by June Kramin
“I don’t know what to think about anything anymore. I’m chasing my tail here.”
“That bullet could have been for you, too. Keep that in mind. You’re creating quite a stir with your ‘Vince’s daughter’ act. I never expected it to fly.”
“Well, then, call me the queen of crap.” She climbed out of the car and closed the door with no other words of wisdom.
Hunt asked, “Sully’s?”
“We’ll get there eventually. We need to try to find Heidi first.”
“You have any clues where to look?”
“A few. She won’t stay away for long. She’ll want her fix.”
“Gunner’s?”
“You catch on fast, my love.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Hunt and Mandy pulled up to the warehouse and had no problem getting to the office. The man at the door immediately opened it and stepped back as they approached. Mandy held back her grin. She hated to admit she liked the small level of fear she instilled on the peons. She gave him a slight nod as she walked in and nothing more.
Gunner’s office door was open. He stood at the sight of her. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Something wrong with the way last night went down? Sully crying over his cut?”
“I haven’t been to see him yet. Is that going to be an issue?”
“Shouldn’t be. I was just wondering what you were doing here.”
“I’ll pop in any time I want, Gunner. You treat Angelo this way?”
“No…I…I just didn’t expect you. That’s all.” He turned to Hunt with a raised eyebrow, but Mandy snapped at him again.
“Don’t give him that ‘the bitch is crazy’ look. He does as he’s told. You’d best learn from him if you know what’s good for you. We’re not here about the deal. I need to find Heidi. What do you know about where she hangs out lately?”
“Heidi? Why do you need to find Heidi?”
Mandy motioned for him to come closer with her forefinger. When he moved in she whispered, “None of your fucking business.”
“Geez, Mand. Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?” She took out her gun and pointed it as his head. His hands went up. “Shit! Knock off the crap!”
“Who pissed in my cornflakes? Let me see. Maybe the guys that shot at me when we were talking to Eddie? Now tell me what you know about Heidi.”
“Put the gun down first for crying out loud,” Gunner pleaded.
Mandy was surprised to see Hunt by her side. Her attitude must have been scaring him. She flipped the gun down and gave it to him. She turned back to Gunner but left her attitude on high. “Better? Now what do you know?”
“Damn, woman. Come sit down and take a chill. You should lay off the goods. Looks like last night’s haul was a little too pure for you.” She wasn’t about to correct him and took a seat.
“I don’t see Heidi around these parts much since Face has been locked up. She comes by now and then looking for a fix, but that’s it.”
“But of course out of respect to Face, you give it to her.”
“Of course.”
“And when she wants sex.” His expression went blank. “Like I’m an idiot. You’re not going to give it away. Face isn’t getting out so you figure ‘what the hell,’ right?”
“It’s not like that. And I still don’t see what you need with her.”
“She was sleeping with my brother, and I want to ask her a few questions.”
“You knew about that?”
“We were closer than you think. Yes, he told me about her. It would have been helpful if you mentioned you knew about it.”
“Why would I? I don’t see what she could possibly have to do with anything.”
“Just do me a favor and tell me everything from now on. Just because you don’t think it’s important doesn’t mean that’s the case. I may need to take the streets back over, but what is going on is top priority. This morning’s shooting put it back up at the top of my list where it belongs. Sorry if I was edgy. Now please, will you tell me where I can find her?”
He leaned back in his chair and held his hands at the back of his head as if he was contemplating his answer. “You gonna hurt her?”
“Of course not. I just want to ask her a few questions.”
“Can I be there?”
“No. I don’t think she’ll talk with you there. You do know where she is though, don’t you?”
He sat forward again. “She’s at my place. Been hiding for two days and won’t say why. I gotta take care of her, you know.”
“And that includes servicing her.” Mandy put her hand up before he could protest. “I just need to talk to her.”
“I’ll take you there, but you have to go easy on her. No gun crap like you pulled on me.”
“I don’t think she’ll need that much motivation.” Mandy opened up her hand. “Gimme an eight.”
“An eight-ball? Damn, girl. You want info bad. You must really think she knows something.”
“Anything will help at this point.”
Gunner stood and went to the tall cabinet behind him. He removed a sealed bag of cocaine and tossed it to Hunt. “It ain’t the good stuff. She don’t need that.”
“Don’t care,” Hunt replied before he put it in his breast pocket.
Once they arrived at Gunner’s, Mandy told them she was going up alone.
“I don’t like it,” Hunt said.
“I don’t want to freak her out. You know I can handle her. You two watch both exits in case she tries to leave.”
It was obvious Hunt wanted to say more, but he nodded and headed towards the front while Gunner went to the back.
Mandy gave two quick raps on the door before opening it. Heidi was stuffing clothes into a small carry-on bag. She spun around then cursed at the sight of Mandy.
“What are you doing here?”
“I think that’s obvious. Please don’t try to split; I need to ask you a few questions, that’s all.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“Then answering a few questions isn’t going to hurt. Look, I don’t want to hurt you. You’re a friend. Who you see and what you do aren’t my concerns. I have a position here now, and I worry about my people. You made a comment about them not having been supposed to hurt Angelo, and I’m begging you to tell me who they are.”
