''Nobody pays attention, really, to what goes on over there.''
''No.''
''Then that guy gets dumped, washes up.''
''And still no one pays attention.'' It was a shame that guy was a John Doe, but no one did give a shit about him. I wondered if he had a family somewhere. ''Do you think anyone misses him?''
''What do you mean?''
The waitress came over, set our beers down in front of us, and moved away silently. I took a sip before saying anything. When I put my glass down, I sighed. ''Does anyone in Fair Haven miss that guy?''
''Why do you think he's from Fair Haven?''
''Why not? That's where his people are.'' My people
were in my own Wooster Square neighborhood, deemed New Haven's ''Little Italy,'' where my dad grew up, and over in Westville, where my Jewish mother lived. We all had our places.
''Why do you think no one has claimed him?'' Vinny asked.
I thought for a second. ''His people can't draw attention to themselves because they're here illegally. Can't tell the cops someone's missing who doesn't exist.''
Vinny nodded. ''You're right. But maybe no one did know him.''
I took another drink, looking at him from the corner of my eye. ''Maybe,'' I said, although I wasn't quite sure what he was getting at.
Vinny pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in some numbers. I leisurely drank my beer as I listened to him talking to an exterminator after calling directory assistance. Our sandwiches came just as Vinny hung up, and we both dove in without a word. Breakfast had been a long time ago.
We were done in record time. Vinny refused to let me pay, and it made me a bit uncomfortable, knowing that our relationship situation hadn't been completely worked out. Were we friends now? Did he want it to be more? Did I want it to be more?
I had to admit he was looking pretty damn good in the jeans and fleece, despite his Rocky-like face. But then Tom's kiss nudged my memory, and I wondered if I shouldn't just swear off men completely until I could figure this shit out.
Vinny was excusing himself to go to the men's room. As he walked across the restaurant, I figured this was a good time to touch base with Marty.
''Dick told me what happened,'' he said. ''What the hell's going on?''
''There's something going on with green cards. A scam. But I'm not sure how it works yet and I'm not sure exactly what's up. I have to do some more checking.'' I knew if I could break open this story about the green card counterfeiting, Marty would name me employee of the month.
Well, maybe I wouldn't go that far, but he'd be pretty happy.
''Green cards?''
''Yeah. I'll try to find out something as soon as I can and let you know.''
''Does it have anything to do with that warehouse?'' Marty asked.
''I'm not sure. I'll see what I can find out.''
''Can you find out sooner rather than later?'' He seemed to have forgotten that he'd given me time off. Which was just fine with me.
''I'll see what I can do and get back to you when I know something.''
He was quiet for a second, then, ''Be careful, though, okay?''
''Yeah, sure, I will.''
Vinny was standing next to me as I closed the phone.
''No one's going to tell you shit on the record,'' he said.
''I have to try.''
''Suit yourself.''
''I will.'' We were behaving like children, but that wasn't anything new.
And as I thought about what I needed to do—talk to my mother, Paula, and even Tom—I knew. I knew I was going to have to get rid of Vinny or I really wouldn't get anything.
We went back out to the car and, as I got in, I shifted in my seat a little and managed to actually put myself in some real pain. I caught my breath.
''You okay?''
I shook my head, trying to keep back tears. I shouldn't have put that much into it. ''You know, my back's fucking killing me.''
Vinny studied my face for a second and apparently decided I was telling the truth. ''You should go home and take another Percocet and get some rest.''
I nodded, pulling out of the parking lot and heading toward Wooster Square. ''What about you, though?'' I asked. ''You need a car.''
He gave me a sidelong glance. ''I'll take this one. You don't need it anyway.''
I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it again. He did help me get the car, and I couldn't say anything without him knowing I was lying. ''Okay,'' I said slowly. ''But I want it back in one piece. I'm not going to have an insurance record worth shit if I lose another car.''
I pulled into a parking space just across from my brownstone. I got out of the Taurus and waited for Vinny to come around to the driver's side. I handed him the keys.
''Be careful,'' I said.
He nodded and put his fingers under my chin, raising my face to his. His lips found mine and I closed my eyes as I felt his tongue.
He pulled away too quickly. I was about to ask him to forget about everything, to come up to my bed and spend the afternoon with me. It had been too long; I didn't care about any story anymore. But his eyes were resting on something behind me, his lips now in a grim, tight line. I turned to see what he was looking at.
Tom stood on the sidewalk at the bottom of my brownstone steps.
Chapter 29
I don't know how it happened, but in what seemed like an instant, Vinny was driving away in my rental car and I was climbing the stairs to my apartment with Tom, who still hadn't said a word.
