The Lagotti Family Series

by Leopold Borstinski

They followed Tom into the lift and up to the seventh floor, below the penthouse level. Through the hallway and into a living space with a couch, an armchair and a TV on a stand by one wall. Opposite the entrance to the room was a wall of glass leading onto a balcony. To the right, and close to where they were standing, was another door leading to the bedroom and an en suite bathroom. Along the corridor between the living space and the bedroom was a separate bathroom for room guests, so they didn't have to go through the bedroom to hit the head.

  The boy showed them all the rooms and opened the curtains wide to reveal the balcony. Then he ceased his talking and stood, almost to attention.

  “Is there anything you need?”

  “No thanks.”

  “Then I’ll be going.”

  Despite his words, Tom didn't move a muscle until Frank pulled a greenback or two out of his pocket and placed them in the boy’s palm. He looked down and smiled.

  “Thanks, mister.”

  Frank smiled back, knowing he had made a friend he could rely on. You have to love a town where a stranger can buy loyalty with five one dollar bills. Financial transaction ended, the boy shuffled out the room and closed the door behind himself.

  The couple placed their black bags on the coffee table by the couch. Frank went into the bedroom and Mary Lou checked out the furniture in the living room. There was a sideboard with sliding doors. If she removed the shelf, both bags would fit in fine. As she bent down to her task, Frank came back.

  “Let’s hide the bags under the bed.”

  “Isn't that a bit obvious?”

  “No more obvious than stashing the take in the first piece of furniture you see when you walk into the room.”

  Mary Lou tilted her head, thought for a moment and nodded.

  “No better, no worse.”

  “Let’s split the difference.”

  Mary Lou took one bag and shoved it into the sideboard, sliding the door shut while Frank hustled the other bag and hid it in the bedroom. Then they both sat down on the couch to take stock.

  “Do you have the number of your LA guy?”

  “Mark? Yes. I’ll call him soon. We also need to decide how to handle Frankie.”

  “You told Frankie we’d meet up tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I know, but I've been thinking...”

  “Do you not think we should get him off our back?”

  “Of course, but if we clean the money, we could go to ground and reappear somewhere different. And not have to worry about Frankie or deal with him or anything.”

  “I reckon you’re right, besides we won’t have to worry about him for very much longer.”

  “Huh?”

  “Nothing, just mumbling. You’re right. If we focus on the money, Frankie will take care of himself.”

  “That leaves us only having to worry about the FBI and the East Coast.”

  Silence descended as they both thought about the seriousness of what Frank had said. Mary Lou nuzzled into Frank and they hugged while they sifted through ideas about what to do until the end of Sunday. One step at a time: there was no point planning too far ahead. Not at this point in their lives.

  Frank placed a call to Mark but the voice at the other end said he was out and wasn’t expected back for a few hours. Mary Lou suggested they order delivery pizza - a luxury for the pair of them as they’d been on the road forever.

  They told the concierge to let Tom bring the pizza up to them and handed him another fat tip.

  “Tom. You going to be around for the rest of the weekend?”

  “Sure am.”

  “Good. If you hear of anyone come asking about us, let us know, right?”

  “Sure will, mister. You expecting trouble?”

  “Nope but we’ve eloped see and we don’t my wife’s family come storming in here giving her hell. They don’t like me, okay?”

  “Oh, I understand, mister. I’ll listen out good.”

  “Thanks, Tom.”

  Mary Lou had opened the box by the time Frank sat back down on the couch and, within ten minutes, they had devoured the large pizza. Mary Lou took the box and walked round the living room until she spotted the trash bin. She bent the box in two and squished it in. Then she turned round to return to her seat.

  Frank watched her all the while.

  “What’re we going to do now?”

  In response, Mary Lou slipped out of her skirt, pulled down her panties and unbuttoned her shirt, letting her bra fall to the ground to join the rest of her clothes. Frank stared just below her tattooed rose. She smiled and looked at his face while she soaked in the desire of his gaze.

