Tom filled him in on the new developments in Penélope’s case and then led him back to his office. Emma was holding Victoria’s hands, trying to reassure her.
“Victoria, this is my good friend Agent Briggs,” Tom said. “He’ll take you back to your cousin’s and wait until all of you are ready. Even if you don’t decide to testify, I won’t take any chances with your life. We’ll move all of you to a safer location until all this blows over.”
Victoria sniffled and stood up. “Thank you, Agent Saddle.”
***
Tom tried Nathan’s cell for the fifth time in three minutes and it went to voice mail again. He had played over every possible scenario in his head, each one pointing to Antonio’s murdering Penélope and appearing with an impersonator in front of potential witnesses. He tried Nathan a sixth time. No response.
Emma sat a few yards away, her fingers interlocked. “Nothing?”
“Still voice mail.”
“They might just be out of range. Give him a few more minutes and then try.”
Tom took a deep breath and walked to the window. He stared at the cars parked near Federal Plaza and clenched his fists. Where the fuck are you, Nathan? He returned to his desk and picked the landline phone up and dialed the internal number of Josh Grimes, another agent on the task force.
“Josh,” he said after hearing his colleague’s voice. “Have you heard from Nathan?” Emma looked at him intently.
“No I haven’t spoken to him today,” Josh said. “Anything wrong?”
Tom paused. “Do me a favor. Get a car over to Michelle Madison’s house. She lives in the same apartment as Antonio Cabrera on East Sixth-sixth Street. Nathan was supposed to drop a witness off there, but his phone’s been off for the last fifteen minutes.”
“I’m on it.”
Tom stared at the far wall for almost five minutes before standing up again. Emma stood beside him and rubbed his back. “They’ll be okay. They’re probably just stuck in traffic.”
He started to speak, but the ring of the phone stopped him. He answered to hear the desperate voice of Josh. “I’ve just spoken to the NYPD. It’s bad news, I’m afraid.”
Tom closed his eyes for a second. He opened them to see Emma staring at him with questioning eyes. He took a deep breath. “What is it?”
“Nathan and the woman are dead.”
“Fuck!” He slammed the phone to the floor and held his head in his hands. “They’re dead.”
Emma gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
Tom picked the phone up from the floor. “What happened?” he asked Josh. “I want to know everything.”
“They were shot dead at a traffic light. Eyewitnesses said a stocky guy in a balaclava ran out of a black Saab with tinted windows and shot them. The plates came back phony. Nathan took three to the chest, and the woman took one to her neck and head.”
“Fuck, fuck!”
“That’s not all. Michelle Madison and her fiancé, Paul Philips, are also dead. There was an explosion in their apartment, probably electrical. They didn’t stand a chance. Police are treating it as suspicious.”
Tom screamed and slammed the phone down. He rushed out of his office, Emma right behind him.
18. In the Middle of the Night
Rico’s nose brushed against Marie’s as they lay facing each other. He playfully stroked her hair and ran his fingers across her back.
“That feels so good,” she said.
He placed his mouth on hers and slipped his tongue in, kissing her avidly. She tightened her grip on his back and pulled him closer, her legs pressing into his. The blankets fell to the floor as she straddled him, kissing and biting his neck in equal measure.
The doorbell rang repeatedly, and Rico eventually eased her off him. He frowned after noticing that it was nearly 11:30 p.m. He got out of bed and checked his cell, but he hadn’t missed any calls.
“What the fuck?” he said. “Who the hell is that at this time of night?”
Marie embraced him from behind. “Just forget it. We don’t have to answer it. Let’s go back to bed.”
The bell rang again. And again. Rico forced her hands off him and grabbed his .45 from a chest drawer. “That’s it! Who the fuck’s banging my door down at this time of night?” He rushed toward the front door, and Marie scrambled to put her dressing gown on.
Rico forced the door open, the gun by his side. Fernando was leaning against the opposite wall with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. He nodded at Rico and removed it from his lips. “So you want to shoot me now?”
