A Bullet for Carlos (35 page)

Dominic didn’t laugh, but his expression said a smirk was just under the surface. “This…police business is not as clean as it looks.”

“Better than your side.”

“Except at times you cannot tell one side from the other.” Dominic wiped his face with the napkin, took another bite of biscotto.

“I need an answer to a question,” Frankie said. He took his time preparing another piece of cheese. “It won’t come back to hurt you or Connie, but it’s something I need to know.”

“Ask. If I can help I will.”

Frankie leaned close to him. “Did Connie call you the night she got shot?”

Dominic looked at him with eyes that probed his soul. “And why do you need to know this?”

“I’m trying to help her.”

Dominic nodded, and leaned back. “I’m sure she already told you, but yes, she called.”

Frankie wanted to ask if he then sent Manny to save her, but he held back. “Why are you doing this? What’s Connie to you?”

The silence between them was short, then Dominic stared at Frankie, and when he did his eyes went through a transformation—from threatening and dangerous eyes, to soft, caring ones, and even though he looked straight at Frankie, Dominic’s eyes seemed lost. “I don’t expect you to understand this, but Concetta is my life.” His focus returned with a short bob of his head. “She is everything I ever wanted and could never have.”

Frankie looked at him, was about to say something, but then Dominic continued, this time exuding his usual sense of danger. “
That
is the terrible price I pay for my sins.”

Frankie nodded, but said nothing. There was no sense. A very dangerous man had just made a confession to a non-priest, an enemy. Frankie realized that for maybe the first time in Dominic Mangini’s life he had revealed himself to someone, and he probably didn’t like it. If Frankie took advantage of that, he’d be a dead man. He knew it, so he shut up.

Dominic reached across the table and grabbed Frankie’s limoncello. He downed what remained in one gulp. “I will call you to let you know when it is going down, and where. Be ready.”

“I will.”

Dominic turned to him as he stood. “You have people you can trust?”

“Only a few.”

“Good. I knew you were the right one. You cannot trust too many people in this world, Detective. I am glad you understand that.”

Fabrizio, the guy with the hawk eyes and nose, had already come to escort Dominic out. He tossed a hundred-dollar bill onto the table and led their way to the door, those eyes catching every movement.
This guy is good
, Frankie thought as he watched Fabrizio. He’d have seen a fly take a shit on the windowsill. He reminded Frankie of Nicky, a friend from the old neighborhood.

Frankie grabbed another piece of cheese from the plate and headed out, happy that he’d come to the meeting. If Dominic was telling the truth, and he felt certain he was, they would soon be tossing some dirty cop in jail,
and
getting Gianelli off the hook to boot. He thought about calling Gianelli to give her a ray of hope, but he didn’t want anyone knowing about this yet. He had to control who knew what in case of a leak. Mazzetti was the only one he’d let in on this.

And Morreau…yeah, him too.

Frankie got to his car and opened the door. An envelope lay on the seat. He took a quick look around, then opened the package.
Phone records.
Son-of-a-bitch.

Chapter 42

Preparations

S
aturday came far too early for my pleasure. I hadn’t been to a formal event since the prom, and that had been a disaster. I opened the car door and threw my make-up bag onto the passenger seat. After Elena insisted on helping me get ready, I decided to dress at Tip’s house. I had mixed feelings about that. I liked Elena, admired her and envied her, but on the other hand I
was
jealous of her relationship with Tip. Maybe it was just jealousy because Elena
had
a relationship, never mind who it was with. In either case, the lady had been kind enough to lend me a dress, shoes, and a purse, not to mention about a billion dollars worth of jewelry. More than once I thought of hocking her jewels and taking off to a remote island. The damper on that dream was I had no one to go with.

I turned onto the gravel driveway leading to Tip’s house, and enjoyed the serenity of that short moment it took to get to his place. I shook my head to clear the thoughts. It was only about an eighth of a mile but the drive was flanked by woods on both sides, and it wasn’t unusual to see deer or even coyotes, and almost always a bunny or two munching on clover by the fence. I shook my head to focus. I’d be with the upper crust in a few hours, and not just upper crust, but the stratospheric crust. What the hell did I know about that.

Flash greeted me as I got out of the car, snarling and twisting her body into a shape that shouldn’t have been possible for man or beast. “Hey, Flash. How’s it going, girl?” I reached down and petted her then pushed past, holding my bag up so as not to drag it. I hoped Elena didn’t think too poorly of me. Not that it mattered, but…it did.

It took an hour
to dress, but that included make-up, an area where Elena proved invaluable; for that matter, she proved invaluable in all areas. The whole time, I thought back to when I was seven. I was going to be the flower girl in a wedding for one of Uncle Dominic’s friends. Mom had made me a dress like Scarlett O’Hara’s in
Gone With the Wind.
I was so excited and proud. Uncle Dominic kept telling me how beautiful I was and everyone said I would steal the show from the bride. Nothing, though, topped the glow in my mother’s eyes as I walked down the aisle. I wished she could be here now.

I stared into the mirror and almost cried. For a few seconds I couldn’t talk. “My God, Elena. I don’t know how to thank you. I don’t…”

Elena put her hand on my shoulder and hugged me. “You are
gorgeous
.” Elena paused, blushed. “Listen, I don’t know what there is between you and Tip, but Tip and I…we go back a long way. I—”

I grabbed her and squeezed. “Don’t say another word. We’re partners, that’s all. Trust me, I like Tip, but not how you think.”