  “I can probably think of something, hon’.”

  Mary Lou walked into the bedroom, followed by Frank, who had already removed his jeans before her bra had hit the floor.

  PHIL MCNAMARA AND Ted Goodwin took a plane from Las Vegas - one advantage of being on a government salary. Phil had received a report that the Lagotti pair were heading for LA and he saw no reason to prolong their stay in the casino capital of the world. The place seethed with organized crime and this G-Man did not like the smell.

  They landed at Los Angeles International Airport and grabbed a taxi to the local FBI headquarters on Wilshire Boulevard. McNamara showed his badge and the receptionist let them through - Goodwin signed in as his guest. The Fed hightailed it to the bureau chief: politics are the same wherever you go in the world.

  “Just checking in, boss. We’re hunting the First Bank of Baltimore robbers and have word they’ve hit town.”

  “Thanks for the heads up. Make yourselves comfortable if you can find a desk.”

  “Much appreciated. If our source is correct, we’ll be out of your hair by Wednesday latest.”

  “Take all the time you need - and if there's a warm body spare, feel free to ask for some help.”

  “Will do - and thanks again.”

  “Quick heads up: two burned bodies were found with some cash fluttering around them out in the wilds north east of the city. Serial numbers match the Baltimore heist but the corpses have yet to be identified.”

  “Mob hit on the Lagottis?”

  “Possibly.”

  They left the suit’s office and walked round the floors until they reached the basement where two empty desks stood opposite each other.

  “Time to pitch tent.”

  Ted nodded and flopped down on his chair. McNamara settled in and filled the desk drawers with files he’d been lugging from his case.

  “What now? And you never told me the identity of your source.”

  “That’s because it’s not on the up and up.”

  “Oh?”

  “You see my agency is hopelessly conflicted as far as I can tell. We spend our time trying to catch the biggest, most-organized criminals the country has ever produced.”

  “Okay - and your problem is...?”

  “But sometimes you need the help of a thief to catch a thief.”

  Beat.

  “So you have an informant out east who’s feeding you their whereabouts?”

  “Close enough.”

  “Not exactly right either though?”

  “No. The relationship is closer than that.”

  Ted’s quizzical expression stared back at Phil, who felt no need to expand on anything he’d said.

  “Does it go into the mob?”

  Ted whispered the question for fear he might hear the answer. McNamara looked left and right but there was no-one within earshot. He nodded and Goodwin whistled in a mix of disbelief and the utmost respect.

  “While I’ll be...”

  “So the best information has come from the East Coast, if you get my meaning.”

  “And what do they expect us to do if we recover the cash?”

  “Ted, if you have to ask the question, I’m sure as hell not going to dignify it with an answer.”

  “You’re kidding me?”

  “No. If we get the money off Frank Lagotti, we will make damn certain the cash gets lost i
n the evidence room.”

  “And the Lagottis?”

  “Rumors of their deaths may have been greatly exaggerated. We’ll have them in custody and they’ll be safe with us. It’s not like Lagotti is Lee Harvey Oswald.”

  Ted stared at him in abject horror.

  “You tellin’ me...”

  McNamara laughed.

  “Joke. I was joking with you.”

  Goodwin tried to guffaw but couldn’t bring himself to do so.

  “Focus, Ted. Just because we know they are in the same city as us doesn’t mean we have any idea where they are. Follow me.”

  He stood up and Goodwin tailed him as McNamara strode to the stairwell and headed up. He knew his way around the building because he reached the computer room without asking anyone for directions.

  “Why do you think they traveled across the country to get to LA?”

  “My early investigations told me it was the place Frank Lagotti always wanted to go.”

  “Sure but why still head here after the bodies piled up?”

  Ted shook his head.

  “There must be someone or something here to draw them all this way.”

  McNamara turned to a technician and explained they were looking for any connection with Lagotti who might reside in the city. He was fed some background by Goodwin and the computer scientist sat down at his console and typed away.

