talk to someone while there's still time.'
Someone.'
'The police,' Ranger said. 'They might be able to cut you a deal.'
'I don't need a deal,' Anthony said.
'He'll turn on you,' Ranger said. 'You made a bad choice for a partner.'
'You should talk. Look who you've got for a partner. Little Miss Cry-Her-Eyes-Out.' Anthony rubbed his eyes like he was crying. 'Boohoohoo.'
'This is embarrassing,' I said. 'I hate when I cry at funerals.'
'Boohooooo.'
'Stop. That's enough,' I said. 'It's not funny.'
'Boohoo boohoo boohoo.'
So I punched him. It was one of those bypass-the-brain impulse actions. And it was a real sucker punch. Anthony never saw it coming. He had his hands to his eyes doing the boohoo thing, and I guess I threw all my fear and frustration into the punch. I heard his face crunch under my fist, and blood spurted out of his nose. I was so horrified I froze on the spot.
Ranger gave a bark of laughter and dragged me away so I didn't get splattered.
Anthonys eyes were wide, his mouth open, his hands clapped over his nose.
Ranger shoved a business card into Anthonys shirt pocket. 'Call me if you want to talk.'
We left the store and buckled ourselves into the Cayenne. Ranger turned the engine over and slid a glance my way. 'I usually spar with Tank. Maybe next time I should get in the ring with you.'
'It was a lucky punch.'
Ranger had the full-on smile and there were little laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. 'You're a fun date.'
'Do you really think Spiro and Anthony are partners?'
'I think it's unlikely.'
I left Ranger in the control room and hurried into my cubicle, anxious to finish running the check on Barroni. I came to a skidding stop when I saw my in-box.
Seven new requests for computer background searches. All from Frederick Rodriguez.
I stuck my head out of my cubicle and yelled at Ranger. 'Hey, who's this Frederick Rodriguez guy? He keeps filling up my inbox.'
'He's in sales,' Ranger said. 'Let them sit. Work on Gorman.'
I finished Barroni, printed his entire file, and dropped it into the drawer with Gorman and Lazar. I entered Jimmy Runion into the first search program and watched as information rushed onto my screen. I'd been scanning the searches as they appeared, taking notes, trying to find the one thing that bound them together in life and probably in death. So far, nothing had jumped out at me. There were a few things that were common to the men, but nothing significant. They were all approximately the same age. They had all owned small businesses. They were all married. When I finished Runion I'd take all the files and read through them more carefully.
I was halfway through Runion when my mom called on my cell.
'Where are you?' she wanted to know.
'I'm at work.'
'It's five-thirty. We're supposed to be at the church for rehearsal. You were going to stop here first, and then we were all going over to the church. We've been waiting and waiting.'
Crap! 'I forgot.'
'How could you forget? Your sister's getting married tomorrow. How could you forget?'
'I'm on my way. Give me twenty minutes.'
'I'll take your grandmother with me. You can meet us at the church. You just bring Joseph and the cello.'
'Joseph and the cello,' I dumbly repeated.
'Everyone's waiting to hear you play.'
'I might be late. There might not be time.'
'We don't have to be at Marsillio's for the rehearsal dinner until seven-thirty. I'm sure there'll be time for you to practice your cello piece.'
Crap. Crap. And double crap!
I grabbed my bag and took off, across the control room, down the stairs, into the garage. Ranger had just pulled in. He was getting out of his car as I ran to Morelli's SUV.
'I'm late!' I yelled to him. 'I'm frigging late!'
'Of course you are,' Ranger said, smiling.
It took me twelve minutes to get across town to the Burg and then into Morellis neighborhood. I'd had to drive on the sidewalk once when there was traffic at a light. And I'd saved two blocks by using Mr. Fedorka's driveway and cutting through his backyard to the alley that led to Morellis house.
