“I need to set up a meeting with Bruno,” I said. “Let’s hope I can convince him he’s in more danger by coming after us than leaving us alone.”
“Why not just show this to Anthony Cardoza?” Skip asked. “He’ll probably kill Bruno and our problems will be over.”
I shook my head. “Actually, Bruno’s only one part of the equation. We’ve still got Jackie and Mateo Carli to worry about.”
“Maybe I could take care of Jackie,” Lily said.
“I don’t think so, Lily. I hate to tell you this, but Jackie has decided you’ve become a liability.”
“That might be because I know stuff.”
Skip and I both peered at Lily. What information could she possibly have, unless… “Did you overhear things when you were hanging out at the bar?”
“All the time. Most of Jackie’s crew got so used to seeing me that they just said whatever.”
My breath quickened. “What exactly do you know, sweetheart?”
She shrugged. “All kinds of stuff. Like when Jackie had Drake kill a guy who beat up one of the girls.”
“You mean one of his prostitutes?”
“Yeah. The dude hired her for the night and in the morning he said he didn’t have the money. When Melinda said she was gonna call Jackie and tell him what happened, the dude beat her up. I heard Jackie tell Drake exactly how he wanted him to do it. It was in all the papers.”
“Did the police investigate?” Skip asked.
“Yeah, but because Drake made it look like an overdose, they like blew it off.”
“Do you have any proof of this?” Skip asked.
Lily reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone. She opened an app, tapped an icon, and Jackie’s voice started.
“You go to the guy’s place at nine tonight. He’s expecting a delivery from Cardoza. Tell him you’ve got the stuff and as a reward for switching dealers, you got a little present for him. No rough stuff, you hear me, Drake…” The conversation continued and eventually Drake acknowledged his instructions.
“The dude died that night from an overdose of Oxy and alcohol. Drake took a picture of the dead guy to show Jackie. He likes to document his work when he’s super proud of it. He’s totally messed up.”
“Why did you make that recording?” I asked. “Don’t you realize how dangerous that was?”
Lily’s back straightened; her jaw tightened. “It’s because of him that my mom’s dead.”
My voice cracked when I tried to speak. “So you thought you might be able to take him down.”
Her determination faltered; her shoulders slumped. “I knew the cops wouldn’t believe me because I was just some random homeless kid…” She wiped at her runny nose as her voice trailed off.
I pulled her close and held her while Skip watched, shaking his head sadly. When she pulled away, I knelt next to her. “I get it; you had to try.”
She nodded, sniffled, and bit her upper lip. “When you took me in, I didn’t want to go back.” A tear dribbled down her cheek. “I decided it wasn’t worth it—that I wasn’t worth it.”
Lily’s sobs filled the room. I held her, let her cry, and felt my own tears streaking down my cheeks. When I gently pushed her away, I looked into her eyes. “Don’t you ever think that about yourself again. You are so worth it. You’re precious, Lily, and I never want you to forget it. You’re also one of the bravest girls I know. And you know what else? We’re taking Jackie Fontanal down.”
She sniffled and peered at me. “For real?”
I nodded. “For real.”
Skip was watching me with that look he gets when he suspects I’m planning something big. I was, but this time it wasn’t illegal. “Roxy? What are you thinking?” he asked.
“I’m thinking your friend Grimes might want to hear what’s on that recording.”
All of us, even Richards, watched Skip expectantly.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Under normal circumstances, I would say we shouldn’t get near this, but I don’t see where we have any other choice.”
“Awesome!” Lily pumped her fist, then held up her hand for a high-five.
Richards nodded and gave me a weak smile. “Miss Tanner, if there is anything I can do to help, it would be my honor.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Mr. Richards, but I’m the one who owes you. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, let me know.”
“I ask for nothing in return. I am merely an old man awaiting my time.”
