August
My father and I shared a look before I walked closer, adjusting Dick’s tie. “I think you know better than that. We don’t do any kind of business with the Columbians. They’re nothing but animals feeding off themselves. We simply provide legitimate methods of entertainment for all the important people just like yourself, Dick.”
“Yeah, they are dangerous. I just thought I’d check it out. You know, doing my job.” Dick managed to keep his eyes locked onto mine, not a single nervous tic that I was able to notice.
What in the fuck was going on and what could he know?
“Dick, I take pride in what I’ve built with my businesses. You know that I’m an honorable man,” Giordano stated with confidence.
Dick shifted, giving my father a genuine look of appreciation. The agent was on a fact-finding mission about my business, not my father’s.
“I am confident of that, Gio, and so is most of the department. I simply wanted to give you the heads up. As I said, a courtesy only, but if you do hear anything concrete, I hope you’ll contact me straight away.”
Giordano tilted his head, scanning Dick from head to toe. “You’ll be the first, my friend. Take care of yourself, Dick. Drug runners are some of the most vicious people on Earth.”
The skill with which my father issued a threat was truly brilliant.
“I think we’re finished here, and you don’t have to bother seeing me out.” Dick grabbed his coat, offering another slight smile before walking to the door.
But the man was sweating.
I walked behind him, shutting the door with a soft click and waiting before approaching my father’s desk.
“What in the hell?”
“You tell me, son. I haven’t had a visit like that from Dick in almost five years. He’s fishing.”
“He’s going to get himself clipped.”
He gave me a stern look. “You want to talk to me about the shipment? Is there validity to what he’s talking about? Is our shipment being threatened?”
“Just may be.” First the senator then this.
“Talk to me, Dom. I need to know all the details. We are one week away from a final vote from the local supervisors on the new casino. They’ll slink back into their holes if they smell deception of any kind and that would become a serious problem.”
“You’re not going to like what I have to say.”
“Try me.” My father eased behind his desk and I couldn’t help but notice his hand was shaking.
I briefly highlighted the story, filling in as many blanks as I knew.
My father sat back, tapping his fingers on the desk. “That doesn’t bode well for the shipment we have coming in. The Feds could be all over it. I’m inclined to pull it until the heat dissipates.”
“Don’t do that just yet. We already have customers. Besides, I’m working with Lorenzo on trying to locate the bastard. He can’t stay hidden for long.”
“Lorenzo. Interesting. I hope you know what you’re doing. Use every resource we have to squash this, son. We can’t lose the casino deal because of containment issues. I worked long and hard to make this happen.”
“And you haven’t heard anything?” I leaned forward.
“I heard there was certain muscle trying to come in, but the details were sketchy. Found out more from Dick today than my informants, which is not in our best interest.”
I thought about Marco. “They’re all running scared. Little activity on the streets. Limited sales. Someone has them terrified.”
“Not a good place for our business to be in.”
“No.” I hesitated.
“What is it, son?”
“Drummand. What connections does he have? Is there any chance he is two-timing us?” There was an odd glint in my father’s eyes when I asked the question, a knowing in the same manner as I’d witnessed when telling him about Margaret.
“He has enough to possibly bury us, but the man isn’t that smart. He allows his ego to interfere, which has kept him a low man on the totem pole. I’m surprised he’s gotten this far in politics. Still, I hope you have a firm grasp on whatever you’re holding over his head.”
“I do.” I hesitated again, tapping my fingers on his desk. “Look, I know you don’t want questions about the past, but have you found anything out about Margaret?”
His expression changed, turning darker. “Drummand is a true piece of work. He must have wanted her out of the picture badly. She’s being held in Canada. That’s all I’m going to tell you at this time.”
“Why not just have her killed instead of keeping her locked away?”
“That’s something I will find out from Drummand when the time is right. I don’t want to tip him off since he currently has the upper hand.”
I was ready to launch into him for no other reason than I wanted to give Sasha some good news when I heard both our cell phones going off. This couldn’t be anything but treacherous information. My father answered a split second before I did and the instant look on his face said it all.
“Angelo. What?”
“The casino. A portion was bombed. Motherfuckers.”