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no's defection； then Perry Pope； and now the judge was gone； mixed up in some crazy spy deal。 They had all been an intrinsic part of Orsatti's machine… people he had relied on。
Joe Romano had been the linchpin in the Family organization； and Orsatti had not found anyone to take his place。 The business was being run sloppily； and plaints were ing in from people who had never dared plain before。 The word was out that Tony Orsatti was getting old； that he couldn't keep his men in line； that his organization was ing apart。
The final straw was a telephone call from New Jersey。
〃We hear you're in a little trouble back there； Tony。 We'd like to help you out。〃
〃I ain't in no trouble；〃 Orsatti bristled。 〃Sure； I've had a couple a problems lately； but they're all straightened out。〃
〃That's not what we hear； Tony。 The word's out that your town's goin' a little wild； there's no one controlling it。〃
〃I'm controlling it。〃
〃Maybe it's too much for you。 Could be you're working too hard。 Maybe you need a little rest。〃
〃This is my town。 No one's takin' it away from me。〃
〃Hey； Tony； who said anything about taking it away from you？ We just want to help。 The Families back east got together and decided to send a few of our people down there to give you a little hand。 There's nothing wrong with that between old friends； is there？〃
Anthony Orsatti felt a deep chill go through him。 There was only one thing wrong with it： The little hand was going to bee a big hand； and it was going to snowball。
**********
Ernestine had prepared shrimp gumbo for dinner； and it was simmering on the stove while she and Tracy waited for Al to arrive。 The September heat wave had burned itself deeply into everyone's nerves； and when Al finally walked into the small apartment； Ernestine screamed； 〃Where the hell you been？ The fuckin' dinner's burning； and so am I〃
But Al's spirits were too euphoric to be affected。 〃I been busy diggin' the scam； woman。 An' wait'll you hear what I got。〃 He turned to Tracy。 〃The mob's puttin' the arm on Tony Orsatti。 The Family from New Jersey's in' in to take over。〃 His face split into a broad grin。 〃You got the son of a bitch！〃 He looked into Tracy's eyes； and his smile died。 〃Ain't you happy； Tracy？〃
What a strange word； Tracy thought。 Happy。 She had forgotten what it meant。 She wondered whether she would ever be happy again； whether she would ever feel any normal emotions again。 For so long now； her every waking thought had been to avenge what had been done to her mother and herself。 And now that it was almost finished； there was only an emptiness inside her。
**********
The following morning Tracy stopped at a florist。 〃I want some flowers delivered to Anthony Orsatti。 A funeral wreath of white carnations on a stand； with a wide ribbon。 I want the ribbon to read： 'REST IN PEACE。' 〃 She wrote out a card。 It said； FROM DORIS WHITNEY'S DAUGHTER。
BOOK THREE
Chapter 15
Philadelphia
TUESDAY； OCTOBER 7… 4：00 P。M。
It was time to deal with Charles Stanhope III。 The others had been strangers。 Charles had been her lover； the father of her unborn child； and he had turned his back on both of them。
Ernestine and Al had been at the New Orleans Airport to see Tracy off。
〃I'm gonna miss you；〃 Ernestine had said。 〃You sure set this town on its ass。 They oughta run you for people's mayor。〃
〃Whatcha gonna do in Philly？〃 Al had asked。
She had told them half the truth。 〃Go back to my old job at the bank。〃
Ernestine and Al had exchanged a glance。 〃They… er… know you're in'？〃
〃No。 But the vice…president likes me。 There won't be a problem。 Good puter operators are hard to find。〃
〃Well； good luck。 Keep in touch； ya hear？ And stay out of trouble； girl。〃
Thirty minutes later Tracy had been in the air； bound for Philadelphia。
**********
She checked into the Hilton Hotel and steamed out her one good dress over the hot tub。 At 11：00 the following morning she walked into the bank and approached Clarence Desmond's secretary。
〃Hello； Mae。〃
The girl stared at Tracy as though she were seeing a ghost。 〃Tracy！〃 She did not know where to look。 〃I… how are you？〃
〃Fine。 Is Mr。 Desmond in？〃
〃I… I don't know。 Let me see。 Excuse me。〃 She rose from her chair； flustered； and hurried into the vice…president's office。
She came out a few moments later。 〃You may go in。〃 She edged away as Tracy walked toward the door。
What's the matter with her？ Tracy wondered。
Clarence Desmond was standing next to his desk。
〃Hello； Mr。 Desmond。 Well； I've e back；〃 Tracy said brightly。
〃What for？〃 His tone was unfriendly。 Definitely unfriendly。
It caught Tracy by surprise。 She pressed on。 〃Well； you said I was the best puter operator you had ever seen； and I thought …〃
〃You thought I'd give you back your old job？〃
〃Well； yes； sir。 I haven't forgotten any of my skills。 I can still…〃
〃Miss Whitney。〃 It was no longer Tracy。 〃I'm sorry； but what you're asking is quite out of the question。 I'm sure you can understand that our customers would not wish to deal with someone who served time in the penitentiary for armed robbery and attempted murder。 That would hardly fit in with our high ethical image。 I think it unlikely that given your background； any bank would hire you。 I would suggest that you try to find employment more suitable to your circumstances。 I hope you understand there is nothing personal in this。〃
Tracy listened to his words； first with shock and then with growing anger。 He made her sound like an outcast； a leper。 We wouldn't want to lose you。 You're one of our most valuable employees。
〃Was there anything else； Miss Whitney？〃 It was a dismissal。
There were a hundred things Tracy wanted to say； but she knew they would do no good。 〃No。 I think you've said it all。〃 Tracy turned and walked out the office door； her face burning。 All the bank employees seemed to be staring at her。 Mae had spread the word： The convict had e back。 Tracy moved toward the exit； head held high； dying inside。 I can't let them do this to me。 My pride is all I have left； and no one is going to take that away from me。
**********
Tracy stayed in her room all day； miserable。 How could she have been naive enough to believe that they would wele her back with open arms？ She was notorious now。 〃You're the headline in the Philadelphia Daily News。〃 Well； to hell with Philadelphia； Tracy thought。 She had some unfinished business there； but when that was done； she would leave。 She would go to New York； where she would be anonymous。 The decision made her feel better。
That evening； Tracy treated herself to dinner at the Café Royal。 After the sordid meeting with Clarence Desmond that morning； she needed the reassuring atmosphere of soft lights； elegant surroundings； and soothing music。 She ordered a vodka martini； and as the waiter brought it to her table； Tracy glanced up； and her heart suddenly skipped a beat。 Seated in a booth across the room were Charles and his wife。 They had not yet se