“The little old wine maker,” Cisco said. “Somehow it doesn’t quite seem to suit you.”
“It will,” Alex said. “Given time.”
“Speaking of time. How much more do you think your father has?” He watched Alex’s eyes, looking for some sign of concern or regret. There was nothing there.
“As much as he wants, I’d guess. As long as he stays holed up in the hills.”
“You know where he is?”
“Yes. My mother told me when I stopped to see her.” He smiled. “On my final visit to the States,” he added.
“You don’t think Meme will get that out of her?”
He watched Alex shake his head. “It’s against the rules. His rules. You don’t go near family. Don’t involve them.”
“Nice custom,” Cisco said. “You trust it?”
“Completely,” Alex said. “Meme doesn’t need any more enemies right now. Even a solitary one like me.”
“Yeah, he’s under the gun, I hear. Both from the police and the vultures in the milieu. It’s not as sweet, I guess, without the Company’s seal of approval. Who do you think will get him first?”
“I think he’ll die of old age,” Alex said.
“Your father too?” Cisco asked.
“Probably. The ones who deserve it most always seem to go in their sleep.”
Cisco stared at him. “You really feel that way about him?”
“Just being honest,” Alex said. “Or trying to be, anyway.”
“You know your brother’s going to be indicted. For laundering drug money.”
“Happens in the best of families,” Alex said.
“Your mother will take that hard, I imagine.”
“She’ll just deny it. She’s good at that.”
“And your father, you think he’ll stay away?”
“He’s a pragmatist,” Alex said. “Business is business.”
Cisco shook his head. He wondered what Alex really felt, but knew he’d never know. He wondered if anyone ever would.
“Would you consider doing a job for me from time to time?” he asked. “Off the books, as they say.”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
They both turned to the sound of Michelle’s voice, and watched her coming onto the balcony with a tray of drinks. Colette was behind her, carrying another tray of food, and Cisco was struck by the fact that both women’s faces were badly disfigured. Michelle’s eventually correctable by surgery, he thought. Colette’s never. Alex didn’t seem to notice as he kissed Michelle’s cheek and smiled affectionately at the older woman.
“You heard the lady,” he said. “She intends to keep me tied to her vineyard. Stomping grapes, I think.”
“Only for the next twenty years,” Michelle said. “Then you can retire and sit in a cafe and tell lies to the other men.”
“Can I go hunting occasionally?” he asked. There was a playful look in his eye, and Cisco suddenly envied him very much. It would be so nice to walk away from it, he thought. So very nice.
“Of course you can go hunting,” Michelle said. She glanced toward Cisco. “But not with him.”
“I think I’m ready for a cafe myself,” Cisco said. “And I’m very good at telling lies.”
Alex smiled at him. He owed the man a great deal. Probably his life. And he knew it would be very hard to turn him down.
“Good,” he said. “Come back when you’re ready. And we’ll sit in a sunny cafe and show these Corsicans what real liars are.”
“It seems you’re one of them now,” Cisco said.
Alex smiled. “I have been,” he said, “for a very long time.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Many events depicted in this novel are historically true, especially those immediately following World War II. In some cases, historical characters also appear under their own names. This is done purely in a fictional form. At times the sequence of events also may have been altered to achieve a more rapid flow. It is literary license, to be sure. But that is the nature of the novel, and is intended solely for the readers’ enjoyment.
About the Author
William Heffernan began his career as a reporter for the New York Daily News and was nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize for his work there. He also received the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. Since his leap to novels, Heffernan has written eighteen books, including the Edgar Award–winning Tarnished Blue in the Paul Devlin series. Heffernan lives on the Florida Suncoast.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1992 by Daisychain, Inc.
Cover design by Drew Padrutt
ISBN: 978-1-4532-3504-1
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com
WILLIAM HEFFERNAN
FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA
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