“Victor, why don’t you take Ramos and Shelby to pay Vinny a visit,” Uncle Joey said. “Then we can take it from there. You know where he is?”
“He should be at home. Let me text him and make sure, then we can head over there now.”
“Fine. Just be sure not to mention that Ramos is coming with you.”
As Victor nodded and sent the text, Uncle Joey glanced my way, thinking this was working out better than he thought. Naturally, he didn’t like that I helped the police. But this time, I could actually help him without feeling guilty about it, since he was totally innocent.
I guess he had a point. I just hoped no one at the police department would find out that I was passing along sensitive information, otherwise, it wouldn’t matter that Uncle Joey was innocent. They’d kick me to the curb, and I’d never be able to help them again.
“Okay, he’s home.” Victor stood, resigned. “Let’s get this over with.”
Uncle Joey nodded at Ramos, giving him the okay to do what he had to do, even if it meant death, and we filed out of the office. With a heavy heart, I quickly retrieved my purse from my desk and followed Ramos and Victor to the elevator.
A few seconds after pushing the button, the elevator doors swished open, and Ricky, one of Uncle Joey’s loyal employees, along with a couple of other men, exited. After a quick greeting, I picked up that they were there to see Uncle Joey about some important business, but the elevator doors shut before I could pick up what it was.
I suddenly realized how little I knew about Thrasher Development, or any of Uncle Joey’s business dealings. And he wanted me to be his successor? This was just plain nuts. A heavy weight filled my chest, and the sudden urge to run came over me. I didn’t want this. But how was I going to get out of it now?
Ramos told Victor to text him Vinny’s address, thinking that he and I would get there on his bike. He thought it was the least he could do, since I looked a little sick, and he wanted to put a smile back on my face. I caught his gaze and grinned. Even in such dire circumstances, a motorcycle ride with him would always make me smile.
Without a word between us, we stepped to the bike, snapped on our helmets, and took off. Slipping my arms around Ramos’s waist did wonders for my mood. I knew it wasn’t the best thing for a married woman to do, but since this… and maybe Diet Coke… were my only weaknesses, it wasn’t too bad. Besides, I needed some perks for doing this job, or I might go crazy.
We followed Victor to a small subdivision just off the freeway, and I realized it wasn’t too far from the area where Tommy was shot. Maybe Vinny had more to do with Tommy’s demise than Victor thought.
Still, I didn’t look forward to confronting him. Good thing Ramos was here. I just hoped this visit didn’t end up with Ramos killing Vinny. I was pretty sure Ramos wouldn’t kill him in front of me, but, with my new status as Uncle Joey’s successor, I’d know all about it, and it kind of made me sick.
Victor pulled up in front of a small, brick house, and we parked behind him. As Victor knocked on the door, Ramos and I held back, waiting for Vinny to open it. He wore a graphic t-shirt over a pair of jeans, and his arms were covered in tattoos. His swarthy features pegged him as a younger version of Victor, but without the class.
As Victor stepped through the door, he held it open for us to follow, and I picked up Vinny’s surprise to see Ramos. Not knowing who I was, he dismissed me and focused his attention on the biggest threat to his continued health. Just looking at Ramos sent tremors of fear down his spine.
“What’s going on Vic? Why are they here?” Vinny shifted on his feet with nervous anxiety. He knew something was wrong, and tension curdled his stomach.
“We need to talk,” Victor said, his voice ringing with authority. “Did you hear about Tommy?”
“No… why, what’s up?”
“He’s dead… they found him this morning.”
“Shit.”
“But that’s not the worst of it.” Victor glanced at Ramos, nodding for him to finish the story.
“I spoke with Tommy last night,” Ramos said. “He told me he sold drugs for you, and you sold drugs for Manetto. Since Manetto’s out of the business, why do you suppose he thought that?”
“What? No way. He knows we don’t sell for Manetto anymore. He was lying.” Vinny’s shock wasn’t hard to pick up. This was news to him, and he paled to realize just how much trouble he was in with Ramos and the big boss. “I swear it’s the truth.”
“Did you know Tommy had an arrangement with Aaron at the health-and-nutrition store?”
Vinny’s brows drew together, and he shook his head. “I don’t know anything about it.”
Starting with our visit to the store, Ramos explained the whole story, watching Vinny grow more and more agitated. “Are you sure you don’t know anything about this?”
“No, I swear I don’t. This is all Tommy’s doing. It has nothing to do with me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Ramos said, and explained the consequences to Vinny. “If the police trace this back to Manetto, you’re taking the fall.”
“No way. It’s not my fault. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Vinny,” Victor said, shoving Vinny against the wall. “This is serious. You either agree to this or you die. Tommy was
