When we docked The Harpy, I adjusted the security system, and put some final touches on our cover-up. I loaded the waterproof equipment pod with all my gear, including the M136. It was flexible, and allowed adjustments to negative buoyancy. I attached it to the anchor and lowered it away. When and if things cooled off with the Alvarez hit. My equipment could be returned to the storage unit. Lo and I swabbed the deck, making everything just peachy. By then Frank the wheelman arrived, and we hurried out to jump in the GMC. We were all at the Madigan house sipping a Bushmills together when Lois’s phone rang at almost midnight. It was Staley. Lois put it on speaker.
“Hi Bill. I have you on speaker. Rick’s here having a shooter with Frank and me. How’re you doing?”
“Rick’s there?” Staley didn’t sound convinced.
“I’m here, Bill. You don’t sound so good.”
“Someone aced Teddy Alvarez and his crew. They were renting a beach house in La Jolla. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?”
I let relief flood into my voice. “There’s some good news for a change. I hope it’s not someone else cleaning house to move in themselves.”
“That was my thought until I got the report on how it was done. My detectives think it was done from the beach with a .50 caliber sniper rifle. You were a Seal Team Sniper, right Rick?”
“Yeah. Do you want me to go over there with you, and check out the scene? I’ve been drinking this evening though.”
“He’s about five sheets into the wind, Bill,” Lo added nicely on cue. “The lush started sipping right after the workout class. Alvarez came to see us at Jadie’s place. He wanted to make a deal to leave us alone, and our clients.”
“He did?” That jolted Bill. “What did you two say?”
“Not much other than we’d consider it. That’s what we were doing here. Rick thought the offer might have been legit. Alvarez wouldn’t be specific about what he’d expect in return.”
“I’m glad you weren’t anywhere near La Jolla tonight, Rick,” Staley said after a short hesitation. “I thought you might have done it.”
The three of us gave that a heartfelt he-haw.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bill. Want me to take a look at the scene?”
“Maybe tomorrow. I need to check some things out. Goodnight.”
The three of us chorused a nice goodnight, and Lo disconnected.
“Think he can get anywhere, Rick,” Frank asked.
“I have a pretty good idea what he’ll be checking. He’ll back-trace everything we’ve said, starting with Jadie. When he confirms Lo and I were at class, he’ll work on whether anyone saw Teddy. The security clips will confirm a happy Teddy arriving and leaving. If he talks to Jadie, she’ll tell him she heard I was going over to your house on business. If he does come get me then, I’ll go with him, and he’ll ask about our boat. I’ll take him there, and show him our doctored security footage.”
“I hope he doesn’t take it that far,” Lo remarked. “He should be more worried that it was someone taking over Teddy’s operation. You’re staying tonight, right?”
“I’m supposed to be drunk, so I think that would be a good idea. I’m beat. That was an exciting night. Just like old times, right Lo.”
“Yeah, except for you taking your sweet time getting back to the boat, Flipper.”
* * *
I drove to my house early the next morning, showered, and dressed. Staley arrived before eight without a call. He looked pretty fresh so I figured he must have gotten some sleep. I gave him a cup of coffee. After Bill had sipped some coffee in silence, he hit me with the fishing expedition.
“How’d you do it, Rick?”
“Do what?”
He looked irritated. “Kill Alvarez.”
“I can guess at how it was done if you take me to where it happened.”
“We already have a good idea how it was done. The killer swam in to shore from a boat, positioned a sniper nest in the sand, and wiped out Alvarez and his boys. There was no trace of anyone stopping along the beach to walk in. The street security cams didn’t record anything. This gig fits you like a glove. You have the boat, the opportunity, the motive, and the expertise.”
“Maybe twenty years ago, Bill, but now? I don’t think so. As to the boat, Lois and I haven’t had it out for months. I did maintenance on it during my time off, but that was it. Check the security footage.”
“I did. The boat never moved. That’s why I want to know how you did it.”
“I have an idea, how about assuming I’m innocent?”
“What about the innocent woman killed in the shootout, Rick?”
“Hey I’m sorry if some woman was killed last night, but it wasn’t me who killed her.” He tried another fishing ploy. No women or animals died during the Alvarez adjustment.
Bill shook hands with me. “Good. I have enough to get the mayor off my back. We can’t be expected to solve every gangland hit. I hope it was you that somehow pulled that hit off, Rick. I could relax about a new entity moving in.”
“I’ll let you know if our clients notice anything.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet.”
It was time to deal with one loose end. I called T-bone and gave him specific instructions to hire a limo for tonight. I told him what company, and what license plate was on the limo I wanted. He called me back within ten minutes.
“No problem, Rick. The driver will be at your house by six.”
“Thanks, Bone.”
“You coming to work today?”
“I have to or Lois will be hunting me down. We’ll do a final update on the Alvarez file. Since he’s at room temperature, we can send Staley a copy, and mark it closed.”
“Amen to that. See you soon.”
The next call was to Karen. I needed to retrieve my bug, and it would look better if I were taking the limo out on an actual date. “Hey, did you garner an invite to Temple’s dinner party tonight?”
