Read Online Ransom Game by Howard Engel - Free Book Online

him. You know everybody in the country is looking for Johnny. And you know why. I don’t see why you’ve been tailing me. Did you think I didn’t see you? That car of yours is as inconspicuous as the Batmobile at a three-legged race.” I stopped. I could tell that that was a mistake.
    â€œKeep talking, Mr. Cooperman, we hear you loud and clear,” said Vito. I tried to think of what to give him next. I’d passed on all of the free stuff; the rest was going to cost me. Frank and Vito looked at me, not like I was a person, but like I was a talking machine. I didn’t like the feeling.
    â€œI only started on the case yesterday, so you probably know more about it than I do. And what I’ve discovered you can find out at the public library and the parole board.”
    â€œGimme a break, Mr. Cooperman. I hate to go near that place.”
    â€œSure, and the parole board’s poison too.”
    â€œWhat can I tell you boys?” I heard myself saying in a voice like my father’s. “You look like nice boys that wouldn’t want to make any trouble. Do I look like I’m looking for the money for myself? I’m only doing my job: trying to find Johnny Rosa for a friend of his. Is that so bad? Is that worth coming into my father’s house waving guns? Is that the way you behave in your parents’ house? Why are you doing this to me?”
    â€œHow good a friend is Johnny to this client?” asked Frank. His voice was low, like burnt gravy.
    â€œI told you I can’t talk about that. You can understand that.”
    Vito and Frank exchanged glances. Vito’s face was working again. I didn’t like it.
    â€œWe’re going to sit here until you tell us who’s putting up the money for this. We got all day,” Frank said. Vito was off wandering again. He found Coke in the refrigerator and brought one for himself and one for Frank, putting them down on the coffee table.
    â€œThat’s the real stuff,” Vito said, tapping the table-top. They opened their cans and drank quietly. Vito was admiring the crystal chandelier. “Nice,” he said. “Nice.”
    â€œLook, Mr. Cooperman, we ain’t finished talking yet. We are still listening and you aren’t saying anything we want to hear. I don’t want to have to get tough with you, not here in your parents’ house. I got feelings too, you know what I mean? But we gotta get some answers, gotta get them soon.” He’d just said that they had all day, but I wasn’t about to point out little inconsistencies at a time like this. Vito was wandering over by the French doors now, looking at the plants.
    â€œWhat is this thing?” he asked.
    â€œVito, shut up!” Frank warned.
    â€œIt’s a rubber plant.” That didn’t help.
    â€œIt could be plastic yucca as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know my plants anymore.” He took hold of one of the leaves of the plant and pulled. The fleshy leaf came away easily in his hand. I found myself half-way across the room, shouting at him. Crazy.
    â€œTake it easy. Take it easy. It’s only a plant. Not worth getting your head blown off for.” Frank led me back to the loveseat.
    â€œWell, tell your pal to stop ruining other people’s property.”
    â€œVito, you listening?”
    â€œI’m listening. Only I don’t hear any answers to the questions you’re asking, Frank. You hold on to him, and see if I do any better.” He took another leaf in his hand and looked over at me, his face sad as usual, but now mean on top of it. I knew that my mother had raised that rubber plant from a pup.
    â€œI told you all I can tell you.” Vito pulled slightly. The whole plant shivered. “Look, use your heads. You know I don’t work for the Warren family. They’d get one of the bigger agencies. So who else is there? His former partners? I’m not working for Todd,