Rico put the gun behind his back. “Come on now, Fernando. Of course not.”
“Then why the gun?”
Rico didn’t speak, looking at Fernando with searching eyes.
“I’m only fucking with you.” Fernando laughed. “Get dressed. We’re going for a ride.”
Rico walked out of the apartment, half-closing the door. “Now?”
“Yeah, now.”
“What’s going on, Fernando? You come to my house this late and now you’re telling me I have to come with you?”
“Antonio wants to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Marie opened the door. “Hello, Fernando.”
“Hi, Marie.”
“Why are you disturbing us at this time of night? Can’t I have my man for just one night?”
“I’ll bring him right back to you. Antonio just wants a word.”
“Then why don’t I see him here?” Marie half-shouted. “Why did he send you if it’s so urgent?”
Fernando scowled at Rico as he took a step forward. “Are you coming or not?”
“No, he’s not.” Marie put her arms around Rico. “Tell Antonio he’s spending time with me.”
Rico eased out of her grip. “I’ll just see what he wants, honey. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“No, baby. Why does—”
He waved her to silence and led her back into the apartment. He raised a finger, indicating to Fernando that he would be right back. He returned to his room to get dressed. Marie pleaded with him not to go.
“I have to,” Rico said. “He’s my boss.”
“But even you know something’s wrong. When has he ever sent Fernando here to get you? Something isn’t right and you know it.”
He put on a gray cardigan. “Antonio won’t hurt me.”
“But how do you know that? All that coke he does, he could do something to hurt himself and not know it.”
He walked toward the door. “Get some sleep, honey. I’ll be back soon.”
She ran past him and stood in front of him. “Please, don’t go. Say anything. Say something’s wrong with me. Just don’t go.”
He caressed her face. “Why are you so worried about me? You know I can take care of myself.”
“I just ... I’m just scared. I don’t want this to be the last time I see you, not without you knowing ...
“What? What is it?”
She took a step back. “Stay. We’ll go back to bed. We’ll talk about everything. Please, just stay with me tonight.”
He kissed her hands and reached for the door handle. “I’ll be back soon.” He started to open it.
“Rico,” Marie said, her voice shaky.
He looked at her lovingly.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said almost silently. He walked out and shut the door.
Fernando didn’t say a word as they approached the black Hummer. Rico continuously felt for the gun lodged in his jeans, just over his underwear. He saw Antonio sitting in the back seat and hesitated. The door swung open and he saw that his comisionado had an odd grin on his face, one he had never seen Antonio use when addressing him.
“Hi, Rico. Get in.”
“What’s going on, Antonio? Why come to my house in the middle of the night?”
Fernando opened the front passenger door and stood beside it.
“Get in,” Antonio repeated.
R
ico didn’t move.
Antonio leaned forward, the streetlight revealing his face, the bull tattoo on his neck clearly outlined. “Why so scared? You’re my family, right? You’ve had my back since we were kids, right?”
Rico stared at him blankly and nodded.
“Then get in the fucking car.”
Hesitantly, he got in and closed the door. As Fernando started the engine, Rico felt a chill run down his spine. He didn’t know what Antonio thought he had done, but he knew that his behavior meant something was very wrong.
They drove for a few minutes in silence. Antonio fidgeted and whistled annoyingly. Rico sat in fear of sudden movements, wishing he had not left his gun tucked in the back of his pants. He saw signs for Pelham Bay Park and felt a lump in his throat. They had used that park many times for assassinations. Fuck, fuck.
“What’s going on, Antonio?” he said.
Antonio continued to whistle. “Turn the radio up,” he said to Fernando.
Rico seethed with rage as Fernando turned the volume knob as far as it would go, the classical music ringing in his ears. Rico turned the sound system off and turned to Antonio. “What the fuck is going on?”
Antonio scowled at him for a few seconds before pulling out his Glock and placing it under Rico’s chin. “I should fucking shoot you right now, you fucking rat.”
