The Cain Casey Series

by Ali Vali

  “I promise not to poison you. Drip or espresso?”

  “Espresso, with lots of sugar, thank you.”

  Dallas walked away but left her sandals behind. It amazed Remi that for all the foot traffic outside, Dallas’s little patch of garden was as quiet as a church. She enjoyed the stillness with her eyes closed. “Makes me want to sell the penthouse,” she told Simon.

  “Maybe you won’t have to,” Simon said. She sat close by with her head back.

  “Do you read tea leaves down in Jackson Square in your spare time?”

  “That’s fun to do every so often,” Dallas answered, making Remi’s head jerk up. She put down the tray she was holding and handed Simon a cup first. “What can I do for you, Ms. Jatibon?”

  “It’s Remi, and I wanted to ask you out to dinner.”

  “That’s the favor?”

  “If you say yes, I could apologize for not coming clean about who I was when we met, and we can talk about your upcoming project.”

  “That’s a new way of going about things.”

  “I thought it would be more relaxing and we could maybe get to know each other better,” Remi said, catching a hint that the ice under her boots was cracking.

  “And if I say no to the offer, which I’m sure comes complete with a casting couch?” The question was venomous, but Remi detected a history behind it.

  “Then you and Bob can handle it with legal.” Remi stood and put her untouched coffee back on the tray. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m sorry we disturbed you and that I’ve somehow given you the impression that your future with the studio lies solely on your back.”

  They were halfway to the door when Dallas spoke up. “And if I said yes, what did you have in mind?”

  “Italian chicken at Irene’s. You’ll stay fully dressed, including your shoes, then I’ll drop you off here and you can finish your book.”

  Dallas pointed at the tray. “Why not forget I’m an idiot, then, and finish your coffee?”

  “I have an appointment I unfortunately can’t reschedule, so I have to get going.”

  “Does that mean Susan Wilkins brews a better pot than I do?”

  Remi was surprised when the usually quiet Simon started laughing. “I wouldn’t know, and I don’t see any future opportunities to try anything she’s brewing,” she said, finding Dallas attractive but irritating. But she was beginning to realize all kinds of things about herself, namely that no other woman in her life had challenged her like this, much less that she’d enjoy it. With Dallas if she wanted more she’d have to work for it.

  Dallas glanced down at her feet, and when she made eye contact again, Remi read her facial expression as contrite. “Sorry, that was out of line.”

  “Don’t apologize for being straightforward. It’s refreshing,” Remi said, meaning every word, but she glanced at her watch and saw her fun was over. She took a card out of her pocket and handed it to Dallas. “Thanks for seeing me but I really have to get going.”

  Dallas closed her fingers around it and watched Remi leave, her boots echoing along the slate. Her shoulders slumped as soon as the lock clicked closed. This had been her chance with Remi, and she’d blown it in spectacular form. Before she could get too depressed, she studied the heavy linen paper with raised ink. It showed only Remi’s name and a phone number, no company and no position. She wasn’t sure why Remi had given it to her until she flipped it over.

  If you ever feel the urge to call me, I say go with it. Just promise me you won’t put Dickey on the line once you’ve dialed.

  “How about tonight?” Dallas asked, when Remi answered after she dialed the listed number.

  “If I’m back in time I’d love to, but I really don’t know when I’ll be through.”

  “It doesn’t matter, give me a call. If it’s late I’ll fix something here to make up for acting like I have no control of my mouth.”

  “That sounds like something to look forward to. I’ll see you tonight.”

  *

  “Ready to buy a casino?” Remi asked Cain as they boarded the plane.

  “Can’t wait.” Cain paused at the door to wait for Muriel, watching her stare at the surveillance team boarding a nearby plane so they could tag along. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Nothing to talk about,” Muriel said as she quickly climbed the steps. “More like loose ends that need to be tended to.”

  “Rash decisions aren’t your style.”