I nodded and backed away. “I mean it, Mr. Richards. If you ever need anything…”
He tapped a quivering finger against his lower lip for a few seconds before he answered. “There is one thing. Perhaps you could come visit once in a while with Lily. Her youthfulness lightens my burden.”
“Would you teach me to paint?” Lily asked.
Richards looked at her. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Before we start making plans, we have a lot to accomplish,” Skip said. “We need an insurance policy to protect you two from Jackie. I can get you back to Baldorf’s so we can document what Lily knows. He may have suggestions for how to put the most fear in Jackie.”
My hands felt clammy, and I subconsciously wiped them on my jeans. “The easiest thing to do would be to just run.” I gazed at Lily, and added, “But that would be unfair to you. So, we need to do something so bold it will convince Jackie we’re not afraid of him.” I took a deep breath. “I’ll deliver the recording in person.”
I expected Lily to throw her arms around me and beg me not to do it, but she just nodded. “Jackie totally respects people he can’t intimidate. It could work.”
“Only ‘could work?’” I asked.
“Will work,” she said firmly. “It’s totally gonna work.”
“You sure you’re up to this?” Skip asked.
“I may be out of practice, but I’ve got a lot riding on this so, yes, I am up for this. We also have to find a way to deal with the painting. It’s too big to stuff in a closet and storing it someplace Bruno will never find it is a problem. And before we figure that out, we need a neutral place to meet him.”
“Right. We need someplace he wouldn’t think to double-cross us. I’m sure he’ll go to any lengths to even the score, so it definitely has to be a public place.”
“What about the library?” Lily asked. “It’s got study rooms, so he can’t like just go in shooting.”
“It’s only a half-mile from here,” Skip said. “We could cover the painting and carry it in.”
“I have a box you may use for transportation,” Richards said. “It will be my contribution.”
I still wasn’t sure how this library thing would work, so I looked at Lily. “You’re saying we could tell them we’re having a discussion about this painting and need a room and they’ll give it to us?”
“If they got one available. I could totally reserve one.”
Skip and I exchanged a glance and shrugged. “Worth a try,” he said.
“Agreed. As long as we don’t get shot carrying it in.”
While Lily and I boxed The Last Warhol, Skip measured the dimensions of the car. He returned wearing a long face.
“Don’t tell me it’s not going to fit,” I said.
“It’s not, and not a small amount. We need a bigger vehicle. A pickup truck would work. We might have to rent one.”
“Or not,” I said. “I have an idea.” I pulled out my phone and dialed Bud’s number.
He answered in his usual cheery tones. “Rare Finds, how may I help you find your dream art?”
“Seriously Bud? That’s pretty cheesy.”
“Hey, Roxy. I had a meeting with a business improvement expert, and he suggested I come up with something catchy for answering the phone. Too much?”
“You sound like a game-show host.”
“Ouch. Guess it’s back to the drawing board. What’s up?”
“I need a favor. Actually, two. And they’re both big.”
&n
bsp; “This have anything to do with our friend Mr. Richards?”
“He’s donating a piece to the cause of saving our lives. The problem is, once we’re done with this piece it needs a home.”
“How big is it?”
“About four-by-three.”
“Feet? That’s not so big.”
“Bud, it’s coming from Mr. Richards.”
“What are we talking about? Are there people looking for this particular piece?”
“Not exactly. It’s The Last Warhol’s twin.”
“Twin? There’s no…oh… Does P.T. say it’s identical?”
“Yes.”
After a long pause, Bud said, “Wow. That’s huge. What would you want me to do with this painting?”
“For now, help me transport it to the Oceanside Library. After that, I’d like you to store it. I’ll pay you back.”
There was silence for only a few seconds. “Let me sell it and we’ll split the proceeds.”
“Bud, I’ll give you the painting, but it can’t go on the market. Not yet, anyway.”
“Roxy, you’d be surprised how much that piece will be worth to certain collectors.”
“I don’t want money, Bud. What I want is to save our lives. You can keep all the proceeds, but I can’t let you sell it. Not yet.”