Rico looked at him dumbfounded. “What the fuck are you talking about?! You know I’d die for this family before I’d talk to the police.”
“Maybe, but what about my uncle?”
“You think I’m the snitch?” He grimaced, his eyes turning red. “How could you ever think that of me? You’re like my brother.”
“Then what the fuck did Jorge say to you the other day, huh?” Antonio pushed the gun further into Rico’s flesh. “They’re always talking to you. When something needs to be done, they go through you to get a message to me. What happened now? Did they offer you money to betray me? Is that it?”
“No!” Rico wrapped his hand around the gun, but Antonio didn’t lower it. “Do you realize what you’re doing? You’ve got a gun to my face. Me, the one person you know will do anything for you. Who was there when you nearly died from an overdose? Who’s kept you out of prison all these years? I’d give my life for yours and yet you want to put me down like this?”
“You’ll say anything to save your neck,” Fernando said.
“Shut the fuck up,” Rico said. “How do we know it’s not you, huh?”
Fernando laughed coarsely.
Antonio tugged at the gun, getting Rico’s attention again. “Fernando isn’t in tight with Jorge—you are. Now tell me what he said to you.”
“He’s just worried about you and your recklessness.”
Antonio moved forward, his face close to the butt of the gun. “So that punk badmouths me and you say nothing about it?”
“I didn’t want you to react.”
“That’s not your fucking decision,” Antonio hissed. “You work for me, no?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you fucking tell me these things. What else aren’t you telling me? Was it you who gave up the location? We’ve got that situation under control, or don’t you trust me to do what needs to be done?”
Rico took a number of deep breaths, his eyes filled with anger. “It wasn’t me, Antonio. I would never betray you. You have to believe that.”
Fernando brought the car to a halt and walked to the passenger door and pulled it open.
“Get out,” Antonio commanded.
“If I get out that door, I’m a dead man.”
“You’re a dead man either way. The only difference is that killing you here will cost me money in valeting. But seeing as I just had it cleaned, I don’t really want to do it again. Now get the fuck out or I’ll start with your kneecaps.”
Rico stepped out of the car as Fernando also pointed his Glock at him. He walked for what felt like a mile before he felt Fernando’s strong hands gripping his shoulders.
“Get down on your knees,” Antonio said.
“You know, I never thought our friendship would end like this.”
“You stopped being my friend the minute you kept things from me, things said by people who want me out of the way.”
Rico stared at the tall trees all around him. He heard the crickets chirping. He always imagined himself meeting a violent death, just not at the hand of the one man he would die for.
“For the last fucking time,” Antonio shouted, “get on your knees!”
Rico put both hands on his head and knelt on the ground. He heard someone cock his gun and press it against his head. Antonio walked in front of him to look into his eyes.
“If you want me dead,” Rico said, “at least be a man and do it yourself.”
Antonio snorted cocaine from two miniature bottles—one in each nostril—and cocked his gun. “I hate doing this, Rico, but you’ve tied my hands.”
“But have I? If you’re wrong, someone is trying to break us up. You’ll need me to get to the bottom of this.”
“Just do it, boss,” Fernando said. “He’s trying to talk his way out of this.”
“Shut your mouth,” Rico shouted.
Fernando jabbed Rico’s head with the gun but put it down at a signal from Antonio.
“Please, Antonio,” Rico said, “give me two weeks to clear my name. I’ll find out who the snitch is.” He put his palms together, pleading. “Where can I go that you won’t find me? I’ll never put Marie or her family’s life in danger by running. Please let me do this. I wasn’t the one, I swear.”
Antonio walked forward and put his gun to Rico’s forehead, his hands trembling.
“Do it,” Fernando said. “Let’s bury him and get out of here.”
“It’s just you and me against everyone else, Antonio,” Rico said. “Remember when we always said that?”
Antonio nodded. “If you fuck me, I’ll carve Marie open.”
“You have my word. I’ll die for you.”