  Muriel clicked her seatbelt on and put her hand on Cain’s forearm. “I’m not making any quick decisions, just trying to make the right ones. You’ll have to trust me.”

  “You have my trust, but don’t forget you have the right to ask me for help if you need it.”

  “I know that, but I’d rather take care of this myself.”

  For the rest of the trip the group discussed the pending deal. That morning they were sitting down with Richard Bowen to finalize the deal, but they weren’t stupid. The Jatibons and Cain knew Richard no more owned the Capri than Dwayne, Steve, and Ross would after the sale. He was Nunzio Luca’s front man in the casino and on paper.

  “The fact that Nunzio Luca’s willing to sell at all still surprises me,” Ramon said.

  “True, since from what I’m hearing he’s partnering with Rodolfo Luis,” Cain said. “After Stephano’s retirement, and considering Nunzio’s expansion plans, I would’ve thought he’d have kept the first stop in the supply chain.”

  “Maybe he’s made other arrangements,” Steve said.

  “Not likely, and that’s the only part of this situation I can’t work out,” Cain said, and Remi nodded.

  “What’s your best guess?” Dwayne asked.

  “Nunzio’s been lured by the quick buck. To rise to where he wants in the drug-lord food chain, he needs cash to build up his network.”

  “Have you met this guy?” Ramon asked. “I know Rodolfo, but haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Nunzio.”

  “You’re not missing much. I met him one night at my old club Emerald’s. He reminded me a lot of Giovanni in that he thinks killing enough people will solve any problem.”

  Remi crossed her legs and looked from Ramon to Cain. “I’ve dealt with him on a few occasions, so I have to agree with your assessment. You really think we’re financing his expansion?”

  “Like I said, I haven’t figured it all out, but we need to be vigilant. If that is Nunzio’s plan, then he’ll rely on intimidation to make us back down if we try to take his people out of the Capri. He strikes me as the have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too kind. We give him the money he needs and then bend on letting him continue business as usual.”

  “We don’t intimidate easily,” Remi said.

  “Wait until you have a four-year-old,” Cain said, laughing.

  *

  As Remi got into the waiting black limousine, followed by Cain, Muriel, and Juno, she said, “I hate these things. They always remind me of either a funeral or a wedding, which is kinda the same thing when you think about it.”

  “I don’t know. According to Simon, we may have you fitted for a tux before too long,” Juno said.

  “I just want to have dinner with her to discuss her upcoming project without that asshole around.”

  “You’re not talking about the girl who made her completely forget her date last night, are you?” Cain asked Juno.

  “If it is, I can’t blame you for wanting to spend time alone with her, Remi, but I’m partial to blondes myself.”

  “Who in their right mind isn’t, but this is just business,” Remi said. “Speaking of, did you set up extra security for today, Cain?”

  “Katlin left earlier this morning with Mano and a group from both families. With the guys we have with us now, we should have it covered.”

  “Nunzio would have to be stupid to try anything now,” Remi said.

  “True, but sometimes stupid is a way of life for these guys,” Cain said. The van that pulled up alongside them on the main drag in Biloxi made her sigh. Shelby an
d her friends had made the trip just fine.

  “Once this is done I want to move some of our security to the casino. I want the grounds cleared of any evidence of the Bracatos and the Lucas as soon as possible. Guido’s moving on after today, but there’s something about him I don’t trust,” Remi told Cain.

  “Please don’t call him Guido. His name is Richard, and he’s an American,” Juno said.

  “I was just kidding. But this guy looks like he’s seen one gangster movie too many. He should know we have a much better sense of style,” Remi told her, making Cain and Muriel laugh. “It’s the bad-girl image that drives the women wild.”

  The car pulled to the front of the Capri Casino, and Mano opened the car door. Remi pulled his goatee as a greeting and waited for everyone to get out.

  “Did everyone make it?” he asked Remi.

  “At least from our end. Is Richard up there?”