When we finally got into my living room, I turned to him. ''What's going on?''
He scowled. ''I told you I'd come by this afternoon. You could've told me you'd be with DeLucia.''
''Why the hell are you calling him by his last name now? Jesus, Tom, it's like we're in high school all over again.''
''And you're the high school tease.''
Okay, maybe I deserved that, but it really pissed me off. ''He helped me get a new rental car and he was just dropping me off so I could get some rest because I was in a goddamn accident yesterday and I hurt like hell.'' My voice got higher with each word until I felt like a fucking shrew.
''So why is he taking your rental car?''
''Because there are bees in his.''
''Bees?''
So I told him about the Explorer. Tom's face changed slightly as I finished, and he bit his lip thoughtfully.
''Someone took one of Lin Rodriguez's hives while she was in the hospital. She came home and found it missing.''
I sat on my couch, and Tom dropped into my rocking chair across the room. We stared at each other for a few seconds.
''I know about the green card counterfeiting,'' I said.
He nodded. ''Figured DeLucia—um, Vinny—would tell you.''
''You know that he knew?''
''He works for your mother, right?''
Again my mother. ''Who is she representing?''
He shook his head. ''Can't tell you. This is out of our hands, really.''
''Feds?''
He nodded.
''Are you guys doing anything?''
''We've been told to stay out of the way.'' And from the way he said it, it was his turn to be pissed.
''So what's going on?''
''Tony knew everything, and Sam knows, but he's not telling me too much.''
''Do you think Rodriguez was killed over this?''
Tom took a deep breath and rubbed at his eyes; he was tired. ''Yeah. Yeah, I do. Nothing else makes sense.''
''But what about Roberto Ortiz? Is he awake yet? Did he kill Rodriguez? Can he tell you why he shot at you and Sam? And what's up with his sister? Why was she killed?''
''He's still in a coma. And I don't know anything else.'' He wasn't bullshitting, either. I could see in his face that he was truly perplexed by this.
''Rosario talked to me in the mailroom at the paper, but she didn't say anything much,'' I said. ''You don't think someone saw us talking and thought she said more than she
did, do you?''
''You talk to everyone,'' Tom said.
''Yeah, but one day I talked to her and the next she was taking up room in my trunk.''
''Do you think that was deliberate?''
I didn't know what the hell I thought. ''Maybe, maybe not.'' I didn't want to feel responsible for causing Rosario's early demise. Dwayne didn't blame me, which was good.
''I talked to a couple of other girls, too,'' I started.
''Are they dead?'' Tom interrupted.
''Jesus, Tom, no.''
''So maybe Rosario Ortiz wasn't killed because she talked to you.''
''Okay, maybe not. But those other girls, they told me about Lucille. They said she helps everyone who comes here. What's her story?''
Tom shook his head, but it wasn't because he was saying no; it was because he thought I was pitiful. Really.
''Maybe you should just stay out of it now,'' Tom said condescendingly, pointing at my hand. ''First you have to get stitches and then you get in a car accident. Maybe someone's telling you to mind your own business on this one.''
''You think someone tried to run me down because I'm asking questions?''
''Christ, Annie, of course. You do tend to get on people's nerves.''
So sue me. That wasn't front page news.
Tom got up and started pacing. ''I guess I should be happy DeLucia took your wheels so you can't go anywhere,'' he said, finally stopping in front of me. ''So now I can leave and I won't feel like shit like I would if you go back out there looking for trouble.''
Tom didn't have to know that I was already trying to figure out how to get transportation back over to Fair Haven. Hell, at this point I'd walk. It wasn't too far.
''So you're leaving?'' I asked, trying to sound like I wasn't trying to get rid of him.
He nodded, and I stood up. Together we moved toward the door. I opened it for him, but he stopped at the threshold and turned back to me, his face close, about as close as Vinny's had been just minutes ago.
''I can't forget about you,'' he said softly, then disappeared down the black stairwell.
I closed the door when I heard him slam the front door downstairs. I was in a real fucking pickle, that was for sure. And I wasn't talking about not having a car this time. Here I was again, thinking about two men whom I'd thought were completely out of my life and who'd both shown up at the same time to force me to make a goddamn decision.
And I thought life was a pain in the ass before.
A honk echoed through the air, and I moved to the window, looking down to see Rocco's familiar BMW parked across the street. I smiled, happy to be able to put off any real introspection about the Vinny versus Tom situation as I put on my jean jacket. On impulse, though, I picked up my rain slicker on the way out; the sky was looking pretty ominous again.