“Time is not a problem. I recognize this is a long-term commitment. I don’t care how long it takes.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Skip
ROXY DISCONNECTED THE phone and faced Skip. “Bud will pick it up in thirty minutes and transport it to the library meeting room.”
Skip burst into laughter. “Why is an art dealer interested in a forged painting?”
“He said it has value to ‘certain collectors.’ I don’t know who these guys are, and I don’t want to know. As far as I’m concerned, that’s Bud’s business. Now, let’s get busy. We have to figure out the logistics of this whole thing and we don’t have a lot of time.”
Skip stared at Roxy. “What if he puts that piece on the market tomorrow?”
“Bud won’t do that,” Roxy said firmly.
“No. He will not,” Richards said. “Not only is Mr. Stranton an honorable man, he is also a wise one. He will honor his word and wait as long as it takes.”
Skip took a long, slow breath and looked at the two of them. “If you’re in, so am I. We need to get a recording of Lily. We’ll also need a photo of you and that.” He pointed at the painting. “It will be our bait for Bruno.”
“He’ll freak when he sees it,” Roxy said.
“He won’t be able to stay away,” Richards said, a sly smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
Roxy pulled a cell phone from her purse and handed it to Skip. “I might as well get some use out of this. It’s my last burner.”
“That’s awesome,” Lily said. “We get to use a burner to hide from the bad guys.”
Roxy said, “Cool your jets, kid. Once we expose that number to someone, it’s no longer secret.”
“That’s why I want Baldorf to deliver the message anonymously.”
“Skip, Bruno will connect the dots immediately.”
“Let him. If he figures it out, he’ll think I’m getting sloppy. If he doesn’t, he’ll think he has it figured out the moment he shows up at the library. Okay, let’s get busy.” Skip took out his cell phone and stood on the other side of the room. He gestured for Roxy to stand in front of the painting. “Say Cheese.”
Next Lily called the library and reserved a study room for 2 p.m. Skip sent the photo to Baldorf with instructions, including the time and place of the meeting and how he wanted the message delivered.
They returned to the kitchen and found Lily sitting at the table. Richards made more tea while Skip and Roxy wrote up a script for Lily. He offered an occasional suggestion, and when they had a final product Skip offered to let Roxy use his phone to video Lily, but Roxy pulled out her burner.
“Like I said, I should use it.”
It was eleven by the time they were ready, and Skip hoped they’d done enough. Jackie’s cooperation relied on the video and Roxy’s sales skills.
“When do you want to meet with Jackie?” Skip asked.
“As soon as possible. Lily, when does Jackie show up at the bar?”
“He’s almost always there for lunch. Then he takes off for a few hours and goes to the gym.”
Roxy snickered as she reached back and repositioned the scrunchy holding her hair. “Well, at least he stays in shape. I never would have guessed. Then lunch it is. I’m starving, but let’s hope I can ruin Jackie’s appetite.”
“I’ll go with you,” Skip said.
“No, I have to fly solo on this. He’ll see your presence as a weakness. The way I’ll get his attention is to walk in by myself.”
Lily squared her shoulders; her brown eyes were as intense as Skip had ever seen. “I should totally go.”
“That’s not a good idea,” Skip said.
“We need to keep you safe, sweetheart. You’ve been through enough over the past couple of days and I don’t want you to have to go through anything else.”
Lily shook her head, and Skip could see she’d made up her mind. The truth was, he didn’t want either of them to do this alone, and maybe that was the key. “What if we all go?”
“No, absolutely not.” Roxy glared at him and shook her head.
“Hear me out,” Skip said as he raised both hands in a sign of surrender. “Baldorf has four earpieces. You two could walk in, and I’ll stay outside. I can park nearby, but we’re all there for each other.”
“I’d get to use some of Baldorf’s cool spyware? Awesome!”
“No,” Roxy said. “No, no, and no.”