  “Yes, and already in a pissy mood.” He pointed to the trucks in the far section of the front parking lot, ready to start taking the Capri signs down.

  “I could give a rat’s ass about what kind of mood Richard’s in,” Cain said. “I’m sure he’ll cheer up as soon as he gets the check.”

  “I left some of Muriel’s staff with him in case he had any questions,” Mano told them as he pressed the up button on the bank of elevators. “Think of how surprised Guido will be when we shut the place down for a couple of weeks once the sale goes through. There’s no way I’m putting any of our people in there until we inspect the facility and check personnel backgrounds.”

  “Good, since Richard was running more smack here than dice,” Cain said. “We don’t need that kind of heat. The less often we have to go before the gaming commission, or give the feds any more ammunition to make our lives miserable, the better.”

  Their group moved toward a private elevator that went to the third floor where the management offices were located. Once they boarded, three of Cain’s men stayed by the doors to deter anyone else from going up.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Cain.” Richard Bowen stood and extended his hand when she entered the conference room first. “And Remi, you look good enough to eat.”

  Ramon puffed his chest out, ready to call the man down for his obvious sexual comment when Remi beat him to it.

  “Hello, Richard, you’re looking good yourself. Love the suit. It’s so shiny. You rented Good Fellas again last night, didn’t you?” She slid into the chair to the right of the head of the table, which she waved Cain into.

  “I’m sure we all have better things to do than discuss how great everyone looks,” Cain said and smiled broadly. “How about you sign the papers so we can give you the check?”

  “I find the changes to this contract totally unacceptable. My firm was supposed to provide security for the hotel and casino for five years, with an option to renew,” Richard said, slamming the papers down on his end of the polished table. “Muriel and Mano agreed when we did the initial sit-down.”

  “The hell we did,” Mano said.

  “That’s not going to happen, and I’d appreciate it if you kept your delusions to a minimum,” Muriel said. “You and everyone down to the guy who cleans the ashtrays are out as soon as we hand over the check.”

  “I repeat, that’s unacceptable. I have friends in this town who you don’t want to piss off. It could be bad for business.”

  “Is that a threat?” Remi countered. “Because if it is, Slick, you’ve just rolled snake eyes coming out of the box.”

  “No threat, and you don’t have the balls to keep that promise. You and Cain don’t want to take me on, so tell your peons to put that into the agreement,” Richard told her as he slid the contract back to them.

  “This is a waste of time,” Cain said as she stood up, followed by everyone at the table but Richard. “Our offer’s off the table.”

  With that Remi picked up both copies of the contract and tore them in half, letting them fall to the floor.

  “Sit the fuck back down,” Richard said, pointing at Cain.

  “And I suggest you lower your voice and your finger before I have Simon snap it off for you,” Remi said. “We want what we want, and you do as well.” She kicked the torn papers in his direction. “This proves there’s no middle ground.”

  “There’s nothing else for sale around here,” Richard said in a softer tone.

  Everyone on the other side of the table laughed. “Everything’s for sale, Richard,” Cain said. “If you think otherwise, then Muriel’s right—you are delusional.”

  “Walk out and you’ll regret it,” Richard screamed.

  “You need better lines than that if you want me to take you seriously, Richard, because you sound more pathetic than threatening,” Cain said.

  “I mean it.” Richard put his hands on the table and leaned forward in what Cain took as a more menacing stance.

  “You had an offer and now you don’t,” Remi said, mirroring him. “Make sure you get that part of the story right when you report in. We weren’t the ones who backed away from the table first.”

  “Sounds like you might be the one who lives to regret something today,” Cain said seriously, before she walked out. “Or if I know your boss, you might not live long enough to regret anything.”

  “That went well, don’t you think?” Ramon asked, making everyone laugh as they got in the elevator. “Mano, call our friend with the DEA. It’s time to play our part as good citizens and give our government friends some hints as to what’s going on at the Capri.”

