Night Work

by Greg F. Gifune

"Gus Lemieux, right?" the man asked happily.

  "That's right. Who's asking?"

  "Vincent told me to give you this."

  By the time Gus realized the man had leveled a gun at him it was too late.

  It made an odd buzzing sound as the bullet fired through the chamber and out the end of the silencer, piercing Gus's forehead.

  Blood, tissue and brain matter sprayed out the back of his head as it exploded. Most of it landed in Kathleen's lap, and as she opened her mouth to scream the man leaned in closer and fired a round between her eyes.

  Kathleen's head snapped back in a halo of blood, crashed against the window and shattered it.

  Gus was making disturbing gurgling sounds. He convulsed, and bright red blood poured from his lips, coating his chin. Vic DeNicco calmly slid more than an inch of the silencer into his victim's already open mouth, and pulled the trigger again. The body vaulted back then lurched forward, and Gus hit his forehead on the steering wheel, his wig sliding from his head as he slumped over between the passenger seat and dashboard.

  After he had holstered the gun, Vic removed a brick of heroin wrapped in plastic from his coat pocket, tore it open with gloved hands, and tossed it into the car.

  A black Lincoln Continental silently glided up alongside the GMC Jimmy. Vic DeNicco climbed inside, and they pulled away, slowing for a stop sign before turning at the top of the block.

  ***

  Frank had eventually managed to fall asleep, but only in short spurts. Harsh morning light poked through the holes and slashes in the window shade, and the sounds of the city slowly coming to life convinced him to at least entertain the idea of getting up, splashing some water on his face and venturing out in search of coffee.

  His beeper went off, and he sat up straight in bed. Still attached to his belt, he pulled it free and quickly read the numbers as they rolled across the digital display. Odd, he thought, recognizing the office number.

  He went to the payphone in the lobby and returned the call, convincing himself that if it were some elaborate trick, he would simply hang up and find somewhere else to hide. One night at the Wellington Hotel was more than enough.

  "Good morning," Vincent's voice answered cheerfully. "Entertainment Enterprises."

  "Good morning," Frank said reluctantly.

  "Frank! Man, are you all right?"

  "I'm fine."

  "Come on in. Everything's been taken care of."

  Frank glanced over his shoulder at the empty lobby. "That was quick. What happened?"

  "I can go into detail once you get here," he said. "But I spoke to Michael and he managed to straighten things out. I also found Gus. I ran into him and that broad at his house."

  "And?"

  "I was wrong, Frank." Vincent breathed heavily into the phone. "I'm sorry."

  "I knew it," Frank said, managing a smile.

  "Our leak came from somewhere else. I've got a few ideas, but we'll cover that when you land."

  "Where's Gus now?"

  "He's meeting us here in a few minutes," Vincent told him. "So get here as fast as you can. There's still a few loose ends we need to take care of, know what I mean?"

  Frank nodded into the phone. "I'll be there in about an hour."

  "Great," Vincent said smoothly. "I'll be waiting."

  CHAPTER 16

  Frank arrived at the office a little after nine o'clock. Vincent's car was the only one in the lot. The reception and telemarketing area was empty, and Frank checked his watch. His employees should have been there by now, but weren't. The office was quiet.

  "Vin?" he called out.

  "You made it."

  Frank turned and saw Vincent standing in the doorway to his office. "Where the hell is everybody?"

  "I didn't know how long our troubles were going to last so I gave everybody a couple days off."

  "Oh," Frank sighed, the knot in his stomach loosening. "I got a little nervous there for a minute."

  Vincent started off down the hallway, waving for Frank to follow him. "Come on, we'll talk in your office."

  ***

  Frank slid behind the desk and sat in his leather swivel. Vincent remained a few feet from the front of his desk. "Let me get you up to speed on what's happening."

  "Please do."

  "I haven't exactly been honest with you, Frank."

  "What about?"

  "Quite a bit, actually."

  Frank swallowed. "Where's Gus?"

  "He won't be coming."

