“Three parts oil to one part vinegar.”
I answer the phone.
It’s Carmine “The Chin” Porrello, telling me about a call he got from Lucky Peters, who’d been looking for a hit man. I thank him, ask if Lucky’s banging anyone besides his wife. Carmine doesn’t know her name off hand, but yeah, some plastic surgeon. He’s got photos.
“Sex photos?”
Callie arches an eyebrow at me.
Carmine says, “Nah. Just the two of ’em together. Dinner shit. Nothin’ I can use. Not yet.”
Then I call Lou and tell him to have his geek squad access Lucky’s medical records at the hospital in Kingston.
“You want to hold while I get that for you?” Lou says.
“It’s that easy?”
“I should probably say no, and charge you extra. But yeah, it’s that easy.”
I cover the mouthpiece and say to Callie, “You never answered me about the Pocket Rocket.”
“Nor will I,” she says. “Ever.”
I frown. “Why not?”
“If I tell you about our sex life, you’ll never look at me and Eva the same way again.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
She gives me an exasperated look, rolls her eyes. Then says, “You make such a big deal out of sex.”
“Who doesn’t?”
Lou gets back on the phone, tells me about Dr. Gayle and the colonoscopy. Then says, “Lucky’s meeting investors this week. Putting together an offering for a sports betting parlor.”
“Vegas Moon, right?”
“Right. You want what I’ve got?”
“I’ll have to call you back. I’ve got another call coming in.”
I terminate Lou’s call, click the incoming one.
It’s Lucky Peters, offering me a job.
9.
“Let me get this straight,” Callie says. “Lucky Peters is hiring you to protect him from Connor Payne?”
“Correct.”
“And you’re Connor Payne.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s what I call a cushy job.”
“The best part, I get access to his house, his business, and his weirdoes.”
“You thinking about stealing his ideas?”
“No.”
“Taking over his business?”
“No.”
“Running a scam?”
“Hadn’t thought about it.”
“Then why do you care about his business?”
“I keep thinking there’s one person in the world who could beat Lucky Peters at his own game.”
“Who’s that?”
“Sam Case.”
Callie pauses. “You’d go into business with Sam?”
“I can’t imagine it, but who knows. It’s just a Rain Man idea at this point.”
“You’re fascinated by the lifestyle.”
“A little.”
