“Confession? I have nothing to confess.”
Tony extended a hand to the detective. “I appreciate the extra patrols in our area. You never know who might be hangin’ around waitin’ to start trouble.”
The detective shook Tony’s hand. “You never know who might be hangin’ around.”
Chapter 22
“Are you sure Tori doesn’t want to keep Brittney, Luigi and Ricco for a few more days?”
“Mercedes,” her mother chided. “They’re only going to be with us until tomorrow. We need to spend some time with Brittney before she leaves.”
Mercedes followed her mother out of the apartment and down the stairs. “Why are we meeting Tony?”
“He said it’s a surprise.” Mother and daughter reached the pawnshop and slipped in through the back door.
Tony caught his mother’s eye and made his way over. “You hear from the cops yet?”
“Detective Polivich was on my doorstep first thing this morning,” Carlita said. “He claims it was to give me the information firsthand about the arrests.”
“What’s the scoop?” Tony asked.
“Kellen Saylor, one of the Savannah Six, was romantically involved with Lisa Zant. Not long after Davis Rutger arrived in Savannah, he began hanging around the couple. Kellen admitted to Rutger he was involved in an unsolved drug deal gone wrong murder in Macon, Georgia earlier this year. Rutger decided to use this to his advantage to gain power in the group by holding it over Kellen Saylor’s head, threatening to notify authorities. After Rutger started threatening Kellen, he and Lisa hatched a plan to get rid of Rutger.”
Carlita continued. “According to Polivich, the couple was waiting for the perfect opportunity which presented itself when Davis Rutger was confronted by Phil Duce on board Reese’s trolley. Initially, Kellen and Lisa figured the police would zero in on Duce and his men. Duce was on the investigator’s radar, but so was Reese after finding out about her previous record.”
“Then along comes the footage of Luigi and Ricco and the police have even more persons of interest,” Mercedes said.
“Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Tony grunted.
“Not only Reese but for Luigi and Ricco, too. Lisa Zant, who had gone into hiding, surfaced last night. The cops got her.”
“She wasn’t very smart,” Mercedes said. “She and Kellen Saylor branded Rutger and didn’t think the police would trace it back to her?”
“Some criminals are pretty dumb.” Tony pointed to the covered trapdoor. “Whatcha gonna do about this?”
Carlita followed her son’s gaze. “I think I’m gonna leave it for now. There’s no way anyone can sneak upstairs with the tunnel gate locked not to mention the cabinet on top of the trapdoor.”
“Suit yourself.” Tony glanced over his shoulder to the large picture window in the front. “Your surprise is here.”
“Surprise?” Carlita turned and caught a glimpse of her eldest son strolling toward the front entrance. “Vinnie?”
“He decided to drive down and pick up his bride.”
Carlita darted to the door and flung it open.
“Hey, Ma. Tony and I figured we’d surprise you and Brit. Is she back from her stay on the island?” Vinnie gave his mother a warm hug.
“Not yet. They’re on the way.” Carlita held her son at arm’s length. “You’re the spittin’ image of your father.”
“Vito says the same thing. Can I come in?”
“Yes. Yes. Come in.” She waved her son inside, and they joined the other Garlucci siblings. Mercedes hugged her brother while Tony gave him a slap on the back.
“Thanks for takin’ such good care of Brittney and the guys.”
“I gotta say it was a full-time job keepin’ them away from the cops.” Carlita rolled her eyes. “They were their own worst enemy.”
“Sounds like Luigi and Ricco.” Vinnie nodded toward his brother. “You tell Ma the news?”
“I figured I would wait until you got here.”
“What news? You’re having twins…or triplets?”
“No. Only one baby. I don’t think I could handle more than one,” Vinnie laughed. “It’s about Luigi.”
“What about Luigi?” Mercedes asked.
“He’s thinkin’ about leaving the family.”
“Leaving the family? Oh, no.” Carlita started shaking her head. “You ain’t sending a family member to live under my roof.”
“You already got Tony,” Vinnie pointed out.
“Tony is officially out of the family business.” Carlita made a slicing motion with her hands.
“Luigi wants out,” Tony said quietly. “He’s tryin’ to go straight. To distance himself from the family.”
“This is his way of separating himself,” Vinnie said. “He’s gonna ask you if he can stay and find a job here in town, but we figured we should give you a heads up.”
“I can always use an extra hand here at the pawnshop, and I hear his father owns an Italian restaurant up in Queens,” Tony said. “Luigi was one of the cooks before he started workin’ for Vito.”
“No kidding.” Carlita thought about her vow to Vinnie to get her sons out of the family. She liked Ricco. She liked Luigi. They were good guys as far as family went, but allowing one to move into her building on a more permanent basis? That was another story. “I…”
“Why not, Ma? Luigi would liven the place up.”
“Like we need any more,” Carlita groaned.
“If anyone can help Luigi get away from the family, it’s you,” Mercedes chimed in.
Carlita studied the faces of her children and could feel herself starting to cave. “Give me a minute to think about it.”
She slowly wandered to the window. She could still hear Vinnie’s words, clear as a bell, ringing in her ears. “Get them out…”
In some ways, Carlita had succeeded in keeping her husband’s dying request. Tony was out. Mercedes was away from the influences. Paulie, her youngest, had never been in it. Vinnie, Jr. was another story. He had married into the family.
What if she refused, Luigi returned
