Image source – librarything.com 

 As the CLK-class, convertible, Mercedes Benz, idled in park in front of the Fanucci home, Vincenz and Marie checked their mailbox to see nothing but junk mail inside. Marie slammed the mailbox door shut as Vincenz put the Benz in gear slowly and pulled up into their driveway.  Marie clicked the automatic remote for the garage doors to open. As their cream white, luxery sport Benz, pulled into the garage, Vincenz says in his Italian accent, “Marie, we’re finally home. The physical therapist wore me out.”

After both exited the Benz, Marie curiously walked over to the edge of the garage entrance and told her husband, “Vincenz, lie down and sleep for a few hours. You’ll feel better after a nap.” As she then stood, gazing out over the majestic Hudson River valley, seemingly enjoying her quiet morning.

Vincenz ignored his wife and walked toward the landing to enter the foyer of their home. Marie turned around with a pleasant smile and followed Vincenz a few steps behind. As she got closer, Vincenz heard a ruckus from inside his home. Confused and alarmed, he swiftly opened his door and rushed in to see his son, Carmine, wrestling with a strange burglar that was wielding a pistol.

As Marie followed, Vincenz yelled, “Marie, run out and get some help!” Neither of them owned cell phones, as they were both, old school Italian immigrants, who couldn’t be bothered with such gadgets of communication. Marie couldn’t help herself and peeked in the doorway and started to scream, “Noooo, my son!”

Carmine was on the smooth, red marble floor, clutching the burglars hand as to not get shot. 67 year old Vincenz lunged and landed on the back of the intruder as all three now layed wrestling around on the cold and hard marble floor of what was a beautiful morning for Marie.

As the chaos ensued a shot rang out. Carmine got shot but he ignored the wound. The shooter now had his dad locked in a painful grip and fired again, hitting Vincenz in the stomach, where he rolled over and slipped into unconsciousness. While reaching for her ebony amulet of the crucifix, she always wore around her neck, Marie screamed, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Please God, help us!” But the Amulet was gone!