“You know he was with Kermit and Axle.”
“Yes, but I also know those two don’t have the brains to scratch their own asses without Gunner or someone else telling them to do so.”
“They were just going to hold him for a while.”
“Hold him for who?”
“I don’t know! They drank with him like they were buddies and took him to the crib when he was really loaded. The more Angelo drank, the more he would lip them, especially after they asked him about me. They got crazy with the pounding on him. I tried to get them to let him go.”
“You were with him when they took him?”
“No. They came and got me. They said he wanted to see me and brought me to the warehouse where he was tied up. Kermit said they got word from someone that I had been doin’ him, and Willy was pissed. They wanted me to watch to teach me a lesson. I wasn’t there for long. Just seeing him spit blood made me puke. They let me leave.”
“I know you’re also sleeping with Gunner. Do they?”
Heidi looked up, afraid again.
“Face did order this, didn’t he? He wanted to stop you from sleeping with Angelo.”
“I wouldn’t know the answer to that. I told you I haven’t even seen him in a while. I never would have allowed this. Don’t you think I would have warned Angelo if I could? I’m sorry for what happened to him, but none of this is fair to me at all. Willy isn’t ever getting out. I should be able to have someone. I want to break it off with Willy, but Gunner is afraid.”
Mandy stood silently, waiting for her to talk it out.
“Look, I really like Angelo, but he doesn’t want anything past sex. We were sort of done. Gunner wants to
be together, but right now, we need to keep it from the guys because of Willy.”
“And what happened to Angelo proved why it should be kept a secret.” Mandy rubbed her forehead. “So, the boys didn’t mean to hurt Angelo as bad as they did is the bottom line. They took him, but you don’t know why.” Heidi nodded and buried her face in her legs. “There is no connection to what’s going on and all the other killings.”
Heidi’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know anything about that. I swear. They said they were supposed to take him and hold onto him. His attitude about me is what got him so beat up though.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this at the pizza place?”
“I don’t know. I’ve always been afraid of you. I was high, too.” She shrugged. “Just afraid, Mandy. If he was beat up because of me, I killed him.”
“I’m in no mood to comfort you on your logic there. If you want to call it off with Willy, do it before someone else gets hurt. Please. I need you to think for me. You have no idea who told them to grab him?”
“I already said no.”
“Well, fuck.” Mandy stormed out of the room and went downstairs to find Gunner.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Gunner! Get in here!” Mandy yelled out to the backyard. She had a blade on Gunner’s neck when Hunt caught up to the shouting in the kitchen. He pulled her off of him and held her at his hip while she fought to get free.
“What the hell is going on now?” Hunt asked.
“Did you think she’d keep her mouth shut, Gunner?”
“I don’t know what you’re bitching about.”
“Who told Face about Angelo and Heidi? You, so she could be all yours?”
He turned away from her and punched a hole through his kitchen wall. “I didn’t do that!”
“Then enlighten me on who did!”
He removed the knife from her hand and slammed it into the table. “Face is pissed off. He heard about Angelo and Heidi. He wanted those two meatheads to shake him up a little.”
“How did he get word to them?”
“Somebody was recently released from prison. Said he was doing time with Face, and he was madder than hell when he heard about Angelo. And don’t ask me who. It’s prison, Amanda. Figure it out. Word just spreads. Half of the guards will do anything for a buck, and the other half will do it for a blow job. I knew they were going to shake him up a little. I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I didn’t know details. You know I would have helped him if I could have.”
“Bullshit. You figured he’d leave her alone, and she’d be yours now?”
“No. Dammit.” He spun around and ran his fingers through his hair. “Be pissed off, but this wasn’t my fault. Those two would have let him go when they had their fun. Hell. You’re blaming me, but I’m still waiting for my turn at being found out and beaten.”
Mandy shook free of Hunt’s hold and took a few paces closer to him. “If I wasn’t so pissed about being back at square-fucking-one with the big picture, I’d kill you myself.”
“You need me. This is a waste of time. What happened to him wasn’t about the killings or business—”
“It was about pussy. Goddammit, Gunner. Grow a set and tell the world you’re doing Face’s girl. Get the word to him while you’re at it, and deal with the consequences before it starts another shit storm. I don’t need this crap on my streets. I have real issues to deal with.” Mandy stormed out of the house with Hunt close at her heels. “Find your own way back to the warehouse.”
Again Hunt was at a loss for words as they drove away. Maybe Mandy was starting to buy her own con. She almost did it too well.
“Babe?”
“I know. Angelo’s alive. Stop getting so upset.”
“That’s not what I was going to say. I need to know where to go to get to Sully’s.”
“I’ll tell you when to turn and where.”
“Okay, boss.”
“I’m sorry. I really thought we were going to get somewhere with Heidi. Gunner doesn’t think so, but we know Angelo was taken for something other than Heidi, and we don’t have the foggiest idea why. This shit is really pissing me off.”
