“I looked at a weaving, shaking, Dawn, still aiming at some unseen target, trembling as she said, ‘I had to save you. I couldn’t let him kill you, Tom. I love you!’
“Before Genero could react, I scrambled up and took my Smith & Wesson Model 19 from her. I aimed at Genero desperately crawling towards retrieving Molteri’s gun. He stopped just inches short as I walked over and got that weapon. He huddled in fear from my retaliation.
“I tried to recover and take the time to find a solution to my predicament. If I reported this straight, Genoro’s testimony would cast doubt on whether I knew of the existence of the money beforehand. My career in law enforcement would be over with the reputation of being a dirty cop. Worse, the Calpera Family wouldn’t hesitate killing Dawn for shooting Tony Molteri. They couldn’t allow word to get out that a drugged out stripper killed one of their own with impunity.
“No, there had to be another way as I thought and pondered. I considered one possibility after another, weighing the good and bad aspects. I soon realized that while I hadn’t come up with the perfect solution, I had the most plausible under the circumstances.
“Get up Genero, we’re going into your office,” I informed the sniveling weasel. We walked in and I went and sat at his desk. “Where do you keep the warranty deed forms that you and Molteri used in all of the bustout schemes you perpetrated?” I demanded to know. He told me what drawer and I opened it. I took out one of the forms; it was perfect even down to the pre-signed notary signature and seal of Tony Molteri.
“I want you to sign over Genero’s to me,” I commanded him.
“‘What? I can’t do that! The Calpera Family will kill me!’ he yelled.
“Do it, or I’ll kill you on the spot,” I warned. “At least this way you’ll have a head start before they start tracking you down. Make out the form showing I gave you a down payment of $1, 000 dollars with monthly payments of $1, 000 for a total of $100, 000. You’ll also draw up a promissory note. Make sure you transfer over all permits and licenses as well. Finally, I want you to show the transaction predated to last week.
“Sal Genero was spitting mad as I held the pistol on him and forced him to comply and give me his keys and combination to the safe. I reviewed the form and was satisfied that it conveyed the bar to me. As he was leaving Genero’s for the final time, he made an attempt to pick up the duffel bag holding the million dollars.
When I stopped him, he started crying, ‘Officer Crowder, I won’t last a week without that money!’
“You should’ve thought about that before you schemed to kill me, Genero. Get the hell out of here.” I glared at him.
“With that accomplished, I went to stage two of the plan and called Mary.” Dad said.
Once again, I stopped my Dad. “You called Mom to get you out of this mess? How could you do that to Mom after you went and cheated on her? Do you have any idea how disgusted I am with you right now?” I was pissed at the idea of him dragging Mom into this.
“I told Mary it was a life or death situation for me and Dawn, and somehow I finally got it across to her. She came to the bar and after getting over her horror at the scene, got Dawn, took my apartment key and the duffel bag and took Dawn to my apartment. She came back with my checkbook and then she left.
“Stage three was me calling into the precinct and informing them that I had just shot and killed Tony Molteri over a business dispute. Internal Affairs was called in and interviewed me. I told them I had struck a deal to buy Genero’s from Sal Genero a week ago. He had transferred the property to me by warranty deed, and Tony Molteri notarized the deed. I hadn’t gotten around to recording the deed yet. I showed them the warranty deed, the promissory note, and the back dated personal check I had written moments ago at Sal Genero’s desk.”
“I told them Molteri came to me last night saying Genero had run off with the embezzled funds from the bar, and insisted to me that my deal to buy Genero’s was off. He threw the check I had written to Sal Genero in my face. I told him my deal was with the property owner, and since he wasn’t on any paperwork that my deal stood. We argued, he threatened to kill me and pulled his gun, which forced me to take my gun and kill him.”
I just looked at my dad, stunned that he constructed this house of lies to explain what had transpired. “Did they believe you?” I asked incredulously .
Dad paused before replying and took the last sip of his mug of beer, “Son, it was a different time back then. Nobody was sad about Tony Molteri being dead. The forensic unit just went through the motions. Same with the coroner with the autopsy. Internal Affairs knew I was lying through my teeth but they cut me some slack.
“I was suspended for three weeks without pay while the investigation wound up. Back then there was no such thing as the Betty Ford Clinic, me and Mary babysat Dawn at my apartment going through withdrawal from the heroin that Tony injected in her. She was fortunate that her addiction was only physical and not psychological. Once she weathered through, she recovered without any urge to shoot up again.
“Sal Genero lasted all of a week before he was gunned down by the Calpera Family for selling their cash cow, Genero’s. Couple of guys from that family sought me out and tried to bluff me into selling it back to them. Turned out that Molteri wasn’t a made man in the Calpera Family after all, just an associate they valued. There wouldn’t be an issue of gangland retaliation. I told them to fuck off. It wasn’t worth the aggravation to kill me and risk an investigation into the Calpera Family. Besides, they wouldn’t have inherited it back anyway.” Dad said matter of fact.
“I took over the bar and immediately stopped all the criminal activities that were done at Genero’s. Terminated all the strippers and reduced the dance stage to what we’ve got now. That encouraged legitimate business owners to start investing back into the area and slowly the gentrification continued until you have all the shops and businesses in an area that once was literally hell on earth.” Dad finished.
“What happened to Dawn?” I asked.
“After she kicked her habit, Mary helped her recover and gain her strength. Things were still strained between Mary and me even though she realized I had the best of intentions for Dawn. We only talked when addressing the issue about getting Dawn healthy and gone. I knew then I had lost Mary forever. She’d never forgive my betrayal.
“We took Dawn to the bus depot and bought her a ticket across the country. I gave Dawn the duffel bag full of money. I didn’t want it, and considering what a shitty life Dawn had, she was entitled to it as far as I was concerned. Mary agreed with me. So, I watched heartbroken as that bus drove off.” Dad looked wistfully at me waiting for my next question. He knew I had to ask.
“Dad,” I paused, “Dad, did you ever think you made a mistake marrying Mom? Could you have been happier marrying Dawn, knowing that she was a stripper?” I wanted to hear what Dad would say and whether his response could sway me to reconcile with Lila.
“Son, I don’t have to wonder about that. I married her, had my child with her, and loved her every day of my life.” Dad pointblank stunned me.
“Wait…. what do you…. what do you mean you married her!” I yelled!
“Your mom is Dawn,” Dad calmly revealed. “Dawn was her stripper name, Mary Ellen Donovan was the woman I married and took my name.
“But how…” I sputtered, trying to articulate my question.