Liquid Steele (Daggers & Steele Book 9)

by Alex P. Berg

  “True,” said Shay. “But why would he rob the house—assuming anything was actually taken. Wouldn’t he snatch the object of his affection while he was here under invitation? And why would there be anything to take in the first place? If Bianca’s squeeze murdered Johnny, he and Bianca would have to be monumentally stupid to leave something incriminating in her house, never mind to report the incident afterward.”

  I nodded. “True.”

  “Besides, this is all assuming Bianca wasn’t with her beau last night.”

  “You mean after she went to the bar?”

  “Maybe. Or during.”

  “Spending time with her paramour in public would be kind of a stupid thing to do, especially the night after she’d found out her husband had been murdered.”

  Steele lifted an eyebrow, as if to say, “I know.”

  I reached into my jacket and procured my notebook, flipping to where I’d written the names the barkeep had told us. Mallory, Alessandro, Rialta, and Carmine.

  “So she was there with a married man, who happened to be there with his wife, and this Carmine guy.”

  “Aragosto is a small town, which isn’t to say there aren’t multiple people here who share the same given name, but Silverbrook mentioned a Carmine. The one who lives on the hill for the wealthy folks with his brother.”

  I blinked. “The Abano family. Right. If he’s loaded, it would explain why Bianca wasn’t worried about money after losing her husband.”

  “I mean, it could sort of explain Johnny’s death.”

  I squinted. “What do you mean, sort of?”

  “Well, there’s still the matter of the trident.”

  “Right. How could I forget?”

  I cast a glance at the back doorknob, wondering if Aragosto had a CSU team. They might be able to clear some things up if our story was shaking out how we thought it was.

  I raised an eyebrow at Shay. “Moment of truth. Think we can trust the local PD?”

  “Honestly? I’m not sure.”

  “Likewise. Come on. Let’s track down Quinto.”

  26

  We found the big guy sitting on a crate near one of the warehouses by the docks. At his side, sitting on another crate, lounged his doppelganger, or as close to it as I’d ever seen. Sure, he didn’t look exactly the same as Quinto. He was younger and lankier, with more hair and bigger hands, but he had that same oval-shaped head as Quinto, the same light gray skin, and the same goofy grin with teeth in desperate need of work. He probably could’ve slung both of the crates over his shoulders if he’d wanted to. Still, I don’t see how Bronmuth couldn’t have immediately noticed the resemblance. He must’ve…

  Quinto noticed our approach. He gave us a friendly wave as we reached conversational range. “Hey guys. Felix? These are my friends I was telling you about. Jake Daggers and Shay Steele. Guys? Meet my brother, Felix. Man, it feels strange to say that…”

  “But, like, a good strange, right?” Felix’s voice wasn’t as deep as Quinto’s but it still could’ve put most tough guys’ best efforts to shame.

  “Definitely a good strange.” Quinto grinned, a reserved yet genuine smile I’d only seen him shine in Cairny’s direction before.

  “Anyway, nice to meet you,” said Felix. “Folton told me a lot about you over the past couple hours.”

  “A pleasure,” I said.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” said Steele. “I’d say the same about you, but…well, Quinto’s always played his personal life close to the vest.”

  Shay must’ve struck a nerve. Quinto turned to his brother and sighed. “I just… I didn’t know…”

  “It’s okay,” said Felix. “I get it. We had no idea what had happened to you either. We thought that…you know. You were gone. For good.”

  “Felix. I’m sorry.”

  “Really, bro. It’s okay. We made it. Mom. Me. You. Somehow.” He snorted. “Although you, man. A cop. I still can’t believe it.”

  “Neither can the rest of us,” I said. “I’m pretty sure he blackmailed his way onto the squad. Either that or he threatened to eat a bowl of chili and stay in the admissions office until someone gave him a definitive yes or no.”

  “Dude. Come on,” said Quinto.

  Felix’s lip curled in mirth, but he gave me an odd look regardless.

  “It’s sarcasm,” said Steele. “Mostly, anyway. It’s a cop thing. You’ll have to get used to it.”

