by Ali Vali
“Now we light a candle and contact the spirit of Remi.”
Katlin laughed. “You know Ramon looked mad enough to kill, so you might want to tone down the humor.”
“You have to have a little faith, Cousin.” Cain considered how to get out of there and lose the locals as well as the feds. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Not on your life,” Lou said. “There’s some nut out there with a scope.”
“The nut finished what he came to do. The fact that he was early means I have to put my shit on hold and deal with this. We’re walking, but not out that door,” she said, meaning the front door. “I’m sure the feds have the back covered, but we’re going out that way.”
The back alley was deserted, but Cain could hear the sirens getting closer. She wasn’t worried about the cops now, even if they did manage to push Muriel aside. It would take them a week to cut through the door Ramon had installed to protect the secrets of the second floor. His friends within the police department would come through way before then.
Cain had a lot to do but decided to start with the one person everyone else had forgotten about. Remi’s relationship with Dallas was still in its infancy, but Dallas didn’t deserve the pain she was in. She took her phone from the inside pocket of her jacket and dialed without looking at the pad. “Emma, meet me at Remi’s as soon as you can manage it, but tell Merrick I want a wall around you from the minute you leave the house.”
“You okay, honey?”
“I’m fine. Just thinking about my supply chain.”
*
It seemed like hours had passed since they heard the news, but Emil and Dallas were still sitting together on the sofa. Dallas felt drained, but she stood up and headed for the room Remi had put her in when she’d first come over. She looked from the hall to the front door and wondered how a day that had started so great had completely blown up in misery.
“Do you want me to get you something?” Emil asked.
“I need a ride home,” Dallas said as she tried to think if she’d left anything in Remi’s room.
“You need to hold up on that, but if you’d feel better going home I’m coming with you.”
“Mr. Jatibon will surely want you back with him. Now that this has happened, there’s no reason for you to stay.” Her lip trembled as she tried to smile. His presence was comforting, but he also reminded her of Remi. Jealousy coursed through her when she thought of how much more time Emil had spent with Remi than she had.
“You only met Ramon once, but if you don’t want me to get fired for leaving you alone, you’ll accept that I’m staying with you. Remi’s wishes are still in effect. You were special, and if something happens to you, that would—”
“What, kill her?” Dallas asked, but the words tasted like bile in her mouth. “That’s already a reality, as much as I don’t want it to be true.”
“Come on.” Emil put his arm around her and walked her to Remi’s bedroom. “Try and get some sleep, and when you’re up for it, we’ll come up with a plan we’ll both be happy with.”
“I’m sorry for being so much trouble, but I don’t think I can sleep.” She got into bed anyway and Emil sat on the edge.
“Then close your eyes. I swear it’ll make you feel better.”
She grabbed his wrist as he started to leave. “How could this have happened?”
“That’s what I don’t understand. Remi knew what was coming, and even though it was early, she should’ve been more prepared. She’s Ramon’s child, and he knew she’d outshine him. Remi was smarter, savvier, and more vicious than Ramon, but she seldom showed that side. She understood the life’s dangers, but whoever ended her life like this took the coward’s way out.”
“I wish I’d done a better job of telling her how I felt about her while she was here. I kept putting it off because I was afraid, and now it’s too late.”
Emil held her hand between his, and the differences in their sizes were so great, Dallas felt like an infant. “I think she knew. She told me to watch over you because you meant something to her. Do you know how incredible that is? Remi never let any woman get close. She loved very sparingly, but she didn’t want you out of her sight for long. That had something to do with keeping you safe, but there was so much more.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
He stood up and nodded. “Get some rest, but call me if you need anything.”
Emil left the door open so he could hear her if she did need him, but he kept going until he reached the sliding glass door out to the balcony. He wanted to call Ramon, but he didn’t want Dallas to think he was anxious to leave. As he was about to dial, the elevator rang announcing a visitor. Cain and Emma walked in, followed by a distraught Juno.
“Lass, why don’t you take Juno into the kitchen and make her some tea,” Cain told Emma. When Emma looped her arm with Juno’s, Cain put her arms around both of them. “Juno, I swear on my family that everything will be all right.”
“It’ll never be that way again. I’ve known Remi from the day she was born. She’s like my own, and now this.” She cried against Cain’s chest, and Emma moved out of the way. “And I’m so worried about Simon. I haven’t heard from her.”
“Emil,” Cain said, still holding Juno, “could you get Dallas in here. I’ve got news you all want to hear.” Flanked by Emma and Juno, Cain led them to the kitchen where Juno told Emma where to find everything to make tea. Dallas fell immediately into Emma’s arms, and Emma held her as she cried.
“Honey, you need to sit and listen to Cain or you’ll make yourself sick,” she told Dallas.
“I’m sorry you all had to watch that on television today,” Cain said. “It was a fluke, but that can’t be helped now.”
“You said you had news,” Emil said.
“Ramon and I talked to Simon earlier, and she’s fine,” Cain said for Juno’s benefit. “She went to the one place I thought no one would think to look, and the one place you wouldn’t appear out of place going to,” she said to Dallas.
“Where is she?” Emil said, his face a clear picture of confusion.