  Were it not for his physical exhaustion, Frank would have reacted more violently. "Please tell me you didn't hurt him."

  "No more lies, Frank. Gus didn't make it."

  "You motherfucker!" Frank sprang from his chair. "I fucking told you - "

  "You told me? No, I tell you."

  "What the fuck did you do?" They stood staring at each other, chests heaving, fists clenched but held at their sides. "What the fuck did you do?"

  Vincent pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed it directly at Frank, arms locked. Stunned, Frank took a step back from his desk. "What… what the hell are you doing? What is this?"

  "This?" Vincent asked, motioning to the gun. "This is a military-issue nine millimeter Beretta. It's a great piece. Weighs a little over two and a half pounds - fully loaded, of course. A round from this mother goes almost thirteen-hundred-feet a second, Frank. Tag somebody with this and they go down every time. Now, do me a favor and sit the fuck down on your own so I don't have to prove it."

  Silently, Frank lowered himself back into the chair.

  ***

  Charlie stepped from the shower and quickly toweled himself off. He wiped a spot large enough on the mirror to see his face, and smiled widely at the reflection. Not bad for an old fart. With a small comb he styled his wet hair, wondering if he ought to start dyeing it. No, he thought. I like the beginnings of gray at the temples, offsets the red. Besides, Beth likes the gray. Makes me look distinguished - isn't that what people always say?

  He blew himself a kiss, wrapped a towel around his waist and moved into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, his bare feet cold against the chilly tile. Leaning against the counter, he poured himself a steaming mug and took a sip. He didn't have much planned for the day; had slept later than usual, and decided he'd stay close to home.

  An icy breeze tickled his shins. He noticed the kitchen door was ajar. Beth was working a double-shift and wasn't expected home until later that night. Maybe she left it open on her way out, he thought. She was always so frazzled in the morning.

  He moved cautiously to the door, opened it and poked his head outside. The street was clear and his car sat alone in the driveway. Nice going, Beth, our heating bill should be through the roof this month.

  The floor creaked.

  Charlie turned in time to see two dark forms standing behind him.

  Something flashed near his face. Something metallic.

  ***

  "Are you out of your mind?" Frank asked. "You're gonna fucking shoot me?"

  "Not unless I have to."

  "I thought Turano was the enemy."

  Vincent lowered the gun and smiled. "John Turano's been dead for two days, Frank. Michael's guys don't miss. But you've turned into such a fucking mark, I knew you'd buy it."

  Frank leaned forward on the desk; afraid he might collapse. "Who were the people looking for me at my apartment?"

  "Couple of Mike's guys. I had some business to take care of and I needed you out of the way for a while. I couldn't have you stuck up my ass pissing and moaning. Jesus, you know how you get."

  "Why couldn't you have just talked to me about it?" Frank reached for the middle desk drawer and Vincent quickly raised the gun.

  "Careful."

  Frank pulled a pack of cigarettes from the drawer and tossed them on the desk. Vincent relaxed, lowering his weapon. Frank lit a cigarette and attempted a more relaxed posture.

  "It's funny," Vincent said. "You hang with a guy for most of your life and you figure you
know him. I thought you were like me, Frank. Strong. But you're not. You're weak. I hate weak." He pulled a chair in front of the desk and sat down. "You're smarter than me - I got no problem admitting that - and that's why early on I needed you. But I'm smart too. In a completely different way, of course, but I'm not as dumb as I look."

  "I never thought you were dumb, Vin."

  Vincent smiled. "I really thought we could make this work, goombah. Hell, you're like a brother to me - you know that - but changes had to be made, and you'd already gone and gotten yourself all worked up sweating the small shit."

  Frank hoped his fear was not as obvious as it felt.

  "Plus, you're a drunk. I never knew that about you. I don't like drunks. They make mistakes - usually stupid ones. Like causing trouble with Nick Strong - a guy who only stands to put more money in our pockets. Like not being able to separate business and personal problems. Like letting your wife fuck other guys. It's a small business, Frank; people talk. Damn, if I'd known you were passing her around I would have taken a turn myself. Then there was your old man's death. That pushed you right over the edge."