  “It’s cool,” said Felix. “Sailors just curse a lot, but I’m down with a more subtle approach. Speaking of which, long lost family or no, I really need to get back to work. I get paid by the job, and those sacks of squid jerky aren’t going to move themselves. I’d love to stay and catch up, but…”

  “It’s alright, Felix,” said Quinto. “There’ll be time. I promise.”

  “Sure. You bet.”

  The younger Quinto nodded, hopped off the crate, and started to head off. He paused before making it more than a few feet, looking back at Quinto with hesitation in his eyes. I thought he might toss caution to the wind and come back in for a bear hug, but he didn’t. He simply shot his brother a wave and kept on his way.

  Quinto watched him retreat. I clapped the big guy on the shoulder. “You doing alright, old pal?”

  “Huh?” He blinked. “Yeah. You bet. Never better.”

  “You sure?” said Steele.

  “Of course.” Quinto hopped off the crate. “It’s just…odd. I haven’t seen him in forever. I barely recognized him. He’s gotten so big.”

  “The ridiculously oversized apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” I said.

  “I’m actually surprised at how easy it was to talk to him,” continued Quinto, ignoring me. “I thought, given how I’d left, and what I’d left behind? For sure he’d be angry at me. Furious, even. But he wasn’t. He was legitimately happy to see me. He thought I was dead, or as good as. Still, our conversation, the relationship between us? It felt strained. It wasn’t the same as it once was.”

  “You’re brothers, Quinto,” said Steele. “You’ll always have room in your hearts for each other. But after all that’s happened, if your relationship hadn’t changed, I’d say that would be an even bigger problem. You’ll figure it out, if you want to.”

  Quinto nodded. “I do. Absolutely, I do.”

  I checked the alley behind us, making sure Felix had disappeared. “I hate to break up the good feels, but did you ask him about Nicchi?”

  Quinto sighed and shook his head. “You know, Daggers, I’m going to be honest. I didn’t. I was too distracted. Didn’t feel like the time was right.”

  I shot a look at Shay. “It’s alright. I know the feeling.”

  Maybe I hadn’t been as stealthy as I’d thought, or I’d put too much longing in my eyes, because Shay noticed. Quinto might’ve, too.

  “Anyway,” I said, trying to get the four piercing eyeballs off me. “It’s not a big deal. We got what we were hoping to out of Johnny’s friend Rigger, and Steele and I are hot on the trail of a new lead.”

  Quinto’s eyebrows lifted. “Yeah?”

  “Bianca might’ve been seeing another man,” said Shay. “Possibly one of the Abano brothers we’ve heard about. We know where they live, give or take. I was thinking about heading up there. Seeing what they have to say.”

  “You think this guy might’ve had something to do with Johnny’s death?”

  “There’s a chance.”

  “Might not be the safest thing to waltz up to his house and ask him about it, then,” said Quinto. “Especially not without local backup. Speaking of which, where’s Silverbrook?”

  “Daggers charmed him, and he stormed off,” said Steele. “You know. The usual.”

  “I don’t think Steele was planning on pointing the finger at anyone yet,” I said. “And it’s entirely possible having Silverbrook with us wouldn’t help. Everything we’ve heard so far is that these Abano brothers are made of money. If they were generous with their success, that might explain why we�
�ve had less than total cooperation out of Bronmuth.”

  Shay cocked an eye at me. “You think?”

  “It came to me suddenly. Just a theory. Either way, we don’t need Bronmuth when we have you, Quinto.”

  Quinto’s face fell. “Guys. You know I’ll always have your backs. Any other time, I’d be there in a hot minute, but I need to get back to New Welwic. I need to tell Cairny. I mean, I just found my long lost family, for crying out loud. Besides, someone needs to give Captain Knox an update, and if I’m being selfish, I wouldn’t mind a shower, a change of clothes, and a night’s sleep in my own bed.”

  Shay didn’t quite sigh, but she emitted of wistful moan. “That does sound nice.”

  “I thought if I left now, I could make it back to the precinct before everyone packs up for the evening,” said Quinto. “Assuming I can find a rickshaw that’s ready and willing.”

