Hidden Witness Read online

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  JEFF

  Flashback

  Lindsay asked me to accompany her to an Art exhibit. She said it would be a small intimate setting. We arrived at 7 p.m. Coming to a halt in front of the building, the valet attendant approached my car.

  “Good evening sir. I’ll take your keys. Enjoy the night,” said the attendant.

  “Thank you.”

  After exiting the car Lindsay and I entered the Gallery.

  She smiled, taking my hand. I’ve been to hundreds of these events growing up. My parents always bought the most impressive and expensive piece of art in the gallery. They either kept it or auctioned it off for charity.

  “I know I said it earlier, but Lindsay baby you look beautiful tonight,” I affirmed.

  “Thank you, Jeff,” Lindsay blushed.

  The vibrant building was almost to capacity. Everyone was enjoying themselves based on their jovial mood. They conversed, laughed, drank wine, and ate hors d'oeuvres. I scanned the room noticing there were some pretty heavy hitters in the room that night. I know the difference between a knock off Rolex and the real thing.

  PAST

  Growing up things just happened to fall off the truck at my disposal. That’s what happens when your family is in the mafia. I had my first Rolex at ten. My uncle Geno showed me the difference between a real and a fake using four different watches. I felt like I was taking a test. He sat the knock off Rolex next to the real one each time and asked me to show him the difference between the two. I had to describe to him what made it a knock off.

  ‘The second-hand stutters along inside the counterfeit, while a real Rolex has smooth second-hand movement. There also shouldn’t be a ticking noise coming from a Rolex. A knock off Rolex is lighter, the real one is made of high-quality metals causing it to weigh more. So, when I tell you there are some rich sons of bitches in here I mean just that.

  “Jeff let me introduce you to my parents,” Lindsay said excitedly while pulling me by the hand in their direction.

  “Hello dad,” said Lindsay giving him a hug.

  “Hello sweetheart,” he smiled.

  “Mom are we still going shopping tomorrow?” asked Lindsay.

  “Yes of course darling. Who is this handsome gentleman accompanying you tonight?” her mother asked with a warm smile.

  “Mom and dad, I would like you to meet my date Jeff Westbrook. Jeff this is my father Edward Sawyer and my mother Marsha Sawyer.”

  “Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer,” I said shaking each of their hands.

  “Nice to meet you as well Jeff,” said Mr. Sawyer.

  “Jeff is this your first art exhibit?” asked Mrs. Sawyer.

  “Yes,” I lied.

  “My closest and dearest friend owns the gallery so we had to show our support tonight,” Mrs. Sawyer said.

  I smiled.

  “Jeff do you attend school with Lindsay?” asked Mr. Sawyer.

  “Yes.”

  “What is your major?” her father asked.

  “Business Management,” I replied.

  “Good! Business is very important. I am a Criminal Defense attorney. I’m also a partner at the largest firm in Portland, Glenn, Beakaum & Sawyer,” he boasted.

  “Are you planning to get your Master’s degree or go on to law school?” Mr. Sawyer asked.

  My eyebrows wrinkled. I didn’t expect that question. Although, I should have known my Bachelor’s degree might not be enough. I’m sure they want nothing but the best for their daughter.

  My father demanded I get my law degree, so I could one day represent my family. However, that wasn’t what I wanted. Luckily, because I started my life over I don’t have to.

  THE EXHIBIT FLASHBACK

  Before I could answer Mr. Sawyers question about my education, a woman began speaking into the microphone.

  “Good evening everyone my name is Karen Spartan. I am the owner of K Exquisite art gallery! Thank you for coming to this very special art exhibit. Our special guest just arrived. He has won four Grammys and stars on a hit music reality show. Give it up for Blake Schafer!”

  I noticed the camera crew snapping pictures and recording the singer as he took the stage.

  Blake retrieved the microphone from Ms. Spartan.

  “Good evening everyone! I am happy to be here for a great cause. I want to sing a special song,” he said, turning to his band signaling for them to play.

