by Skye Knizley
He had also run the chemical composition of the sea salt. Based on the chemicals present in the compound he’d determined it was salt from the Pacific Ocean, a brand known as Pacific Blue that was not sold locally. Most sea salt sold in grocery stores was Atlantic or Pink Himalayan salt. There was only one major distributor that could provide the amount of salt used on Franks. They were closed, but Raven put it on her list for tomorrow. Not many people would have ordered that much salt and had it sent across the country. Whoever they were looking for either had a large bankroll, which made DiFronzo an even more likely suspect, or a local supply of the salt.
“Hey, we got something from Harvey,” Levac said from his desk.
Raven swiveled around. Where her desk was neat and tidy, his desk looked like it lived under its own personal hurricane. She pushed aside some of the food cartons so she could see what he was looking at. It looked like a grainy Youtube video.
“Harvey managed to pull the elevator camera footage. It isn’t great, but that’s a blonde man that fits Dani Ray’s description,” Levac replied. “He entered the building twice. Once at about six in the morning the day of the murder, the second time at about midnight the same day. Both times he gets on and off on the fourth floor.”
“Is it possible to get a decent still image? I’d like to show this guy to DiFronzo and see what kind of reaction I get.”
Levac frowned. “I’m not Aspen, Ray. The best I can do is a screen capture of his face when he enters. The image isn’t all that great.”
“Snag it and let’s try it anyway,” Raven said. “I’m going to have junior moved to interrogation.”
Levac finished capturing the photo while Raven went about the process of calling down to holding to have DiFronzo moved to interrogation. Ten minutes later Raven was looking through the one way mirror that separated her from the interview room. She’d chosen the one with plain blank cinder-block walls, a stainless steel table that was bolted to the floor and some of the most uncomfortable metal chairs known to man. She let DiFronzo squirm on one for a solid twenty minutes before she handed her Automag to Levac and entered the room with the Franks file under her arm as well as a record of junior’s short but illustrious career. The kid looked up when Raven entered and he sneered.
“Where is my lawyer, bitch?” he asked.
“That’s Detective to you, Mr. DiFronzo,” Raven said.
DiFronzo smirked again. “My apologies. I meant ‘where is my lawyer, Detective Bitch’.”
Raven closed the door and placed her files on the desk. “It seems he’s been detained. Probably for quite some time, all things considered.”
“Then I’m not answering any questions,” DiFronzo replied.
“That is your right,” Raven said. “However it may be in your best interest to cooperate. Daddy won’t be happy if you go down on a conspiracy charge before you’ve had a chance to really get your hands dirty in the family business. A kid like you will be very popular in super-max and I guarantee that’s where you’ll end up if you keep screwing with me.”
“I won’t see the inside of a prison and you know it,” DiFronzo retorted. “My father owns half this city and the police along with it.”
Raven shook her head. “That isn’t the brightest thing you could have said on a recorded statement, but not the dumbest thing you’ve said today. Your dad will be proud when I send your attorney a copy. And let’s be clear. Your daddy doesn’t own me.”
DiFronzo visibly paled and Raven sat across from him, her face carefully blank.
“You said earlier you knew Mr. Franks and he had, in the course of his duties removed you from Club Black, is that correct?”
DiFronzo folded his arms. “I told you I’m not answering any questions until I see my attorney.”
“Yes, I heard you. I just know you’re wrong,” Raven replied. “Your earlier statement to me and Detective Levac was corroborated by a member of the staff who saw the altercation. He also stated he heard you threaten Mr. Franks’ life.”
DiFronzo said nothing, but Raven’s enhanced senses detected an increase in his heartbeat and she could smell the sick scent of nervous sweat.
“Did you threaten Mr. Franks?” Raven asked.
“I want my attorney,” DiFronzo repeated.
Raven glared and let some of her vampiric side out. Her eyes darkened and her nails lengthened; she smiled at DiFronzo and could almost feel his blood go cold. Though the changes were barely visible, she knew she exuded the aura of fear that all vampires generated when stalking prey.
