by Ali Vali
“You’re here so we can offer you the deal of your life.”
“Ramon, what’s this about?” Richard asked.
“Cain speaks for me and my family, so ask her. I just brought my checkbook,” Ramon said with a laugh.
“The reality of our situation is that you own a casino in someone else’s name. You’re Junior and Nunzio Luca’s front man, but in the eyes of the law you, and you alone, own the Capri,” Muriel explained. Ross, Steve, and Dwayne sat next to her merely listening to what was going on. “Understand me so far?”
“If this has to do with the casino deal, you need to call Nunzio,” Richard said, his breathing speeding up noticeably.
“We don’t need to call Nunzio,” Cain said, “when we have the true owner right here.”
“Cain, no matter what you do, you’re not going to make me sign anything. Whatever you threaten me with, Nunzio’s only going to do worse, and you know it.”
“Why not listen to what Muriel has to say before you turn us down?” Cain held her hands up. “But before you decide to walk away no matter what, consider this. Today is the last day any of us will talk about this deal, much less consider it. A decision you made without Nunzio’s permission brought us to this point. Do you think he’s forgotten that?”
“What do you want?”
“We want the casino, and we want to buy it from you.”
Richard was laughing so hard he slapped his knees. “That’s hilarious. Really, what do you want?”
“I’m not a huge fan of repeating myself, just so you know.” Richard’s merriment died at Cain’s words and the room fell silent again. “But I’ll explain again since it seems over your head. You can turn me and the Jatibons down and face Nunzio. Or you can accept our offer and retire to a palm tree somewhere with the money we’re going to pay you for signing your name.”
Richard sat up straighter and put his hands over his mouth. While he thought about it, Cain made a bet with herself how long he would hold out before he took the money.
“How much?”
Cain accepted a slip of paper from Ramon and handed it over. “That amount in a Cayman account in your name. You can enjoy the beach for awhile if you want, or you can transfer it wherever you like.”
“Who’s going to protect me from Nunzio?”
“That check has enough zeros to buy all the protection you’ll need.”
Richard closed his hand over the paper and took a deep breath. “If you tell me why, I’ll give you what you want.”
“You should know the answer to that,” Cain said, “but I’ll let Remi explain.”
“Nunzio took his shot at me, and this is our response. Hiring someone to kill me doesn’t come without consequences. The casino is his consequence.”
“I sign it over and you give me the money—it’s that simple?”
“You got it,” Cain said.
“But it’s worth so much more,” Richard said as he glanced at the amount again.
“Do you remember how well your negotiations went the last time you tried?” Cain shot back.
“You have the papers ready?”
Cain and Ramon nodded.
“And you’ll help me get out of here?”
“I’ll have our plane take you wherever you want to go after the transaction is done,” Ramon said.
“Let me know when and I’ll be there,” Richard said, putting the paper in his coat pocket.
“Steve, Dwayne, and Ross will escort you to the Mississippi Gaming Board Office today,” Cain said. “The application’s complete and waiting for you to sign.” Richard stood after Cain did and shook her hand, then Ramon’s. “Only your signature, Richard, nothing more that’ll delay this.”
“When did you set up the meeting with the gaming board?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” Cain said, smiling when he appeared surprised. “I’m buying a casino, but I never gamble unless it’s a sure bet. You struck me as a sure bet.”
“I’d tell you to kiss my ass, but with all that money I don’t care what you think of me.”
Simon and Muriel left with Dwayne and Steve, but Cain stopped Ross. “Are you sure about this? It’s not too late to change your mind if you don’t want the added scrutiny in your life.”
“You’re my family, and I don’t mind helping you out when I can. Besides, you don’t have to ever question your trust in me. What happened with Richard today will never cross my mind, and it’s got nothing to do with Emma or the kids.”
“Then we’ll have plenty to celebrate when you get back.”
Once the group had left, the guards did too, so Cain and the Jatibons were alone. They needed to discuss the rest of their plans, and after considering all the options Cain thought it best to strike back fast.
“Our people are in place at the casino’s hotel waiting for our call,” Mano said as he handed everyone a folder. “Muriel and I worked up a list of immediate firings. She has the pink slips with her so she can distribute them when she hears from our new owners.”
“When are we telling Nunzio?” Remi asked. Her time with Dallas had been productive as far as their relationship, but Cain and her father had given her some time off from her responsibilities to heal.
“His house is a block from the place. He should see the signs coming down,” Mano said.
“If he doesn’t, I want you to call him,” Ramon said.
“I agree. It’s only right that it comes from you, so you can tell him we’re willing to see him here,” Cain said. “From what I hear he’s still in town, and it shouldn’t be too hard to arrange a meeting since he dropped the ball with Richard.”
“Then what?” Remi asked.
“That’s up to you,” Cain said. “None of us has a bruise on their chest from a bullet impact, but I’ve got a suggestion.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I brought you a get-well present, but before you let your anger overrule your emotions, consider how we can best use it.” Cain would accept whatever Remi wanted because of what had happened to her, but if she listened, Cain’s plan could be the beginning of the end for most of their problems.