  “Go for it,” I said. “If she means as much to you as I think she does, you should tell Cairny. And keep the captain updated. Steele and I’ll be fine. That’s why we’re partners and you’re the third wheel.”

  Quinto snorted. “Thanks.”

  “You’ll be back first thing in the morning, though?” asked Steele.

  “Before the sun’s up, if I can get a driver.”

  “Perfect,” said Steele. “You mind stopping by my place, then? I could use a change of clothes. I can give you my key.”

  Quinto’s face scrunched. “Uh…sure. No problem. It’s just that, well, I don’t know where everything is, and, ah…”

  “You’ll have to grab me fresh underwear, yes, I know,” said Steele. “It’s okay. You’re a big boy. I don’t expect it’ll be weird unless you want it to be. Just don’t look in the bottom drawer in my nightstand, right side of the bed.”

  “Bottom drawer of the nightstand?” I said. “What’s in there?”

  “Nothing you need to know about.”

  “Okay, now it’s getting weird,” said Quinto.

  “Well, if you’re going, grab me a change of clothes, too,” I said. “I’ve got stuff at Steele’s place. I tried to arrange it across the backs of furniture and on the floor to make it easily accessible, but she forced me to store it in a dresser, too.”

  “Two changes of clothes, fresh underwear, no bottom drawers,” said Quinto. “Got it.”

  “Also, while you’re at it,” I said. “Do you mind popping by Taxation and Revenue? I know Johnny kept ledgers, most of which we think are at Bianca’s place, but I’d like to see what the official record is on Nicchi Fishing and Crabbing. Might as well see what you can pull on the Abano brothers’ businesses, too, specifically if they made any suspicious loans.”

  “You think Carmine lent Johnny the money to keep his business afloat?” said Steele.

  “It’s possible,” I said. “I’m collecting possibilities at this point.”

  “Fair enough. Quinto, since you’re going there, go ahead and pull anything you can on Doc Fowler, too.”

  “The horse show guy?” I said.

  “We’ve been by twice now,” said Steele. “Both times his Fantastic Fillies and Foals show hasn’t had a single patron in the stands, and supposedly he’s one of Aragosto’s wealthiest individuals? Call me suspicious.”

  “Nicchi Fishing and Crabbing, the Abanos, and Doc Fowler,” said Quinto, ticking them off on his fingers. “Alright. I’d better get moving then. No way Taxation and Revenue will be open when I leave in the morning. If I hustle, I should be able to arrive before they wrap it up for the day. I’m sure someone there will love seeing me walk in five minutes before closing.”

  “Get to it, then,” I said. “And be sure to tip your driver.”

  “I always do.” Quinto clapped me on the shoulder. “Real quick, though, before I leave. You mind if we have a word?”

  I blinked. “Uh…sure.”

  Steele looked curious, but Quinto shot her a raised finger. She nodded.

  Quinto escorted me down the alley, far enough to prevent Steele from listening in. He cast a glance in her direction just to be sure.

  “What’s going on?” I said. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, not at all,” he said. “It’s just that, well… Finding my mom? Finding Felix? I never in my wildest dreams expected it.”

  “You want me to let your mom know you’re not skipping out on her?”

  “No. Well, sure, it you want. I already told Felix my plans. He should let her know. But what I was getting at is…” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I thought I’d lost my family, long ago, so I tried to build my own. Rodgers. You guys. Cairny. You’ll always be family. The family I chose. We can’t always control the relationships with our blood, but we can with the family we surround ourselves with. And I don’t know what’s going on between you and Steele lately, but…make sure you make the right choice, okay?”

  “I will. I may be an idiot, but I’m not dumb.”

  Quinto got my gist. He nodded, squeezed my shoulder again, and high-tailed it in the direction of the inns.

  I returned to Shay. She cocked an inquisitive eye in my direction. “Everything alright?”

  “Completely,” I said. “You still want to try to find Carmine without consulting Silverbrook first?”

  “He might not be happy about it, but I think it’s our best bet. Better than searching aimlessly for Silverbrook, anyway.”

  “Fair enough.” I held my hand out. “Lead the way.”

