Page 46

Elvira tapped the keys. “I’ll forward a copy of him taking the measurements to you.”
Carlita thanked her and headed for the door. “The first thing we need to do is figure out what happened to Enzo.”
“Start blowing stuff up,” Snitch said. “Scumbag Stagusso.”
Vinnie excused himself to make a few phone calls.
Meanwhile, Carlita, Pete, and her children gathered in the alley again.
“The next logical step is for us to go back to Morton Street.” Carlita told them about the old woman with the binoculars inside the dry-cleaning business. “Something tells me she doesn’t miss a thing. A hundred bucks says the cops have already talked to her.”
“There’s no law saying we can’t too,” Mercedes said.
“Later today, after they’re gone.” Carlita noticed Vinnie coming her way, an unreadable expression on his face. “That was fast.”
“We’ve been keepin’ an eye on Stagusso for our own reasons. Word is he has connections with someone outside the immediate New York family network.”
“Danny Lombardo,” Carlita said. “It has to be.”
“This would be my guess.”
Mercedes’ cell phone chimed. “It’s Sam wanting to know where we are. I told him we’re in the alley. He said he has some information and is on his way down.”
“Hopefully, with some good news,” Carlita said. “Although I’m not holding my breath.”
Sam appeared moments later. “I spoke to one of my buddies down at the precinct. They found a pack of matches in Enzo’s pocket from the Black Stallion Club and went over to talk to Phil Duce, the owner. Duce told the cops Vinnie and Luigi stopped by last night looking for him.”
Chapter 18
“Every time I think things can’t get any worse,” Carlita groaned. “Something else happens.”
“I have an alibi,” Vinnie said. “I was at your place, except for stepping out on the rooftop terrace for a few quick smokes.”
“I’m almost a hundred percent certain Luigi was with Dernice last night,” Mercedes said.
“The Parrot House Restaurant has cameras on every corner,” Pete said. “Short of shimmying down the drainpipes and sneaking out through the side alley, there’s no way you got out of our building undetected.”
“It might be a minor inconvenience, but I don’t see how the cops can pin this on me or Luigi. Still, I agree it’s time to head over to Morton Street to chat with the business owners,” Vinnie said.
Carlita motioned to Sam. “Any idea how long the cops are going to be over there?”
“They were wrapping things up,” Sam said. “What might also be worth noting is Mr. Enzo recently moved to the area.”
“From Sicily,” Mercedes said.
A look of surprise flickered in Sam’s eyes. “How did you know?”
“Vinnie found out the lender, Danny Lombardo, recently moved here from Italy,” Tony said.
“Is there any connection to…your past?” Sam asked.
“Not as far as the Castellini family is concerned,” Vinnie said. “This is a new group moving in and putting down roots.”
“Not good.”
“Not good at all. One of them is dead. If Lombardo didn’t kill him, I’m sure he thinks we’re behind the shooting, which will put a target on our back,” Mercedes said.
“The other man, Costanza, is still alive,” Carlita added.