“This will go much easier if you just answer my questions, Mr. DiFronzo,” Raven said. “One more time, did you threaten Mr. Franks?”
DiFronzo nodded, his eyes locked on Raven’s. “Yes, but it was no big deal! I just thought my name and the threat would be enough to put a scare into him!”
“Did you tell your father about the incident? About Franks laying hands on you?”
“Yes… I tell dad everything. He says he likes to keep an ear on the Loop,” DiFronzo said.
Raven pulled the elevator camera still from her file and placed it in front of DiFronzo. “Do you know this man?”
DiFronzo picked it up with handcuffed hands and studied it. After a time he said, “It looks a little bit like Albano Caito, but it’s a crappy photo. It could be anyone.”
“And who is Albano Caito?” Raven asked, putting her vampire side back in its cage.
DiFronzo swallowed. “He’s one of my father’s low end button men. He just joined the family a few weeks ago.”
Raven put the photo away only to exchange it for a photo of Franks’ skinless corpse. “Did you ask your father to do this to Mr. Franks?”
DiFronzo glanced at the photo and looked away, his face turning green.
“Jesus, what happened to him?”
“He was skinned. Answer the question. Did you ask your father to do this to Franks?”
DiFronzo swallowed hard again. “Caito uses knives so I guess anything is possible. But I didn’t ask Dad or any of his men to do anything. All I did was tell him what had happened and that I felt disrespected.”
“Which could make you an accessory to murder,” Raven said. “Now for the $25,000 question. Where do I find this Caito?”
“I don’t know his address, but I know he hangs out every night at the Green Mill Lounge over on North Broadway,” DiFronzo said. “Look, Detective, if my father had Franks murdered I had nothing to do with it. Yeah I felt embarrassed, but I’m not part of my father’s business or his dealings, you know?”
“We’ll keep it in mind,” Raven replied. “For now I’m keeping you here as an accessory to murder and recommending you be held without bail.”
“What? You can’t! My father will kill me!” DiFronzo replied.
Raven stood and gathered her things. “Watch me.”
She turned and knocked on the door. Levac opened it and she started out. She paused at the threshold and looked back.
“Mr. DiFronzo… When you told your father what had happened, what did you think he would do?”
Raven walked into the corridor before DiFronzo could answer; she didn’t really care what he thought.
Levac was waiting for her in the hallway. “I’ve got him set up for transport to the city lockup in the morning. Frost is holding him on conspiracy and as an accessory to murder.”
“Nice. How’s his attorney holding up?” Raven asked.
“He was having apoplexy by the time he arrived, something about the police blocking every road to the station,” Levac said with a grin. “We kept him upstairs until the paramedics thought his blood pressure was down to a safe level.”
“Thanks, Rupe,” Raven said. “That kid would never have opened up with that pig of an attorney there holding his hand. Without him, I think we have enough to go question this Caito guy. I doubt we have an address on him, but the kid gave me a tip on his location. Feel like a little Jazz?”
“Are you buying?” Levac asked.
Raven laughed and headed for the elevator. “Only if you keep Scotch off your tie.”
THE GREEN MILL LOUNGE ORIGINALLY opened in 1907 and had been in the same location on North Broadway ever since. The mafia had used the club on dozens of occasions and still made frequent use of the “hidden” tunnels beneath the club. Rumor was that the old tunnels extended throughout the city and you could cross the entire Loop without ever coming above ground. Others said they hid something far more sinister than booze, guns and drugs. So far the police hadn’t caught the current owners involved in anything illegal, but the club was too well located and had too much history for the mafia not to lean on them if and when necessary.
The outside of the Green Mill Lounge was lit up with a gold glitter-like sign surrounding antique neon that picked out the club’s name just as it had for decades. Beneath the sign was the club entrance, a discrete antique door next to two green-curtained windows. Jazz could be heard blaring from behind the door from dusk till dawn and though it was outside Old Town, House Tempeste vampires visited the club on a regular basis; the music was just that good.
