Peppermint nodded.
“My granny came off the boat from Italy. She learned to speak some English, but she's still old school. She's as hard as a rock and as mean as a snake. You'd get whacked if you asked the old lady for a hug. Ayo, that's just the way it is.”
“I'm sorry, Ralphie.”
“Ayo...yeah, so am I,” Ralphie confessed instead of trying to act tough. “I never wanted to be like my old man. He tried to turn me into what he was. My cousin and his old man were like two fleas in a rug. But then my cousin's old man was gunned down on the street, and my cousin was shot, too, but he lived. I didn't want that.”
“Who would?”
“Ayo, you're a smart man for saying that.” Ralphie tried to get control of his voice. “When my cousin's old man was killed, my old man tried to rob a bank. He was caught. My mother ran off, but she was caught in Las Vegas and sent to prison for trying to help three guys rob a casino out in the desert. I was left under the care of my granny.”
Peppermint's heart broke for Ralphie. The poor guy had obviously taken many punches in the past. “I'm sorry, Ralphie.”
“Don't be. I don't need pity. Life is what it is. I had a roof and three meals a day...mostly pizza, but ayo, food is food.” Ralphie decided to sit back down. “I kept my head low, took mypunches when my cousin got drunk, or was just in the mood to hit someone, and that was that. But when I heard God tell me to leave Brooklyn, I knew it was time to go.”
“Seems to me the Good Lord saved your life. If you wouldn't have left Brooklyn, who knows what might’ve happened to you”
“I thought about that,” Ralphie said in response. “I guess God does work in mysterious ways.” Ralphie grew silent for a minute and then raised his eyes. “I tried to go to college, but the first class I was in, the professor singled me out and started giving me a hard time. I don't know why. So, I ran my mouth off at him and got kicked out. I never looked back because when a guy takes a punch, he keeps on moving. That's all a guy can do, you know.”
Peppermint stood up. He walked over to Ralphie and put a caring hand down on his shoulder. “I get it, Ralphie...all too well. You can go back to watching your show now.”
“Yeah...” Ralphie dropped his eyes instead of going back to watching his television show.
Peppermint squatted down. “I know you think the mafia is going to find you here. They won't. If they do, I'll die protecting you. I swear it, Ralphie. You've become like a son to me.” Peppermint took his hand and lifted Ralphie's chin. “I mean my words,” he spoke in a stern tone. “No one is ever going to hurt you or Sandy.”
Ralphie looked into his strong, brave eyes. “Thanks, Peppermint. I ain't never had no one stand up for me before.”
“You do now.” Peppermint let go of Ralphie's chin. “I would rather die a brave man than live as a coward. That's just who I am.”
Before Ralphie could respond, Chris knocked on the bedroom door. Peppermint called out that the bedroom door was unlocked, and Chris walked into the bedroom holding a plate of donuts. “Thought you guys might want some donuts.”
“A bribe to see if you greased my lips,” Ralphie told Peppermint.
“In a way...yes.” Chris nodded. “Truth is our weapon against the enemy we're facing, Ralphie. “Haley Huntington seems to be determined to destroy this island and everything that is good. She's going to twist every fact she can find into a horrible lie. I think that is a cause for concern on our part.”
“I would say so,” Peppermint agreed. He took the plate of donuts from Chris and sat on the edge of his bed. “How are things going with Sandy?”
“Good. Sandy told Candy everything she could remember about Nathan Branch, but as she was talking to Candy, Brad received a phone call from Detective Maddening. Nathan Branch is now back out on the streets.”
“What?” Peppermint could barely believe his ears.
“Yes, Nathan Branch is back on the streets, but it gets worse. Sandy's old boss told Detective Maddening that Nathan Branch came by to talk to him. Nathan pulled a knife on him.”
“So the guy should be arrested again.”
“Should but wasn't. In fact, Sandy's old boss told Nathan Branch that he overheard Sandy talking to Candy about a job in New York.”
A heavy, miserable groan left Peppermint. “Let me guess, Nathan left Los Angeles?”
“On a flight that left one hour ago,” Chris confirmed in a worried voice. “That's why Detective Maddening called Brad.”
“I knew something was wrong just by the look on your face when you walked in,” Ralphie told Chris. “I have a way of knowing these things.”
Chris studied Peppermint's face. It was clear Peppermint had been squeezing information out of the guy. “Ralphie, if there are any secrets—”
“He told me all that we need to know,” Peppermint assured Chris in a tone that allowed a little ease to touch Chris' troubled heart.
“Good.” Chris nodded. “We have a battle on multiple fronts now.” Chris decided to sit down on a chair facing the floor television. “The mafia wants Ralphie out of the picture, to put it lightly. Sandy has a deranged stalker after her. Candy is being attacked by a cruel bear who wants to devour her life, and Thanksgiving is a stone’s throw away.”
