by Eric Wilder
“People have a tendency to change their minds when faced with the possibility of ten years hard time.”
“Not Tommy. He’ll never rat out his friends, no matter what.”
“Sure about that?”
“As sure as a sharp knife buried in a warm heart,” Tony said. “Does he get a guarantee?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Eddie said.
“You speaking as a friend, or a lying lawyer?” Tony said.
“Friend,” Eddie said. “Will you talk to him for me?”
“Nope, I’m gonna be recording the conversation when you tell him what he needs to do.”
“Touche,” Eddie said, clinking Tony’s glass. “Nothing like a binding contract. I like your thinking.”
“Ain’t no such thing as a binding contract,” Tony said.
“Don’t trust me, Lieutenant?”
“I don’t trust lawyers. Even my close friends that are lawyers. That includes you and Wyatt. You okay with that?”
Eddie grinned and raised his glass for more drinks. “Hell, Tony, if I were you, I wouldn’t trust me either. Where do you suggest we meet Tommy?”
“My house. Lil has a pot of gumbo simmering on the stove, and is expecting us.”
“Won’t she be angry when you drag home two hard legs?”
“She was a cop’s wife for twenty-five years. Nothing much shocks her anymore. And, I have a little surprise for her.”
What’s that?”
“Tell you on the way over. Tommy’s already there.”
There was a chill in the air, Tony, and Eddie both pulling their light jackets up around their necks when they stepped outside.
“Fog lights,” Eddie said. “Smart man. When did you have them installed?”
“Over the summer. I don’t know now how I ever drove in this pea soup without them.”
“I know,” Eddie said. “I tried to get the D.A.’s office to put them on our cars, but I was told it was an unnecessary expense.”
“Gotta save the dough for those twenty-five hundred dollar toilet seats the government buys,” Tony said.
“I hear that,” Eddie said, miffed by Tony’s verbal jab. “Seriously though, I’m going to have a hard time protecting Tommy.”
“I know how you can do it with no problem.”
“How?”
“Remember when the U.S. Marshal deputized me and Marlon?”
“Yeah.”
“Deputize Tommy as part of the Federal D.A.’s office as an undercover agent. Hell, he could even kill somebody if he had to and he’d be exempt from prosecution. You got the power to do that?”
“Yeah,” Eddie said.
“Then what do you think?”
“I’ll have to clear it with my boss.”
“How long will that take?” Tony asked.
Eddie was punching a number on his cell phone and didn’t answer. After a lengthy conversation, he smiled and showed Tony a thumbs up.
“He bought it,” Eddie said. “He liked the idea so much, I may even get a raise.”
“Wonderful.”
“I’m not holding my breath. Raises have been about as scarce as those foglights lately. Thank God for my new-found wealth.”
“If you live to see it before the Mexican cartel whacks you,” Tony said.
“Don’t remind me. Tell me what you’re doing for Frankie Castellano.”
“Whoever whacked his two men last night also stole his horse, Lightning Bolt. Frankie hired me to recover him.”
“Frankie doesn’t even like quarter horses.”
“His grandson does. He gave the horse to JoJo after the race, and the kid is in love with the animal. Grandpa has given him his solemn vow that he’ll find Lightning Bolt.”
“Then I hope his middle name is Lazarus. The article Wyatt sent me said they found the horse’s remains in the trailer they pulled from the lagoon.”
“Maybe the horse in the trailer wasn’t Lightning Bolt.”
Eddie punched up the article he still had on his phone and glanced at it.
“Could be right. The article says the horse wasn’t identified and suggests the police will probably have to use DNA to derive the answer.”
“That’s a new one on me,” Tony said. “I didn’t know you could DNA a horse.”
“Who even gives a shit?” Eddie asked.
Tony could only shake his head. “Frankie, for one.”
Eddie fidgeted with a swizzle stick someone had left on the bar. “Where do you start looking?”
“The track, tomorrow morning; the last place anyone saw the horse,” Tony said.
