He winked. “That’s what they all say!”
Chapter 6
“You know anything about this kid Charlie Beck? His father’s a big-time attorney in Darnell.”
I was on the phone with Sal Bonadello, Midwestern crime boss and my sometime employer.
“I know people who probably know him,” Sal said.
Okay, so I promised Kimberly I wouldn’t run a credit or background check on her new boyfriend. But I never promised not to ask around.
“Kimberly’s usually a great judge of character,” I said. “But something bothers me about this kid. For one thing, he’s old enough to drink legally.”
“That’s a small town, Darnell,” Sal said. “People talk. I’ll make some—whatcha call—inquiries.”
I thought about the way Sal might ask around. “I don’t want to make a big deal about it,” I said, “and I especially don’t want Kimberly to find out that I’m the guy trying to get the information.”
“Hey, I got a girl of my own. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Sal.”
“You still comin’ to my party?” he said.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“You bringing that new girl? The one lives in New York?”
“We’re going dress shopping later today,” I said.
“Dress her up hot,” Sal said.
“She’d look hot in a flour sack.”
“Flour sack’s fine. Make sure it’s a small one.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“What about the blond that works with you?”
“What about her?”
“She comin’?”
“To the party? No way.”
“Did you invite her?”
“I did.”
“Maybe I should—whatcha call—extend a personal invite.”
I thought about Callie dressing up, attending a social event. Gorgeous she is. But, “She’s not a people person,” I said.
“Unless it comes to killing them.”
“Unless that,” I said.
“If a kid’s gonna get in trouble in Darnell, West Virginia, it’s gonna be at the Grantline Bar & Grill.”
“So?”
“So I know the bartender, Teddy Boy. He owes me, big time.”
“I’m not ready to have Charlie’s legs broken. Not yet, anyway.”
