by Ali Vali
“Remington Jatibon, daughter of reputed mob boss Ramon Jatibon, was gunned down this morning as she stepped out of a car in front of the Pescador Club. Jatibon was taken down by a single gunshot. She never had a chance, as you can see from the footage.” The picture changed to the one of Remi looking up, and then just as quickly she was on the ground. “With one single shot one of the more colorful lives in corporate America comes to an end. The family has offered no comment so far, but we will keep you informed.” The talking head droned on while the shot played repeatedly.
“This can’t be happening,” Dallas said, having to hang on to Emil to keep herself on her feet.
“Come on, Dallas, we can’t stay down here.” Emil dropped the bags and practically dragged Dallas to the elevator.
“You want these sent up, Emil?” the security guy asked.
“Call for Juno and she’ll take care of it.” Once the doors closed, he put in the key for the penthouse floor, then held on to Dallas. She was glassy-eyed but seemed in shock rather than grieving. “Once we get upstairs I can make some calls and find out what’s going on, but you have to hang in there. This isn’t a good time to give up.”
“She’s not coming back,” Dallas repeated, as if she were trying to convince herself it was true.
As they entered the penthouse, Dallas’s cell phone rang and she answered it without checking to see who it was, thinking it could be news about Remi. “Hello.”
“Have you been in front of a television today?” Bob asked. “If not, let me be the first to give you the good news. The dyke is dead and I want you back in the house by this afternoon, if you know what’s good for you. I told you, sweetheart, we’re partnered for life and no one can come between us.”
Dallas dropped the phone and barely noticed as it broke in two when it hit the marble floor. She made it as far as the sofa before she collapsed and started crying.
Emil watched her and forgot about his calls, opting to sit with her and hold her. Since Dallas was pressed to his chest she never saw the tears that spilled down his face for the loss he was sure would destroy both Ramon and Marianna, but especially Ramon. His boss had been gifted with two wonderful children, but Remi held a special place in his heart.
Now that place was dark, and Emil was sure it would die away, taking Ramon with it.
*
“Send the money. It’s done right where you wanted it. Ramon should be able to give a proper farewell.” Jorge Cristo spoke into the prepaid, untraceable cell phone. He was parked on Canal Street, studying the map from the car he’d rented in Houston. Knowing someone might be waiting on his arrival, he had landed in Texas a couple of days early and driven in.
“I’ll wire it this morning, and since I’m getting to watch it on television, I might throw in a bonus.” Nunzio watched the smug face on the screen contort with pain again. He had to remember to send the reporter some flowers for having the good fortune to be standing there when it all went down. If his father needed proof, he’d e-mail him the evidence. Watching Remi die on the news was as satisfying as good sex.
Getting a blow job while watching the bitch die again and again wasn’t all that bad either. He put his hand on the back of Kim’s head and pulled on her hair to get her to slow down. “Take it easy, babe, I want to enjoy this.” He pressed the play button on the remote and watched Remi fly into the car in slow motion.
All he had to do was wait a few days for Ramon and Cain to get through the funeral, then make the deal. If Ramon refused, little sweet Mano would be next. He wondered how he could get that on tape as well, if it came down to having to call on Jorge for an encore.
“Oh yeah,” he said as Kim sucked harder just as Remi’s head turned upward in slow motion. “This is better than fucking to porn.”
Chapter Forty-Five
“I want that hijo de puta’s head on a pike,” Ramon screamed as Katlin holstered her weapon.
“Ramon, you need to sit down,” Cain said from behind the bar. As soon as Katlin had told them what had happened, Cain had watched the furor rise in Ramon, his face reddening and his chest heaving as if he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs. “I’m sure she’s fine. You need to stay calm when you call Marianna. Drink this, it’ll help.”
“She’s fine?” The way he laughed, Cain was afraid he wanted to hit something, and she would have been as good as anything. “Didn’t you hear what Katlin said? The bastard shot her in the middle of the chest. Since we know who pulled the trigger, it’s almost certain it was through the heart.”
“I considered that possibility and had Mano take care of something. You have to trust me.” The phone rang, interrupting what Cain was saying, and since Ramon still appeared to be in no state to talk, she picked it up. “Marianna,” she said, then took the receiver away from her ear. “What?” Cain searched behind the bar for the remote control. “Stop watching and call Mano to come sit with you. I’ll have Ramon home soon.”
She pointed the remote at the television Ramon kept on during sporting events for people who’d bet on the games. The station Marianna had told her about had returned to regular programming, and Cain was relieved Ramon would be spared for now. Later in the day it’d be the lead story, and he’d have to face the ugliness of what had happened.
As she went back to explain why she’d stopped to watch television, the phone rang again. Cain picked it up and listened to Ramon’s employee from downstairs. “Stop them at the door and I’ll be down in a minute. Whatever you do, don’t let them anywhere near the stairs. Cops love situations like this to get into places they’re not wanted.”
“What now?” Ramon asked.
“Katlin, get down there and keep the cops company,” Cain said first. “I’m sure the 911 system lit up like a Christmas tree after that cannon shot, and the city’s finest is on the case. They’re here and they want answers, since Simon hasn’t shown up at any of the local hospitals.”
