by Ali Vali
“I’m not here to accuse you of anything, just to understand what happened.” She leaned forward and read the titles on the ledgers on the coffee table. They seemed to be the financials for both men. “Whatever we talk about today will never leave this room.”
“What do you want to know?”
“From my understanding, Colin and Salvatore became involved with the Mexican cartel and started accepting and selling shipments of drugs to take advantage of the shortage coming from other areas. They were successful and used your services the same way they always did.” She touched the outside of the book but didn’t open it. “Is all that right?”
“Yes, but it was way too much money for me to use the usual methods I’d developed. I mean, it’s not always the same, but I have to come up with different ways to report the money that won’t ever raise red flags.”
She nodded and studied Judice’s face. “What kind of money are we talking about?”
“The operation started small, but in the last couple of months, they’re bringing in a little over ten million a month. All we can do is stockpile the money, because there’s no way to deposit that or invest it without some sort of authority coming down on us hard.”
She whistled, impressed with Colin’s setup. “So where did they stockpile all this cash?”
“That I don’t know, but I was working on bringing it into our system slowly. The actual movement and investment part wasn’t my responsibility. I never wanted anyone to accuse me of stealing a cent from these guys. Someone told me a long time ago that to play the game, you had to understand the rules and, more importantly, what could happen if you didn’t.”
“Da,” she said, having gotten that lecture herself. “He had good advice, but I want to know who did touch the money?”
Judice laid out the whole thing and who she dealt with every step of the way. They compared who from that list actually had the power to lay hands on the money. An hour later, Cain punched a number into her cell phone.
“Colin, are you in the hotel? Good. Come to the tenth floor,” she said, giving him the room number.
“Are you sure about this?” Judice sat so upright, her tension practically vibrated in the air. “If he really wants to kill me, here I am.”
“Colin has a soft spot for you, but he’s not going to forgive being stolen from. Since I know it’s not you, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
Ten minutes later, Lou let Colin into the room. He stopped when he saw Judice sitting there. “What the hell is this?”
“How much money is missing?” she asked, patting the seat next to her.
“Over a million.” Colin sat, his hands that rested on his thighs curled into fists, and glared at Judice. “I know, considering how much money we’ve made, that doesn’t sound like a lot, but I would’ve given it to you if you’d asked. Why fuck me, Judice?”
“Cousin, calm down and listen to what I have to say,” Cain said, wrapping her hand around his bicep. “You’ve got a thief, but it’s not her. How would she have done it?”
“Who then?” Colin said, staring at Judice as if daring her to pick a name so he could knock her teeth out. If she’d known all this time and hadn’t told him, that’s where he’d start and work his way to killing her. “Salvatore said it had to be her.”
“Of course he did, but I can’t know for sure. It has to be someone who not only has access to the money but knows where it physically is. From what she said, only five people have that information, and she’s not one of them.”
Colin squeezed his hands hard, and Cain thought any more of that and he’d cut through the skin. “You really didn’t do it?” he asked Judice.
“After everything you’ve done for me, you would think I would?” She surprised Cain by standing up, going to him, and placing her hands on his shoulders. “I love you, Colin, and I’ve never given you everything you wanted because you’re married. Those vows you took mean something to me, but it doesn’t mean I love you any less.” She rested her cheek on top of his head. “I’ll never be able to repay you for taking me in and giving me a chance all those years ago.”
“Then who?” he said, reaching up for her hand.
“I had no idea anything was missing, so I can’t answer that,” Judice said.
“The way I look at it, the five people who would have enough access to steal would be you, Salvatore, your wife, Salvatore’s son-in-law, and his daughter. Unless your wife’s finally had enough of your affairs and is starting a nest egg, it has to be one of the other three, so which of them has had a change in circumstances?” Cain logically counted them off. “And since Salvatore has done nothing but point his finger at Judice, that might be who’s dipping his hand deeper into the well.”
“There’s no way to tell that now since so much money is involved. I might not be able to figure it out, much less accuse Salvatore or someone in his family of stealing from me. You know how he is.”
“You’re going to have to, and you’re going to have to make peace between the two of you.” She stood, expecting Colin would stay to speak to Judice privately. “Just give me your word you’ll offer Judice your protection.” Cain was working toward peace these days—throughout the Casey clan. “I suggest you change how you do business when it comes to the payout. Once you do, whoever complains the most is where your problem lies and you’ll know for sure.”
“Thank you,” Judice said and took her hands. “I don’t think I deserved your help, but I’m grateful for it.”
“I’m just a bull in a china shop,” Cain said, recalling that Judice had once said that about Dalton. “But I try not to spend every day smashing things.”
“I’m sorry for that,” Judice said.
“Let’s both agree to forget. Feel free to stay as long as you’d like until Colin clears the way for you to go back.” She let Judice go and decided to throw her another bone. “I’m sure Fiona would love to see you.”
Chapter Thirty
“That was a nice thing, Boss,” Lou said as they climbed the stairs to the floor where they’d gotten off the elevator. “It was your good deed for the day.”
