upper lids sagged until it was a marvel he could see. He couldn’t imagine what a gorgeous girl like Abbie was doing with a guy like him. Maybe she needed a sugar daddy and he got off being sexually serviced by someone half his age.
Dante said, “Sergeant Detective Priddy, it’s nice to see you again. It’s been a while.”
“You seem to be holding your own,” Len said.
“I was until recently.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, ‘Oh.’ Let’s cut to the chase here. My brother’s been seen in conversation with you. I’ve heard it from more than one source and it doesn’t sit well.”
Len continued to look at him. Dante could see that he was reluctant to confirm the claim and too smart to deny it. Len said, “I’m not sure this is a conversation we should be having.”
“Why not? The place isn’t bugged. I have it swept every other day,” Dante said, and went on: “I imagine you’ve come into all manner of information about how I run my business. Not that Cappi’s a reliable source.”
“I don’t think that warrants comment. You know your brother better than I do.”
“Here’s something he hasn’t been told and therefore hasn’t had the opportunity to pass along. I’m closing up shop. I’ve been meaning to get out for years, but it was never the right time.”
Len smiled. “You’re closing up shop because you’re under indictment and you know you’re going to jail.”
“I wasn’t aware we were discussing my motivation,” Dante said. “I admit my retirement is self-serving, but keep this in mind: I’m a good businessman. I believe in sound financial practices, the same as a bank. I’ve also kept the violence to a minimum and what there was of it was Cappi’s doing.”
“You’ve never ordered a hit,” Len said facetiously.
“No, I have not. Killing makes for bad public relations. Not that Cappi would agree. He can hardly wait to step into my shoes. Once that happens, you got a real problem on your hands.”
“I think I can deal with it.”
“The deal is the issue we’re here to discuss. He might be willing to slip you your share, but he won’t be as generous as I’ve been. You’d be wise to broker an agreement up front and make sure it’s on your terms, not his.”
“Is that what this meeting’s about? Unsolicited advice from a fucking gangster?”
“I don’t think of myself as a gangster. The term offends me. I’ve never been convicted of a crime.”
“You will be.”
“You’re entitled to feel smug because you win either way. I’m out, he’s in, it’s all the same to you. You think you’ve got your hands full with me, wait until Cappi’s in the driver’s seat. He’ll turn this town on its ear.”
“So why don’t you do us all a favor and get rid of him?” Len said.
Dante smiled. “Why don’t you? I’ve got enough problems as it is without adding murder to the list.”
“You only have one problem, buddy. We are taking you down.”
“Oh, please. How long has this investigation been going on? Two years, three? You’re playing patty-cake with the FBI and who else? DEA? ATF? All government grunts, a bunch of jack-offs. I already told you I’m out of here. Cappi’s the one you should worry about. Take him out and the business is all yours.”
Len got up. “Meeting’s over. Good-bye and good luck.”
“Think about it. That’s all I’m saying. Retire from the PD and live in style for a change. You could do a lot worse.”
“I’ll take it under advisement,” he said. “What’s the time frame for this departure of yours?”
“That’s no concern of yours. I’m telling you this much because I want to be fair since you’ve been such a help to me.”
Dante left the office early. He was restless, obsessing about Nora, trying to decide what to do. He wanted to tell her what happened to Phillip, but he knew it would be the end of their relationship. On the other hand, what was love about if not honesty and openness? He had Tomasso drop him at the house, where he picked up his car. He drove to the Vogelsangs’ in Montebello and swung the Maserati into the courtyard, then parked it next to Nora’s Thunderbird. It was Wednesday and he assumed Channing was back in Los Angeles. Dante was heavy-hearted, a phrase he’d never understood before.
He crossed to the front door, aware of how ordinary all of his actions felt. He was playing the part of Lorenzo Dante, not fully inhabiting his body, but removed as though watching from outside himself. She must have heard his car pull in because when he rang the bell, she opened the door. Her face was stone. She held on to the door, forcing him to remain outside.
Someone had spilled the beans. “Who told you?”
“Two FBI agents came to the house in Malibu. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me yourself. How long were you going to let this go on?”
“I had no idea you were married to Tripp until yesterday at the beach house.”
“Yes, you did. I saw it in your face. Why didn’t you speak up?”
“I couldn’t. When it finally dawned on me, all I could think was I didn’t want to lose you. I knew if I owned up, it was over.”
Nora said, “You’re despicable.”
“I didn’t mean to deceive you. I came here because I want to be straight with you whatever the cost.”
“Well, aren’t you the noble one?”
“Nora. God’s truth. I never laid a hand on your boy. I’m not excusing myself. He died because of me. I’m responsible, but not through any intention on my part. I made an offhand remark and Cappi took it for something else. He’s vicious and he has no impulse control. He’s been that way since he was a kid. I should have had him taken out. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, but I should have done it anyway. I didn’t understand how dangerous he was.”
“Yes, you did. You knew perfectly well, but you looked the other way.”
“I don’t want to argue with you. That’s not why I’m here. You’re right. Whatever you say, I accept. I should have turned him in two years ago when I found out he threw Phillip off that roof. I thought his being my brother mattered more than justice. I was wrong.”
“You could have turned him in yesterday. I might have believed in your sincerity if you’d done that.”
“I’ll make it right. I’ll talk to the DA and tell him everything.”
“Who gives a shit what you do now? He’s still your brother. I don’t see why you should suddenly see your way clear to doing what you should have done long before now.”
“Listen to me. Listen. All bets are off. Cappi sold me out to the cops and that’s the end of anything I owe him.”
“Are you hearing yourself? You’re saying if he’d been loyal, you’d have gone on protecting him. So what if he killed a few people, you’d have shielded him as long as there was some benefit to you.”
“I carried him because Pop would’ve died if anything happened to him. I thought if I looked after him, my old man would eventually bring me in out of the cold.”
“Oh, you’re out in the cold, all right.”
“Fine. I’m out. I won’t fight you on this. As long as we’re putting our cards on the table, there’s something else. You do whatever you have to do, but fold this into the equation while you’re at it. Phillip was a good kid, but he was off track. He told me he gambled all through college. He bragged he made money at it, but that was bullshit. All poker players say that. It’s a distortion… filtering out the losses and exaggerating the wins. Did you ever stop and calculate how much you and Channing paid out to cover his debts? You’d be paying to this day because he would never have given it up. He couldn’t. That was his fix… how he took care of whatever pain and anxiety he felt.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, I do. I see guys like him all day long. I lend them money so they can try to bail themselves out of whatever hole they’ve dug. You and Channing were always going to be picking up after him. He was weak.”
“How dare you criticize my son! He was a
“Nora, he had big problems. He was up and down, immature, grandiose. Which was fine as long as he lived in the bubble he created for himself, but in the real world, he was floundering.”
“How do you know he wouldn’t have straightened out? He lost any chance he had. He lost his life and for
