Chapter Five (Alternate)

Special agents Wright and Johnson thanked Tom and walked out of the room. They kept silent until they were inside their car leaving the airport. Wright steered the Buick down the parking garage’s spiraling exit ramp.

“Why would she cover for him?” Johnson asked his partner.

“I’m not sure it’s him she’s covering for. I think she’s covering for her old man.” Wright looked over to see a glimmer of understanding flash across the younger man’s face. Finally. “He’s the second in command in the mob here, and he’s linked to families in New York and New Jersey.”

“What’s the connection between her old man and the doctor?”

“I’m not sure he even is a doctor. My gut tells me his trip was all an act designed so he could meet Havana. She’s not safe, and if she’s not going to be truthful with us it’s going to be hard to protect her.”

***

Havana tossed her pumps in the El station trash bin and walked the three blocks to her condo in her stocking feet. Inside, she locked the door behind her, wheeled her suitcase up against the wall, and opened a bottle of red wine. With the first sip she started to relax, and once half the glass was empty she felt the day’s stress dissipate. She took the glass with her to her bedroom, where she called her father. There, she had an old-school corded phone installed in the bedroom. She used it to call him when she was afraid it wasn’t safe to use the cell phone.

“Hi honey. I’m glad you called back. I could tell something was clicking between you and Frank.”

Havana shuddered. She had forgotten about her father’s message. Now she could feel Frank’s creepy eyes crawling along her skin.

“This isn’t about Frank, Dad. I met a guy on a flight today.”

“You must really like him if you’re calling me already.”

“Dad, stop. Afterwards, there were FBI agents at the airport. They showed me a bunch of photos, and one was him. They asked if I knew him.”

He paused. “What did you say?”

“I said I didn’t know any of them.” She knew better than to ask her father who the doctor was, or what was going on.

“Good girl. Stay right where you are. Don’t go anywhere until you hear back from me.”

Havana heard a click, and the line went dead. “Dad? Dad, are you there?” Land lines didn’t drop calls.

“Daddy can’t help you now,” a male voice said.