“Mind if I tag along?” Eddie asked.
“If you like. Why the hell do you care?”
“Brownie points,” Eddie said. “Frankie doesn’t like me very much. I need all the goodwill I can accumulate.”
“Sounds to me like you got yourself in a pickle,” Tony said.
“What do you mean?”
“I doubt your boss would like it if he knew his Assistant Federal D.A. was dating the daughter of the biggest Don in New Orleans.”
“Ted doesn’t keep up with the women I date. When he finds out, I’ll be three women down the road from Josie.”
“You got a mighty high opinion of yourself,” Tony said.
“I can’t help it if gorgeous women find me attractive. I’m enjoying it as long as I can.”
“Yeah, well one of them gorgeous women is gonna shoot you in your sleep some night, or worse, take a sharp razor to a part of your body you don’t want to lose.”
“Never gonna happen,” Eddie said with a grin. “I don’t do much sleeping when I’m in bed with a woman.”
Tommy had already arrived when they reached Tony’s house. He was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Lil as he worked on his second bowl of gumbo. Eddie gave Lil a hug and joined them. Patch came sauntering in from another room.
Eddie and Tommy averted their eyes as Tony gave his wife an intimate kiss.
“What’s all of this about?” she asked.
“I got private business to discuss with Eddie and Tommy. When we’re done, I have a surprise for you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Not this time,” he said. “Frankie and Adele asked us to spend a week, or so with them at their horse farm north of here.”
“Does this have anything to do with last night’s murder?” she asked.
“Lil, we been married too long. It does, but don’t matter none. The farm is like a resort. You’ll have a great time, and you can even take that cat of yours.”
“I’ll have a great time? What about you?”
“I’m working for Frankie and will be in and out,” he said.
“Something dangerous?”
“Couldn’t be safer,” he said.
He ignored Eddie’s amused grin he noticed from the corner of his eye.
“When are we leaving?” she asked.
“Soon as we finish our discussion,” he said.
She served Eddie and Tony gumbo and ladled another helping into Tommy’s bowl. She also gave them cold beers from the refrigerator.
“I’ll start packing and leave you alone to discuss your important business,” she said, kissing Tony’s forehead before exiting the kitchen.
When the door shut behind her, Tony laced his gumbo with an extra helping of hot sauce, making a face after drinking some of his Dixie.
“Used to be my favorite beer when they made it here in Nawlins,” he said. “Now that it’s brewed in Ohio, or wherever it’s made, it just ain’t the same.”
Hurricane Katrina had decimated the Dixie Brewery in New Orleans, and the beer was now contract-brewed by out-of-state breweries. Tony had never gotten over the loss.
“Hell, Tony,” Eddie said. “It always tasted like horse piss, even before Katrina.”
“Yeah, but you gotta drink it if you’re in New Orleans,” Tommy said. “What’s up, Tony?”
“Eddie has a proposition for you,” Tony said.<
br />
“What kinda proposition?”
“Tell him, Eddie.”
“Tony told me about your problem with the Mexican cartel. He asked me to help, and strongly suggested I might recruit you to work for me.”
Tommy dabbed hot sauce off his lips and swigged his Dixie.
“I already work for somebody. The N.O.P.D. You know that, Eddie.”
“You’ll still work for the force. At the same time, you’ll be undercover for the Federal D.A.’s office.”
“My loyalty is with the N.O.P.D.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Eddie said. “Tony told me you’re already dirty. My department is investigating alleged corruption in the city. He says you were concerned enough to talk to him about it last night.”
Tony glanced away when Tommy gave him a dirty look.
“What else did he tell you?” Tommy asked.
“Pretty much what I already knew; that you’re a good cop caught in a bad situation you’d like to rectify.”
“I want to help. Don’t matter none cause I can’t take my friends down doing it.”
“Most of your friends are probably a lot like you. They want to do the right thing. We’re not after them. At best, they’ll probably get a slap on the wrist. We want to catch the big fish, from the mayor’s office on down, and prosecute them.”
