'Salvadore is a good friend of mine.' She took a rag from the tool kit and cleaned the plug. 'It's always nice to see a new face.'
He eyed her wondering what she meant.
'I guess.'
'You won't get any fish at this time,' she went on as she put the plug back and tightened it. 'In another two hours, but it's too hot now.'
'You can say that again . . . I'm frying.'
'Are you staying with Salvadore?'
'That's right.'
She looked at him: her blue eyes inviting.
'Maybe I'll see something of you.'
Was she giving him the 'come on'? Toni wondered, and again lust stabbed him like a sword thrust.
'Why not?' He peered at her. 'Bruno tells me you have your half-brother staying with you.'
'He left early this morning. He has business in Miami.' She smiled. 'I miss his company. It's lonely for me. My husband doesn't get back until late.'
'Yeah. I can imagine.'
She got into her boat.
'You try now. She'll start.' She reached for the starter on her engine. 'If you've got nothing to do why not drop by around halfpast five?' Her blue eyes met his. 'My husband doesn't get back until seven.'
Before he could reply, she started her engine, waved to him and sent the boat fast away from him.
Toni stared after her, his heart thumping. If that wasn't an invitation for a lay, what was? And what a lay! But wait, he told himself, suppose Johnny or whoever this punk was hadn't gone? Suppose she was setting him up to walk into a trap? But why should she? He knew her type: a chick with hot pants. Maybe this guy hadn't been her half-brother. Maybe he wasn't Bianda. So he had gone and she had the itch again.
He pulled the starter and the engine fired. With his mind seething with excitement, he headed back to Little Creek.
Salvadore was on the quay and he helped Toni tie up the boat.
'Did you see him?'
'No, but I saw her. The goddamn engine wouldn't start. She fixed it. She says her half-brother left this morning for Miami. She wants me to go over there at half-past five.' Toni wiped his sweating face with the back of his hand. 'What do you think?'
Salvadore shook his head.
'If he's there you could walk into trouble.'
'Yeah, but if he's there why should she ask me over?' He leered. 'It's my bet whoever' this punk is, he's gone and she wants it. So okay, I go over there, take a look around, slip her what she wants, then tell the boss it wasn't the guy and go back. That makes sense, doesn't it?'
Salvadore looked at him for a long moment.
'It's your funeral. You could be right. Anyway, why should I worry? You can take care of yourself. If you want to go, then go.'
'Yeah. How's about a long, cold beer? I'm boiled.'
Johnny was just putting the last of the shelves in place when he heard the distant sound of Freda's outboard motor. He tightened the final screw and then went to the kitchen window.
He saw her boat coming fast and as he was about to step out on deck, he paused, seeing another boat far out on the lake. His instinct for danger stopped him in his tracks. He watched the other boat with a lone man in it, heading for Little Creek.
Freda steered the boat under the kitchen window and called 'Don't come out!' The urgency in her voice told him there was trouble.
He moved into the living-room and waited until she joined him.
'What is it?'
Quickly she told him of her encounter with Toni.
'He has a gun and harness,' she concluded. 'He says he's Salvadore's friend.'
Johnny sat down. He had a feeling of being suffocated. The net was drawing in on him.
'Tell me about him,' he said. 'What's he look like?'
'Around thirty, thin, dark, good-looking. He had a tattoo on his right arm: a naked woman.'
Johnny flinched.
Toni Capello! The tattoo fixed it!
Seeing his reaction, Freda said, 'Is he one of them?'
'Yes . . . he's one of them. They've got close, baby.'