Raven parked the Shelby half a block away and the two detectives joined the line waiting to get inside. As usual the audience was made up of tourists in jeans and tee shirts, business men and women in suits and dresses and couples dressed to the nines. The club had no dress code; some people just wanted to hang out, some people wanted to relax after a lousy day at work and others just wanted to give a visit to such a piece of the city’s history a sense of occasion.
When they reached the door, Raven handed the fifteen-dollar cover charge to a handsome young man in a dark green suit and the two detectives found a table with a good view of both the stage and the rest of the club. Levac ordered a Scotch and water, more water than Scotch and Raven ordered a cranberry club soda with a bowl full of warm pretzel bites from the restaurant next door.
It wasn’t long after their second drinks that the band started up. Raven had never heard of them, but they were good, playing a mix of thirties and forties jazz with both enthusiasm and skill, something well worth the cover charge for the night.
Raven was enjoying her third cranberry soda when she spotted Caito enter with an attractive dark-haired woman. Caito, tall, thin, blue-eyed and tanned was wearing a light grey suit and a blue shirt. Raven detected at least one knife under the suit. The woman was dusky skinned and golden eyed and looked like she’d ridden in on a Harley; Black leather pants, tank top, studded leather jacket and a black bandana that held her dreadlocks in place. Raven could see a knife sheathed at her waist and another in a sort of sheath up her left sleeve.
Raven tapped Levac’s arm and pointed at the couple, who were just taking seats by the stage. The two detectives finished their drinks and stood, approaching Caito and his date from behind. Raven fielded the couple’s drinks from the waitress and set them down on the table along with her badge. Caito took a sip from his drink and looked at the badge on the table.
“Good evening, Ms. Storm,” he said without looking up. “How can I help you?”
“Mr. Caito, I was wondering if you would mind answering a few questions for me,” Raven replied.
“Bother me later, I’m in the middle of a date,” Caito replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Raven grabbed Caito’s hand and twisted it behind his back. “I think you’ll talk to me now. Get your ass out of that chair!”
She yanked Caito to his feet, startling the people next to him and pulled him toward the door.
Outside, Raven spun Caito around and pushed him against the wall with one hand. She pulled the knife from his belt and slammed it point first into the brick wall. “Now that I have your attention, I have some questions for you and you’re going to answer them, is that clear or should I write it in crayon?”
“Detective, do you have any idea who I am?” Caito asked, straightening his tie.
“One of DiFronzo’s cockroaches,” Raven replied. “I’m not impressed. Where were you last night?”
Caito shook his head. “If you aren’t afraid of my boss, you’re just as dumb as your father was.”
Raven’s eyes darkened and she wrapped her hand around Caito’s throat. “What do you know about my father?”
“That he was stupid enough to get himself killed for not being afraid of the right people,” Caito replied.
“Did No Nose have my father killed?” Raven growled.
Caito choked as Raven’s hand tightened on his throat. “I…ain’t…saying…anything…”
“Ray! Ray, let go!” Levac called, exiting the club.
Raven let go of Caito, but continued to glare at him, her eyes glowing green.
Levac stepped between the two and looked at Raven. “You can’t question a suspect if you pop his head like a zit!”
Raven took a deep breath, focusing on Levac. “You’re right, Rupe. Let’s call it in and get this clown back to the District. He has some explaining to do.”
Levac was about to reply when Caito’s arm snaked around the detective’s neck, his wrist blade at Levac’s throat. “Sorry, Ms. Storm, I ain’t going to the District, the boss will have my nose, if I’m lucky.”
Caito turned and started backing away, taking Levac with him.
“Mr. Caito, you’re only making this worse,” Levac said. “You’re adding assault of a police officer to your list of charges. Let go of me and we can work this out.”
“Shut up, Columbo!” Caito snarled. “Or I’ll slit your throat and let the detective here grieve over her dead partner.”