“Help me on this, Tony,” Tommy said.
“Do it,” Tony said. “It’s the only way this town’s ever gonna get back to normal.”
“All right, then. I’m in. What now?” Tommy said.
Eddie gave him a nod. “Raise your right hand and repeat after me.”
Chapter 13
When Eddie finished swearing in Tommy, Tony grabbed fresh cans of Dixie from the refrigerator and threw them each one. They were drinking in silence when Lil returned to the kitchen.
“With those smiles on your faces, I can only imagine what you’re plotting,” she said.
“We’ll never tell,” Eddie said.
Tommy glanced at his watch after chugging the last of his beer from the iconic green and white can.
“Love your gumbo. Gotta go now,” he said, giving her a hug.
“Then don’t wait so long next time before coming to get some,” she said as the back door closed behind him. She glanced at Tony. “I packed for both of us. What now?”
“Road trip,” he said.
“You sure I can take the cat?” she asked.
“I’m sure, Babe. Frankie said to bring the pets. Why don’t you come with us, Eddie? We can follow you to your apartment. You can pack some clothes and drop off your car. I’ll bring you back to town tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said. “Better call Josie first and make sure she still wants me to join her.”
***
With Lil’s cat Silky sleeping in his lap, Eddie rode in the backseat of Tony’s Mustang on the way to Frankie Castellano’s horse farm. Heavy fog began rolling across the Causeway in front of them as they crossed Lake Pontchartrain. It disappeared once they were well north of the giant, inland sea. Armed men in a black Navigator let them in the front gate when they reached the farm.
“Why all the security, Tony?” Lil asked.
“The murders last night, Frankie’s men on high alert till all this blows over.”
“Do the murders have anything to do with why Frankie hired you?”
“Whoever killed Frankie’s men also stole his prize horse. Frankie hired me to recover it. Eddie here is helping me.”
“You sure that’s all he hired you to do?”
“Believe me, I’m too old to get shot at for anybody. Not even Frankie Castellano.”
Frankie and Adele’s house was as large as many small hotels, a staff of support personnel making sure their stay at the farm was no less than first class. Bellmen opened Tony’s car door when they pulled up in front of the expansive veranda surrounding the house. Adele, Josie, Jojo, and Frankie, lounging in rustic but comfortable furniture, awaited their arrival.
“Tomasito, drive Tony’s car to his bungalow and get them situated,” Frankie said.
Adele and Lil were both all smiles. “How have you been, girlfriend?” Adele said, hugging Lil.
“Great. Tony told me you and Frankie just got back from Italy.”
“Oh, Lil, I love that place,” Adele said.
“Know what you mean,” Lil said. “Tony and I celebrated our second honeymoon there awhile back.”
“Have you ever met my step-daughter, Josie?”
Lil hugged her as if they’d known each other forever. “You’re just as beautiful as Tony said. Is this your son?”
“I’m Jojo,” the boy said.
“How old are you, Jojo?”
“Seven,” he said. “Papaw just bought me a horse. It’s the biggest, strongest, and best horse in the whole wide world.”
Frankie’s smile disappeared as he glanced at Tony. Eddie was still carrying Lil’s cat when Adele introduced him to Jojo.
“This is Eddie, Jojo. He’s your mother’s friend, and he’s going to stay with us a few days.”
Eddie reached to shake the boy’s hand. Jojo was paying no attention, stroking the cat instead.
“Oh, what a pretty cat,” he said. “What’s his name?”
“He’s a she, and her name is Silky. Want to hold her?”
“Sure,” Jojo said, taking the animal.
Lil’s white cat rubbed its head against Jojo’s neck, began purring, and closed his eyes as the boy stroked him.
“Think he likes you,” Eddie said.
Jojo handed him back to Eddie. “Better take him. I don’t want him disappearing like Lightning Bolt did.”
Frankie had an icy tumbler of scotch in his hand and a wounded expression on his face. When Jojo hugged him, burying his face against his leg, his woeful look grew even worse. Tony knelt beside him.
