CHAPTER SIX

They met at Tony’s house in Jericho. All seven siblings were present: Police Chief Brent Sinatra, the oldest. Tony Sinatra, the second oldest who had once aspired to the priesthood but was now a prison psychologist. Bobby Sinatra, the third oldest who was a former playboy and general thug but was now the town’s mayor. Donald Sinatra, the youngest son who was once very troubled himself but was now a savvy businessman. Their baby sister, Bonita Sinatra, who met a retired NFL star quarterback the day of her high school graduation celebration and eventually started dating him, although he traveled the world on business and was rarely around. And their two adopted sisters, Carly Sinatra-Reese, a marketing executive married to her boss and Hammer’s younger brother Trevor Reese. And Ashley Sinatra-Paletti, a housewife. All of their significant others stayed away, as Hammer Reese was quick to point out that none of them were welcomed at the meeting tomorrow on Charlemagne.

But Frankie “The Monk” Paletti, the third most powerful mob boss in the world, wasn’t about to allow his wife to get some cryptic summons from the likes of Hammer Reese without him being present to protect her in case shit went down. Mainly because Ashley was always the forgotten one in that family of stars. But also because Monk Paletti didn’t roll like that. Ashley was his responsibility and his alone. He arrived in Jericho with her, and he was going to Charlemagne with her too.

They were all gathered in the wide open living room that overlooked the lake as the rain outside pelted against the roof. It wasn’t quite dark yet, but it was getting there, but they all wanted to figure out what was going on before they journeyed to Montreal tomorrow.

“What I don’t understand,” said Bonita, “was why he doesn’t want us to let Daddy know we’re coming too?”

“Right,” said Bobby.

“Maybe this meeting is all about Daddy,” said Carly. “Hammer is my brother-in-law and Auntie Amelia’s husband. He’s not the kind of man that’s going to order all of us to Canada without there being a serious reason.”

“That’s the part I can’t get pass,” said Bobby. “Hammer don’t play. He doesn’t have time to play. Whatever it is, I’m with Carly. It’s super-serious.”

“Has anybody spoken with Aunt Amelia?” asked Tony. “I tried to phone her, but it went straight to Voice Mail.”

“Same here,” said Carly.

“I left her a text message to call me,” said Donald, “but Auntie never answers her texts.”

“Wonder why he don’t just come to us, rather than all of us leaving our lives and going to him?” asked Bonita. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“We’re talking about Hammer Reese,” said Brent. “He doesn’t come to people. People come to him. That’s what he’s used to. It makes perfect sense to him. I just want to know what it’s about.” Brent knew his father had already been summoned, but he hadn’t told his siblings. He also knew his father was told to be there at four pm tomorrow, when all of the siblings were told to be there by noon tomorrow. Which was strange to Brent. But he kept it to himself because he knew, if he told, his siblings would burden their father with too many questions and their father, he was certain, would forbid them to go to the meeting period. Which was a nonstarter for Brent. He was going.

“Maybe this meeting’s got something to do with Ma’s death,” said Ashley. And as soon as she said it, everybody looked at her as if she’d just said something wrong, which Monk knew would happen. They always seemed to gang up on Ashley, who they still saw as the nonserious party girl sister.

Brent led the charge. “Why would you even think that, Ash? Why would you even bring that up?”

“Yeah, Ash, that can’t be it,” said Carly.

“But that’s Ashley,” said Bobby. “Always reminding us of the bad stuff.”

“It’s not about Ma,” said Donald. “I miss her as much as you do, Ash, but we don’t wanna relive that again. They caught the man that killed her. They caught him.”

“Why would you even bring that up?” Bobby asked again.

“She brought it up for the same reason the rest of you assholes brought stuff up,” said a now perturbed Monk. He was sitting there, quietly, in his big hat and oversized suit, looking like a gangster from the 1950s. But nobody was disrespecting his wife. “She brought it up because she has a freaking brain and she’s using it. That’s why she brought it up!”

Ashley squeezed her husband’s arm so he wouldn’t continue to defend her. “That's just how they are,” she said. “I’m used to it.”

“Well I’m not! Because the one thing nobody in this room is going to do is disrespect my wife. Why else would Hammer summon all of you to Charlemagne if it’s not about your mother? You guys have a blind spot regarding that situation and I understand why. It was horrific. But you have to see this for what it is. Why else would Hammer Reese summon all of you? And no significant others can accompany you? He’s got intel on who killed your mother. And he wants you to hear it from him. That has to be it.”