  All I could think about was getting out of there. I can’t be seen in pictures or on TV. I have to remain under the radar.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  JEFF

  “Lindsay, please excuse me. I will be right back. I’m going to the men’s room.”

  “Jeff, this is the best part of the night!” assured Lindsay.

  “I know I will be right back. I kissed her cheek.

  Escaping to the restroom, I notice all the stall doors were open. Staring at myself in the mirror, I exhaled. “Shit!” I said aloud.

  I splashed water on my face. Darting out the back door, would be a great idea, but I didn’t want to give Lindsay’s parents a bad impression of me. I decided to return to the party. I hope no one takes my picture. After going into hiding, I have changed my appearance. The length of my hair is medium, fuller in the top, falling in my face, and over my ears. I also wear brown contacts to conceal my gray eye color. Once I turned eighteen my facial hair grew at a rapid speed. My full beard makes it easier to hide my real identity. I usually keep my beard low cut and tapered. However, because I have not done any plastic surgery someone from my old life would still recognize me. I exited the restroom. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I walked toward Lindsay and her parents. Blake’s set was just ending. I placed my hand on the small of Lindsay’s back.

  “Did you enjoy the performance?” I asked with a warm smile.

  “Yes! I wish you could have enjoyed it with me,” she smiled.

  I looked up just in time to see Blake walking in our direction and the cameras following close behind him.

  “Lindsay would you like another glass of wine? I am going to grab a glass of bourbon from the bar.”

  “Yes. But don’t you want to meet Blake?”

  “No, I don’t. His camera crew is with him,” I said loosening my neck tie.

  “I understand,” Lindsay smiled.

  “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” she stated.

  “Thank you,” I smiled giving her a kiss on the cheek before walking away.

  I stood at the bar patiently waiting my turn to order drinks.

  “What can I get for you?” asked one of the three bartenders working the bar.

  “Yes. I’d like a glass of Jim Beam and a glass of red wine,” I stated.

  After the bartender brought my drinks I sat at the bar watching Lindsay interact with Blake and her parents. Even though her back was partially turned to me I could tell she was flirting with him. The way she threw her head back, touching his arm when she laughed at his jokes that I bet weren’t funny. That was my first red flag with Lindsay.

  Blake ran his fingers through his long blonde hair as he carried on a conversation with Lindsay and her parents. When he smiled at her, I swear it looked as if he was flirting with her. Blake looked to be about 6’0” with a solid frame, you know one of those slender country singer types. If he was flirting, I chose to let the bourbon I was sipping cloud my judgement. One thing my Uncle Mickey told me since I was fourteen, ‘You can’t turn a whore into a house wife.’ Shit, words I should never forget.

  He said a woman is either a lady or a whore. I always laugh when I picture him holding a stogie in one hand and a whiskey in the other explaining the difference.

  Lindsay is the second oldest daughter of the four girls. I can tell the way Mr. Sawyer looks at Lindsay, she is his favorite. I will have to probe around to see why. Blake and his film crew are just leaving. I grabbed the drinks, making my way back over to Lindsay and her parents.

  “There
he is!” said Mr. Sawyer.

  “Did you all enjoy your conversation with Blake?”

  Mrs. Sawyer smiled. “Yes, we did. Blake is a client of Edwards. He handles his business affairs. Blake comes over to the house from time to time,” she said smiling at her husband.

  I glanced at Lindsay noticing her face was a bit flush. I knew what that meant. Either she had a thing for Blake or used to mess around with him.

  I also learned from my uncle Mickey how to read a woman. After all he was the king of getting women to do shit for him. He always knew when a bitch was lying. He said watch their mannerisms closely. He said if they look away or half smile at you and tell you you’re over reacting; she’s lying. He loved making women do shit out of their comfort zone. He wanted to see how far they would go for him. The farther they would go the more loyal they became. Women flocked to him. He had a wife and three goomah’s. He was the uncle who took me to a brothel for my fifteenth birthday, so I could get my cherry popped. That was indeed one of the best nights of my life. I had two women that night. They taught and did things to me only grown men should do. However, this is how every man in my family was introduced to pussy.

