The Locksmith Characters

Mick (Malachy) Fagan was born in Hell’s Kitchen — A few blocks west of Times Square, in Manhattan. Even after his family moved to a quiet Queens neighborhood, young Micky kept going back to the street. It was his school. His New York was the peep show dollar John kind of New York. Pimps, dealers and west side prostitutes that needed a shave. He was Irish to the bone and wanted to prove that the family name was more than just an empty bottle his Father tossed in the East river… So, he became a cop.

Jocetta was born in Havana, Cuba. At the age of three, shortly after her mother died, she and her father immigrated to the United States. She holds a Masters Degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute and maintains a select group of residential clients. She is also an avid collector of artifacts from the African Congo. Jocetta is analytical with a tendency to internalize conflict. Her emotional world is active to the degree that she has the ability to manifest dreams into reality.

Santiago has always had a fascination with anything that was mechanized and served a utilitarian purpose. But as a single father and recent immigrant from Cuba, he questioned exactly what his purpose was, beyond that of provider and protector. His uncanny ability with all things mechanical allowed him to open a small repair shop that flourished for more than thirty years. After his retirement though, he found his true calling as the resident superintendent in a non-descript Bronx tenement building.

Malachy Fagan left County Cork, Ireland, on his 21st birthday. He was bound for New York City and the promise of a new life and a job working the docks. Five years later, he found himself broke, beaten and bitter. He was a good candidate for the Westies — The Irish mob that ran Hell’s Kitchen and prayed on disillusioned punks, fresh off the boat. But Fagan was more interested in marrying the secretary that moonlighted at Eddie’s Pub. Two kids later, he kept his glass wet, driving a cab and her, crazy.

The granddaughter of Jedediah and Sympathy Jackson, a couple born into slavery; Lucinda was raised in Charleston, South Carolina by an aunt, after her parents were swept away by Hurricane Hazel, in 1954. This early trauma created an independence in her that only strengthened when she moved to the Bronx, in her early twenties. Lucinda has lived in the same studio apartment for the last thirty years and has worked as Santiago’s house cleaner for most of that time.

Sometimes known as Eleggua and Papa Legba, Lucero is an Orisha from the Palo religious traditions found in the Congo basin of central Africa… And later, Cuba. Orishas govern the forces of nature and are represented by objects such as feathers, bones and sticks. Lucero is the divine keeper of roads, doors and gateways. His colors are red and black. Although a warrior, he can be both child-like and a mischievous trickster. Communication with Lucero can sometimes require an offering of a head, to be kept near a doorway.

James Dakota Kendrick studied Criminal Law at New York University, but upon graduating, he promptly enrolled in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. Having had no known background in law enforcement or the military, it is not known who recommended D.K. as a candidate for the invitation-only training. Nevertheless, he placed third in his class after breaking a record in the six mile fitness challenge, known as the Yellow Brick Road. After graduation, D.K. went to work for a private security firm, based in New Jersey. His Yellow Brick Road record, still stands.

It is not known when or where, Ricardo Fabbro was born. Whether or not Fabbro is indeed his family name, is also a mystery. Although trained as a locksmith, Fabbro’s fascination with medicine and former career as a singer of songs, allowed him to pose as a traveling surgeon, of sorts. It was in Genoa that, according to documents, Fabbro was arrested for heresy. The Inquisition claimed that his medical experiments sought to bridge the gap between life and death. Surprisingly, it was Pope Urban VIII that granted him a pardon, after which, according to rumor, Fabbro boarded a boat bound for Africa.

Anna Panucci was born to Anna and Franco Panucci from the Bronx. It was at her father’s bakery where she developed the desire to become a chef. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science and against her father’s wishes, she enrolled in the Institute of Culinary Education. But, a fire that burned the family bakery to the ground, brought her back to the Bronx to care for her ailing parents. She soon met a young detective investigating the case: Tony Franelli. After the two were married, Anna re-opened her father’s bakery, where today, it is known to have the best cannolis in the city.

Nicola Battista entered the Dominican Order in 1573. His duties included maintaining the College of St. Thomas’ collection of scientific letters in Rome. It was here that he discovered Mysterium Cosmographicum — Johannes Kepler’s astronomical treatise that supported the Copernician idea that the universe was made in the image of God. Battista was specifically interested in the proposed connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. However, he abruptly fled the college one evening after injesting poisonous mushrooms that resulted in visions of an undocumented nature.

Juan-Carlos is an only child, born and raised in Queens, NY. His father, Carlos Cepeda, was a prominent lawyer with close ties to Fidel Castro. Soon after Castro took power though, the elder Cepeda left Cuba for New York City. It was there, where he met Juan-Carlos’ mother, Henrietta, an African-American jazz singer. Juan-Carlos was a quiet, studious young man, who after graduating from Columbia University with an M.A. in International Relations, was hired by the State Department as an analyst. Ten years later, he formed his own consulting firm, specializing in “foreign affairs.”

Dr. Mason is known for her research surrounding a cosmic explosion first discovered in 1632, by the Italian astronomer, Nicola Battista. Mason is convinced that the event is linked to the Yombe people of the African Congo. Oral tradition tells of a shooting star over the Mayombe forest — The same region noted in Battista’s diary, documenting his travels to the African Continent. Mason established the Alice Springs Observation Society with the help of Elders from the Arrernte People of Central Australia. She believes that only through DREAMTIME can the cosmic puzzle be solved.

William is one of the elders of the Alice Springs Council. He was instrumental in establishing the Alice Springs Observation Society with local astronomers. The indigenous Arrernte of Central Australia has a 40,000 year old storytelling tradition that William hopes to share with the Ihentere (white people). Although his mission has not always been popular amongst his people, William believes it is only through DREAMTIME, that the planet can be saved from the destructive nature of humankind.

Dr. Simmons was an adjunct professor at Harvard Medical School in the Neurobiology Department… Until he published a paper on Genetic Time Travel, leading to his termination. He was immediately offered a position with the Anderson Institute, a Spacetime Physics research facility. But, his experimentation with live human embryos and Time-Warped Field Theory proved too radical for the Institute. While speaking at a conference on dark matter, Simmons met Juan-Carlos Cepeda, who convinced him to join his consulting firm, where today, Dr. Simmons continues his research on Genetic Time Travel.

Franelli’s was the best pizza joint in Bensonhurst. Tony’s Uncle Joey, was the cook. Tony’s father Benny, was the cleaner. And Franelli’s Sanitation had the corner on cleanup. When Tony joined the NYPD, his father was none too happy. Marinara and garbage bags were the family tradition. Not Cops. But the neighborhood loved Tony. And Tony loved the neighborhood. He rallied the cooks and the cleaners together and Bensonhurst soon became a destination, rather than just the place you came from. Tony remained proud of his roots. Even when he moved north and married Anna, from the Bronx.

Christina Elizabeth was a Swedish general’s daughter in King Gustavus Adolphus’ army. She and the King were set to be married until Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg accused her of witchcraft. Christina fled to Italy and the King married Maria Eleonora. Against Maria’s wishes, the King named their first daughter, Christina. This proved helpful to Christina Elizabeth, for many thought she was in fact, Christina of Sweden — Heiress to the throne. Escaping arrest, Christina Elizabeth was last seen boarding a boat bound for Africa. For reasons unknown, she had forged Pope Urban the Eighth’s signature.