Rocco said he had something to show me. He said he couldn't get Vinny on his cell, thought he was with me, but since he was going to show both of us anyway, he'd be content with just me.
I wondered why Vinny wasn't answering his phone, but a ride was a ride, and Rocco was going my way.
We headed toward Fair Haven.
''What's up?'' I asked after a few minutes of silence.
Rocco was tapping the steering wheel with his thumbs as he drove. I wondered if it was a habit for him or just a nervous tic caused by all the crazy stuff going on around us.
''I think I found something interesting.''
I sat up a little straighter. ''What?''
''You won't believe it.''
''Try me.''
''I think I found that Lucille you've been looking for.''
Now that was definitely something interesting.
''How?'' I asked.
''I was sort of just driving around, and I saw this woman come out of one of those churches, you know, the storefront churches with the name of the priest, or whatever, and the phone number painted on the outside wall. It was mostly in Spanish, and Arnie doesn't do Spanish.''
I frowned. Arnie? Shit, he was channeling his book character again. This could be a wild-goose chase. But on second thought, I didn't have anything to do this afternoon, I was in the right place, and I had a ride. So I figured I could play along.
''Was she alone?''
Rocco shook his head. ''She came out all covered up in a big trench raincoat with a hood, so I couldn't see her face, but she was with that guy we saw, the one you think slammed into your car.''
''Hector?''
''Yeah. And they walked down here to the McDonald's.'' Rocco pulled into the parking lot as he said that.
I stared at the golden arches and frowned. ''What should we do?''
Rocco was one step ahead of me. He had his door open and, as he stepped out, said, ''Wait here.''
I watched as he went inside. It was just a few minutes before he came out, carrying a bag and a soda. He climbed back into the car, grinning. ''They're in there,'' he said.
''Should I go in?'' I asked.
Rocco pulled a French fry out of the bag and stuck it in his mouth as he shrugged.
I pulled at the latch in the door, but before I could open it, movement made me freeze. A woman came out, her hood down, exposing her face.
It was my mother.
Chapter 30
As she walked away from us, I almost started to breathe again, until I saw Hector come out of the McDonald's, right behind her. She paused as he said something to her, then she continued on her way toward the Mercedes that I hadn't even noticed parked a few spots away.
''Shit, Rocco,'' I said loudly, my voice startling me. ''That's my mother.''
He stared at me. ''Your mother?''
''Yeah, and let's follow her. I want to get to the bottom of this right now.''
As Rocco pulled the Beemer out into the road, I pulled my cell out of my bag and punched in my mother's number. She answered on the second ring.
''Annie, I can't talk right now.''
''Yeah, I know. You're going down Grand Avenue.''
I saw the Mercedes brake suddenly as she looked in the rearview mirror. I waved. Her hand went up automatically. ''What the hell are you doing?'' she demanded.
''Why don't we meet at my apartment and you can tell me what you're doing,'' I said.
''Who's that with you?''
I glanced at Rocco. ''Oh, it's Vinny's brother.''
''The writer? What are you doing with him?''
''What are you doing with Hector?'' This must be big. Fast food and my mother were like oil and water.
''Okay, I'll meet you at your place.'' She disconnected the call, and the Mercedes sped back up.
We lost her somewhere around State Street, but she was waiting for us at my brownstone when we arrived.
My mother got out of her car, smoothing her black slacks and pulling her trench coat closer. She held a hand over her eyes, shielding them from the few drops of rain that had started to fall.
Within seconds, the sky stopped spitting and let go buckets on us. The three of us dashed up the stairs and I fumbled awkwardly with my key before finally releasing the lock and letting us inside, where it was dry.
I put a kettle of water on for coffee, even though no one had asked for any. But it was the only way to gather my thoughts before I started firing questions at my mother.
''So what's your business with Hector?'' I asked. ''Does it have to do with Vinny?''
My mother's eyes slid from me to Rocco and back again, her eyebrows arched, asking me if I wanted Rocco to be there. I nodded. ''You can talk to Rocco, too. He's Vinny's brother.''
She frowned and pushed a brown curl off her forehead. ''All right,'' she said after a couple of seconds. ''But this can't leave this room. You can't write about it. Not yet.''
Just as she said it, I began to itch to call Marty. She saw that, too, and waited until I nodded. ''Okay,'' I said.
''Hector came to me three months ago, not long after Lourdes started cleaning for me. He's been driving her to my house, and I met him one day as
I was leaving for work. I'd represented someone he knew in a robbery case, pro bono, and he recognized my name. A few days later, he called me, wanted to know if I could help some of his people who are being exploited.''
Dead of the Day (2007) Page 21