  “Let’s get a coffee. This could take some time.”

  Ted nodded and they left the building and walked along three blocks until they reached a restaurant. McNamara ordered two coffees and a slice of cake each. And then they waited. An hour later they returned to the computer room where Harry the technician greeted them.

  “Some good news, gents.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’ve got some matches for you. One is a man who shared a cell with Lagotti in Baltimore. Mark Tucker, now in Glendale.”

  He passed a piece of paper to McNamara with the address and other personal details.

  “And the other match is much warmer. Local news has been running mugshots of both your felons the last two days in Nevada and California and they were spotted this morning in Burbank.”

  Ted nodded and McNamara shook Harry’s hand, followed by Goodwin.

  “Time to wear out some shoe leather.”

  36

  FRANK LOOKED IN between Mary Lou's legs to see the time on the bedside table clock. Almost two. He kissed her on the nearest available cheek and pecked at her rose with his tongue until he remembered he shouldn’t get distracted so easily.

  Mary Lou watched as he left the bed and headed for the living room to grab a notebook from his bag and place a local call.

  “Is Mark there? ... I’ll hold.”

  Frank turned to check out the rustling sound as she sat beside him on the couch. Both were naked.

  “Mark? Yes, it’s Frank L. How’s it going?”

  The first minute was catchup chatter with nothing worth Mary Lou listening to but she leaned into Frank’s side in case hearing Mark’s words later became important. He let his free hand slide down onto her thigh and played near her groin, which she found distracting but tingles mounted up and down her spine, nonetheless.

  “Listen, bud. I’ve a favor to ask you.”

  “What’s that, my man?”

  “Are you still in the same game as when we last met?”

  “Well, I’m a lot more free nowadays, but the play is the same.”

  Mark and Frank chuckled and then got down to business.

  “Do you have any goods you want to pass my way then?”

  “Sure do. Only these goods need a fantastic clean first.”

  Mark let out a whistle of approval.

  “Glad to hear you’ve been moving up in the world, Frank. All the time you spent going on and on about your last failed coup must have paid off for you. Respect.”

  “Thanks. We are in a much better position than last we spoke.”

  “We? You riding with someone else?”

  “Sure am. She’s my business partner.”

  “She? How open-minded of you. Good job you’re in California - it’s mighty used to hep cats like you.”

  “Can we meet up and talk some more? Phones attract the wrong people, you know.”

  “Understand, Frank. Best place for our kind of conversation are some flat, wide spaces. You play golf?”

  “Huh? No. Have you joined a club or something?”

  Another chuckle.

  “No way, José. But there’s a course right next to the airport and I like to meet associates there. Could you get near the tee off for the fourth hole tomorrow morning? Say ten?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “I’ll be easy to spot: I’m the dude in the golf cart who looks exactly as you remember him - only now I shave once a week.”

  Another chuckle and Mark hung up. Frank put the receiver back onto its perch and returned the phone to its side table.

  “You hear all of that, babe?”

  “Yes. Sounds like we got the rest of the day to ourselves, hon’.”

  “We should stay in the suite.”

  “Are you sure? I wanna be a tourist.”

  “It’s not safe for us out there.”

  “What if we go in disguise?”

  Mary Lou flicked Frank’s dick and tickled his balls while they spoke.

  “This could be our one chance to enjoy California. You’ve spent too much time dreaming of getting here to spend it stuck in a hotel room in fear of your life. Come on, Frank. Let’s do it.”

  He sat back thinking through Mary Lou's argument. She was right: there’s no point living like a coward: face the unknown. Of course, Frank wasn’t stupid. He waited a few minutes before starting his trip so that Mary Lou could finish her slobbering around his groin. The man liked the mystery of California and all it represented to him, but he loved having Mary Lou go down on him even more.