They all stared at Monk Paletti. One thing they all knew for certain: they respected him. He was a man of high moral standards who didn’t lie. And other than their Uncle Mick, he was the smartest mobster they’d ever known. And other than their Uncle Mick and Uncle Sal, he was the most powerful gangster on earth.

But they took it the wrong way. “Do you know something we don’t know, Frankie?” Brent asked him.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“But have you heard something?” asked Tony.

“I’ve heard rumblings that more people may have been involved in your mother’s execution,” Monk said, “yeah I heard that. But I dismissed it as just old wise guys running their mouths. But after this summons from Hammer, I’m not so certain anymore. They may be on to something.”

“But if that’s the case,” said Carly, “why wouldn’t he have summoned Daddy too?”

“Maybe he did,” Monk said.

“But don’t go asking him,” Brent quickly ordered his siblings. “Keep Pop out of this.”

“I agree,” said Tony, as he glanced at Brent. “He’s going through enough agony. If it is about Ma and there may be more killers out there, we may have to shoulder this burden for him.”

They agreed to keep silent and to not rope their father in. And then it was time to leave. “How are we getting there?” asked Bonita. “Together or separately?”

“Together,” said Donald. “On my plane.” And then they all left.

Except for Brent, whom Tony asked to stay back. They were the two oldest and had always been close. And that was why, as soon as the last sibling left, Tony held back no longer. “Pop already knows. Doesn’t he?”

Brent, who was seated in a chair while Tony was seated on the sofa, looked at his brother with amazement. He knew Tony had a brilliant mind, but like Pop, he acted as if he had a sixth sense too. “Why would you say that?”

Tony didn’t respond. Brent exhaled and leaned his head back, and then nodded. “Yes. I was there when he got the call.”

“What did Hammer say?”

“Same thing he said to us. Only we couldn’t bring any of our significant others, and he wanted Pop there at four, but he wants us there at high noon. But Pop knows, yes.”

“Damn,” said Tony. “I was afraid of that.”

“Why would you be afraid of Pop knowing about it?”

“Because I wish Hammer would have kept him out of it for now. He’s still messed up about what happened. Because Ashley is probably right. It has to be about Jenay’s death or Pop wouldn’t be asked to come to Charlemagne too. It’s not over yet. Hammer’s uncovered some new evidence that means other people were involved. Or something like that.”

“Believe Ashley if you want,” Brent said. “The latest hip-hop album or the latest fashion trends, yeah. Ashley’s your girl. But this stuff?” He shook his head.

“I don’t underestimate anyone,” said Tony. “Least of which my own sister. The problem for you is that you see everything negatively. And I understand why. You deal with crooks and criminals all day every day.” Then Tony looked at his brother. “And it’s getting to you.”

Brent stared at his brother. They both had their own private issues that they used to go to Jenay about. Now they just kept it all in. “Where’s Samantha?” he asked Tony. “I haven’t seen her around town lately.”

Tony hesitated, which Brent knew what that meant. His brother, notorious for taking too long to marry any of his previous girlfriends, was taking too long again. And Sam wasn’t having it. “She took her son to visit his grandmother.”

Brent looked at him side-eyed. “Oh yeah? How long has she been gone?”

Tony’s facial expression went from non-descript to sad. “I don’t know. Couple months.”

Brent dropped his head and shook it. “Not again, Tony. Not again!”

“She’ll be back.”

“When you marry her, yes. She wants to be a married lady. Not somebody’s girlfriend for life.”

“I know that.”

“Then what are you waiting on?”

Tony didn’t know himself. So it was an unanswerable question. He stood up instead. “It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. Better get some rest.”

Brent stood up as well. He and Tony were toe to toe. “Don’t blow this one, too, brother. That’s all I’m saying. Or you just might end up a lonely old man.”

“Pop married the love of his life, and now he’s a lonely old man,” Tony said. “It goes either way. That’s the problem.”

Brent stared at his younger brother. Tony had always been a man that felt everything . But since their stepmother’s death, he was changing just like their father. And not just them. Jenay’s death had shaken them all. But he always thought Tony would be the rock of the family. That Tony would be the one to provide the encouragement when the rest of them were falling apart. But Brent now realized Tony was falling apart too.

He squeezed his brother’s shoulder, and then they hugged each other tightly. “It’s going to be better,” Brent said to Tony.

But when Tony whispered back, “No, it’s not,” Brent froze. And leaned back looking at his brother. He looked from his right eye to his left eye as if he was seeing a different side to Tony. As if he was seeing something he didn’t recognize anymore. Tony was a deeply spiritual man. Tony was optimistic more than anybody Brent knew. What was happening to him?

And there was nothing more to be said about it. It was just a hellish time for their family. Point blank period.

Brent left.