“At Dallas’s house in the French Quarter. Are you packed, Dallas?”
“I’m sure Remi would want her to stay here,” Emil protested, and Juno nodded.
“What Remi’s going to want when she wakes up is to see Dallas, Juno, and you. That way when you report back to Marianna that her baby’s bruised but definitely breathing, she won’t think you’re insane.”
“She’s alive?” Dallas asked. She let go of Emma and grabbed Cain by her arms and shook her. “Is she?”
“We planned for the shooting, but not for the television coverage. She’s alive, and I’m sorry you went through the pain of watching something that made you think otherwise. After seeing it I think it’ll only help us, since it’s so convincing.”
“How do you figure?” Emil asked.
“Nunzio Luca hired someone to kill her, and according to the news he did that. If Remi’s dead to the world, there’s no reason for this guy to try again. Having Remi out of sight for a while will help us deal with Nunzio, and help find this Jorge Cristo who pulled the trigger. Nothing helps you relax like success.”
“She’s alive,” Dallas repeated, but not as a question this time.
“She is, and in need of some TLC. Go pack, just to give the appearance of going home, in case someone’s watching.” Cain sent Dallas to the other side of the house with Emma.
“There’s always someone watching, the bastards,” Emil said.
“Simon’s over there, but as soon as you get there she’ll be leaving, since Ramon’s going to need her help. You need to keep everyone out of there, Emil, including Dallas’s manager Bob. Dallas and Remi haven’t been seen together enough for you to worry about the cops, but if Bob finds out she’s alive, the jig is up.”
“I’ll kill the slime myself before that happens.”
“If you take that pleasure away from Remi, she’ll never forgive you.”
&nb
sp; Dallas came back with her bag hanging from her shoulder, which Emil promptly took from her. “I’m ready, let’s go.”
“Emil, you heard the lady,” Cain said. “Go on, and tell Remi she’d better keep out of sight until I call her. If she needs anything, we’ll do it through Juno and Simon, but her ass doesn’t move.”
“Don’t worry. If she won’t listen to me, I’ll find a way to smuggle Marianna in to deal with her,” Emil said. “Having Dallas there is all the incentive she’ll need to lay low.”
“Dallas, again I’m sorry for putting you through this,” Cain said.
Dallas kissed her cheek. “I have a chance to tell her how I feel, so you don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
Juno kissed her too before she followed Emil and Dallas out, leaving Cain alone with Emma. Katlin, Lou, Merrick, and the others were in the lobby.
“You know something, mobster?” Emma wiped Cain’s cheek free of lipstick.
“What’s that, my love?” Cain sat in one of the kitchen chairs and encouraged Emma to sit on her lap. After this she had to arrange a meeting with Rodolfo, and she wanted to enjoy the stillness of Remi’s home with her wife before she bothered.
“Don’t ever think of giving me a hard time about playing matchmaker again.”
She laughed. “Why’s that?”
“You fraud, you damn well know why. You’ve done everything you can to bring them together.” Emma ran her fingers along her jawline before kissing her. “You’re sweet.”
“I’ve known Remi a long time, and after seeing them together, I was sure it was right. Up to now that’s only happened to me once—when I saw the picture that guy took of us at Vincent’s place. The way we were looking at each other made me realize that I had found my one and only love.” They kissed again, then sat together until Cain’s phone rang.
“I know you have to go, but remember one thing,” Emma said, after Cain hung up with Katlin.
“Name it.”
“I see or hear of you getting shot and there’ll be hell to pay. Stay safe.”
“Go home and I’ll join you in a couple of hours.”
Chapter Forty-Six
“Hola.” Carlos Santiago answered the phone in Rodolfo’s suite.
Rodolfo had been working the phones trying to find Nunzio or Junior Luca, but had come up empty. He was used to having people jump when he barked, so being ignored had left him in the mood to take it out on the people who still did listen to him, Carlos included.
“Who’s calling?”
In the chair Rodolfo found most comfortable he gestured to Carlos to tell him who it was.
“A moment, Ms. Casey, and I’ll see if he’s available.” Carlos put his hand over the mouthpiece and said, “It’s Cain for you.”
“Cain, what can I do for you?” he asked after ripping the phone away from Carlos.
“I need to arrange a meeting whenever you can spare the time. Tomorrow, if it’s possible.”
“How about here in the hotel?”
Cain laughed. “I’m already popular enough with the FBI. I don’t need the DEA added to my alphabet soup. We can meet at my office if you want. I’ll have someone pick you up.”
“I’m an old man who’s lived long enough to know not to go to dangerous places.”
“We can make it someplace neutral if you like. I’d offer Ramon’s place, but he’s mourning the loss of his child. If you come to my office, we’ll be able to talk freely, and I guarantee your safety.”
“Send directions to my man Carlos and I’ll be there,” Rodolfo said as he stared at Carlos. “I have your word, and you have mine that I had nothing to do with what happened to Remi. If that’s what you wish to discuss, I don’t have any information.”
“That’s not why I need to talk to you. Until tomorrow,” Cain said and hung up.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Carlos asked as Rodolfo tapped the receiver against his chin.
