Page 130

“The last I saw Frank Nola,” Canidy then said, “was at his cousin’s house. Do you know them, too? I believe it’s Mariano and Nicole.”

Palasota shook his head. “Does not ring a bell. Got a last name?”

“I’m not even sure I have their first names right.”

“Sorry.”

Canidy nodded, and thought, The Brothers Buda would recognize him, if that’s who it is.

Canidy went on: “Frank had brought the Budas’ baby sister there to that house to hide her from the SS.”

Palasota raised his eyebrows in question.

“Her name is Andrea,” Canidy said, “maybe nineteen years old, a beautiful girl with dark hair and eyes.”

Palasota nodded. “Yes, that’s Andrea.”

“You do know her?”

“Yes, she’s here.”

What? She’s a hooker?

That’s why Tweedle Dee looked sad. And then got pissed off when he thought I mimed that I wanted to screw her. . . .

But then he said he didn’t know where she was.

Or was that just one more miscommunication?

“What do you mean she’s here?”

“She’s here working.”

Then that’s what Tubes said when he told John Craig about screwing a whore? It was Andrea. . . .

“Andrea is a . . . working girl?”

“Oh!” Jimmy Skinny then said. “No, not that. She’s in charge of the maids. And she keeps an eye on the girls when they get hurt. She studied to be a nurse at the university. Maria saw her this morning, before she came to see me.”

No shit!

“I need to speak with her,” Canidy said. “As soon as possible.”

Palasota turned to Vito, snapped his fingers, and in Sicilian rapidly gave what clearly was an order.

The midget nodded once and without a word went out

the door.

Canidy looked again at the Tommy guns standing in the corner.

“Dumb question,” Canidy said. “Where did all the American weapons come from? Those Thompsons, and I saw that Shorty—I mean, Vito—has a Model 1903 Colt.”

Palasota chuckled. “You are lucky he doesn’t know English. If he heard you call him that, he might use it.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Canidy said. “Most Model 1903s I’ve seen have belonged to general officers. Shor— Vito isn’t quite in their league.”

“Actually, the real story is I’ve got more Berettas and Lugers than I know what to do with. They’re worthless pieces of shit, as far as I’m concerned. Worse than that compared to the Colts. As for them being carried by officers, that may be true, but first guy I saw packing a 1903 was in Chicago—Alfonso Capone?”