Carve the Heart

by A. G. Pasquella

  If anyone was lying, though, my money was on Anton. Smiley Anton got up, shook my hand again, and then walked out of the VIP room. Fisher stared at me with those pale-grey dead-fish eyes. “Stay here for five minutes.”

  This dude was really rubbing me the wrong way. “Or what?”

  Fisher sighed. “Come on, man. Work with me here. You want to waste time exchanging threats, we can do it. But it’s been a long day. I’m going to drop Anton off at his place and then I’m going home. You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to have a bubble bath. I’m going to put on some music, I’m going to smoke a joint, and then I’m gonna sink right down into that warm bubbly tub and I’m going to try to forget all this shit.” Fisher shook his bald head. “I don’t know what Cassandra’s problem is. Anton helped her out of a jam and now she’s trying to skip out on six hundred large? Naw, man, naw. You gotta pay the piper. When the bill comes due, you gotta man up and pay it.”

  “Bubble bath, huh?”

  Fisher’s grey eyes narrowed. “Yeah, that’s right. A motherfucking bubble bath. I’m not afraid to say it. I’m telling you, Jack, that shit’s relaxing. Try it, tough guy. See for yourself.”

  “I’m not going to sit here for five minutes. I got shit to do.”

  Fisher sighed again. He ran a huge hand over his shaved skull. “Let me put it this way. If Anton is getting in the car and you suddenly pop up on the sidewalk, there’s going to be trouble. You want trouble? Because, personally, I could live without it.”

  “Sounds like you’ve lost your passion for your work.”

  “Work is work. I do my job, I get paid. You?”

  “Yeah. That’s about how it goes.”

  “Then work with me here.” Without another word, Fisher turned and headed out of the VIP room’s murk and gloom. Anton was waiting for him at the entrance. Tomasso was hovering near the doorway, not sure what to do. I gave him a slight nod. Tomasso stepped aside and Fisher and Anton headed out through the crowd.

  The woman in the glowing halter top came over and placed a folded piece of paper on the table. For a split second I thought she was giving me her phone number. Then she said, “You need the machine?” I chuckled. Anton, that crafty bastard, had stuck me with the bill.

  I slapped a few twenties into the server’s hands. “Keep the change,” I said. Then I headed back into the Starlight’s main room.

  Eddie was sitting on a bar stool with his back to the bar, taking in the hustle and bustle of the club. He saw me and raised his glass.

  I walked over and joined him. “Another?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, sure. How’d it go?”

  I shot Eddie a grin. “I’m still alive.”

  “Always a plus.”

  I gestured to Veronica and ordered two Scotches. Eddie and I clinked glasses. Time to celebrate another day of living.

  The Scotch burned down my throat like liquid fire. Warmth blossomed in my belly. Goddamn, it was good. “You saw them leave?”

  “Yep. It was just the two of them. No soldiers stationed at the bar.”

  I sipped more Scotch. “And you didn’t have to run in, guns blazing.”

  “Good thing, too.” Eddie raised his glass to his lips. “I hate running.”

  “Then it was a good night.”

  “So what’s bothering you?”

  Goddamn, Eddie could read me like a book. “Anton said he didn’t threaten Cassandra.”

  “And you believed him?”

  “Yeah, I did. You should’ve seen his face. He actually looked offended by the idea.”

  “All right, so he’s the only gangster in history who’s never threatened anybody. What does he do, smile at people until they pay up?”

  “I’m sure he’s threatened people. He just said he never threatened Cassandra.”

  “Which means — assuming he’s telling the truth, that is — that Cassandra lied to you.”

  I nodded.

  Eddie drained the last of his Scotch. “Let’s get out of here. All these naked ladies, man. If we don’t leave now, I’m gonna start throwing my hard-earned money around.”

  We said our goodbyes to Veronica. Together, Eddie and I walked through the club’s doors out into the ebb and flow of Yonge Street.

  I walked with Eddie to his car. Years earlier, there was a shooting just south of here. Some gang shit that had spilled over into the streets. A fifteen-year-old girl was caught in the crossfire, got shot, and died. One minute she was out shopping with her friends, the next minute, gone. Ask me again why I don’t like guns.