  "I thought you were above kicking me when I was down, Vin." His free hand curled slowly into a fist.

  "I ain't above much," Vincent chuckled.

  ***

  The tip of the blade slashed Charlie's face, and he staggered back. Ignoring the burning sensation spreading from cheek to jaw-line, he tried to run for the bathroom, but one of the men grabbed him by the throat and pinned him easily to the counter.

  "Christ," he said, choking. "Please - don't."

  The man buried the blade just above his crotch with a single violent thrust. Charlie gagged, felt bile and blood rising in his throat as the man tugged the knife upward, tearing his abdomen as it went.

  Charlie fell. On hands and knees, he tried desperately to prevent his intestines from spilling from his belly and uncoiling onto the bloody floor like a giant eel.

  His body bucked and collapsed to the floor, a large pool of blood forming around it.

  ***

  "Trust's an important thing, Frank," Vincent told him. "And I just didn't think I could trust you anymore. You're a risk, and with all that was going on I knew I couldn't afford the headache."

  "You killed Gus," Frank said, more statement than question.

  "I didn't kill anybody." Vincent smiled. "But believe me, he's as dead as you get." He checked his watch. "Right about now Charlie ought to be having some trouble, too."

  "You didn't have to do this."

  "See what I mean? You don't have the culones for this, Frank. It's all about balls. Big fucking brass balls. I'm beginning to think you got a pussy between your legs."

  "Why did you have to kill them? Christ, there must have been a million ways you could've - "

  "They were in the way," Vincent said evenly. "Neither one of them was smart enough to just cut loose. They would've tried to fuck with me. After this little display - and you got to admit it's pretty fucking spectacular - nobody's ever gonna fuck with me again."

  Frank took a hard pull on his cigarette, exhaled wearily through his nose. "What about the cops? Isn't it gonna look a little strange when two people so closely associated with us wind up dead?"

  "Gus and that slut he was hanging out with were into some bad shit. She was a junkie; did you know that? When they find the bodies they'll also find drugs. Just another dope deal gone wrong, Frank."

  "And Charlie?"

  "It's the strangest thing. He vanished. Happens all the time. Guy gets tired of the old lady, goes down to the corner store for a pack of butts and never comes back." Vincent stretched casually, as if his back was bothering him. "Nobody is ever gonna see Charlie Rain's ugly ass again. By the time they get done spreading what's left of him around, people in every restaurant in New York'll be eating the sonofabitch for dinner." Vincent winked. "Never order red meat out."

  "What if the cops don't buy it?"

  "The cops Michael pays to look the other way? Those cops?"

  Frank leaned back in his chair and crushed his cigarette out in an ashtray on the desk.

  "Turano's gone and his federation no longer exists," Vincent said. "I'd say my profits just tripled, wouldn't you? And with Charlie and Gus out of the picture, I should be making some serious coin in no time at all. Now this whole part of the country belongs to me. Hell, I know it's only the independent circuit and the big boys still run the game in all the big-time circles, but a guy has to start somewhere, right?"

  "What about Luther?" Frank asked. "He and Charlie were close."

  Vincent's eyes narrowed. "Luther's a whore. I'm his new pimp. That simple."

  "And me? You gonna kill me too?"

  "What am I, some whacked out psycho?" Vincent laughed. "We're friends, for Christ's sake, how could you ask me something like that?" He stood, wandered toward the door. "No, you're just out, Frank. Out of the business. I don't need you. I'm the man now. My brother's money paid for it anyway, right? I sat Benny Dunn down and had a little chat with him. He's a good guy, real trustworthy. I offered him a limited partnership but he decided to bow out. I got no hard feelings toward him. He handles himself like a man. As for you, you got to realize this is strictly a business move on my part, and as far as the business goes, Frank Ponte don't exist no more. You're gone, and if you got any brains left in your head you'll stay that way."