  More hair dye, a shower for both and they were ready to take on the world wearing dark sunglasses and hats, turned up collars and long coats. In case of trouble, Frank and Mary Lou carried a piece each. When they hit the lobby, Tom the bellboy was standing to attention waiting for his next mission.

  “Any news for me?”

  “Nothing yet.”

  “Keep your ears open and your mouth shut.”

  “Will do, mister.”

  Tom pocketed the dollar without raising an eyebrow. Frank and Mary Lou hopped into a cab and headed to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

  THE CAB DROPPED them off next to the Chinese Theater. Frank and Mary Lou joined the throng staring at the ground, looking at the footprints and signatures of the famous from yesteryear. When Mary Lou looked down, Frank kept watch glancing left then right. After she’d had her fill, he would look at the concrete floor and she would be the guard.

  With no conversation between the two, both maintained their hands on their guns throughout the entire experience. Panhandlers filled the area: Marilyn Monroe lookalikes, Bogart buffs and Cary Grant impersonators. If you had a camera around your neck, you were fair game to pay them to stand near you and have a photo taken.

  One Marilyn made the mistake of approaching Frank but he used a simple and direct approach to sending her off without fuss:

  “Beat it, cutie. This john isn’t for sale.”

  “Suit yourself. This girl’s only trying to earn herself a living.”

  “Then do something honest like turning a trick, you blond whore.”

  “Take it easy, Frank.”

  “Sorry, babe. She got on my nerves. Hard to trust people nowadays.”

  “I know, but a hooker’s still only a hooker. Her hot pants don’t make her a member of the mob.”

  Frank slung a glance at the teenager as she slunk off looking for someone else to punch her card. Mary Lou was right though. He needed to stay calm to survive until the end of the weekend.

  As he double-checked the sidewalk for the millionth time, Frank noticed
a heavy set dude who stood out from the crowd. Not only was he the only dude in a black three-piece suit within ten miles of the place, but he was heading in their direction at a fast pace. No way was the guy a tourist - unless he’d just left a meeting and was a stranger in town.

  The hat was the final item that set Frank on edge. Despite all the wannabe lookalikes who’d surrounded them the previous ten minutes, this fella looked as though he was trying to be Humphrey Bogart. Like trying too hard for his own good. Something was wrong in the state of California.

  Frank tapped Mary Lou on the shoulder and she stood up as he pointed in Three-Piece’s general direction.

  “What you reckon?”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll tell you.”

  They stepped back from the crowd and inched to a nearby wall. She opened her bag as though searching for some long-lost family heirloom. Frank positioned himself opposite her looking in all directions but squarely staring at Three-Piece, who kept pounding toward them.

  “Well?”

  “Not good.”

  “Yep.”

  Three-Piece was twenty feet away and they could make out the contours of his face. Frank pulled out his gun and held it lowered. Fifteen feet.

  Mary Lou tried to sink into the wall having pretended to find the mystery object from her clutch bag. She saw the gun, saw Three-Piece and looked at the gun again. Ten feet.

  “Frank...”

  Five...

  “Quiet!” snapped Frank.

  Three-Piece had brown eyes entirely focused on the ground, like he was hurrying to get to his destination with no interest in his surroundings. Given he was marching past one of the most famous sidewalks on the planet, this was unusual behavior. Neither Frank nor Mary Lou liked it.

  The suit continued walking as Frank swiveled to continue to face him in case he was about to turn around and act. When he got twenty feet away, he stopped right outside the Chinese Theater entrance. Mary Lou stepped forward to mask Frank’s gun from the passersby.

  The guy bent down and appeared to tie his shoelace but Mary Lou couldn’t quite tell what he was doing for real. He stood up and twisted to face the theater. Frank’s arm remained poised to extend, aim and fire.

  She strode to the kerb and put her hand out to hail a taxi. Whatever happened in the next five seconds, she didn't want to stick around much after. A yellow cab pulled up and she grabbed open the door as Frank stood his ground, waiting.