“What happened to me wasn’t personal, I know that. Nunzio just saw it as the quickest way to get us to come back to the table. I may not understand that logic, but that’s all it was and I have to accept it.” Remi stood with her hand on her chest. She was moving better, Cain noticed, but from the way her mouth pulled when she had to sit or stand, she still felt pain.
“Lou,” Cain said into the intercom to the second floor, “could you come back in with our new friend.” It didn’t take long for Lou to walk in with a much shorter man at his side. The guy was almost delicate looking, from the slim nose down to his long willowy fingers. “It was a bitch trying to find this guy, but I thought you’d like to meet him.”
“Should I know who this is?” Remi asked.
“You may not know him, but you’re familiar with his work. Jorge is the one who gave you that bruise and broke your rib.”
Remi grunted as she got out of the chair, but she moved quickly to Jorge and punched him in the face hard enough to knock him off his feet. “You’re not going to live long enough to regret that shot.”
“I hit you,” Jorge said, rubbing his jaw. “There’s no way you walked away from that.”
The complaint made Remi hit him again. “I walked away, and that doesn’t make your future worth investing in.”
“Remi, if you want to kill him I wouldn’t blame you,” Cain said.
“What else do you think I should do with him?”
“Jorge, what’s your price?” Cain asked him.
“Five hundred thousand a job. It sounds like a lot, but I guarantee success, and until now that’s what everyone’s got for their money.”
“For this job you’ll get a much better payoff,” Cain said as she pointed him to a chair.
“You want to hire me?”
“I more than anyone here understand business, Mr. Cristo. What you did was your job and
nothing personal against Remi.” Cain cut her eyes to Remi, who looked like she wanted to squeeze the life out of Jorge. “But you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar, and it’s time to make things right.”
“What’s the job?”
“I want you to take out Junior Luca, and I want you to vary from your usual style and shoot him through the eyes. I don’t give a shit what his body looks like after you’re done, but I do want to know he’s dead.” Cain watched him as she spoke and noticed he petted the beard on the left side of his mouth, as if he were trying to get something out of it.
Everyone had a tell when it came to their fear, and she had a feeling this was his. Tells were the body’s way of letting out fear and nerves, but they were also a good way to pick up on what a person wanted to keep hidden from the world. In poker they cost you the big pots, and right now Jorge’s fear was driving the movements, cluing Cain in to how easy it would be to get what she wanted.
“My price is no different for that.”
“You’re going to do it and you’re going to get only one thing in return, and my offer’s only good while you’re in this room.”
“What’s your price?” Jorge said. He pulled his hand away from his face and stared at it as if it had betrayed him by moving to his beard.
“Your life, Mr. Cristo,” Cain said with an air of finality.
“You call that fair?” Jorge’s hand returned to his face.
“You have the right to turn me down, that’s up to you. Turn me down, though, and I’m through with you and it’s Remi’s turn.”
“If you want Junior dead, then he’s dead,” he told Cain, and turned to Remi. “She’s right, this was only business. I have nothing against you or your family, but if you let me go you have my word you and your family have nothing to fear from me.”
“Do you swear it on your mother’s head?”
“I swear it.”
“Cain had her price and her reasons, but I won’t forgive what you did that easily, so I want one more thing from you.”
“You’ve got the right to ask me anything.”
“Are you right- or left-handed when it comes to your toys?” Remi asked.
“Right-handed.”
“Junior Luca’s part of the deal, but you have to carry a reminder for you not to come near us again. Maybe with enough time you’ll learn to be as accurate with your left hand as the people who hire you expect you to be.” When Remi got close to him he wrapped his hands around the arms of the chair. “Your right hand.”
Jorge held out his right index finger, his trigger finger. He made no sound as it hit the floor and accepted the handkerchief that she offered him to stop the bleeding.
“You have until tomorrow to do this, and you won’t be going alone,” Cain said as she waved one of her men over. “Once you finish, you’re free to go. Renege, and the guy I’m sending with you will pull his own trigger, and I promise he’ll be close enough there’s no chance in hell he’ll miss.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Anthony opened his eyes and shut them just as quickly when the brightness of the room felt like it was burning holes in his retinas. He’d spent another late night with Juan’s men sitting outside the Casey place watching, but trying to stay out of sight of the other watchers. It was like his old job, only the pay was better. Then there was the new bonus Juan was sharing with him.
The blankets had tangled around his legs, and he glanced down to study the heap of material. His senses were heightened, like the way the sheets felt rough against his naked skin. As he concentrated on that feeling, someone banged on his door.
He took his time, finding it humorous when the banging got louder. With a flick of his wrist he wrenched the door open, making Joe lose his balance and stumble a step forward. “Are you here to make sure I don’t oversleep?”
“We need to talk to you so go put on some pants,” Joe said. Shelby walked in behind him and studied the front room.
“Should I remind you that I’m not working after Annabel threw me out?” He took a seat on the sofa and put his feet on the coffee table. The position made his white briefs pull tautly against his groin. “Besides, maybe Shelby wants to see what she’s missing by sniffing around the Caseys.”
