by Gina LaManna
The thought had crossed my mind, but it felt too simple. I told Hammond so.
“Well, maybe whoever wanted him dead wanted someone less-smart-than-you to look at the scene and think armed robbery. You’re not fooled, but maybe someone else would’ve been.”
“I suppose,” I said. “Or it could’ve been some sort of trap. Maybe Tony was there to pick up from the supplier, but it was a setup.”
“There you go. Now you’re thinking,” he said. “My work here is done.”
I stood. “When did Tony’s payroll stop?”
Hammond stared blankly at me. “Um, when he went and got dead?”
I nodded. “And Cox?”
“When he retired, the five-grand-a-month payment plan stopped. I mean, what could he do for us from his yacht? But if you ask me, there’s still got to be some money flowing his way, just not as regular, and not from me.”
“Thanks, Hammond,” I said. “Enjoy your party.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”
“I wish I could,” I said. “Some other time.”
Hammond walked me to his door, chocolate milk in hand. He took a slurp as he let me outside. “Good luck, Miz Detective. Hope you find who done Peg Leg. For the sake of his bird.”
“You and me both.”
I found Russo standing outside, leaning against the car with his eyes closed and his face tilted toward the sunlight. My footsteps crunched against the gravel, but he didn’t open his eyes until I was beside him.
“Oh, good,” he said dryly. “You survived.”
“Hammond’s not so bad.”
“That’s fantastic to hear.”
“I’ve got to get ahold of Asha,” I said. “Hammond confirmed that both Cox and Tony were on payroll.”
“Cox?” Russo raised an eyebrow. “You realize what this could mean?”
“Exposing a dirty cop, yeah, I know,” I said caustically. “Of anyone, I know what this means thanks to my dad. The difference is that Cox is already retired, and he doesn’t have a wife and two little kids at home. He’s got all his wealth tucked away, and I’ve got the sneaking suspicion that even if he’s exposed, he won’t be hurt all that bad.”
“Do you think he’s good for the Sacchetti murder?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “It was so long ago, and it’s hard to know what—and who—to believe.”
“No statute of limitations on murder,” Russo murmured as we climbed in the car. “Just saying.”
As much as I wanted to dig deeper on Cox and expose him, I had to focus on my primary murder investigation. Tony Colombo. If Cox hadn’t murdered Tony, I’d have to let him go until I wrapped this case and could re-open the Sacchetti file.
“One step at a time,” Russo said. “You’re getting there.”
“You need to stop doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Saying things like you know exactly what I’m thinking. It’s creepy. You’re like a mind reader.”
“It’s a special talent,” he shot back. “It’s what got me the job at the bureau.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed Asha. I explained to her what I’d learned from Hammond.
“He seems to think that if we follow the cash, we’ll get to our guy,” I said. “Have you had time to look at the ledger Jodie Colombo gave us?”
“I’ve been going over it like crazy,” Asha said. “And I’ll tell you what, I happen to agree with your waffle-loving friend. This ledger is ridiculously detailed. There are deposits listed by day, time... everything but the name and bank account info. And sometimes, Peg Leg did include that.”
“Any chance some of those five grand deposits have a name attached?”
“That’s the odd thing.” Asha’s voice drifted off. “There aren’t any five grand deposits.”
“What?”
“There are none,” she said. “Zero.”
“So, he kept them out of the bank, then?” I asked. “And he’s got a huge store of cash somewhere?”
“It’s possible,” she said, “but here’s the kicker. He kept track of cash deposits too.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Literally, cash deposits listed as being under his mattress. I’m staring at one right now. It says three thousand bucks, received two months ago. Under the line for account, it says Mattress.”
“It could be a code for something.”
“It could be.” She didn’t sound convinced. “Are you sure he was that smart? He listed everything else out here in detail. I don’t get the vibe Tony was a criminal genius. I think he meant it literally.”
“Well, if Colombo wasn’t depositing his stacks of five grand every month, he’s got a substantial pile of extra dough hanging around somewhere that’s not documented.”
“If someone found out about it, that could be a pretty good motive to kill him.”
“Maybe,” I said. “But why not just steal it and move on? Why murder? It’s not like Tony could’ve gone to the police and reported that a pile of illegally-earned cash was stolen out from under his pillow.”
“That is true,” Asha said. “Which makes this all the more confusing.”
We both lapsed into silence.
“We need a warrant for Cox’s financial records, too.” I waited a beat. “I’m sure you’re not happy to hear that, but I can’t let it go. Not after what Hammond told me. We’ve got to follow the books on this one. Cox is not getting off on a technicality.”
“Amen, sister.”
I could practically envision Asha cracking her knuckles on the other end of the phone. It brought a smile to my face.
“Let me know once that goes through. Or if you find anything else in those ledgers.”
“You got it.”
“So,” Russo said, once I’d hung up. “We’ve got missing money from Tony. A potentially dirty cop. A known drug dealer who’s confirmed both.”
“Don’t forget about the missing drugs,” I said. “If Tony was making a drop or picking up, there should’ve been something there to indicate that. Then, we’ve got that little secret from Angel’s place that still doesn’t make sense, either.”