“That’s never going to happen, Caito,” Raven said, drawing her Automag. “Let him go and you just might make it through this night alive.”
Caito laughed and kept backing toward a nearby alley. “What are you going to do, shoot Mr. Levac? This isn’t a movie, Detective.”
Raven concentrated and the growing darkness became bright as day. She raised the Automag and aimed at Caito, who was slightly taller than Levac. “I said let him go.”
“Ray, now wait just a second,” Levac said, raising his hands.
“You won’t do it,” Caito said. “I will. I’ll spill this bastard’s blood all over the sidewalk if you don’t drop your gun.”
Raven let out a breath and squeezed the Automag’s trigger. The bullet narrowly missed Levac and punched through Caito’s collarbone like it was old cheese. Bone splintered and he staggered, letting go of Levac, who backed away from Caito and began to feel his shoulder.
“Did you shoot me?” Levac yelled.
Raven grabbed Caito’s unwounded arm. “You should have let him go. Come on, get up!”
Caito growled and slapped Raven’s hand away with surprising strength. He then stood and ran down the alleyway, leaping up onto a fire escape and disappearing into a nearby building.
“Damn,” Raven muttered. “Rupe, you’re fine, stop feeling up your shoulder and keep an eye on Caito’s girlfriend. If she tries to leave before I get back, arrest her. I don’t care if it’s for jaywalking or picking her nose, arrest her!”
Levac stopped checking his shoulder for bullet holes and looked back at Raven. “I can’t believe you shot at me again. Are you trying to kill me?”
Raven rolled her eyes. “Stop whining, you’re alive. I’m going after Caito.”
Waving away Levac’s continued protests, she ran down the alleyway after her fleeing suspect. She ran up the first two flights of the fire escape then leapt to the roof. Her feral eyes spotted Caito on the next roof. He was leaning against an air conditioning unit and checking the damage to his collarbone.
Raven ran across the roof and jumped across, rolling when she landed. She was up and running again before the gravel had even settled from her impact. Caito turned when he heard her boots on the pea gravel and he ran, dodging through the air conditioners and exhaust vents before leaping across another alleyway. He skidded, but kept his balance, running toward a large office building on the opposite side of the building. Raven followed, cl
osing the gap between herself and Caito. In seconds she caught up to him and tackled him into an air conditioning unit, their weight denting the cheap aluminum. Caito shook his head and lashed out with a flurry of blows that would have made Jet Li proud. Raven blocked about half of them, ending up with her lip bleeding. Caito hadn’t fared much better. One of Raven’s punches had left him with a broken nose and an eye that was already swelling shut.
“Give up?” Raven asked, wiping blood from her lip.
“Fat chance,” Caito replied.
He ejected a knife from his left sleeve and threw it underhand. It was aimed at Raven’s throat. Her reflexes allowed her to dodge the blade, but only just and she felt it bite deeply into her left bicep.
“Goodnight, Detective,” Caito said.
The injured man turned and ran; at the far side of the roof Caito pulled his shirt over his head and jumped sailing across the wide gap to crash through a window a story below.
Raven pulled the knife from her shoulder, slipped it in a pocket and followed. She stopped at the far side of the roof and watched Caito, apparently uninjured by the fall. He picked himself up dusted himself free of broken glass and continued running.
Who is this guy? she wondered.
Not about to let a suspect in two homicides get away, Raven took several steps back, ran and jumped. She crashed through a window one floor below Caito and fell flat on her face, pieces of glass tearing at her clothes. She gritted her teeth against the pain and let her heritage do its work; she was up and running even as her wounds started to heal. She kicked open a nearby fire door and took the steps two at a time, coming out on the second floor. She jogged down the hallway and onto a balcony that overlooked the first floor lobby. Below her, Caito was exiting the main stairs and walking casually toward the doors, his jacket over his wounded arm. Raven vaulted the railing and dove, driving Caito face first into the stone-effect tile. He squirmed beneath her so she grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the ground twice more, knocking him unconscious with the third blow.