Joe advanced on him with his fists clenched, but Shelby stopped him before he got too close. “Agent Hicks asked us to drop by and invite you in for questioning.”
“If Annabel wants to talk to me then tell her to get her fat ass down here. I’m through with her and her fumblings. Once my suspension’s over, I’m putting in for a transfer, but not before I report her for incompetence.”
“Why don’t you get your head out of your ass and accept why Agent Hicks suspended you? It had nothing to do with your warped view of the world,” Joe said. With the tip of his shoe he pushed a stack of magazines to the floor so he could sit.
Anthony looked from the mess on the floor to Joe and smiled. “I’d love to come in and chat, but my dance card’s so full that I simply don’t have time.”
“You can do it voluntarily or we can come back in a more official capacity,” Shelby added. She took a seat at the desk. “If you want to go that route, it’ll haunt you at work for a long time.”
“You think I care about that?” Anthony wanted to scream but his head was starting to pound. “When I’m done I won’t have to worry about any performance reviews, but people like you will.”
“I don’t know, Joe,” Shelby said, her head turned more toward the top of the desk than to her friend. “When you go in for your next review do you think you’ll have to explain why you were seen leaving the airport with a known drug dealer?”
“Not to mention that dead guy in the bathroom. It would take quite a story to convince people you were nowhere near.” Joe took up where she left off.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Anthony sat up, trying to see what Shelby was so interested in. He’d heeded Annabel’s warning about money, and the cash Juan had paid him was stashed in a strongbox in the bedroom closet. “Who got killed at the airport?”
“Shelby and I both know you’re a complete ass, but don’t compound it by trying to act stupider than you are,” Joe said. “You know damn well what we’re talking about, and it’s time to tell us what you know on the record, so get dressed.”
“I’m not coming in without a subpoena, so fuck off.”
“That should take about twenty minutes. Why not take a shower and be waiting on us when we get back, because I can promise you, if you’re still in your tighty whities, that’s how I’m taking you in,” Joe said as he got up and brushed off his pants.
The two agents left and Anthony immediately got off the couch and stripped to shower. If Joe and Shelby mentioned the airport, the questioning Annabel wanted to engage in wouldn’t be friendly. There was most likely a collage of pictures of him and Juan leaving the airport and essentially the scene of a crime that’d play well to a jury.
He was dripping on the carpet in the bedroom a few minutes later, not caring if the phone was bugged. “Get ready to move,” he told Juan. “The net’s in place and the feds are getting ready to close it.”
Shelby snapped her fingers in the van and rearranged their surveillance to make sure Anthony didn’t spot them. “Are you calling Agent Hicks?” Joe asked.
“Eventually, but right now we’re going to stick to Anthony and see where he leads us. Make sure the guys know he’s one of ours and, though he’s been out of his mind lately, he’s been trained to spot us.”
“You think he’ll trip up enough to give you something?” Joe asked. They were halfway to his car, but Shelby stopped at the corner where their second team was parked.
“Call it a hunch, but yeah. Cain and her crew are still important, but Anthony’s playing a dangerous game with an unstable partner.” She leaned against the panel van and crossed her arms over her chest. Staying here would also keep her from having to stare at Muriel all day, but she wasn’t about to admit tha
t to Joe or anyone. “You stay with the Caseys and we’ll meet up later.”
“I’ll send Lionel back to help you,” Joe said, “and don’t take any chances. Like you said, Juan’s not stable, and unlike our friend Cain across town, he’s not going to respect that you’re an agent.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my head down. Call me when your shift’s done and we’ll touch base.”
Joe started walking but turned before Shelby could open the door to the van. “Remember to be careful, Shelby. Juan’s one part of this, but something’s really off about Anthony. Getting the bad guys is important, but it’s not worth getting hurt over.”
“That goes for you too, Joe. Now get out of here before our boy starts his day.” Shelby was getting comfortable in her seat when Anthony strode out and headed for his car. The van parked close to his car was Shelby’s decoy, and she laughed when he flipped them off. He peeled out of his parking spot, obviously in a hurry to get to wherever Juan was.
Shelby sat back and closed her eyes as they started at a much slower pace, confident that the three cars she had following Anthony wouldn’t lose him. He was up to something that could only help their investigation, but she figured Anthony wasn’t aware it would trigger his downfall. You didn’t cross a certain line unless it was the FBI’s idea, and he’d done it. Now there was no going back.
*
Cain sat at one end of the table with her family stretched out between her and Ross. When he got back, they’d picked Vincent Carlotti’s place to celebrate and were waiting for the main courses.
“Daddy, I think the tycoon persona looks good on you,” Emma said of his suit and tie. “The cows won’t recognize you.”
“I’m having so much fun I might leave the cows to Jerry and his guys.”
“Then our brilliant plan worked,” Cain said, lifting her glass of iced tea in his direction. “I’m sure if we give these guys a vote, they’d tell you they want their grandpa to stay,” Cain said about the kids. “Then there’s the other reason.”
“The first one’s pretty good, Cain,” Muriel said. “I’m not sure there’s a better reason than grandkids. At least that’s what Da keeps telling me.”
