Gorevoy watched the Lincoln through the windshield, as it swung into the street, and came to a stop in front of the condominium. Rico and his wife got out, then he took out the traveling bag from the back seat of the car. They paused at the entrance to the building for Rico to answer a call. After the call, he saw Rico draw his wife close to him, whisper something in her ear, then in one swift movement that wasn't lost to his trained and alert eyes, Rico transferred something from the pocket of his overcoat to hers. A gun!
He smiled his crooked smile. He guessed Pascal's body had been discovered, and now; Rico was giving his wife the weapon of Pascal’s death to get rid of. So, when Rico got back into his car and drove off, Gorevoy remained still to see what she would do.…A five-minute fast drive through the back street and alleys of downtown Miami brought Rico to the agency. He parked his car in one of the bays in the big compound and got out.A sh“Whose?”“Yours.”Rico stiffened for a moment. He remained motionless as his mind worked swiftly, then he smiled; a smile that could almost pass for a grimace.“The killer should be smart enough to know that I have half this city's police force in my pocket. They wouldn’t touch me for a clumsy frame-up like this.” He crossed to where Cain stood. He took the case from him, examined it, and rolled it between his fingers, his mind working.“What do you suggest we do with the body, Mr. Rico? Mario's still in our debt. This is just right up his alley. He could clean this up, while we later hunt down Pascal's killer.”“What if that is exactly what the killer wants us to do? For me, I see a man who wants to get rid of another man but doesn't want to be landed with a body. So what does he do? He pushes his dirty work to me.” He paused, then asked abruptly, &ldqu
Rico rapped on the door to Pascal's apartment, then thumbed the bull push. He listened to the distant sound of the bell. There was a brief delay, then he heard the thud of naked feet approach.“Who is it?” A woman's voice came from the flat.“Jamie,” Rico returned.He heard the door chain slid back, then the door opened. Rose Alison appeared in the doorway. She smiled at him, but he could see it wasn't an easy smile. Then she stepped aside and motioned him into the room.“Come in,” she said.She was dark, with brunette wavy hair. Her body was pleasantly thick with provocative curves, her dark eyes, which were usually alive with energy, showed she was nervous.She usually visited Pascal twice a week and stayed over on weekends, but today was a weekday and her day off. So, she had come prepared, with her plans; a long list of unspeakable things to do to Pascal.Rico could see the outline of her heavy breast with its hard nipple pointing straight at him from under
Natasha sat tensely on one armchair in the sitting room. She had only taken off her coat. Her hand rested on the gun on her lap, while her mind busied itself. A sudden noise from the front door brought her alert. Her fingers closed over the butt of the gun and as she stood up, the door lock clicked.Moving quickly, she tiptoed across the room and peered into the foyer. Seeing Rico, she relaxed and brought down the gun.As Rico edged into the foyer, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took out the phone, sighed as he saw the name of the caller. It was Lieutenant James Hamilton of the Homicide Bureau. He answered the call. A hard, metallic voice attempting to be respectful came up.“Mr. Rico?”“Yes. This is me.”“Could you please pay us a visit at the headquarters?” There was a moment's pause. Rico felt he could hear the uneasy breathing of the man at the other end of the line. Then, the voice added, “When comin
The desk Sergeant, Harry Renick, was making movements with a pen in his mouth. Bored, he stared sightlessly; at the screen before him. He was a thickset, middle-aged man, with close-set eyes. A man who had lasted some five years on this desk job, and who promotion seemed to be far from.His face brightened as he saw Rico.“Good day, Mr. Jamie,” he said, as Rico came to rest at his desk.For the man who sends the whole police lot, a turkey, and a bottle of whiskey on Thanksgiving Day, his demeanor switched to the quiet, deferential manner; of an up-and-coming lawyer dealing with a prospective wealthy client.“So sorry about your driver... Lieutenant James is expecting you. First floor, second door.”Rico nodded, walked up the stairs to a door, knocked, turned the handle, and walked in.Lieutenant James Hamilton, a tall, slightly built man of over forty years of age, sat behind a small shabby desk; in a small, shabbier room. Two pl
Alfred Cain unlocked the door to his three-bedroom apartment, moved into the living room, and looked around at its luxury. He had lived in this apartment now for the past eight years and had gotten used to its luxury. Despite that, each time he stopped to inspect it, it didn't stop to remind him of how far he had come.From a kid who starved, working construction jobs, if he could find any, a dry crust of bread a day, would mean he was lucky. His mother had died of starvation.Looking around, he confirmed that this was all he had ever dreamed of as a kid. Too much money, every conceivable luxury within his grasp, plenty of women. Though he cared less about the women, he confessed to himself that they were the best form of relaxation; God ever made for men.He took off his coat, loosened his tie, and dropped his .38 automatic on the table, then moving over to a nearby window, he sat down on an armchair.His apartment was on the thirtieth floor of a fifty-floor hig
Who could've killed Pascal and try to frame it on Rico? Except for someone with guts, but better than guts, an okay, to steer a little trouble Rico's way. He knew Pascal encouraged no personal vendetta, even if he had an enemy crazy enough to kill him, they wouldn't be crazy enough to try framing it on Rico.From the way he figured it, Rico did it himself, or a man with more money and power; as Rico ordered it, or a man too crazy to be alive, did it.So, he hedged his bets on the former options. Then, he thought of a man with more money and power than Rico. Tony Rossi! He had a lot to gain if Rico was out of the way. What if he didn't fancy parting with a hundred million dollars when he could get what he wanted by playing the game the hard way?Either way, if Rico had done it, then he had gone against the number one rule in the syndicate, which barred the bosses from executing killings themselves, or if Tony Rossi had ordered it. Then there might just be a way o
Cain stared unbelievably at Gorevoy. He wasn't lost on that smile. All his life, he had only known one man to tilt the corners of his mouth to such an odd angle and that was Gorevoy! For a split second, his nerves fluttered, but he pulled himself up immediately. If he had to die today, then so be it... He couldn't grumble. He had had his fair share of better days in his short life; he told himself.“Why have you dropped the gun, Gorevoy,” he said in a sudden hard voice. “Pick up the gun and pull the trigger, or have you suddenly forgotten your mission here?”“I haven't, but I've repented of it.” He waved to the armchair opposite him. “Come over to this side, Cain.”Cain left the window and sat down in the armchair opposite Gorevoy.“If you have repented of it, then what are you still here for?”“It was a clever trick you guys used to get me behind bars. Whose idea and organization was it?&rdqu
“Eleven years in jail and you seem to have forgotten the rules of the game. No one knocks off a member of the syndicate without paying for it with their life. It’s a matter of importance.”“It would be done, and the syndicate would do nothing about it, instead they would be grateful. But, can I rely on you, that after Rico's death and the deal goes through, I would receive my share of the money?”Even though Gorevoy spoke quietly, Cain could still make out the hint of a threat in his calm voice. He thought for a moment, then said, “A hundred million dollars is big enough to share, but before sticking my neck out, I must know what you plan to do.”Gorevoy picked up the .38 on the table and began tapping the nozzle lightly on the glass table. The continuous tap-tap noise added to his menace.“You seem to forget quickly, Cain. I still have you over a barrel. Can I rely on you?”The voice wasn't so calm this