“Of course.” Karen giggled. “Jadie got wasted last night. I took her home, and the police woke her first thing this morning wanting to know about the visitors during last night’s work out. They questioned her on whether she had heard anything about your whereabouts after the class. She called to tell me all about it. The police told Jadie those guys were killed last night.”
“That’s what I heard. I’m renting a limo for tonight. Want to arrive in style with me?”
“I’d love to. Why the fancy arrival?”
“Because I get to take you home after.”
“It’s a date.”
Flipper strikes again.
* * *
Temple was pleasantly surprised having Karen and I both at the dinner to keep her company. I of course had retrieved my Alvarez tracking bug from where I had planted it, thankful the company hadn’t done an in depth cleaning. It was all quiet on the western front for the next few days as Karen had to miss the Wednesday’s workout due to her work schedule, and the PD moved on to other crimes. Temple came and gagged it up with the old folks as Karen’s fill in at the workout, while enduring another assault from the ever vigilant Jadie. The workout before Casablanca night was cancelled because of our new piano playing ‘Sam’. Apparently, there would be a real surprise, rehearsed by Jadie, Karen, and Temple. All I knew was that Cantelli land once again retreated into mundane sanity.
I rode with Lois and Frank. We wouldn’t be doing the usual grand entrance. Lois talked me into accompanying them against my better judgment. My regret started the moment Frank drove away from my curb.
“When the hell are you going to make an honest woman of my sister, Flipper?”
“I don’t know that I ever will, Lo. I thought it would be more honorable to wait for my first love, Stacy, to get out of prison.”
Lois cackled at that line. Frank wisely gave no indication other than a snorting chuckle of appreciation. It was never a good idea to assume a lull in enforcement of the Cantelli Commandment. “You’ll have a long wait on that bird. Sh
e got five years. The skank should have gotten twenty.”
“That’s just mean, Lo. Look at all the nifty excitement that came our way thanks to her.”
“I ever catch you carrying a torch for that bimbo, and I’ll light you on fire with it.”
“Noted.”
“Temple was funny at Wednesday’s workout,” Lois said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. “She can take a joke. Jadie was riding her hard, and she laughed it off. The kid is okay.”
Frank drove into the parking lot of our jointly owned restaurant. He laughed, gesturing at the line around the corner. “We’ll need to build a second story on the building if this keeps up.”
We exited the GMC and walked over to say hi to familiar faces in the line who called out. Even Frank enjoyed my Bogie lines. I had to do a solo act because Karen and Jadie weren’t with me to do their routines. I did get some catcalls and remarks wondering if I’d have to shoot anyone tonight. The people in line laughed, so it was all good. We only allow in a set number of people, and they’re counted and informed. That way we don’t have disappointed would be diners waiting to get in for an hour only to be turned away.
Karen’s ‘Sam’ was already playing piano in the middle of the restaurant. The guy was a dead ringer for Dooley Wilson, the original Casablanca Sam. He saw me and waved with a big smile. “Mister Rick, come on over here.”
I figured this was meant to be part of the routine now. I liked it. I knew all the lines by heart so I was game. Coming up behind him, as the restaurant crowd hushed into near silence, I put a hand on his shoulder. “You know what I want to hear.”
“No I don’t.”
This was so good. “You played it for her, you can play it for me!”
A titter of appreciation seeped through the room.
“Well, I don't think I can remember...”
This guy was great. I hunched forward angrily. “If she can stand it, I can! Play it!”
Our new ‘Sam’ nodded, and began the haunting melody of ‘As Time Goes By’. From the back of the restaurant came Karen, singing it in perfect sync. Jadie’s voice chimed in from another direction, and finally Temple joined the trio. They approached the piano, belting out a stunning rendition of the classic. They playacted around me and ‘Sam’ beautifully. It was a glorious night in Cantelli land. Lois gave me a little wave from our table with her usual smirk. I nodded. As time goes by indeed.
The End
BERNARD LEE DELEO - AUTHOR'S PAGE
AMAZON AUTHOR'S PAGE (UK)
Bernard Lee DeLeo writes action/adventure fiction in many genres, including crime, military, detective, paranormal, young adult, and even science fiction. He also owns and runs a one man auto and truck repair shop in Oakland, CA. His recently released YA/paranormal trilogy DEMON is a hilarious adventure for all ages. Everything he writes combines action, humor, and romance. RICK CANTELLI, P.I. is Bernard’s eighteenth novel.
He served aboard the USS Ranger (CVA61) from 1969 until November of 1972 and then earned an AA degree in Auto Technology from Chabot College in Hayward, CA, and a BA degree in English from Cal State Hayward. When not fixing vehicles or writing books, Bernard enjoys basketball, backpacking, and scuba diving. Here are some of his other works:
To our readers, please take a moment to write a short review on Amazon if you enjoyed the Author's work. Thank you!
HARD CASE (Action Series)
COLD BLOODED (Action Assassin)
PEACE (Navy SEAL Novel)
MONSTER (FBI/CIA Action Novel)
THE PROTECTORS (Police Procedural)
DEMON (Trilogy – YA/Paranormal)
Rick Cantelli, P.I. (Rick Cantelli, P.I. Detectives Book 1) Page 28