“Why would she?” Ramon asked. He sounded like the rage had burned itself out and despair was starting to seep in.
“Ramon, go home and sit with your wife and leave this to me. I’ll deal with the cops, but before you go, give me Simon’s number.” She dialed the number he gave her and it rang three times before Simon answered. “Tell me.”
Ramon stood right in front of her and put his hand on the arm Cain was using to hold the receiver to her ear. “We’re headed to the spot we talked about,” Simon said.
“Talk to Ramon,” Cain said, and handed him the phone.
Ramon listened to Simon and his legs buckled. The phone slipped from his hand and he fell against Cain, sobbing. “Call me when you get there,” Cain told Simon before hanging up. To Ramon she said, “Get home and don’t make Marianna wait for you any longer than necessary.”
Cain took a deep breath and headed downstairs to give the cops as little information as possible. What had happened was over, and there was nothing for them to investigate. She’d take care of that. She walked down the stairs slowly to take in the bottom floor and see who’d drawn the short straw of getting the case assigned to them.
The group assembled around Katlin had their backs to her, making it hard to recognize the detectives. Since Katlin was her height, Cain was surprised to see the white-haired cop standing so close he could’ve head-butted Katlin. Obviously he liked to use his height to intimidate, a tactic lost on Katlin, who stood with her arms crossed and a smile on her face.
“If you have a problem with anything, take it up with my boss,” Cain heard Katlin say when she was close enough.
“Then get their ass down here,” the cop said. The voice stopped Cain on the last step since, while it was deep and rich, it was definitely not male.
“The ass is here, but you know me better than that, to have such a low opinion of me,” Cain said.
Detective Sept Savoie turned around and put her hands on her hips. The straight cut of the light gray jacket did a good job of hiding anything that would give away her gender. Smart for her ch
oice of career, thought Cain as she walked over to her.
“Cain, it’s been awhile,” Sept said, holding her hand out. “I’d love to catch up on old times, but I need to talk to someone in the Jatibon family.” Sept spoke in a no-nonsense way.
“Sept, you were the same on the playground in kindergarten. You think if you bark loud enough someone will give you whatever you like, but that’s not possible right now. You can talk to me or you can sit down here and wait until the family’s available—your choice.”
“Our friendship doesn’t mean anything right now. This is official police business. Get Ramon down here or I’ll have a team of cops here in less than ten minutes and take this place apart, including all those nice slot machines nobody wants to admit are up there.”
“Ooh, forceful,” Cain said as she pulled out her phone. “Muriel, yes, I’m already here. Be here in less than five minutes. Don’t let me down. We’re under the gun since they’ve sent in Wyatt Earp.” The comment made Sept’s almost black eyes narrow to slits.
“It’s Detective Savoie, jackass,” Sept said with a smile that made her appear sarcastic without trying. “And you haven’t changed all that much from the playground either. You always thought if you make enough smart comments, you can get away with anything.”
“Calm down, Sept. There’s a huge line ahead of you trying to get me, and I’m sure you’re as good as the feds.”
“Do you have any idea where Remi Jatibon’s body is?”
“No, I don’t,” Cain held up her fingers, “Scout’s honor.”
“You do realize she’s been shot?” Sept said, stepping into Cain’s comfort zone.
Cain had to cock her head back to make eye contact, but she smiled instead of showing any fear. To make Sept back down first, Cain moved forward in the little bit of room left until the tips of their shoes touched. “I’ve known since someone told me they watched it on television. What are you doing here instead of trying to find the asshole who actually shot her? Isn’t that the way it usually works? Someone shoots someone else and the cops go after the one with the gun, not the one who took the bullet. Why are you wasting time trying to harass the Jatibons or slow dance with me instead of giving them justice?”
“I already know how to do my job, but thanks for the advice. Do you know how I can get in touch with Ramon Jatibon?”
“If you have a court order, it shouldn’t be a problem to get him to come to the door. Since you won’t get off your obsession to bother the Jatibons right now, you can wait outside,” Cain said, and stopped smiling. “Good seeing you again, and tell your mother I said hello. At least she has a sense of humor, but I have a soft spot for people with absolutely none.”
“My sense of humor’s fine,” they all turned around when Muriel came in, “when I find something funny,” Sept said. “The day we finally put you away, I’ll be giddy. I’ll come over and play poker with you every so often, since I’ll know where to find you.” With a flick of her wrist she signaled for her partner to get going. “This isn’t over.”
“For once we agree on something.”
Katlin waited until they left before looking at Cain. “Now what?”
“Now we light a candle and contact the spirit of Remi.”
Katlin laughed. “You know Ramon looked mad enough to kill, so you might want to tone down the humor.”
“You have to have a little faith, Cousin.” Cain considered how to get out of there and lose the locals as well as the feds. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Not on your life,” Lou said. “There’s some nut out there with a scope.”
“The nut finished what he came to do. The fact that he was early means I have to put my shit on hold and deal with this. We’re walking, but not out that door,” she said, meaning the front door. “I’m sure the feds have the back covered, but we’re going out that way.”