  Frank felt his nerves begin to settle. "Not a problem."

  "With what you know, I'm giving you a break, Frank, because we got a history and we're friends. I'm banking on you still having some brains left in your fucking head, you with me? You can't prove shit anyway, but still, the safest move was to take you out too, and I didn't. I could've at any time, and as much as I'd hate to do something like that, I still can. Remember that, because if I so much as hear your name again - if you ever decide to play hero and make this a personal thing," Vincent said, "believe me when I tell you that I won't hesitate to protect myself and my business interests with extreme prejudice. Are we clear?"

  "We're clear," Frank said. "Only there's one thing I want to make clear too."

  Vincent looked at him. "Okay."

  "I don't intend to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, Vin. I don't want you near me, or my family, either. So if all of this is just more of your bullshit you better save yourself the time and take me out right here and now."

  "Don't sweat it, Frank." Vincent grinned. "If that's how I wanted to play it you'd already be dead."

  Frank watched him closely. "It'll be better for both of us if that's true."

  "I've had a tough week," Vincent said. "I'm gonna take the rest of the day off, but it's an exciting time for me so I'll be in bright and early tomorrow morning. When I get here, you be gone, okay?"

  Frank gave a slow nod.

  He stepped through the doorway then quickly looked back at Frank. "Believe it or not, I really am sorry things had to turn out like this. Fucking sucks, but, you know how it goes, man."

  "Yeah," Frank said softly. "I know how it goes."

  Vincent stuffed the gun back into his jacket and left the office.

  Frank opened the blinds, watched Vincent get into his Corvette and speed away, then went to his file cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. His hands still shaking, he managed to pour a glass and drink it down.

  He flopped down into his chair and let his eyes wander across the office. It had all happened so fast, it seemed, but had fallen apart even faster.

  After two more drinks he picked up the phone and dialed Benny's home number. With his connections in the city the requests Frank planned to make would stand a good chance of being granted. The phone was answered on the third ring.

  "Benny?"

  "Frank, how are you?"

  "Alive. Got a minute?"

  "Got lots of them."

  "I heard you don't work for Vincent anymore."

  "I heard the same thing about you."

  "Do you still work for me?"
/>   There was a lengthy pause before he answered. "Depends."

  "I've got one more job I need your help with."

  "I'm listening."

  "I need you to find out whatever you can on an Arthur Bertalia. B-e-r-t-a-l-i-a. I think he's somewhere in Vermont. If he's not, keep looking until you find him. I want a full rundown on him. I want to know how many times he scratches his balls in the morning before he hangs a piss."

  "I understand."

  Frank gulped the remainder of his drink. "There's more. I need a piece, Ben. Something that can't be traced and works good up close. And see if you can get a hold of a pair of lead gloves. I'm also gonna need a car."

  "No problem. When do you need all this?"

  "In the morning."

  "Jesus, Frank. That's awful soon."

  "Can you do it or not?"

  Benny sighed into the phone. "I can do it."

  "Meet me at my apartment tomorrow at nine." Frank hung up the phone and poured himself another drink.

  The way he felt, he was sure he couldn't get drunk fast enough.

  CHAPTER 17

  Frank staggered into his apartment well after night had fallen. He put a bag containing two bottles of vodka on the table and got himself a glass from the cupboard. He drank quietly for a while before stumbling into the bedroom.

  On the bureau was a large frame containing a picture of him and Sandy on their wedding day. He picked it up, squinted in an attempt to focus.

  "This isn't the way I wanted it," he mumbled, and hurled it across the room. In a rage he cleared everything from the top of the dresser with a wild backhand, then spun around and punched the wall. His hand broke through up to the elbow and pain shot from the tips of his fingers to the top of his shoulder. Afraid that he'd broken his hand he yanked it free, lost his balance and fell back onto the kitchen floor.

  Eventually Frank regained his footing. He checked his hand, clenching and releasing it until he was certain there were no serious injuries, and had himself another drink.