  I eased into the Lexus and closed the door. Eddie slid into the driver’s seat, reached into the centre console, and pulled out a pack of Doublemint gum. He offered it to me and I pulled out a foil-wrapped stick. Eddie pulled out a stick of his own, peeled off the foil, and popped it into his mouth. He put the car in gear and we rolled out of the parking lot.

  Eddie glanced over to me. “Safe house?”

  I wasn’t ready to talk to Cassandra. Did she lie to me? She obviously felt threatened. Her fear of Anton was genuine.

  I shook my head. “Let’s head back to the ranch. Melody’s waiting for me.”

  Eddie’s left eyebrow shot up. “Melody’s at the casino? Alone?” Eddie stomped on the gas.

  “What’s the rush? You think she’s going to bust up the joint?”

  “I don’t know what to think.” Eddie chomped his gum furiously. I could tell he was weighing his words. “I know you guys are close, but … I don’t trust her, Jack.”

  I was quiet for a minute. “I’m not sure I trust her, either.”

  Eddie grunted. We zoomed south to Yonge and Dundas. These days the intersection looked like something from some crazy science fiction dystopia. Giant flashing billboards towered over the street. A little touch of Blade Runner here at the heart of the city. Eddie spun the wheel and we headed west along Dundas, leaving the flashing chaos of Yonge Street far behind us.

  We pulled into the alley behind Eddie’s building and climbed out. Downstairs, Eddie’s guy Josh was manning the door. He threw it open and shook Eddie’s hand as the big man walked by.

  Inside the casino it looked like business as usual. No smoke, no fire. I spotted Melody right away. She was sitting at the bar surrounded by four men, a martini glass in front of her. Since when did she drink martinis?

  I walked over, lowered my head, and kissed her. The men grumbled but I didn’t care. “All good?”

  She nodded, smiling. Her green eyes sparkled. “Everything’s hunky-dory here, Jack. These guys were just explaining the finer points of poker. Whaddaya think, fellas? Am I ready to play?”

  The men cheered. As a group, they started marching off to the poker tables. Melody caught my hand as she brushed past me. “How ’bout it, Jack? You feelin’ lucky?”

  “Another time. You have fun.”

  One of the Poker Bros pulled out a chair for Melody. She sat down at the green felt tabletop and grinned. “All right, gents — what’s wild?”

  Another Poker Bro, a serious-looking guy with greying hair and horn-rimmed glasses, frowned. “No, see — wild cards are for home games. There’s nothing wild in Texas hold ’em.”

  “Except the bets,” said another bro.

  Everyone laughed. I smiled. Melody was playing dumb. She claimed she didn’t gamble, but give her an hour and she would clean these guys out.

  Melody played cards. Eddie and I sat at the bar and drank.

  Eddie finished his rusty nail and called for another. Then he turned toward me. “You gotta talk to her, Jack.”

  I squinted over at the poker table. “What’s she doing now?”

  “No, not her. Cassandra.”

  “I will.”

  “She’s not telling you the whole truth.”

  I sipped my Scotch. “I’m starting to get that feeling myself.”

  “So …”

  “I’ll talk to her, I’ll talk to her.”

  Melody came bounding up to the bar. She held up a fat wad o
f cash and winked. “Guess I’m just a fast learner, eh, Jack?”

  I nodded. “Beginner’s luck.”

  I eyed the four guys who had been playing poker with Melody. They glared back at me. The professor-looking guy with the horn-rimmed glasses got up and headed over to us. I set down my drink and stood up.

  The Professor ignored me. He turned to Melody. “How about another game?”

  “Nah.” Melody grinned. “What’s that they say? Quit while you’re ahead.”

  “The fair thing to do would be to give us a chance to win our money back.”

  I stared at The Professor. “She said she’s not interested.”

  “Who are you, her manager?” The Professor leered at me. “Her pimp?”