“Actually my good deed for the day will be to go home early so you can take off and maybe go on a date with whoever you’re seeing these days.” Cain slapped him on the back and laughed at his expression of a small boy getting caught with a fistful of cookies.
“Are you admitting you don’t know who it is?”
“If I admit that I do, you’ll think my wife’s a snitch. So I’ll just tell you that if you’re seeing someone, I’m happy for you.”
They continued to tease each other until the elevator stopped at the third floor, the lobby. Lou called to have the car brought around as they walked across the lobby to board another elevator to exit onto the street. He immediately reached into his jacket when they stepped outside the hotel, but Cain grabbed his arm.
“Don’t give them an excuse,” she said, then put her hands slightly up in front of her.
“Keep your hands where we can see them,” the uniformed policeman said as he aimed his weapon at her.
“What’s this about?” she asked, glancing at Lou to make sure he kept his cool.
“We’re taking you in,” the guy said as his partner came forward and roughly jerked her hands behind her back. To treat her like this for what seemed no reason made her want to kick the guy between the legs hard enough that his future children would feel it.
“I can see that, but why are you arresting me?” The hold he had on her made her want to grimace, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of showing any sign that he was hurting her.
“Because you finally couldn’t help but go for the most obvious victim.”
“Lou, call Emma and let her know what’s happening. Then get Muriel to meet me,” she said as he read her her rights, then shoved her into the backseat of the cruiser.
Lou ran to the car and called the house, hoping Muriel was there already. “Carmen, is Muriel there?” he yelled
into the phone when she answered.
“No. You want to talk to Miss Emma?”
Actually, that was the last thing he wanted to do since he didn’t want to stress her, but he had no choice when Emma came on the line. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, but the cops just took Cain in. She wanted you to know and to have Muriel meet her at the station.”
“Carmen, please find Muriel for me and have her call Lou. Tell her it’s an emergency.” He heard Carmen’s quick “Yes, Miss Emma” as he tried to keep up with the cruiser.
“Why did they pick her up?” Emma was speaking to him again.
“The asshole wouldn’t tell her, and nothing comes to mind that would’ve made them do this.”
“Tell me which precinct and I’ll meet you.”
“She’d probably want you to stay home, Emma. I promise I’ll call and keep you updated, but I want to make sure this isn’t something that’s setting up something else you could get caught in.” They stopped at the station downtown, and he turned off toward the visitor parking. “They’re at the downtown headquarters, but please, stay home for now. She’ll kill me if something happens to you.”
“I’ll give you one hour, and then I’m coming,” Emma said, and he heard the baby start crying. “Make sure you remember to call me.”
“I promise. This is nothing but bull, so I really think we’ll be home soon after Muriel gets here.” His phone buzzed, identifying Muriel as the caller. “That’s her on the other line, so I’ll let you know what’s happening.” He disconnected and answered the waiting call.
“Lou, where are you?”
“I’m downtown. Some uniformed cops picked Cain up and took her in, so you need to get down here.”
“Anything going on she didn’t tell me about?”
“You know everything I do, so this makes no fucking sense.”
“Hang tight and keep your cool. I’m like ten minutes away.”
“Make it faster than that. Just remember last time.”
*
On the way to the station Cain thought about what the guy had said. It made absolutely no sense, but going through a check list of her recent actions took her mind off her numb hands. She’d taken a break from her unique style of persuasion. It hadn’t been necessary, as she planned for a future that would put her in a position to expand safely and grow her power as well as territory.
She planned to cover from New Orleans to Biloxi and everywhere between for now. That would double her current business. Eventually they’d expand those borders to Florida and Texas, but that could wait.
She was taken to an interrogation room, and the guy who’d brought her in cuffed her to the table, taking the pressure off her shoulders. The games were just beginning, and she guessed the next part would involve a long wait to drive up her apprehension. “You’d think after a few times of this exercise, we’d just get on with it. The only way to intimidate me is to tell me either my mother or my wife is behind that glass.”
“Ms. Casey.” A young man wearing a bad suit came in with one of the uniformed officers that had been at the Piquant. “My name’s Raymond Johnson. I’m with the district attorney’s office.” He took out a folder and slapped it on the table as if to accentuate all the offenses she’d committed. “Do you know why you’re here?”
“Do you know why you’re here?” She figured he’d been out of law school maybe two weeks. “And do you have permission from your teacher to be out of class?”
“These guys told me about you,” Raymond said, opening the file. He lost his smile when she didn’t glance down. And he swiveled around quickly when the door opened and Muriel strode in.
“Did they tell you about me too?” Muriel sat next to Cain and pointed to the cuffs. “Do you think my client’s going to attack someone?”
“It’s standard procedure,” the cop said, and Raymond nodded.
Muriel glanced at her watch, making a note of how long they’d keep Cain cuffed. “Ms. Casey will not be making a statement today, but since you’re here and the clown show outside said you’re with the DA’s office, let’s hear the grounds for my lawsuit.”