Skip kept his voice level, knowing the only way he’d convince her his plan was solid was to walk through it completely. “Hear me out. Do you remember how Lily said she would sit at the end of the bar and the bartender gave her soft drinks? You were friends with the bartender, right Lily?”
“Totally. Dave’s like a super nice guy. He’s got a kid my age and he would show me pictures of her in her school plays.”
“And the bouncer? Maxie?”
“Maxie’s awesome. He’s got kids, too. But he won’t come in until six.”
“Damn,” Skip said. “I was hoping we could use him as leverage.”
“I know the girls who work lunch. Does that help?”
“It will, yes.” Skip looked at Roxy.
Her jaw had tightened as she gazed off to one side. “So you’re thinking Lily does her thing and schmoozes while I play hardball with Jackie. Basically, we’re adding the pressure of his own people turning on him.”
“Exactly. There’s strength in numbers. And if Jackie thinks there are a bunch of witnesses—he’s not stupid. He’s well aware any one of them might turn on him.”
“Miss Tanner, you are clever and understand people. I do not know this man you are plotting against, but I can tell you this. A good actor uses all the resources available. Would you not be limiting yourself by not taking advantage of your resources?”
Roxy laughed and whispered, “You’d have made one helluva conman, Mr. Richards.” She let out a long breath, then looked at Lily. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“Totally. You’re always telling me I have to be strong and deal with whatever life throws at me. Roxy, I’m the one Jackie wants to get rid of. I gotta like deal with this. Besides, I kinda thought all those people at the bar were my friends. This is how I can find out. I just wish Jackie wasn’t gonna get to go free.”
“You are one gutsy kid.” Roxy licked her lips as she gazed at Lily. “I knew that the moment we met. You’re fearless, and that worries me.”
“It may take a little while, but Jackie won’t get off,” Skip said. “Grimes wouldn’t be able to use what we have as evidence, anyway, so we’ll give him some clues and point him in the right direction. Jackie will get his payback, but it will come from the law, not us.”
>
Lily thought for a moment, then gazed at Skip. “I’m cool with that.”
“I’ve got the earpieces in the car. I’ll go get them and we can patch Baldorf in. Who knows what little techno-twist he could add. Be right back.”
Skip stood and went out the back door. On the way to the car, he opened the communication line with Baldorf.
“Hey, buddy, I’m back.”
“Dude! I wish you’d stop like turning me off. You’re giving me a bad case of friend-rejection syndrome.”
“Sorry, but I’m trying to protect you, remember? We have a plan to neutralize Jackie. We’ll need another earpiece for Lily.” He described the plan, and when he finished, he asked what else they might do to make it more solid.
“Dude, you’re going to the Angry Dog? You sure that’s going to work out?”
“It has to, buddy. I was hoping you might have some techno-whiz trick up your sleeves.”
“Give me one minute, bro.”
Skip waited, tapping his foot impatiently and looking up and down the street. This was a peaceful neighborhood, even quaint in some ways, but his tension was palpable. When Baldorf returned, he sounded chipper, almost excited.
“Get Roxy to message that video to me, dude. I also need a couple of the ones the kid made.”
“What do you have in mind, Baldorf?”
“We’re gonna freak Mr. Drug Kingpin out something fierce. This is gonna be awesome.”
“Are you going to tell me what you’re up to?”
“No way, bro. Time for payback, so I’m keeping you in the dark until showtime.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Roxy
WE PARKED ON the street a few doors down from The Angry Dog. The door was closed, so we sat in the car waiting. When the bartender opened, Skip remained behind while Lily and I prepared for our grand entrance. The bartender was still removing chairs from tabletops, but stopped when he saw Lily. He smiled at her, then me, and approached with his arms extended.
“Hey, kid, where’ve you been?”
Lily stepped into his embrace, and when he released her, she looked at me and said, “This is my…friend, Roxy.”
Shadows from the Past Page 24
