Pals

The Home Of Thomas Allston And Evelyn Crowder - North Shore

"She wants to come back to you," Eve said.

​"She is not serious about that, Eve," I said

Eve did not look angry, but she had a concern on her face. This morning's surprise attack did not amuse her.

"That's what she said, Allston, and that was her reason for crashing my kitchen so early in the morning." "I didn't believe her, but she's serious." It's the reason she came up here." "That's pretty ballsy."

"What did she say, Eve?" 

"She said that leaving you was a mistake and that she still loved you, and then she asked me to please not marry you."

"She said please?" I asked, and I smiled. "At least she was polite."

"She wants you to say goodbye to me and to take her back."  "She wanted to see me." "She knew all about me, about the bakery, where I went to college."

"She was never mean or forceful, Allston, just very direct."

"Oh, that's her," I said

"Look, Evie, my ex paid a lawyer a lot of money and sent a couple of goons to learn about us."

​"You know I love you more than I ever loved her?"

"I hope so, Allston."

"I want to keep our little family together."

"Did she know that you are pregnant?"

"I don't know," Eve said.

She sat at the table, eating apple slices with a cup of coffee, and looked down. I tried to understand what she was thinking, and I wanted to say the right things. I dropped this ditty, which caused Tango's ears to perk up when he heard his name.

"You, Me, Tango, and Baby Dunkachino are a family."

And then I started shoveling.

"My ex will get a letter from my lawyer, that's it. I will not even speak with her."

"She came a long way not to speak with me."

Ayer, Massachusetts - FMC Devens- Federal Medical Center 

Anthony Cincarelli, the director of FMC Devens, had every right to be angry. The FBI had dropped a prisoner in his lap, creating problems in what was once a stable environment. In two weeks, it was clear that Mendocino was the alpha prisoner, and everyone feared him.

This place in Massachusetts was not quite a "Club Fed," but it was damn close, thought Cincarelli. Now we have a bull being a bull in a coop of chickens, and the chickens are getting plucked, roasted, and turned into chicken salad.

When Mendocino entered any common area, the other inmates parted like the Red Sea as Dennis walked amongst them.

There was zero benevolence by Dennis, who bullied anyone who presented even a slight challenge.

Two times this week, inmates were pulled off the floor, one with a broken foot and another who was clobbered more than Jay Leno.

Cincarelli called the FBI in Chelsea, and the on-duty was SAI Lisa Mason.

"Hello, Agent Mason. This is Anthony Cincarelli; I am the Director at FMC Devens. We are holding Dennis Mendocino pre-trial."

Lisa got tense for a second. She had heard rumblings from FMC Devens regarding the paperwork that arrived with the prisoner. She had been in charge of the report that FMC Devens received.

"Maybe I can help you, Mr. Cincarelli." "I helped write that report."

"The prisoner is the biggest example of "directed aggressive behavior" we have seen here. He is the big dog in the house, and he aims his aggression at the whole population." "We are wondering why there was no mention of his strength and ability to fight." 

Lisa thought for a second and said that his rank as a black belt in Brazilian Jui Jitsu hung on his wall, but she was unsure if this was covered in the report sent with the prisoner. She tried to recall if the subject had come up during the prisoner's initial interrogation in the New York Field office, but she could not remember.

"So the prisoner is aggressive toward inmates and Deven's personnel." "It sounds like you have to clamp down on him." "What are the standard operating procedures in place for an abusive inmate?"

"I will reread the interrogation and notes from all the field agents before his arrest to see if we missed noting the potential physical danger. I do know that his takedown in Stamford was smooth and without resistance, however the profilers noted that who they were looking for had to be strong based on the crimes and they supposed either a weightlifter or someone with physical training. would fit the bill."

"I'll see if we missed anything."

"Has the prisoner contracted legal help yet?"

"Yes, and he has visited a couple of times.  We will notify the attorney that we must change his client's living arrangements."

They hung up from their call.

Twenty minutes later, a nine-person tactical team rushed Dennis Mendocino in the cafeteria during lunch. Neutralizing him was not easy, and the prisoner had to be tased more than once. They rolled him out of the dining area, strapped to a gurney with a hood over his head.

The other prisoners stood up and cheered as he was taken away to the prison's worst form of confinement. The Special Housing Unit had been prepared for a new arrival for only the second time in twenty years.

Mendocino's life would now change to a less clubby level.

The Cardinal And The Jack - Cambridge, Massachusetts 

Melinda was counting the register for the second half of the day. Most chairs and stools were placed on the small tables, and Eduardo swept the floor. The store was closing in twenty minutes. The door opened, and a man stepped into the shop. He turned, shook off his umbrella outside the open door, and stepped in.

He looked over the dining area, the counter, and the decorations on the wall took in the homey atmosphere and smiled. For some reason, he thought his long-gone wife would love this place. The feel, the smell, and the comfort level felt so much like something she would love.

The man was well-dressed, and he seemed comfortable in his skin.  His raincoat, an old tan one, looked like it would fit in an old forties movie. He saw that the store was about to close, so he approached the counter and asked Melinda, "Is it too late to order a blueberry muffin and a coffee to take back to my hotel?" Melinda would have to restart her count, but she said, "I'll get that for you right away, and it's an end-of-the-day special for you since I already inventoried it; you, sir, can have it for free."

He thanked Melinda, took the bag, and asked her, "Would Evelyn Crowder be here?" I believe she works here. Melinda smiled at the man, then said, "Well, she more than works here. She's the owner, but she is gone for the day." 

He chuckled and asked, "If she would be in tomorrow?"

"She will be here early in the morning." "Can I leave a note to tell her she had a visitor?"

He thought for a second and said, "Yes, please," "I'm Eve's father." 

Melinda looked hard at the man and saw some resemblance, then Melinda said, "I can call her if you like."

"No, that's okay. I just got into town and am staying up the street. "I'll see her in the morning. Thank you for the coffee and muffin."

It's nice to meet you, Mr. Crowder. I'm Melinda, and I have heard a lot about you.

"All good, I hope? Eve is my pal for life."

"You have a nice evening."

He stepped out of the shop into the rain, but the hotel was only half a block away.

MELINDA TXT: Hey Eve, Your Father was just in the shop. He says he will stop by tomorrow.

​EVE TXT: Are you sure it was him?

MELINDA TXT: He referred to you as his Pal for life.

EVE TXT: That's him. I'll see him tomorrow; thanks for letting me know.