“She gave her word on our safety, and to Cain that still means something. This isn’t about threats or business, and I’m curious. The last person I expected to hear from today is Casey. She isn’t the type to ask me for anything, so this has to do with either Juan or the Lucas.” Rodolfo put the phone down and stripped off his jacket, since he wasn’t planning to leave the suite until the morning. “Speaking of which, have you gotten Juan on the phone yet?”
“I tried the house again an hour ago and he’s still not there. He’s probably in the apartment downtown sulking for being sent home like a child.”
The information only darkened Rodolfo’s mood. “You sure this line is safe?”
“Nunzio’s men checked it again today.”
Rodolfo dialed the number to his house in Cozumel and asked the maid for his sister. “Gracelia, where’s your son?”
“I don’t get a hello?”
“You’ll get thrown out of my house and off my bankroll if you don’t answer my question. Where is he?”
“He said he needed some time alone. That’s all he said when I saw him.”
“You’re sure you saw him and didn’t just talk to him on the phone?” Rodolfo asked in a tone that dared her to lie.
“He’s back, if that’s what you’re worried about. You should worry about how to get him to trust you again, after you humiliated him.”
“Try your best to stay away from the coke and find him. You have two days.”
“You can’t blame me this time. He’s gone because of you—you find him.”
“I told Juan what it would take to stay in my good graces, and he pulls this. If you want me to find him I will,” Rodolfo said, cracking his knuckles, “but if it comes to that, neither of you will like the outcome.”
“You can’t touch him and you know why.”
“I’ve given him everything and he repays me with nothing but disrespect. Maybe it’s time for both of you to learn how hard it is to make a living in this world.” Gracelia was screaming something as he hung up.
“He’s still not at the house?” Carlos asked.
“No, and my gut is telling me he’s about to screw up this deal.”
“If you give me permission to handle it, I’ll send some guys to all the places he probably is. If they find him, I’ll order them to escort him back.”
“Do it. Find Juan before his stupidity destroys us.”
*
“Who?” Juan watched the afternoon news, the footage of Remi dominating the coverage.
Anthony sat, his eyes on the screen, so restless he felt like peeling off his skin. Instead of being in the middle of the investigation, he was stuck with Juan as the idiot made plans he wouldn’t share. It had taken Anthony awhile, but he finally spotted the surveillance outside. The DEA carried out their operations differently, but they were still visible if you knew what to look for.
“I don’t know. Considering it was Remi Jatibon, there’s a long list of possibilities,” he answered Juan. The loop they had the TV story on had gotten boring, so he stood up and cracked the curtain just a hair to scan the grounds in front of the hotel. The agent was sitting at the café on the corner pretending to read a book. Different guy, but he was still third in the lineup in the shifts. Unless you were trained to see patterns, you’d miss him.
“That’s another bitch who should’ve learned to stay home and bake cookies.”
“Things are going to get tight from a law-enforcement standpoint.” Anthony came close to ripping the curtains off the hooks when he saw Joe walk up and join the DEA guy at the café. His being there had nothing to do with Juan and everything to do with him. “We have to get out of here.”
“What are you talking about? You going crazy on me or something?”
“Look down there and tell me what you see.”
“I don’t see anything,” Juan said, peering through the crack Anthony allowed him. “You break into my stash or what?”
Anthony let go of the drapes and put his hand on the box Juan was talking about. The teakwood had lotus flowe
rs carved into it and resembled the jewelry box Anthony’s grandmother had. But his grandmother kept the few pieces of jewelry she owned in hers, whereas Juan’s was full of high-quality cocaine that he shared with his friends.
“The guy in the white T-shirt is DEA, and the other one’s name is Joe Simmons. I used to work with him.”
“How’d they know we’re here?”
“Because you people travel in packs so it’s not hard to track you. You couldn’t trust me to pick you up, so the idiots you had meet me there ended up doing something to someone who works for Cain. That’s not exactly the definition of laying low.” He picked up his car keys, wanting to get away from Juan and think. The more time they spent together, the stupider he was becoming. “Did they fess up to what exactly they did?”
“We didn’t hear about anything in the airport.” Juan waved his finger between them. “You people can’t help but splash your business in the news, and there was none from that day. Nothing happened.”
“When it’s blatant like today, that’s true. But not when there are enough cops to contain it and it’s to our advantage. But hey, what do I know?” Anthony hit his chest with his fists. “You’re the guy with all the answers and I say, have at it.” He opened the door to the room and the sound of the hammer on a gun cocking stopped him cold. With his hands up and out, Anthony turned around.
The desk drawer was open and Juan was aiming a 357 magnum at his chest. “You leave when I say you can fucking leave. You understand?”
“If you aim it you’d better be prepared to use it, and if you kill me—”
“What, I’m going to get in trouble for killing an FBI agent?” Juan closed his eyes momentarily when he laughed, but not long enough for Anthony to tackle him.
His question had him, though. He could stay and keep pretending, or he could admit why he was really here and get rewarded for his honesty with a bullet that could cut him in two. “I can’t help you if you won’t let me. If you don’t want my help, then why the hell am I here?”