“You probably don’t remember me, Jojo. I’m Tony, and we met a while back. Your papaw hired me to find Lightning Bolt, and I promise you I’m going to do just that.”
When Jojo looked at him, the hint of a smile appeared on the little boy’s cherubic face. “You promise?” he said.
“I promise,” Tony said, bumping fists with him.
“Now, big boy, it’s past your bedtime,” Josie said.
Grabbing his hand, she started to lead him into the house. He tugged at her, causing her to stop in her tracks.
“Can Silky sleep with me tonight?”
“Of course she can,” Lil said.
Eddie handed Silky to the little boy. He was smiling as he followed his mother into the house. Adele grabbed Lil’s hand.
“Let’s walk down to the bungalow where you and Tony will be staying. You’re just not going to believe it.”
Tomasito had returned from taking care of Tony’s car and appeared on the veranda with a tray of mixed drinks. With icy beverages in hand, they plopped down in the veranda furniture to enjoy the cool night.
“Thought you didn’t like Mexicans,” Eddie said.
“Only ones I hate are in the Mexican cartel, and they aren’t exactly stellar citizens.”
“I hear that,” Eddie said.
Frankie turned his attention to Tony. “You think you’ll really find Lightning Bolt?” he asked.
“Eddie’s on vacation and helping me. If the horse is alive, we’ll find him. I promised Jojo, and I promise you.”
“The newspapers say the horse is dead.”
“Maybe so,” Tony said. “All I know is the horse that died in City Park is yet to be identified.”
Lil and Adele came chattering out of the darkness. “You are absolutely not going to believe where we’re staying,” she said.
“Is it nice?” Tony asked.
“Nice isn’t the half of it. There’s even a redwood hot tub on the deck with a great view of the barns and pastures. We may even have to go skinny dipping tonight.”
She and Adele hurried into the house before Tony had a chance to reply. There
were no lights on the veranda. Though he couldn’t see Eddie’s ear-to-ear smile, he sensed both he and Frankie were amused by Lil’s comment.
“Sounds like you’re in for a hot time in the old town tonight, good buddy. In more ways than one.”
Tony had to laugh. “Lil’s a morning person, not to mention she and Adele are drinking wine. I’ll probably have to carry her to the room and put her in bed.”
Tony, Frankie, and Eddie were working on fresh drinks when Josie returned from Jojo’s room. She took Eddie’s hand and kissed him on the forehead.
“Would you like to take a moonlight walk with me?”
She didn’t have to ask twice. “Lead the way, pretty woman,” he said.
Frankie stopped them before they stepped off the veranda.
“Your room will be waiting when you get back from your walk,” he said. “It’s on the other side of the house from Josie’s room; hint, hint.”
“Really, Dad,” Josie said. “Don’t you think I’m old enough to make my own decisions?”
“You do whatever you want, baby,” he said. “Eddie, you watch yourself with my daughter.”
Eddie didn’t reply as he followed Josie off the veranda and into the darkness. A manicured pathway led them through a labyrinth of ancient live oaks, late fall flowers still blooming, and spreading shrubbery. Discreet lighting illuminated their path to a hill overlooking acres of pasture. Josie sat in the grass, Eddie joining her.
“It’s magical out here at night with only solitude and stars,” she said.
“It would be magical for me in a hot factory, long as I was sitting beside you.”
“You always know the right thing to say, don’t you?”
“I was truthful.”
“My son likes you.”
“And how do you know that?”
“He told me when I was putting him to bed. He never knew his father.”
“He doesn’t have visitation?” Eddie asked.
“He died in Afghanistan.”
Eddie squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry. I just assumed you were divorced.”
“I’m Catholic,” she said. “I would never divorce my husband.”
“Not for any reason?”
“Though I might leave him, my marriage will never end in divorce. I’d just finish out my life living all alone.”
“I’m also Catholic,” Eddie said. “Doesn’t matter because I believe in birth control and lots of other things the Vatican says is verboten.”