“I’m glad you told me because I haven’t noticed.”
“Don’t give me crap. You know I have to act the way I do. I don’t exactly like it either.”
“I’m just glad you’re on my side.” He let her sit quiet for a while longer. “You have a game plan for Sully’s?”
“Basically, I need to show my face. Let anyone new see me and let them know I’ve taken Angelo’s place. I have to stand up to Sully, especially after last night. I can’t stay away after he pulls that crap. I’ll look like I’m afraid to be around him.”
“Hammer said he tried it before.”
“It’s also how he acquired a broken arm.”
Hunt whipped his head around. “You?”
“No.”
Her look said enough. He didn’t need to ask. It had to have been Gerard’s doing. Mandy stared out the window in a daze. Hunt hoped she snapped out of it in time to give him directions.
“You did what?” Mandy screamed at Gerard.
“Had his arm broken. Should have had his dick ripped off. He should consider himself lucky.”
“You can’t go maiming everyone that looks at me cross. Who exactly do you think I’m dealing with on a daily basis?”
“I know who you’re dealing with. Don’t think I like it. I’m tired of the same damn fight all the time. I wish you’d just stop already.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Well, dammit, quit playing so tough. You’re with Angelo, for crying out loud. Why isn’t he watching you better?”
“Because it’s my job to watch him, not the other way around. You know what things will be like the next time I have to go there?”
“Yeah. He’ll keep his lips to himself.”
“Dammit, Gerard.” Mandy walked over to the bar, poured herself a healthy serving of vodka, and downed it in one shot.
“Why do you even care what I did to Sully?”
“Because you’re screwing with my turf. You just screamed ‘Mandy can’t handle herself. You’d better watch your backs, boys, or her big bad husband will have your asses in a sling.’”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
She tried to storm past him, but he caught her by the arm. “Where are you going?”
“Anywhere you’re not.” She shook herself free, but he seized her again. Before she realized she had slapped him, a stinging burned her palm. “Let go of me,” she said through bared teeth.
Mandy went to one of Angelo’s regular hangouts that night. She found him on the first try. The two of them told personal stories that they had never shared before. Mandy got so drunk she was finding it hard to remember what was real and what was her cover. Trying to keep them straight sober was hard enough.
She cried for her parents for the first time in months. Angelo had lost his mother when he was young and expressed his happiness at finally being on the comforting end of things for a change.
Mandy wiped away a tear. She had been undercover for almost eight months. Her daily activities were starting to wear on her. She hated what she was doing. Finally releasing the feelings she had bottled up felt good. “My parents would hate what I’ve become.”
He picked her chin up and stared into her eyes. “You’re a good person. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel otherwise.”
“I work for the friggin’ mob. What part of that should I be proud of?”
“Hey.” He pulled her head to his chest and kept an arm around her. “You’re a tough nut and a caring person. I’ve seen you with Darci. You’ll be a great mom someday.”
“Sure. I’ll carry a diaper bag around with us and a teething ring made of bullets.”
Angelo gently shook her shoulder and pointed up. Her eyes froze at the sight of Gerard.
“You even think about touching him with a pinky,
and I’ll kill you,” she slurred.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Let’s go home, baby.”
She made her way out from behind the booth and poked at Gerard’s chest. “In fact, you even think about touching anyone again because of me, and I’ll kill you.”
“We’re not doing this here.”
“Yes, we are.”
He took her by the arm and started to walk her out. Angelo slid out from behind the table and blocked him.
“She’s drunk.”
“No shit.”
“Just go easy on her, okay?”
“I think I can handle my wife. Thanks, Angelo. You should go home yourself. Even for you, you look pretty damn drunk.”
A woman slinked up beside Angelo as Gerard spoke. “Sounds like a great idea to me. I’ve been waiting for that woman to leave all night.”
Angelo took the stranger’s hand and headed for the door.
“You were keeping him from his adoring public by crying on him, Mandy.”
“Too bad for you, that’s not your fate tonight.” She straightened and ran towards the bathroom to throw up.
It was then that she knew she had to close this job quickly. She was now playing wounded wife. The fact that she just helped spill close to a million dollars of cocaine onto the streets of New York should have been what bothered her most, not her marriage. Marriage? Fake marriage? Did it really count if she got married under cover and with an assumed name? Her head was spinning. She needed to sober up, get her priorities back on track, and get the info to Craig Abbey the next day. This had to help the case against Vince. This needed to be over. Soon.
Chapter Forty-Eight
“Babe?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry. Take the next exit.” Mandy was lost in memories. She hated Gerard for interfering in her work, but Hunt was doing the same thing. Of course, they wanted to protect her, but she always had to play the hard-ass anyway. Even when she was little, she’d prided herself on being the protector among her friends. Maybe that’s what had made her take the defense classes. All the weapons training. She may have ended up working for the FBI on a total bogus visit from Craig Abbey, but she did like the work, and dammit, she was good at it.