The Story of Charlie Mullins: The Man in the Middle - Jim Wygand

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exactly how I felt without you there,” exclaimed Charlie, “it’s amazing how people can make a place!”

      “Not people, Charlie, you. You make that place special for me now. When I go there alone now, I feel your absence.”

      “Well, Gina, I can tell you that it was the lousiest glass of wine I have had in a long time.” Gina laughed.

      “But we’re still on for Saturday, right? I mean you don’t have some sort of night game or anything, right?

      Charlie laughed, “No Gina, no night game. I just want to make sure I practice with the guys to keep them from poking into my life and so they will tell their damned wives that I was there and I was normal.”

      Gina laughed out loud, “Charlie, you don’t know much about women, do you? Believe me the wives of Shoreville – that coven of witches – know that you are normal. Take my word for it. That’s their problem, in fact. You are normal. I’d bet half of them have erotic fantasies about you.”

      “Oh Gina, I don’t know about ….”

      “Take my word for it, Charlie Mullins, there are some pretty horny women in your town. I listened to your stories. Watch your step! In fact, get yourself up here as quickly as possible before one of them tosses a net over you.” Gina laughed heartily.

      * * * * *

      Saturday morning Charlie showed up for softball practice. He was not distracted and hit well. The guys were doing all their infield chatter and having a hell of a good time throwing the ball around and bonding. After practice he even joined them for some beer but begged off the pizza. “What? No pizza Charlie? You tryin’ to keep your silhouette or what?” Bob Simms asked. “Yeah Charlie, afraid the ladies won’t like you if you get a gut?” asked Art Samuels.

      “C’mon guys, give me a break!” Charlie laughed, “I’m just trying to stay in shape. I’ve had a lot of work to do and I haven’t worked out as much as I should. I’m watching the intake, OK?”

      Art Samuels stood up and made an obscene pumping gesture with his hips, “Yeah, we know what kind of workout you been doin’ Charlie.” The guys at the table broke out laughing.

      “All right, who wants some more beer?” Charlie asked as he reached for the pitcher. He filled a few of the glasses and then proposed a toast to the league championship. Everybody forgot Art’s comment and gesture and raised their glasses, “Here here!” they all cheered. Charlie hung around a little while longer to let the beer dull his teammates’ attention then took his leave. “OK guys, I’m heading for the shower. See you tomorrow!”

      “Bye Charlie, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do – or maybe that I can’t do!” yelled someone from the group. They all broke out laughing and Charlie went out to his car and drove home. He showered, shaved, and then splashed on a discreet amount of his Armani cologne. “I’m beginning to like you, Mr. Armani. You seem to be bringing me luck! Keep up the good work and I’ll buy some more of you!”

      He dressed his standard fare, blazer (a black one this time), a light grey oxford cloth shirt with requisite button down collar, charcoal-grey pants, black socks and pair of black Gucci loafers. He checked himself out in the mirror and thought he might be able to leave the first button of the shirt open. He did. Then he closed it again. Then he thought he looked too buttoned up so he opened it again. He would open and close the button another 4 times. Finally he decided to leave it buttoned.

      Charlie usually went up to Philly by taking the bridge over to Wilmington and then driving straight up I-95. It was the most direct and in his view the fastest way to Philly. As he was approaching the connecting road to the bridge he saw a car parked along the side of the road. The car pulled out and fell behind him as he passed. The two cars crossed the bridge and entered I-95 together. Charlie noticed that the car stayed behind him. He accelerated slightly and so did the following car. He slowed down to let the car pass and the car slowed down too. He looked more closely into the rear view mirror. He could see two women in the car. Then he remembered that someone said that Sharon Gallagher had said that she would follow Charlie “one of these days”. “Shit!” he thought “just what I needed, somebody tailing me!”

      He made a mental note of the license plate and the make and model of the car. When he came close to Chester he suddenly exited and then quickly went through some back streets. Then he headed toward Philly on the Chester Pike all the way to Wannamaker Avenue until he was sure he had shook the tail. He stopped along the way to write down the license number of the car, and then got back on the Interstate off Wannamaker. He got to the trattoria at 8:45. Gina was waiting for him and nursing a glass of red wine. Gina noticed the apprehension on his face. “Hi Charlie,” she said, “giving him a light kiss on the cheek, “what’s the matter you look upset.”

      “Jeez, Gina, would you believe somebody followed me from Shoreville? I picked up the tail when I got on I-95. It looked like there were two women in the car. I’m sure it was some of those busybodies from Shoreville. Christ! I mean if I were Bruce Willis or something, but Jesus, following me to Philly on a Saturday evening?!”

      “Take it easy, Charlie. Here, sit down and have a glass of wine. Don’t worry about it. Did they manage to follow you here?”

      “No, I got off in Chester and then drove around a bit. Then I went up for a while on the Chester Pike. I’m sure I lost them along the way. Then I got back on I-95 and here I am.”

      “OK, so your privacy is intact, Charlie. Here, drink a little wine and chill out. I told you there were some horny, nosy women in Shoreville. Had to be. Tell you what, tomorrow take a different route. Come up on I-295 and get off at Camden. If they’re watching for you to cross the bridge to Wilmington, they’ll roast in the car all day waiting for you.

      “Yeah, I guess I’ll do that. I could just stop and confront them too.”

      “Don’t bother Charlie. That will just whet their curiosity. They probably think you are running around some place in Chester right now and they lost you. Don’t let them rattle you. Do you think they knew you saw them?”

      “Aw, I don’ know Gina. I was so damned mad I didn’t think about whether they knew I had picked them up. I just got off the interstate and drove around until they got caught by a traffic light and I got well ahead of them. Then I just turned down a few streets while I guess they tried to catch up. Anyway, I don’t know if they thought I was on to them or not. Doesn’t matter much I guess.”

      “Well, I don’t think they will stop at this attempt, Charlie. They’re not going to rest until they find out where you go. That’s for sure.”

      “I guess you’re right, Gina. I don’t know what to do.”

      “Just be unpredictable, that’s all. I suppose they have families and husbands so they can’t be watching you all the time, Charlie. They have things to do so if you keep them off balance, they won’t know how to monitor you. If they follow you, just do like you did today. I’ve had guys stalk me in the past and it’s not too hard to keep them off balance once you get the hang of it.”

      “Well, let’s just forget it. What do you want to do tonight?”

      “Do you like jazz, Charlie? There’s a great little jazz place and a bistro nearby. We could have dinner and then listen to some jazz if that’s OK.”

      “Wow, terrific! I love jazz. I didn’t know you were a fan. Yeah, that sounds like a fantastic program.”

      As usual, Johnny hailed a cab for them and they left the trattoria for the bistro. Charlie noticed that Johnny waited again by the door until the cab pulled away. “Johnny must really like you, Gina. He makes sure you leave safely every time. I see him watching until the cab pulls away and he is even hanging around when we come back.”

      “Well, I told you, Charlie. I tutor his kids and I’ve known him for some time. I guess he feels protective, just like all my friends do.”

      “Yeah,

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