The Mayor of Lexington Avenue by James Sheehan Read Free Book Online Page A

Rudy had fallen headfirst into the maelstrom. But this was no time for second-guessing. The only important question now was, Where do we go from here?
    Surprisingly, it was Austin who got them headed in the right direction.
    “You’re going to need a top-notch lawyer right away. Somebody who’s not from here and specializes in this stuff.” The steak was sobering him up somewhat. “I know the perfect person. Tracey James. Her main office is in Vero Beach but she has several branch offices inland, including one in Bass Creek. She’s an expert in criminal law and I could call her if you like.”
    Elena had heard of Tracey James. Who hadn’t? She was the most famous lawyer in the area, perhaps in the whole state. Elena had seen her billboards on the highway and her name and picture in big ads in the phone book.
    “Would you, Austin?”
    “Why certainly, first thing in the morning. But I must caution you, Elena, she is very expensive.”
    “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” she said. At the moment, money was the last thing on her mind.

Seven
    S UMMER 1960
    “We’re going to Boy Scout camp in July. Why don’t you sign up?”
    “Who’s we?” Johnny asked.
    “My brothers and me,” Mikey replied. Mikey had two older brothers, Danny and Eddie. Eddie was eighteen months older than Mikey, and Danny was sixteen months older than Eddie. Irish triplets.
    “I can’t. You know my parents. They’d have to look into it for a year.” Johnny’s father was a bank clerk. Mr. Kelly, on the other hand, was a fireman, a big burly fellow, afraid of nothing. He gave that same confidence to his sons.
    “I’ll tell you what.” Mikey had his thinking cap on. “I’ll ask my mother to talk to your mother. She’ll think of something. She’ll be sure to tell her that my brothers will look after you and all that shit.”
    “Will she do it?”
    “Sure. My mom loves you. Sometimes more than me, I think.” Johnny looked at him to see if he was serious. Mikey flashed him that million-dollar smile. Mikey’s smile. It was like a magic wand. He always looked like a saint when he was smiling.
    Two days later, Johnny was having the conversation with his parents in the living room of their tiny four-room apartment. He could not believe they were actually considering letting him go. Of course, his father had to place a few obstacles in his path.
    “You have to keep up your summer reading.”
    “I’ll bring the books with me, Dad.”
    “And you’ve got to get somebody to serve Mass for you at the convent.” There was a convent on the corner of his block, and he and Mikey alternated serving Mass there every morning.
    “I know. I’ll take care of it.” He was wearing them down. He could feel the decision coming his way. His mom was already won over.
    “I trust the Kelly boys, dear. They’ll look out for him.”
    “The older two are a little rowdy for me,” his dad replied and just stood there for a minute, his hands on his hips. Johnny could feel the pendulum swinging back again—but there was nothing he could do.
    “All right,” his father finally said as if he were making the decision to start World War III. “You can go, but if you don’t get your reading done and if you have any problems, this will never happen again. You understand me?”
    “Yessir.” He was so excited he could barely contain himself. Two weeks away from home—two weeks! He just kept saying it over and over.
    Ondawa Lake scout camp was in a lovely wooded section of upstate New York, a four-hour bus trip from the city. There were as many as two or three hundred boys there at any one time, mostly troops from the city. About fourteen kids from Johnny and Mikey’s scout troop made the bus trip from Manhattan. They were led by John Miller, the scoutmaster, and Tom Daly, his assistant.
    The troop had their own little campsite, a half-acre clearing with a large campfire planted in the middle. There were two wooden lean-tos on one side of