Read Online Necessary Decisions, A Gino Cataldi Mystery by Giacomo Giammatteo - Free Book Online
Authors: Giacomo Giammatteo
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course.”
“Sounds like these guys did their homework.”
“At Marshall’s they came in while he and the son were in the shower. And they knew he had a safe. The back door wasn’t locked. They wore latex gloves, just like at Memorial. And before they left, they tied everyone with duct tape.”
“ Dios mío . The poker game!”
“Like I said, the poker game.” My blood pumped harder at the thought of catching these guys. I wanted the fucker who hit me. Wanted to get him alone, with no witnesses. Even more, I wanted to get even for Mary’s watch.
Delgado finished his coffee and stared at me. “You know I love you, but don’t go gettin’ wild on me.”
“I’m fine. I—”
“You’re not fine. I see what’s working in that sick mind of yours.”
I wanted to be pissed, but he was only doing this for me. “Ribs…”
“I know you’ve been fucked up since Mary died, but you still got Ron.” Ribs poked at me with his finger. “Don’t go fuckin’ things up where he’s got to visit you in jail, man. If I see you headin’ in that direction, I’m out.”
“Let’s just solve the case.”
Ribs stared at me, looking for the truth. “Maybe we should interview some neighbors. See what they didn’t see.”
I tossed my cup in the trash and headed out. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter 13
New Plans
B oss spread the chart on the table. Across the top were six spaces. The first read “Driver,” followed by spaces for numbers One through Five. He pointed to the slots beneath each one.
“These are your duties. Memorize them. Memorize the others too. Everyone needs to understand the whole operation. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
“Number Two has surveillance. We need to know when the girl goes to school. When she gets home. We need to know what time he leaves for work and gets home.”
“Clear,” Number Two said.
“Number Three has muscle, if it comes to that. He does the grab.”
“Clear,” Number Three said.
“Number Four will be our intermediary with the target. Number Five will be the primary watcher.”
“Clear,” they both said.
“The rest is on the chart. I’ll take care of the equipment: electronic sweepers, chemical tests for the money, disposable cell phones. Everyone has extra gloves and masks. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
“Okay, we need to be quick and clean. Understand? Quick and clean. We grab the girl then make the call. Number Four, do not stay on the phone too long. The more contact we have with them, the more chance we have of getting caught. Follow the script.” Boss looked around. “Any questions?”
“Won’t they want to talk to her?” Number Four asked.
“We let them talk to her after they get the money. We want them worrying at first.”
“You know they’ll call the cops. Or the FBI.”
“We have plans for that,” Boss said.
“When are we grabbing her?”
“When it’s right. We still have to rent the other hotel rooms, get more equipment, do other preparations, not to mention more surveillance.”
Boss waited through the silence. “Everyone ready for this? This is the big league, people. If you’re not in, now is the time to say so.”
“We’re in,” Number Three said. He was joined by Numbers Two and Four and Five.
“Okay, any fuck-ups and somebody dies. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
Chapter 14
Where’s the Connection
D elgado and I walked the street in front of Marshall’s house. All the houses were huge, with lots of trees.
“Damn trees block the views,” Delgado said.
“Not much activity on the street, either.”
“Not like my neighborhood,” Ribs said.
“That’s what happens when you have thirty relatives on one block.”
“Nice, isn’t it?”
I smiled, remembering the times Mary and I joined Ribs on weekends, partying and eating and laughing. “Sure is nice. It’s the way every neighborhood should be.”
“Where do you want to start?” Ribs asked.
I nodded across the street
“Sounds like these guys did their homework.”
“At Marshall’s they came in while he and the son were in the shower. And they knew he had a safe. The back door wasn’t locked. They wore latex gloves, just like at Memorial. And before they left, they tied everyone with duct tape.”
“ Dios mío . The poker game!”
“Like I said, the poker game.” My blood pumped harder at the thought of catching these guys. I wanted the fucker who hit me. Wanted to get him alone, with no witnesses. Even more, I wanted to get even for Mary’s watch.
Delgado finished his coffee and stared at me. “You know I love you, but don’t go gettin’ wild on me.”
“I’m fine. I—”
“You’re not fine. I see what’s working in that sick mind of yours.”
I wanted to be pissed, but he was only doing this for me. “Ribs…”
“I know you’ve been fucked up since Mary died, but you still got Ron.” Ribs poked at me with his finger. “Don’t go fuckin’ things up where he’s got to visit you in jail, man. If I see you headin’ in that direction, I’m out.”
“Let’s just solve the case.”
Ribs stared at me, looking for the truth. “Maybe we should interview some neighbors. See what they didn’t see.”
I tossed my cup in the trash and headed out. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter 13
New Plans
B oss spread the chart on the table. Across the top were six spaces. The first read “Driver,” followed by spaces for numbers One through Five. He pointed to the slots beneath each one.
“These are your duties. Memorize them. Memorize the others too. Everyone needs to understand the whole operation. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
“Number Two has surveillance. We need to know when the girl goes to school. When she gets home. We need to know what time he leaves for work and gets home.”
“Clear,” Number Two said.
“Number Three has muscle, if it comes to that. He does the grab.”
“Clear,” Number Three said.
“Number Four will be our intermediary with the target. Number Five will be the primary watcher.”
“Clear,” they both said.
“The rest is on the chart. I’ll take care of the equipment: electronic sweepers, chemical tests for the money, disposable cell phones. Everyone has extra gloves and masks. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
“Okay, we need to be quick and clean. Understand? Quick and clean. We grab the girl then make the call. Number Four, do not stay on the phone too long. The more contact we have with them, the more chance we have of getting caught. Follow the script.” Boss looked around. “Any questions?”
“Won’t they want to talk to her?” Number Four asked.
“We let them talk to her after they get the money. We want them worrying at first.”
“You know they’ll call the cops. Or the FBI.”
“We have plans for that,” Boss said.
“When are we grabbing her?”
“When it’s right. We still have to rent the other hotel rooms, get more equipment, do other preparations, not to mention more surveillance.”
Boss waited through the silence. “Everyone ready for this? This is the big league, people. If you’re not in, now is the time to say so.”
“We’re in,” Number Three said. He was joined by Numbers Two and Four and Five.
“Okay, any fuck-ups and somebody dies. Clear?”
“Clear,” they all said.
Chapter 14
Where’s the Connection
D elgado and I walked the street in front of Marshall’s house. All the houses were huge, with lots of trees.
“Damn trees block the views,” Delgado said.
“Not much activity on the street, either.”
“Not like my neighborhood,” Ribs said.
“That’s what happens when you have thirty relatives on one block.”
“Nice, isn’t it?”
I smiled, remembering the times Mary and I joined Ribs on weekends, partying and eating and laughing. “Sure is nice. It’s the way every neighborhood should be.”
“Where do you want to start?” Ribs asked.
I nodded across the street
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