Page 68 of Family Ties and Alibis

“So tell the cops.”

“I have.” He lifted his head, staring right into Ione’s eyes. “The pair who jumped me weren’t very smart.”

“W-what makes you say that?” she stammered.

“Because one of them, the man, said the woman’s name…Ione.”

Ione eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”

“You know, at first, I couldn’t remember it, maybe because I got whacked hard.” Vinnie took another puff of his cigarette. “I ended up with a major headache and a nasty gash on my forehead.”

“You can’t pin this on me,” she insisted. “You have no proof. It’s my word against yours.”

“Not so fast.” Vinnie shifted his feet. “You see, after I remembered your name and figured out who you were, I started doing some digging around about the night of Sal’s death. I have proof that not only were you behind my attack, but you also took Sal out. You and the other party involved, a person I know very well,” he fibbed.

Ione let out a long string of swear words, sprinkled with vague threats of retribution for her boyfriend’s death.

Having had enough of her rant, he cut her off. “You told the cops Sal called my mother Godmother Garlucci.”

“Because he did.”

“Maybe as a joke, but not because he was actually afraid of her,” Vinnie said. “You made up all of these elaborate lies, giving the cops a sob story about how you and Sal were afraid of the Garlucci family, and now your stories are unraveling, which led me to the conclusion my attackers, both you and your partner, weren’t very smart or maybe you’re just sloppy.”

“You and your thug mother killed Sal and now you’re trying to pin it on me. For all I know, you staged your attack to throw the cops off.”

Vinnie finished his cigarette. He flicked the butt on the deck and ground it out with the heel of his Louis Vuitton loafers. “Like I said, I have the goods on you.” He turned to leave.

She lunged forward, stopping him. “If you believe this is true, why bother telling me? Why not go to the police with your alleged evidence?”

“To see you squirm. To see for myself what a lowlife does when they’re caught. By this time tomorrow, you’re gonna be behind bars facing a murder charge. Or maybe they’ll come after you tonight. Sweet dreams, scumbag.” Vinnie gave her a mock salute. Whistling under his breath, he left her standing there, watching as he began making his way back to Treasure Cove Casino.

He didn’t have to look to know she was watching, maybe even panicking. Had Ione Lee murdered her boyfriend? Maybe. Maybe not, but one thing was certain. If she did, the woman would be scrambling and leading them right to her accomplice.

Chapter 27

Paulie texted the group moments after Vinnie left Ione standing on the Boardwalk. Got a visual. She’s on the move.

Going where? Mercedes asked.

Back inside Quick Cash Casino.

Carlita’s brows drew together, monitoring the scene unfolding via text messages as Luigi, Paulie, and Tony kept close tabs on Ione Lee after Vinnie confronted her, insisting he had evidence of her involvement in his attack and her boyfriend’s murder.

“I might’ve been way off. It could’ve been the casino manager Jimmy, what’s-his-name after all.”

Tailing her. Luigi kept the others in the loop, following Ione across the casino floor to the offices near the back. I lost her. She’s in the employee-only area.

“Great.” Carlita nervously wheeled her knee scooter around in a circle. “This waiting and not being there to see it go down is driving me nuts.”

Tink. Luigi posted a brief video clip of Ione on the move, making her way through the casino and then a shot of her back as she disappeared down the long hall. I’ll hang out here.

The minutes dragged past. Meanwhile, Carlita continued wheeling her scooter around. “Something isn’t adding up. Mercedes and Gina seemed certain Jimmy Grimaldi, the casino manager, wasn’t involved.”

“Maybe Sal had dirt on him and tried holding it over Jimmy’s head,” Pete said.

“Could be. I guess we’ll just have to be patient.” Carlita tapped out a text. Where’s Vinnie?

Gina: Back at Treasure Cove.