The back alley was deserted, but Cain could hear the sirens getting closer. She wasn’t worried about the cops now, even if they did manage to push Muriel aside. It would take them a week to cut through the door Ramon had installed to protect the secrets of the second floor. His friends within the police department would come through way before then.
Cain had a lot to do but decided to start with the one person everyone else had forgotten about. Remi’s relationship with Dallas was still in its infancy, but Dallas didn’t deserve the pain she was in. She took her phone from the inside pocket of her jacket and dialed without looking at the pad. “Emma, meet me at Remi’s as soon as you can manage it, but tell Merrick I want a wall around you from the minute you leave the house.”
“You okay, honey?”
“I’m fine. Just thinking about my supply chain.”
*
It seemed like hours had passed since they heard the news, but Emil and Dallas were still sitting together on the sofa. Dallas felt drained, but she stood up and headed for the room Remi had put her in when she’d first come over. She looked from the hall to the front door and wondered how a day that had started so great had completely blown up in misery.
“Do you want me to get you something?” Emil asked.
“I need a ride home,” Dallas said as she tried to think if she’d left anything in Remi’s room.
“You need to hold up on that, but if you’d feel better going home I’m coming with you.”
“Mr. Jatibon will surely want you back with him. Now that this has happened, there’s no reason for you to stay.” Her lip trembled as she tried to smile. His presence was comforting, but he also reminded her of Remi. Jealousy coursed through her when she thought of how much more time Emil had spent with Remi than she had.
“You only met Ramon once, but if you don’t want me to get fired for leaving you alone, you’ll accept that I’m staying with you. Remi’s wishes are still in effect. You were special, and if something happens to you, that would—”
“What, kill her?” Dallas asked, but the words tasted like bile in her mouth. “That’s already a reality, as much as I don’t want it to be true.”
“Come on.” Emil put his arm around her and walked her to Remi’s bedroom. “Try and get some sleep, and when you’re up for it, we’ll come up with a plan we’ll both be happy with.”
“I’m sorry for being so much trouble, but I don’t think I can sleep.” She got into bed anyway and Emil sat on the edge.
“Then close your eyes. I swear it’ll make you feel better.”
She grabbed his wrist as he started to leave. “How could this have happened?”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Remi knew what was coming, and even though it was early, she should’ve been more prepared. She’s Ramon’s child, and he knew she’d outshine him. Remi was smarter, savvier, and more vicious than Ramon, but she seldom showed that side. She understood the life’s dangers, but whoever ended her life like this took the coward’s way out.”
“I wish I’d done a better job of telling her how I felt about her while she was here. I kept putting it off because I was afraid, and now it’s too late.”
Emil held her hand between his, and the differences in their sizes were so great, Dallas felt like an infant. “I think she knew. She told me to watch over you because you meant something to her. Do you know how incredible that is? Remi never let any woman get close. She loved very sparingly, but she didn’t want you out of her sight for long. That had something to do with keeping you safe, but there was so much more.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
He stood up and nodded. “Get some rest, but call me if you need anything.”
Emil left the door open so he could hear her if she did need him, but he kept going until he reached the sliding glass door out to the balcony. He wanted to call Ramon, but he didn’t want Dallas to think he was anxious to leave. As he was about to dial, the elevator rang announcing a visitor. Cain and Emma walked in, followed by a distraught Juno.
“Lass, why don’t you take Juno into the kitchen and make her some tea,” Cain told Emma. When
Emma looped her arm with Juno’s, Cain put her arms around both of them. “Juno, I swear on my family that everything will be all right.”
“It’ll never be that way again. I’ve known Remi from the day she was born. She’s like my own, and now this.” She cried against Cain’s chest, and Emma moved out of the way. “And I’m so worried about Simon. I haven’t heard from her.”
“Emil,” Cain said, still holding Juno, “could you get Dallas in here. I’ve got news you all want to hear.” Flanked by Emma and Juno, Cain led them to the kitchen where Juno told Emma where to find everything to make tea. Dallas fell immediately into Emma’s arms, and Emma held her as she cried.
“Honey, you need to sit and listen to Cain or you’ll make yourself sick,” she told Dallas.
“I’m sorry you all had to watch that on television today,” Cain said. “It was a fluke, but that can’t be helped now.”
“You said you had news,” Emil said.
“Ramon and I talked to Simon earlier, and she’s fine,” Cain said for Juno’s benefit. “She went to the one place I thought no one would think to look, and the one place you wouldn’t appear out of place going to,” she said to Dallas.
“Where is she?” Emil said, his face a clear picture of confusion.
“At Dallas’s house in the French Quarter. Are you packed, Dallas?”
“I’m sure Remi would want her to stay here,” Emil protested, and Juno nodded.
“What Remi’s going to want when she wakes up is to see Dallas, Juno, and you. That way when you report back to Marianna that her baby’s bruised but definitely breathing, she won’t think you’re insane.”
“She’s alive?” Dallas asked. She let go of Emma and grabbed Cain by her arms and shook her. “Is she?”
“We planned for the shooting, but not for the television coverage. She’s alive, and I’m sorry you went through the pain of watching something that made you think otherwise. After seeing it I think it’ll only help us, since it’s so convincing.”