“You’re talking about the goodies in the safe that you didn’t actually see because you weren’t technically supposed to be in that woman’s apartment?”
“Yeah, that.” I teased a hand through my hair. “Except, the sheer fact that we found a half kilo in her apartment leads me to believe she’s not entirely innocent.”
“Go figure.”
“I suppose Angel could’ve offed Tony,” I said, gaining speed. “You know, when I was at Gem’s looking at the security footage, I was so focused on looking for men that could have been Ricci sneaking out that I wasn’t looking at the women.”
“You’re thinking it’s possible that Angel could’ve slipped out, taking down Tony—”
“—plucked the drugs off him, and returned home?” I shrugged. “It’s possible.”
Russo’s expression turned conflicted. “I’m just not sure...”
I gave him a second to finish his statement, but he never did. I could see where his mind was at, however, and I could see his unspoken point.
“It’s hard to reconcile Angel as a killer,” I said. “I know. I agree with you.”
“At the poker game, she just seemed so...”
“Flighty?” I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s an act. Men tend to underestimate women.”
My tone came off a little salty, and Russo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I apologize if I’ve ever underestimated you, detective. And if I have, I’ve learned my lesson, and it won’t happen again.”
“I’m just having trouble making ends meet on this case. On one hand, it feels like it could be anyone. It feels like everyone is lying. It could be Hammond for crying out loud! Maybe every word out of his mouth was a lie, and the whole thing was an armed robbery, and he pocketed a boatload of cash. He knew about the five grand deposits Tony was getting. He knew
the bird.”
“The bird?”
“Peg Leg’s parrot,” I said. “I haven’t met him yet, but he’s the stuff of legends I guess.”
“Ah.”
“Maybe Hammond has been over to Tony’s house, and he stumbled upon the cash and grabbed it. Tony could have found out and threatened to come after Hammond,” I continued. “The only way to end it once and for all would’ve been to—”
“—end Tony,” Russo said while I took a breath. “I see your point. You’re getting close, Rosetti—I know it. Stick with it. A few more threads, and it will all unravel.”
“I hope so.”
“Which thread is next?”
“You really want to do this?” I asked. “We could catch a movie or something. I know your flight leaves tomorrow, and I feel awful that I’ve spent most of the weekend working.”
“I’m not complaining. I’ll take time with you however I can get it.”
Before I could choose which thread to focus on next, one presented itself to me. My phone rang. I was in for a jolt of surprise to see a familiar name on the screen.
I flashed my phone toward Russo so he could see, then put the device up to my ear and answered. “Rosetti.”
“Detective.” Gem’s voice flooded the phone. “I was hoping to discuss something with you.”
“I’m sort of busy at the moment,” I said, glancing over at Russo. “Is there a time you’d like to meet?”
“No need,” Gem said easily. “This will be quick.”
“Actually, I was just thinking of calling you myself,” I admitted. “About those security tapes, I was thinking—I was so focused on men coming in and out of the building that I didn’t look as closely as I should have at the women. Maybe we can set up a time for me to come by and take a second peek.”
“That can be arranged. Speaking of the tapes, I got a little curious myself after your visit.”
“Oh?”
“I flipped back through them, looking for other familiar faces. The man whose murder you’re investigating is Antonio Colombo, yes?”
“Yeah, Peg Leg.”
“Right. Well, I believe he’s on the tapes entering my apartment complex. A zoomed-in look, as you taught me, shows that he was, in fact, dialing up to Angel’s apartment.”
“Peg Leg was paying visits to Angel?” I said. “No wonder. That explains a few things.”
“I’m sending a still from the video to you. Maybe you can confirm if I’ve got it right.”
I pulled the phone from my ear and shared the screen with Russo as we waited for the incoming text. When the device pinged with the image, it took less than a second for me to confirm.
“That’s him,” I said, raising the phone to my ear. “Our friend Peg Leg was paying visits to Angel. You’re good, Gem. Thanks.”
“If you’d like, I can take a quick perusal and look at the women coming in and out. I’ll send through anyone I think could be Angel in disguise,” Gem said. “You’re certainly welcome to come down and take a look yourself, but it sounds as if you’re otherwise occupied.”
My phone beeped again with another call, this one from Asha. “That would be fantastic, Gem—thank you. Can you let me know if you find anything? I’ll be in touch with a time for me to come down. I’ll also get some people started on warrants because I’ve got a feeling we’re going to need those tapes.”
“As you wish,” Gem said. He paused for a beat. “Give my regards to Russo.”
I hung up, turned to face Jack. “Gem sends his regards.”
“I’m sure he does.” Russo sounded a bit huffy.
“I thought you liked the guy?”
“I respect him. That’s different.”
“He’s helping on the case.”
“I’m fully aware.”
I quickly answered the phone call from Asha before it went to my voicemail.
“I don’t have any new information,” Asha said. “I mean, nothing concrete. But I’ve got another strange tie-in for you.”
“What’s that?”
“Apparently your man Tony earmarked large amounts of cash for your girl Angel. It’s marked in the ledger here under the heading For Angel.”