Antonio pulled his gun back and uncocked it. “Let’s go.” He walked back to the car.
Rico stood up.
“No hard feelings?” Fernando said as he holstered his gun. “You know this was just business, right?”
Rico glared at him and walked to the car.
As Fernando started the engine, Rico looked at Antonio. “We cool?”
Antonio snorted two more lines. “For now.”
***
After nearly forty minutes of driving, Rico started to worry. They were miles from any of their homes, but he hesitated to ask any questions.
“You’re not even curious where we’re going?” Antonio asked.
“You say where we go and I’ll follow,” Rico said.
Antonio laughed. “Relax, Rico. I ain’t gonna kill you. I just thought we’d drop in on the game at Rodrigo’s. You know, have a little chitchat.”
“You sure? Is it wise seeing Reynaldo this soon?”
“Why?” Fernando said. “You scared he’ll say something we shouldn’t hear?”
Rico took a deep breath. “I’m just saying.”
“Don’t!” Antonio said. “We’re going there and that’s all there is to it.”
Rico stared at the oncoming traffic as he told himself he was not consumed with fear of the unknown.
They arrived at White Plains, in the heart of Westchester County, a little after 1:30 a.m. Rodrigo had always hosted high-stakes poker games and brought heavy hitters in for them. Since Antonio’s spat with Reynaldo three years before, however, they had not gone to any of the games.
Just as Antonio was about to press the intercom, Juan and Andrés opened the apartment door, clearly shocked to see them.
“This is a surprise,” Juan said.
Antonio embraced his uncle and shook Andrés’ hand. “I’m not here for trouble. We just want to play some good old-fashioned poker.”
Juan nodded and Antonio motioned for his men to walk up the stairs.
“I just
need two minutes,” Juan called out to Rico.
Antonio walked toward his uncle with a scowl across his face, Fernando close behind him. “Anything you have to say to my ejecutor,” he hissed, “you can say in front of me.”
“Relax, Antonio,” Juan said. “Why are you so paranoid? I just want to talk about a private matter.”
“What the fuck do you have to talk about with one of my men?”
“Remember who you’re fucking talking to,” Andrés said. “He’s the boss of this family.”
Rico led Antonio and Fernando toward the door. “Let me just talk to him. I’ll be up in a minute.”
“No,” Antonio said. “If you talk to him, you do it my way.”
Rico looked at him dumbfounded.
“Give me your phone,” Antonio said.
Rico unlocked the phone and gave it to the comisionado. Antonio activated a sound-recording function and gave it back to him.
“I want you to play me your whole conversation after.”
Rico looked at him for a few seconds and nodded. He turned and walked toward Juan.
“I’m sure you can understand why Antonio’s like that,” he said.
Juan leaned close to him. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s doing just fine.”
“I mean with this whole Annabel-and-Tobias thing. Is he coping with Penélope’s death?”
Rico thought before he answered. He knew Antonio would hear the whole thing, and given the way his mind worked, nothing but a diplomatic answer would do. “I guess he’s doing as good as can be expected for anyone who’s lost someone.”
Juan looked at Andrés and smiled. “Come on, Rico, you can be honest with me. I’ve been watching you. You’re the reason my nephew is as successful in our business as he is. I have big plans for you, but I need you to be honest.”
“As I said, he’s doing fine.”
Juan softly hit Rico’s right cheek twice. “I’ve always told everyone that you’re the best thing to happen to my nephew. I admire how faithful you are to him.” He took a few steps back. “Just don’t let him take you down, too.” He walked away and was swallowed by the dark.
Rico took a deep breath, and a sudden burst of cold wind slapped his face. He walked back to Antonio, who insisted he play the recording immediately. After listening to it, Antonio deleted it and patted Rico on the back. “Good. Now let’s go play.” The three men walked the four flights of stairs to Rodrigo’s apartment. A tall, large-busted brunette woman let them in.
The Kiss after Midnight (The Midnight Trilogy) Page 16