Elena’s smile, when it came, was genuine. “Thanks.”

We both laughed, then hugged again. “Come with me,” Elena said, “It’s nearly time to go.”

She grabbed my arm and led me through the dining room to the front door.” Tip was waiting.

“Before you go, let me fill you in on the Maxwells,” Elena said. “Virginia grew up a River Oaks’ brat with more money than…anything. She could recite Emily Post’s book on etiquette before she could her ABC’s, and she wears her husband, Jeff—who she insists on calling Geoffrey—around her wrist like a bracelet.”

“Sounds pleasant.”

“Anything but,” Elena said. “And be careful of
Geoffrey
, he thinks he’s a charmer.”

“All right, I think I’m armed.” I hugged Elena, and when I turned, I found Tip staring at me with a special look in his eyes.

“Damn you look good, girl. I mean
real
good.” He blushed then, and turned to Elena, almost as if he embarrassed her.

“Go on, you two get out of here,” she said, “and have fun.”

***

Carlos paced in his
living room, smoking the last few drags of a Fortuna. “Where the hell is she, Tico? I told you I cannot be late.”

“She is coming up on the elevator right now, señor.”

“Tell me again, what is her name.”

“Mena”

“Mena? What kind of name is that? I told you I wanted a Spanish speaking woman.”

“Mena is short for Filomena. She is from Argentina. Her mother was Italian and her father Argentinean. She speaks perfect Spanish and Italian, and is fluent in English; in fact, she works for you. She runs one of your stores in the Uptown center.”

Carlos smiled. “I knew I could count on you.”

Manuelo opened the door, admitting Mena before Carlos had finished his cigarette. “Señor,” he said, and bowed, introducing her. “Señorita Mena.”

Carlos walked briskly to her. “So nice to meet you, Mena.” He hugged her, then stepped back to observe and evaluate. His eyes took in every drop of her. “
Que bella.
”

She blushed, lowered her head. “Señor, you are too gracious.”

“Gracious or not, you will be the most beautiful thing at the ball tonight.” He held his hand out for her to grasp. “Come, we must go.”

Tico rushed to get the door, then after they went through, he hurried ahead to get the elevator door and hold it open. “Manuelo, tell Roberto we need the car.”

Roberto brought the car, stepped out and held the door for Carlos and his señorita.

“This will be a memorable evening,” Carlos said, as they got into the car.

***

I could barely breathe,
and the closer we got to the ball, the more difficult it became. “Tip, maybe I should go home.”

“Go to hell.”

“Have you been to these events before?”

“A few.”

I checked to see if he was lying, unable to picture Tip attending charity balls, but then again, nothing about him surprised me. He was a different kind of character.

Tip turned to look at me, his voice soothing. “Don’t worry. All you have to do is smile and talk to people. Believe me, most of them will be as nervous as you. And let’s not forget why we’re going.”

My body tensed. “I want to see Carlos’ face when he finds out about his precious club.”

Tip looked at his watch. “Roberts and her crew should be there by now, along with a couple dozen of Bobby’s guys.”

“Promise me if this doesn’t work you’ll let me shoot Cortes.”

“I promise.”

***

Carlos’ phone rang as
they pulled up to the hotel. “
Diga
.”

“
Señor, no quiero interrumpir, pero..
.”

“English, Tico.”

“Si. I would not bother you, but there is grave news. El Paradiso has been raided by cops and the reporters were even with them. They have it on film.”

A long moment of silence followed. “Have
what
on film?”

“Many people with drugs. Other things.”

“I thought we paid people.”

“I don’t know, señor, but the reporter said that Detective Gianelli said to say hello.”

“Gianelli.” the way he said her name was almost a curse. “Thank you, Tico. That will be all.”

The driver parked the car then opened the back door. Carlos let him help Mena out, then he stepped out. It was almost impossible to resist looking at Mena, her perfect figure, her smooth tanned skin, dark hair…but all he could think of was Gianelli, and what he would do when he finally got his hands on her.

Chapter 43

A Big Event

C
arlos took his time getting inside, allowing the crowd time to admire Mena, and in effect, admiring him for having her on his arm. He nodded to the people he didn’t know, and he embraced those he had met previously, introducing them to Mena afterwards.

After discussing a zoning issue with a city councilman, Carlos noticed old friends approaching.

“Carlos!” Jeff Maxwell greeted him warmly.

“Good to see you, my friend.”

Maxwell turned to Mena. “And who is this lovely creature?”

Carlos stood back. “Please, I would like you to meet a dear friend of mine.” He brought her forward. “Mena, these are my good friends, Jeff and Virginia Maxwell.”

“It is a pleasure, Mena,” Virginia said, wearing her best smile.

“And please, call me Max,” her husband said, and embraced Mena. “So nice to meet you.” He bowed and kissed her hand.

Virginia’s face reddened, perhaps fueled with a tinge of jealousy. “My goodness, you’re so beautiful, and here I am in my shabbiest dress.”

As Mena formed a response, Virginia grabbed Carlos. “There is someone you must meet. Come with me.”

Max took Mena’s hand,
leading her through the crowd. “You better let me help you. I’m afraid the men might mob you.”

She blushed. “Señor Maxwell, you are too kind.”

Max had a gentle, friendly laugh. “Not kind—jealous. I don’t want anyone else having time with you.” After walking around a while, Max introduced her to a few couples, then grabbed both of them a drink. “What do you do, Mena?”