“Seems stupid of him to be documenting that sort of thing,” I said. “It’s cash. What sort of drug runner documents every cash transaction?”
“One who is fine going by the name of Peg Leg?”
“I see your point. Okay, we’ll pay a little visit to Angel. In the meantime, I’ll get someone to start a warrant for the security tapes from Gem’s apartment complex.”
“Sounds like things are coming together.”
“I sure hope so.”
This time, I disconnected to find Russo staring at me.
“What?”
He gave me a dry smile. “Things are coming together, alright. But we still haven’t addressed the small fact that you got shot at this morning.”
“Well, I don’t know who shot at me,” I said. “But I’ve got the feeling it’s related to the case. The way to keep myself safe is to get the murderer off the street.”
“But who could have actually done it?”
“I don’t know, anyone,” I said. “One of Hammond’s guys, someone we shook down, it might have even been Cox. Maybe he doesn’t want to take the chance of my re-opening the Sacchetti file.”
“Would you do that? Re-open that cold case if you could?”
I didn’t answer.
“Ah,” he said. “So, it could be anyone. How do we make sure this person doesn’t hit their target the next time around?”
“We get to them first,” I said. “And to do that, I think we need to pay a little visit to the Ladies of Luxury. Tony must have met Angel somewhere, and I’m guessing there’s a good chance he ran into her at Ladies of Luxury.”
“We’ve already talked to Angel,” Russo said. “You think we’ll get more out of her?”
“I intend to find out.”
Chapter 20
Lucky was sitting behind his desk when we arrived. He didn’t bother to stand up, nor did he look surprised when Russo and I let ourselves into his office. His eyes fixated on me.
“What do you want?”
“Thanks for the warm welcome,” I said. “Believe me, if I didn’t have to be here, I wouldn’t. Tell me about Tony Colombo, and I’ll make this quick.”
“Tony Colombo?”
“Also known around these parts as Peg Leg.”
“Oh, Peg Leg. Right. What about him?’
“How often did he come here, and who did he see?”
Lucky looked genuinely surprised. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We know he was friends with Angel. You’re telling me he never came here and dropped cash on her?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, his voice raising. “Peg Leg never stepped foot in here. He was married.”
“You’re telling me no married man has ever stepped foot in this club before?”
Lucky scoffed. “What I’m saying is that Peg Leg was married, if you know what I mean. He didn’t stray.”
“It sounds like you know the guy.”
“I mean, I do know him. We played poker together now and again. We ran in some of the same circles. I’m sure you know how that goes. You’re not all that far off from these circles either. I checked you out—I know who you are. I’m sure your dad knows Peg Leg, too.”
“He does, and so do I,” I said. “Which is why I’m not liking the fact that you’re lying to me.”
“You’re talking a bunch of baloney.” Lucky outright laughed. “Peg Leg would’ve been dead years ago if he’d touched Angel. Everyone knows she’s Joe Ricci’s girl. I mean, sure, Angel works the floor, and I’m sure she has her own thing on the side, but Peg Leg and Ricci were too close. Ricci wouldn’t have shared.”
“Was it possible that Peg Leg started coming here and meeting with Angel on the sly?” I asked, wondering if maybe this case wasn’t ab
out drugs at all but instead about a woman. “And Ricci found out?”
“If you’re asking whether I think Ricci shot Peg Leg over a girl, I think the answer is no. I’m not saying Ricci isn’t capable of doing it, but I don’t think he would’ve bothered. Peg Leg was dumb, but he wasn’t that dumb.”
I chewed on that for a moment. My gut tended to believe Lucky. But then what did those ledgers mean? Where was the cash going, and why had he recorded it improperly? It made sense that Tony would use some sort of code that would make the ledger harder to read if it landed in the wrong hands, but it didn’t make sense that he’d cover it up by earmarking large amounts of cash for a stripper. He hadn’t needed to record it at all.
“Any chance Angel’s working today?” I asked. “I’ll keep it brief. But maybe she could add some clarity to this.”
“I’ll get her,” he said after a pause. “But don’t get your hopes up. I’m telling you, whoever leaked this information is taking you for a ride.”
Lucky left me and Russo alone in the office.
I turned to the agent. “Nobody gave us this information except the ledger. I need to get my hands on that ledger. Something’s not right with it.”
Russo didn’t get the chance to respond because at that moment, the door to Lucky’s office opened and in strode Angel. At first glance, I figured her to be on her way to work. She wore bright pink sweatpants and a pair of Ugg boots despite the warm spring temps outside and lack of snow on the ground. Her face was free of makeup, giving her a startlingly fresh look.
She tugged at her messy bun and released her hair in waves. “What do you want? I told you everything I know, and I don’t appreciate you interrupting my place of business.”
“It turns out you’re a hard woman to get ahold of if we let you get too far out of sight,” I said. “We’ll be brief. I need to know how often Tony Colombo came in here.”
“Into the club?” Her thin eyebrows shot up. “He’s never stepped foot in here. Why would he? Tony loved his wife and kids. He didn’t want to meet here.”
“So, you did meet with Peg Leg, just not at the club.”
“Sure. He came to my place a few times.”