  I hit him. The Prof’s glasses went flying. He stumbled back, arms windmilling, eyes wide. He bumped against a table and fell to his knees. His three friends surged forward, powered by booze. Two of Eddie’s guys appeared instantly, like they had just beamed down from the mother ship. The Poker Bros’ courage evaporated. Eddie stood up, walked over to The Professor, and hauled him to his feet. “Time for you and your friends to go.”

  “He … he hit me.” The Prof was clutching his jaw. Blood trickled from his mouth.

  Eddie nodded. “He sure did. You can’t harass women in here and expect to get away with it.”

  “I didn’t —”

  “Yeah, you did. You want to get the police involved? We all saw what happened.”

  “No,” The Prof muttered. “No police.”

  “Smart man.”

  The Prof was smarter than he knew. Eddie wouldn’t call the cops over something like this. If the situation escalated, Eddie and his guys would handle things their way.

  Eddie bent down, scooped up the man’s glasses, and handed them to him. The Poker Bros shuffled toward the exit.

  Melody nestled up against me. That sunshine and coconut smell. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Let’s do it.”

  Melody and I bumped through the door of my office, my ring of keys jangling in my hand as we kissed. We pushed together, her hands going lower as she fumbled with my belt. I kicked the door closed and gave her a hand, whipping off my belt and yanking down her pants. My hand cupped the front of her lacy white thong. She groaned and then let loose a little yelp as I picked her up and tossed her onto the couch. She threw her poker winnings into the air and laughed as the money rained down. I pressed my hands against her thighs and pushed her legs apart. I hooked the front of her thong with my finger and pulled it to one side, revealing her pink slit. I lowered my head and buried my face in her folds.

  Melody grabbed my head and pulled me closer. My tongue went to work. After about fifteen minutes, I raised my head and yanked down my pants and boxers. I slipped inside her with one long thrust. She gasped and held on to my back. I started to move, pumping in and out. My head buzzed with alcohol and adrenalin. She felt so goddamn good.

  My burner phone buzzed. Oh shit, not now. I pumped harder. Melody yelped. The phone buzzed again. Shit. I stopped and fumbled the phone out of my pocket.

  “Let it ring.”

  “It’s Cassandra.”

  “Let it ring!”

  Fuck it. I threw the phone across the room and plowed into Melody, faster and faster and harder and harder. Her hands dipped lower, rubbing her clit as I pounded into her. She bit her lip and shook. Everything went white as I came. My body shuddered as I pumped deep inside her.

  We lay together on the couch, spent. The sweat from our bodies was cooling off. There were twenty-dollar bills stuck to my legs. I started to rise but Melody grabbed on to me. “Don’t go.”

  “I’m going to get a blanket.”

  “No. Just … stay with me.”

  I lay back next to her on the couch. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out. I brushed a stray blond hair off her cheek and gave her a little kiss. She smiled and nestled closer, her eyes still closed.

  Across the room, my phone buzzed again.

  Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow.

  CHAPTER 9

  Eddie woke me up by banging on my office door. Pale morning light was shining through the window. I shuffled across the floor, shirtless, and popped the door open. My head was killing me. I needed a little hair of the dog. I glanced back at my desk. The bottle of Scotch was empty. That was okay. Eddie had some top-notch stuff down in the casino. Of course there was no need to crack open the premium stuff so early in the morning, but then again there was no reason to drink the cheap stuff, either. I looked back at Eddie, and then I noticed the expression on his face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Vin called. Cassandra’s gone.”

  I got dressed in a hurry. I pulled on a dark-grey T-shirt and buckled up yesterday’s pants. Melody sat up on the couch and rubbed her eyes. She wasn’t wearing a shirt. Eddie gazed past me and stared at her breasts. She had one freckle about half an inch away from her right nipple. She raised her arms above her head, stretched, and yawned. “What time is it?”

  I walked over and gave her a gentle kiss. “Eight-fifteen. I gotta go. Something’s come up.”

  “Cassandra?”

  “Yeah.”

  Melody yawned. “All right, baby. Get that money.”