  There was no falling in love and losing your virginity to your one true love. These women pleased me then pleased themselves in front of me. I learned some kinky shit that night.

  So far, I’ve only let Lindsay suck my dick. I wanted to see if her head game was good; it was. Right now, I’m trying to get to know more about Lindsay before I make her my woman. If she fucked Blake in the past I’ll make it clear that shit stops now or we are over before we began.

  Lindsay is a shit load of fun. She also knows how to conduct herself. All that prim and proper shit counts for something.

  The way she sucked my dick and talked dirty while I rubbed her pussy; I could tell she was a freak in the bedroom, which is just what I needed.

  “Jeff are you from Portland?” asked Edward bringing me back from my thoughts.

  “Yes sir. At least that is what I was told at the orphanage when I was a boy. I don’t know my parent’s. I had foster parents throughout my life, but never had a real home. When I was sixteen I ran away from my last foster home. I got a job at a liquor store cleaning up. I rented a room above the store from the couple who ran the store. They felt sorry for me. They wanted to give me somewhat of a break in life. The couple didn’t believe in giving handouts. They never wanted me to be a charity case.

  Luckily, my studies paid off. I got a full scholarship to the University of Oregon. I have a job working part time at Douglas accounting firm.”

  Mrs. Sawyer pulled a tissue from her purse. She patted her face dry. “You, poor boy. I hate you had a rough life,” she sniffled.

  “Mrs. Sawyer its ok,” I smiled.

  “My life has made me a tough son of a bitch.”

  We all laughed.

  CHAPTER NIGHT

  JEFF

  I fed them the biggest load of bull shit. My friend Tommy from back home actually lived that life. However, he wasn’t good with the books. He was good at running the streets, and working for my family. I lived a privileged life. I never had to do shit for myself if I didn’t want to. That is how my mother wanted it to be. She didn’t want me mixed up in the mafia. She wanted me to stick to the books, take riding lessons, and play soccer. My mother loved showing me and my brother off at charity events. We knew just how to behave. We lived in the suburbs ever since I could remember. My mother never took us into the city, however my dad did.

  FLASHBACK

  I remember, my father always telling me and my brother not to tell mom he took us into the city. My brother was five and I was eight at the time. We walked into a bar in the middle of the day. My father was greeted at the door by a gray-haired gentleman.

  The lights in the small bar were dim. There were several empty tables. I noticed two tv’s playing, one over the bar and one in the back of the bar. There were two guys sitting at the bar nursing their drinks and smoking cigarettes while talking to the bartender. A few other guys sat in the back of the bar; one was reading the newspaper. After surveying the bar, I glanced up at the man who approached my father.

  “Sergio! It’s so good to see you.” He profusely shook his hand.

  “I need to talk to you. We have a matter to handle in the back room,” he said to my father cutting his eyes at us.

  My father smiled at us. “Alright, I will be right there,” he replied to the man.

  My father motioned his head for a man to come over. The man’s smile was wide as he approached. “Yes boss, I mean Mr. Magarelli.”

  My father’s smile went away then reappeared when he looked down at us. “Boys take off your coats. We are going to be here for a while. Joey is going to take good care of you. Dominic and Dillon say hello to Joey.”

  “Hello,” Dominic and I said consecutively.

  “Mr. Magarelli, can I take your coat too sir?” asked Joey.

  “Yes.” My father removed his winter coat.

  “Boys, it’s nice to meet you both! We are going to have some fun! It’s about noon how’s about I order us some lunch and then dessert?”

  Dominic and I looked at my dad first. He shook his head ok.

  “Yes!” Dominic and I yelled.

  My father smiled at us before walking toward the man standing by a door in the back of the room. My brother and I followed Joey to a corner table. Joey hung our coats.