  27

  It took a bit of searching to locate the turnoff into Millionaire’s Row, but once we did, I found the walk invigorating. As during our trek to Sea Ridge Hunting Tours, our senses were accosted by a barrage of nature. Buzzing dragonflies, chirping songbirds, and rustling leaves. Smells of damp earth, pine needles, and a thick, musky, tropical scent that tickled my nose when the wind blew, coming from a tree with milky white blossoms. Gardenias, Shay suspected. The proximity of it astounded me, how we could turn off a path lined with homes and suddenly find ourselves surrounded by trees and animals and flowers. In New Welwic I’d be lucky to find a single weed sprouting between cracked slabs of concrete before it was trampled by an unsuspecting ogre.

  Of course, even here, we couldn’t escape mankind’s efforts. The trees thinned. On one side of the path, the forest disappeared entirely, falling off the edge of a steep cliff and providing a clear view into town. On the other side, in a cleared section, I spotted my first glimpse of the luxurious homes. From a stone’s throw away, they seemed even more ostentatious than from afar, with sleek gray roofs and stone exteriors. Luckily for us, each of them possessed a plaque affixed to their front gates noting the owners of the estates beyond. Even more luckily, none of the homes featured any enormous guard dogs threatening to tear our faces off as we ventured through said gates.

  Shay and I passed a few of the homes, each of them separated by a wedge of trees for privacy, before arriving at the Abanos’ property. A delicate wrought iron fence surrounded the estate. A path of cut limestone led past a pair of cherub-laden fountains to the front door. Shay and I escorted each other to the front, and Shay knocked.

  We waited for a moment, but no one answered. I tried again, with a more forceful set of knuckles than Shay had employed, but again, no one answered.

  Shay tried the verbal approach. “Pardon me? Anyone home?”

  More delicate wrought iron inlaid the home’s front windows, acting as much as a decoration as a theft deterrent. I peered through them but saw only heavy drapes.

  “So,” said Shay. “Bianca isn’t at her home, and it doesn’t appear Carmine is either. Coincidence?”

  “Maybe,” I said. “Wouldn’t they be at one or the other of their places if they were having an affair?”

  “Not if they ran off.”

  “And leave both their homes and their stuff behind? Not likely.”

  Shay clicked her tongue. “Come with me. I have something else I’d like to check while we’re here.”

  I thought my partner m
ight have something less than legal on her mind, but instead of trying to break into the Abanos’ home, she led me back up the front walkway and up the path. After crossing another stretch of woods, we came to the last house in line. The sign above this particular estate read, ‘Doc Fowler’s Fantastic, Fabulous Familial Farmhouse.’ A farm it certainly wasn’t. More of a mansion, but I could appreciate the alliteration.

  “Really?” I said. “You want to talk to Doc Fowler?”

  “Why not?” she said. “We’re here. It can’t hurt.”

  “And what do you plan to ask him? If his horse show is really a front for mermaid trafficking that he secretly killed Johnny Nicchi over?”

  “You keep bringing up that human trafficking theory, but I’m not sure even you believe it. And no, I don’t plan on asking him anything of the sort. But his name has come up numerous times. Obviously, he’s wealthy. He’s probably well connected. He might be willing to talk to us, and if so, something might slip. He just as soon might not be home, or he might tell us to get lost, but we’ll never know unless we try.”

  I shrugged. “Alright. I’m going to follow your lead on this. Charm the pants off him. Or…don’t. You know what I mean.”

  Shay snickered and shook her head. We walked to the front door and knocked. This time, something stirred within.

  After a brief pause, the door opened. Behind it stood a middle-aged man in a fine gray suit. He eyed us with a measure of uncertainty. “Can I help you?”

  “Doc Fowler?” said Shay.

  “No. I’m Mr. Fowler’s manservant, Mateo. You are?”

  “Shay Steele and Jake Daggers. We’re with the New Welwic police department.”

  Shay produced her badge. Mateo peered at it skeptically.

  “We’re not here to investigate Mr. Fowler in any way, I want to be clear about that. Rather, we’re looking into Johnny Nicchi’s disappearance. Had you heard of it?”