  I still hadn’t talked to Cassandra about money, but I could worry about that later. Melody rolled over on the couch, turning her bare back to us. Eddie and I rumbled out of my office and thundered down the stairs. Eddie lit up a cigarette as we went. “Vin woke up this morning and she was gone. No note, nothing. Her bedroom window was wide open. All her stuff was gone, too.”

  I nodded.

  We spilled out onto the Chinatown streets and blinked in the early morning air. The fact that all her stuff was gone was a good sign. A kidnapper wouldn’t have taken the time to pack. Cassandra would’ve been yanked through the window and that would’ve been that. Her stuff being gone also meant something else. I didn’t want to say it. I looked over at Eddie. He took one last haul on his cigarette and then flicked it into the gutter. “Looks like she ran.”

  I climbed into the Lexus. Eddie followed, lowering himself down into the driver’s seat. The car sank down a few inches as the big man got inside.

  “Vin’s still at the house?”

  Eddie nodded. He patted his pockets for more cigarettes. “He feels terrible, Jack.”

  “It’s not his fault.”

  “Yeah. He still feels terrible, though.”

  I rubbed my hungover eyes. “You don’t have a flask in here, do you?”

  Eddie gave me some side-eye. “It’s a little early, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah.” I rubbed my eyes again. “Fuck it. How about some coffee?”

  “At the safe house.” Eddie pulled out another cigarette and sparked it up. The big man put the car into drive and we sailed out of the alley.

  I tried to push thoughts through my hungover brain. Shit, my phone. It was still on my office floor. Had Cassandra really tried to call last night or had that been a dream?

  “Say, Eddie, let me borrow your phone.”

  The big man frowned. “Where’s yours?”

  “On the floor. Just … can I borrow it?”

  Eddie pulled one of his burners out of his suit jacket and slapped it into my hand. “Local calls only, okay?” He winked. It was a dumb joke he and I had been doing for years.

  I phoned Melody. Her phone rang five times and went to voice mail. I hung up and phoned again. This time she answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s me. Do you see my phone?”

  Melody groaned. “Man, what have you got against sleep? I mean, I don’t care if you wage a one-man war on sleep as long as it’s your sleep, you dig?”

  “Sorry. My phone, though. It should be on the floor over by my desk.”

  “Yeah, yeah. It’s here.”

  “Are there any texts from Cassandra?”

  Silence on the other end.

  “Hello?”

>   “Seriously, Jack? You woke me up for this?”

  “It’s important, okay?”

  “All right, all right. Hold on.” I heard a thump and a bump as Melody rolled off the couch. “Okay, checking … um … no, no texts. I have her number, though. You want it?”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ve got it. Thanks, Mel.”

  I could practically hear her grinning over the phone. “So, am I on the payroll now? Junior Investigator First Class. Just the facts, ma’am, nothing but the facts.”

  “You’re hired,” I said. She laughed. “Talk soon.”

  I hung up and punched in Cassandra’s number. Wouldn’t it be nice, I thought, if she just picked up the phone? “Oh, sorry, Jack. Didn’t mean to worry you. Something came up, though, and I had to split in a hurry. Don’t worry about Anton and the money, that all got worked out. I’ll send you your fee ASAP. How’s twenty percent?” Shit, as long as I was fantasizing, why not make it fifty percent? A hundred? More? “Your fee is fifty million bucks plus a unicorn and a dodo egg. Expect it all in the mail in three to six weeks.”

  Cassandra’s phone kept ringing. It cut off before going to voice mail. The line went dead.

  I passed the phone back to Eddie. “No answer.”

  “Sorry, Jack.”

  I nodded. “Wasn’t really expecting one, but you never know.”

  Eddie thrust the phone out toward me. “Call Vin.”

  “What? No, man. You call Vin.”

  “Hey, I’m driving here. You can’t drive and talk on the phone at the same time.”

  “Sure you can. People do it all the time.”

  “It’s not safe, though.”

  “Since when are you all about safety?”

  Eddie grunted. “What are you talking about? I’m all about best practices and always have been.”

  “All right, all right. Give me the phone, Safety Bear.”