  “You boys ever played dominos?”

  “No,” Dominic answered.

  “Alright today’s your lucky day!” Joey said rubbing his hands together.

  “Hey Bob! Make a couple of root beer floats for the boys.”

  “You got it Joey.”

  “Boys, I’m going to grab the dominos and order our lunch. First let me turn on some cartoons,” he said, picking up the remote control.

  “I’m going to order you boys the best meatball sandwiches in Jersey!”

  Dominic and I smiled.

  Joey walked over to the bar then phoned in our order.

  “Dominic, I’m going to the bathroom,” I said.

  “Ok.” His eyes were glued to the TV.

  I walked into the bathroom, unbuckled my pants, and begin peeing in the urinal. I heard a faint moaning sound coming from the other side of the wall. My eyebrows rose as I listened to the sounds. I fixed my clothes then washed my hands.

  I peeked out the door to see if anyone was looking my way. Everyone was preoccupied. I walked over to the door my father walked into a short time ago. Cracking the door, I peeked through. My father’s shirt was resting on the back of a chair. He only wore an undershirt, slacks, and dress shoes. There was a man lying on the table with a gag in his mouth. His head was in a vice. At the time I didn’t know the name of the device. I watched my dad slowly adjust the device on the man’s head as he tried to scream. A woman stood a short distance away stabbing the man’s legs.

  “No one crosses me!” my father shouted, spit flying from his mouth, his dark hair hung in his face.

  My father’s evil eyes met my innocent ones. I stared at him in horror as he killed the man. I was shocked and confused at my father’s behavior. He never stopped what he was doing.

  “Boss, his buddy is next. Do you want us to handle him?” the tall man asked.

  His chest heaved in and out as his eyes remained on me. “No!”

  Slowly closing the door, I walked over to the table where my brother sat, still engaged in cartoons. Joey strolled over to the table.

  “Alright boys the food will be here soon.” Joey placed a box of dominos on the table.

  “Dillon, are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Joey stated.

  “I’m- I’m fine,” I stuttered out as I tried to muster a smile.

  Only thing running through my mind that day was learning my father was a ruthless murderer. It was like someone flipped a switch in his head. He became someone else. What happened to the fun, loving man who raised me? Hell, he just s
miled at my brother and me, insinuating he was happy.

  Once we started playing domino’s I put the incident with my dad out of my mind. My brother and I enjoyed our meatball sandwiches. Joey kept us entertained until my dad exited the back room. He appeared to be the man I knew before he entered the room. He ran his fingers through his hair and straightened his tie.

  The smile on his face was huge. When my father’s eyes met mine, my heart began beating uncontrollably. I gripped my glass tight, sucking on my straw soon to feel the burn of the cola in my throat to help calm me down. This situation made me thirsty. I drank the root beer float and just finished my second glass of coca cola.

  “Joey, thanks for taking care of my boys,” he said, firmly shaking his hand.

  “It was my pleasure. They were a blast!” exclaimed Joey.

  “We’ll talk soon,” my father said to Joey.

  “Alright, see you guys later.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  JEFF

  “Jeff, I speak for my family. We would be honored to have you over to the house for dinner. We hope to see more of you,” said Mr. Sawyer.

  “Thank you for the invitation Mr. Sawyer,” I replied.

  ∞

  An hour later Lindsay and I left. We arrived at her dorm room.

  I sipped from the water bottle Lindsay gave me. Lindsay straddled me removing the bottle from my hand placing it on the desk.

  “Where’s your roommate?”

  Lindsay nipped my ear. “At a party,” she whispered.

  Her fingers worked quick, unbuckling my pants. In the back of my mind I knew I shouldn’t get mixed up with her especially after I watched how excited she was to see Blake. I hate to admit, I was still drawn to her.

  Her tongue slipped into my mouth as her fingers found their way into my brown hair. Taking control, I stood with her in my arms, stalking over to her bed. Her head slowly fell against the pillow as my hands slipped up her dress over her breast.