  “Anonymous calls are one of my specialties.”

  Ramon put his hands on Remi and Cain’s shoulders. “We haven’t heard the last of this.”

  “You’re a gambling man, Ramon,” Cain said. “I say we’re back here in a couple of days and someone else is sitting next to Richard’s chair with a gun pointed at his balls. Remi was right to call him on it. There’s no way Nunzio gave him the okay to walk away from this deal.”

  “If that’s the case, then the guy’s got cojones,” Mano said. “The Luca family isn’t known for their forgiving nature.”

  “It’s the only thing we all have in common,” Ramon said, the three of them smiling at the truth of his observation. “But only when it’s truly deserved. None of us would’ve let someone else talk for us today, no matter whose name’s on the deed.”

  “Like I said, stupid is a way of life for some people,” Cain reasserted. “Our problem is that Nunzio’s not only stupid, he’s also cruel. We just have to wait to see how he entices us back to the table and what the fallout is if we don’t agree.”

  *

  “Our guys on the street say the storekeeps in the ninth ward want to know when we’ll be back online,” Muriel said. They’d arrived back in town early enough to go to Cain’s office. “They’re having to deal with one of the local suppliers and they’re getting squeezed.”

  “Sure, now they see the benefits of working with me.”

  “You know all those guys love you, so cut the shit.”

  Cain put her feet up on her desk and folded her hands over her stomach. “They’re going to have to hang on. We’ll get back to business as soon as I shake your girlfriend off my ass, and since she’s keeping us both in the dark as to when that might be, I have no choice but to lay low for now.”

  The sound of Muriel’s pen on the page stopped and she looked up. “Not funny.”

  “You’re not kidding.” Cain threw a paperclip at her and laughed to bleed all the sarcasm from her statement. “But we both know it’s true. Unless I want to do some jail time, and I don’t, there isn’t a whole lot I can do about it right now.”

  The fact that Shelby and her partners were listening to “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” over and over again made Cain smile.

  “I know how you feel about this, and I’m going to take care of it.”

  Cain dropped her feet and moved around her desk to sit next to Muriel. “Let’s forget for a minute how I feel about the situa
tion and tell me how you see it.”

  “Shelby’s someone I enjoy spending time with, but I’m not stupid enough to forget the fact that it’s like a guilty pleasure. Sort of like too much whiskey—tastes good, but overdoing it isn’t a great idea.”

  “Don’t think I’m not taking all that into account. I happen to like Shelby.” The cotton of Muriel’s shirt felt stiff under her fingers when she placed her hand on her forearm. “She’s a good match for you.”

  “Is that an endorsement, because my father hasn’t been so kind. If I get the Casey Clan rah-rah speech one more time about how I’m betraying my bloodline, I’m going to strangle him.”

  She squeezed Muriel’s arm before leaning back in her chair. “If this is the life you really want, then I’ll talk Uncle Jarvis off the ledge. But if you choose this, you know I’ll have to change your role in the family business, and it’ll have nothing to do with trust. You’re my family and I love you, and I want you to be happy.”

  Muriel nodded. “I know that, but I also know that family or not, you can’t take the chance, and I can’t blame you. Shelby’s a beautiful woman, but she’s as driven as we are. She’s not going to give up her job for me.”

  “Does she expect you to?” Cain was incredulous, thinking maybe Shelby had changed from the eager but earnest agent she’d met.

  “No, and it’s not something I’m going to do either, so don’t go looking for my replacement yet. Like I said, I’ll take care of it.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Positive.” Muriel tapped her finger on her notebook. “Back to our problem.”

  “It’s time to break out your Robin Hood tights, cousin.”

  “I look horrible in green.”

  “Then take the drab blue pants you’ve got on and tell the guys to make the rounds. Give our regulars something to help out with the added expense and tell them to be patient. It might take me awhile, but I’ll think of something to get us back to a more normal schedule.