With gusto, I explained my encounter with Bates and Grizzo. “So now, I guess they’re looking into all the leads I gave them. Bates promised to call me once they find Xavier so I can help with the interview. I sure hope I gave them enough clues to bring him in without being too specific.”
Ramos shook his head. “I’d say you handed him over on a silver platter. Now we’ll just have to see if they’re any good at their jobs.”
I smiled, grateful he had my back. “At least it shut Grizzo up. He didn’t think about you by name, so I don’t think he’s figured out who you are yet. Maybe he won’t dig around too much if we get Xavier.”
Ramos shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on it, but, like you said, you can always tell him that I was your way into the Tiki Tabu bar and the Polynesian gang.”
“Yeah. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“There’s something else we need to do,” Uncle Joey said. “I got a call from Chris this morning.” At my widened eyes, he nodded. “Yeah… it surprised me too. But he wasn’t happy that you were passing me information about the case. That’s the reason I wanted you to stop by. I’ve got a burner phone for you. I want you to use it anytime you have sensitive information that you need to give me.”
He picked up a box from the top of his desk and handed it to me. “I’ve already programmed our numbers into the phone, so it’s ready to use. It’s untraceable, and, unless the police find it on you, there won’t be any record that we’ve spoken. Just remember that if you ever get caught, you need to get rid of it.” He was thinking I could destroy the phone pretty easily by breaking it or stomping on it.
“Wow. Just like in the movies, huh? Okay, I can do that.” I opened the box and took out the burner phone. It was small and compact, and if it kept me from going to jail, I was all for it. “It looks like one of those old flip phones.”
“Yes. That’s exactly right, so it shouldn’t be inconvenient to carry around. Ramos and I are the only people with that number, so we’ll be calling or texting you with sensitive information on that phone from now on.”
“Okay.”
Uncle Joey was thinking that he should have done this a long time ago, but he’d never had any reason to fear that my phone records could get subpoenaed before now. He’d probably have to go over all of this with me at some point after I became his successor, but, for now, this would have to do.
Why did hearing him call me his successor turn my stomach? In fact, just thinking about it made me a little dizzy. Did I really want to go down that road? Nope. Did it matter? Probably not. It was the road I was on, and it didn’t look like I could get off anytime soon. Oh hell.
They both looked at me with concern. Was something wrong? “Uh… no. I’m fine. In fact I’m really glad to have this… mostly.” Oops did I just say that out loud? “I mean… not that I’m planning to break the law, or anything… but I guess it’s better for all of us, so that’s good. And I’ll make sure the cops don’t get their hands on it either.”
I flipped the phone open. “I could probably break the top off if I twisted it, so that should work.” Both of them were staring at me with suppressed smiles on their faces. Ramos thought it was great how fast I accepted the whole mob side of things these days. It reminded him of my first day on the job when I wore a wig and glasses. That had been a hoot.
I frowned. He was right. Things had certainly changed. And now I was about to become Uncle Joey’s successor. Who would have thought? “Uh… is there anything else?”
“No,” Uncle Joey said. “Just call one of us when you hear anything about the case.”
“Sure. Hopefully that will be soon.”
“Good.” He glanced at Ramos, thinking I seemed a little upset. Why was that? “Do you have anything to add?”
“Yeah.” Ramos studied me, realizing that the stark reality of my job might be getting to me. Still, he couldn’t feel too bad about it. At least it meant that we’d be working together for a long time to come. Maybe I should look at it that way?
I sent him a grin. He had a point. Who wouldn’t want to work with him? In fact, if I was honest, it probably made all the rest of it worth it, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.
He nodded, happy to put a smile on my face. “There is something I want you to know. If this Grizzo person tries anything, you need to call me.” He’d heard of someone with the street name Grizzo. It had to be the same guy. Knowing he was an undercover cop was huge, and he’d be sure and let Vinny and the rest of the crew know.
What? Oh crap. I had leaked privileged information, just like a real informant, and probably broken the law. At least I had a burner phone, so it would be harder to get caught… so that was good. But what about Grizzo? What if my information got him killed? I couldn’t live with that. “Uh… just do me a favor, and make sure they don’t kill him, okay? I couldn’t live with that on my conscience, you know?”
“Don’t worry, Shelby,” Ramos said. “They know better than to kill a cop… and I’ll be sure to remind them.”
“Okay good, thanks.” I finished off my diet soda and set the glass down. “I guess that’s all I’ve got. Is there anything else you need?”
“No… that should do it,” Uncle Joey said, thinking that I
