rights, and such behavior is certainly not good for society as a whole over the long haul.”
“What about Vinnie Amendola?” Laurie asked. “Is he still on the lam?”
“He’s been back for over a week,” Jack said. “We’ve been so caught up in the scholarship and nanny business, I forgot to tell you.”
“Thanks a lot,” Laurie said mockingly. “Well, what’s the scoop? Is he in any kind of trouble? Did he write the threatening letter?”
“He did,” Lou explained. “Ultimately, he’d been found by the authories in south Florida and brought back here to New York on a warrant. He was extremely cooperative, and no charges have been filed even though he was an accomplice of sorts. Everyone recognizes he was being extorted and in a difficult situation, fearing for the lives of his daughters and wife. On top of that, he did, after all, warn you with his letter. You’re not interested in filing any charges, are you, Laurie?”
“Heavens, no,” Laurie said, with an expression suggesting it was the last thing in the world she would want to do. “I’m looking forward to thanking him for trying to warn me.”
At that point the waitress came with their Caesar salads. Everyone pitched in to try to make room on the small glass-topped wrought-iron table. When the waitress withdrew, Lou raised his wineglass.
“Let me make a short toast. To forensics and what it can do for law enforcement! It’s the one thing we have that the bad guys don’t have!”
With nods and laughter from the three friends, they all clicked glasses for the second time.