“We found Carol Verde this morning,” Raymond said, fidgeting when both Cain and Muriel stared at him as if he were completely insane.
“So you found my mother-in-law, and I’m in custody? Have you completely lost it, or did your boss need some press to help his re-election campaign?” Cain asked.
Raymond shook his head.
“She claims you’re responsible for her condition when she was found and that you planned to kill her.” Raymond seemed much less sure of himself. “I have her statement here.”
“So on the word of a kidnapper, you arrested me?” Cain had to laugh. “Is this some kind of joke? If it is, you have a very strange sense of humor I don’t find funny in the least. But I’ll get that last laugh everyone talks about.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, but Mrs. Verde was in a very weakened condition when she was found, according to the initial report. So, my boss didn’t want to waste any time picking you up. We didn’t want to allow you time to destroy evidence.”
“And your boss is?” Muriel asked.
“Come on. Don’t keep us in suspense.” Cain didn’t take her eyes off him until the door opened yet again and Fiona entered with some other woman. “Then again, everything is becoming clearer.”
For once, Cain was wrong.
“Why in the hell did you pick up Ms. Casey?” Fiona glared at the policeman, who crossed his arms over his chest as if to protect himself from what was coming. “Answer the question,” she yelled.
“Raymond called. He said he had a warrant and did I want to have a little fun, so I said why the hell not.”
She narrowed her eyes at the officer. “You have an appointment with the police chief.” Then she turned to Raymond. “And you have one with the DA, so I suggest you don’t keep them waiting.” Fiona took her cuff key from her pocket and released Cain. “I’m sorry for what happened, and I thought you’d want to know that Carol Verde will be taken into custody as soon as she’s out of the hospital.”
“What’s she in the hospital for?” Cain asked, rubbing her wrist. Fiona told her in as much detail as possible what had happened to Carol and how she’d been found. “Did the cuffs belong to this Newsome guy?”
“You would’ve made a good detective, Ms. Casey, but I can’t comment on that. I’m sure you’ll hear from someone in the department when we have it sorted out. Again, I’m sorry for what happened. My initial report didn’t recommend that anyone take action, but just to take Mrs. Verde’s statement and begin verifying the facts.”
“I’m sure you’re disappointed then.” Cain felt like an idiot now, after the good she’d done for this woman that morning.
“I saw the pictures of Hannah’s face. So no, you got that part wrong. My partner and I hadn’t finished the report because I was checking in with Shelby to verify your whereabouts.”
“And you said paying my taxes wouldn’t pay off for me, Muriel.”
Fiona actually cracked a smile at Cain’s remark.
“Am I free to go?”
“Yes. We’ll even offer you a ride.”
“No. All I’m interested in is Raymond’s contact information and the name of his overzealous boss.”
“Why?” Raymond said, sounding incredibly whiny.
“You went to law school, Raymond, so my cousin here is going to file a whole lot of papers on my behalf. Then you’ll get to take your degree out for a spin and see how good you are.” She stood and leaned over him. “My advice is to take really good care of this suit. It’ll be with you for years to come.”
*
Nunzio opened his eyes, then regretted it when the bright room made the pain in his head pound like someone was hitting him with a hammer. He closed his eyes, then tried again when he realized the room and bed weren’t at all familiar. “Where am I?” His voice was raspy and his throat dry.
&n
bsp; “Thank God.” Santino was suddenly next to him, holding his hand. “You’ve been out all night, but you’re going to be okay.”
“What happened?” All he could remember was sitting in the car. Now, his entire body hurt and he couldn’t breathe.
“The doctor thinks it’s a bad case of Montezuma’s Revenge, but they need to keep you a few days to be sure. Usually people get sick, but not so violently that it knocks them out. You’ve been sleeping the last day or so because of something they gave you to calm your stomach.”
“I can’t stay here for a couple of days, Nino. We got shit to do.”
“It’s going to get done, but you’re not leaving until the doctor okays it. I’m going to leave Phil here with you and get back to the city so I can start the process. Early this morning, Cesar called and said the shipment has left and should be on the Louisiana Coast soon.” Santino let go of his hand and went back to his chair. “I’ve got Mike working on having some of our guys in position to pick it up and get it to the guy who’ll change it for street consumption.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He closed his eyes to the glare and concentrated on his breathing. “I want to go with you and help.”
“You got us this far, Nunzio, and once this is in place I’ll go back to my house and play golf so I’ll be out of your hair. The only reason I came was to help you get back what was yours. Not to be a meddlesome old man.”
The little speech made him squint to look at his grandfather, who in a short time had treated him much better than his father ever had. “I don’t want you to go back. When we get this rolling, I want you with me so we can work together.”
“That means the world to me.” Santino smiled, and Nunzio felt as if he’d finally found his place in the world. “The other good news is that Mike brought a couple of guys by last night to talk to me about Hector’s safe houses and who ripped them off.”