The Shadows Fall: Chapter 48

Carlo, in disguise, hobbled into the waterfront rooming house, stepping over a homeless man.  He needed a place to hide out and keep his identity quiet.  Having made it through the brush and away from Statesville on foot, he was both acting the part of a feeble old man and living it.  Having maintained underworld contacts, he was able to secure a large bank roll of cash, and handed the man in charge a ratty twenty dollar bill for the room for the night.  He knew the place was not going to be to his liking, but he pursued it, intentionally to throw off police and any other sneaking skulks, namely, Todd Manning and his brood.

Walking carefully up the decrepit staircase, he found his room, the door peeling, the knob barely working, and entered.  It was pure filth, and he had his survival kit with him; a duffel bag with toiletries, clean sheets and pillow case, untraceable cell phone and the money.  He had even stopped to get a few small food items to sustain him.  He had a great deal of planning to do.  He first covered the cot-like bed with the clean sheets that he had purchased, and set up a small station at the side table with the single chair by the window.  There, he lined up his food items, which he put into plastic bags in case of roaches, and his other necessities:  cell phone, newspaper, washing items and disinfectant.  It was worse than prison in this place.  But he knew what he had to do to survive it.

Cautiously, he peeked through the ratty curtain.  He could tell from the outside that he was the fortunate one to have any draperies.  He sat at the small table, and looked at the cell phone.  He searched the internet first, then finding the appropriate number he dialed.

"I'm calling to speak to a patient,"  he removed the gummed-on, gray facial hair from his chin.  "Yes?  Zeus Zelenko.  When would he be able to receive calls?  Thank you, I'll call back."  He hung up, placing the phone on the table and peeling the rest of his disguise off, taking a snapshot out of his pocket.  "That's just fine, Zeus, my son, I'll catch up with you sooner or later.  You were my creation, in so many ways.  I wonder if you would ever forgive me if you knew the whole truth?  Would you look more kindly on my actions if you knew that you were really my flesh and blood after all?  And what about your mother, Katherine, that betraying, selfish wench?  Now she has gotten all she deserves, and in no time, she will take my place in Statesville."

He opened a bottle of juice and some crackers.  Still looking at the picture, he said, "No, you will never have to know the likes of her, my son.  Let's just say reports of your death are greatly exaggerated.  I've kept your whereabouts and your identity a secret this long, and I intend to keep it to the grave.  Once you realize that everything I've done, I did for you, to make it up to you, I believe you will accept me as your father."

He finished his snack and headed to the cot to lie down.  "Yes, you and I will rebuild my empire and rise to respectability in this town once again."

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