope things would work out for the best.
Bow, Catherine, and Boudreau left to drive to the police station. They stopped in front of the station; and all three got out of the car, and went into the building. They walked into the Police Chief’s office, and Bow told them Lucia had taken her mother home. The Police Chief handed Bow the name and number of a person they would call to would take care of booking safe passage for Lenore and her daughter, Lucia, out of the area. Bow said, “We are thinking it might be wise for Boudreau to disappear with them, at least for awhile.” The Police Chief thought for a moment; and said, “You are probably right about that. We will set it up.”
While they were talking to the Police Chief, an old looking gentleman walked into the police station; and asked to talk to someone about the La Faye stabbing. He said he had some information that was pertinent to the case. The man seemed to have a hacking cough. The officer asked him to have a seat; and told him he would need to talk to the Police Chief.
While Bow, Catherine, and Boudreau were in the Police Chief’s office, there was a tap on the door; and an officer stuck his head in the room. He said, “Chief, there’s an elderly man out here who says he has some pertinent information on the La Faye stabbing.” The Police Chief asked, “Do you know his name?” “No Sir, I don’t, but he has a terrible hacking cough.”
Bow asked, “Where is this man?” The officer said, “He’s seated over there.” Bow looked out at the man, studied him for just a moment; and laughed, “I don’t believe it; that man is Peter Dunkirk. I haven’t seen him for a long time, but that has to be him.”
The Police Chief said, “Show that man into my office, please.” The officer motioned for Peter to come forward. While walking to the door of the Police Chief’s office, Peter was thinking how he would word his testimony. He was feeling an air of self importance, and than he saw there were other people in the office. He looked around, and suddenly realized he had walked into a room with Bow and Catherine La Faye and their son, Boudreau.
To be continued...
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