Elizabeth Street - Laurie Fabiano [82]
“Keep your eyes on Inzerillo’s cafe, signora. The Wolf has disappeared,” said Petrosino between coughs.
“What? Lupo is gone? What of his store?”
“He claimed bankruptcy. He took what money he had and left his creditors behind.”
“So, Lieutenant, this is good news, yes? At least he is gone.”
“No, signora. It only means I don’t know where he is.” Petrosino punctuated his sentence with his wracking cough, which would not stop.
“Lieutenant, there is no need to wait. You should see the doctor,” said Giovanna, standing. She handed him his derby.
Petrosino, not having the energy to fight, took his hat and left.
Two weeks later, when word reached Giovanna that Petrosino was home with pneumonia, Giovanna asked Lucrezia to go with her to visit him. Carrying homemade chicken soup and a variety of herbal remedies in the July heat, they walked to his apartment at the corner of Lafayette and Sullivan. Fiaschetti, the young barrel-chested detective who had accompanied Petrosino to the hospital after the bombing, stood guard outside the door to his apartment.
“Signora! What are you doing here?”
“I brought soup.”
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
Lucrezia gave Giovanna a look that said, “What did you get me into?” She wasn’t accustomed to being left waiting in hallways.
“Signora Petrosino said to come in,” announced Fiaschetti upon returning.
A pregnant Adelina Petrosino greeted them at the door. “How kind of you to come.”
“I am so sorry the lieutenant is ill. This is my friend Signora LaManna, who is a doctor.”
Adelina looked at Lucrezia sideways and said, “Thank you, but the doctor has been to see him. He will be fine if he rests.”
In the uncomfortable moment that followed, Giovanna and Lucrezia stole glances at the large but modest apartment.
“Adelina, who is there?” called Petrosino from the bedroom.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“Signora Siena.”
Adelina walked into the bedroom and spoke to her husband. When she returned, she said, “He would like to see you for a minute.”
Giovanna, nudging Lucrezia to go with her, walked inside.
Lieutenant Petrosino was propped up on pillows. His face looked drawn, but in Giovanna’s quick assessment, she decided he would recover.
“This is Dottore LaManna, my friend.”
“It’s an honor, Dottore.”
“Signora LaManna, Lieutenant.”
“Signora Siena has told me all about you, Dottore. So I assume she brought you here to see if I will live.”
Giovanna laughed. “Oh, you’ll live alright, but only if you are tied to this bed.”
“I will tell you this confidentially: the one good thing about my illness is I think it made everyone feel guilty enough to allow the commissioner to expand the Italian Squad.”
“Congratulations, Lieutenant!”
“I’m not sure much will happen in my absence.”
“You rest, Lieutenant. Even I am taking time off. I’m going to Scilla with my daughter in just one week. It has been a long time since I’ve seen my family.”
“Good for you, signora! I suppose it was doctor’s orders,” he commented, winking at Lucrezia.
“I can see what a perceptive detective you are,” answered Lucrezia, smiling.
Saying good-bye to Adelina at the door, Giovanna could not help but notice that Adelina was carrying well and the pregnancy appeared healthy.
Cedar Grove, New Jersey, 1973
“‘Put money into one loaf of the bread and deliver to Rossi. Make the loaf darker than the others.’ Mamma! How much money do we have?”
“Five or six dollars.”
“I mean all the money!”
“But, Pop, I only have one more year and then I’ll be a teacher.”
“What can we do? You know what happened to little Marisa.”
“I could talk to Lieutenant Petrosino.”
“This is a private affair. Private business.”
“This isn’t Sicily, Papa. Here the police are on our side. Lieutenant