ask me something like that?' He stood, wandered toward the door. 'No, you're just out, Frank. Out of the business. I don't need you. I'm the man now. My brother's money paid for it anyway, right? I sat Benny Dunn down and had a little chat with him. He's a good guy, real trustworthy. I offered him a limited partnership but he decided to bow out. I got no hard feelings toward him. He handles himself like a man. As for you, you got to realize this is strictly a business move on my part, and as far as the business goes, Frank Ponte don't exist no more. You're gone, and if you got any brains left in your head you'll stay that way.'
Frank felt his nerves begin to settle. 'Not a problem.'
'With what you know, I'm giving you a break, Frank, because we got a history and we're friends. I'm banking on you still having some brains left in your fucking head, you with me? You can't prove shit anyway, but still, the safest move was to take you out too, and I didn't. I could've at any time, and as much as I'd hate to do something like that, I still can. Remember that, because if I so much as hear your name again – if you ever decide to play hero and make this a personal thing,' Vincent said, 'believe me when I tell you that I won't hesitate to protect myself and my business interests with extreme prejudice. Are we clear?'
'We're clear,' Frank said. 'Only there's one thing I want to make clear too.'
Vincent looked at him. 'Okay.'
'I don't intend to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, Vin. I don't want you near me, or my family, either. So if all of this is just more of your bullshit you better save yourself the time and take me out right here and now.'
'Don't sweat it, Frank.' Vincent grinned. 'If that's how I wanted to play it you'd already be dead.'
Frank watched him closely. 'It'll be better for both of us if that's true.'
'I've had a tough week,' Vincent said. 'I'm gonna take the rest of the day off, but it's an exciting time for me so I'll be in bright and early tomorrow morning. When I get here, you be gone, okay?'
Frank gave a slow nod.
He stepped through the doorway then quickly looked back at Frank. 'Believe it or not, I really am sorry things had to turn out like this. Fucking sucks, but, you know how it goes, man.'
'Yeah,' Frank said softly. 'I know how it goes.'
Vincent stuffed the gun back into his jacket and left the office.
Frank opened the blinds, watched Vincent get into his Corvette and speed away, then went to his file cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. His hands still shaking, he managed to pour a glass and drink it down.
He flopped down into his chair and let his eyes wander across the office. It had all happened so fast, it seemed, but had fallen apart even faster.
After two more drinks he picked up the phone and dialed Benny's home number. With his connections in the city the requests Frank planned to make would stand a good chance of being granted. The phone was answered on the third ring.
'Benny?'
'Frank, how are you?'
'Alive. Got a minute?'
'Got lots of them.'
'I heard you don't work for Vincent anymore.'
'I heard the same thing about you.'
'Do you still work for me?'
There was a lengthy pause before he answered. 'Depends.'
'I've got one more job I need your help with.'
'I'm listening.'
'I need you to find out whatever you can on an Arthur Bertalia. B-e-r-t-a-l-i-a. I think he's somewhere in Vermont. If he's not, keep looking until you find him. I want a full rundown on him. I want to know how many times he scratches his balls in the morning before he hangs a piss.'
'I understand.'
Frank gulped the remainder of his drink. 'There's more. I need a piece, Ben. Something that can't be traced and works good up close. And see if you can get a hold of a pair of lead gloves. I'm also gonna need a car.'
'No problem. When do you need all this?'
'In the morning.'
'Jesus, Frank. That's awful soon.'
'Can you do it or not?'
Benny sighed into the phone. 'I can do it.'
'Meet me at my apartment tomorrow at nine.' Frank hung up the phone and poured himself another drink.
The way he felt, he was sure he couldn't get drunk fast enough.
CHAPTER 17
Frank staggered into his apartment well after night had fallen. He put a bag containing two bottles of vodka on the table and got himself a glass from the cupboard. He drank quietly for a while before stumbling into the bedroom.
On the bureau was a large frame containing a picture of him and Sandy on their wedding day. He picked it up, squinted in an attempt to focus.
'This isn't the way I wanted it,' he mumbled, and hurled it across the room. In a rage he cleared everything from the top of the dresser with a wild backhand, then spun around and punched the wall. His hand broke through up to the elbow and pain shot from the tips of his fingers to the top of his shoulder. Afraid that he'd broken his hand he yanked it free, lost his balance and fell back onto the kitchen floor.
Eventually Frank regained his footing. He checked his hand, clenching and releasing it until he was certain there were no serious injuries, and had himself another drink.
He stared at the wall phone. If something went wrong in Vermont he might never see Sandy again.
'Hello?'
Despite his condition Frank recognized his father-in-law's voice instantly. They had never been close, and Frank always referred to him by his first name. 'Phil, it's Frank. Is Sandy there?'
'I suppose.'
After a moment Sandy came on the line. 'Frank?'
'Yeah. Hi.'
'Are you all right?'
'Yeah,' he said hesitantly. 'It's almost over, honey. I just need you to stay there for one more day, okay?'
'What's happening? I'm scared to death. You never told me what was – '
'Just one more day,' he said again. 'It'll all be over by then and I'll be able to come and pick you up.' He could hear her breathing into the phone, nothing else. 'Okay?'
'Okay,' she sighed. 'Have you been drinking?'
'A little.'
'It doesn't sound like a little.'
'I guess it doesn't feel like a little either.'
It was a long time before either spoke again, but it was Sandy who finally broke the silence. 'Are we safe?'
'Yes.'
'Are you?'
'Yes,' he told her. 'I'll come by and get you probably sometime during the afternoon. Late afternoon.'
'All right.'
'I love you,' he said, voice breaking.
'I know you do.'
