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“At Lucius's summer home.”
“Psycho,” Stitches bemoans. “How the hell would that work? How would we possibly get the phone from his house?”
“How else? We’ll break in and take it. He’s not there this time of year. It’s manned by some guards and other staff, but we’ll plan it out.”
“Then I guess I’m hoping this recognition software pulls off a Hail Mary, ’cuz Madonna knows I’m in no shape for breaking into no mansions.”
“You work enough magic, and you won’t have to.”
“What’s the other thing?”
“Phi found her attacker. He’s one of the sellers at the Mill.”
Stitches’s face fills with confusion for a brief second before understanding flashes in his gaze. “The place where all the sex stuff happens?”
I nod, sipping from my highball. “We had to leave before we got to him. But it’s enough of a clue that we can narrow it down. The club only has so many of them.”
“So… what do you need from me?”
“We need somebody to pose as a buyer and lure him. Find me someone. Reach out to our usual contacts on the street and see who’ll be a good fit.”
Stitches begins fiddling with his glasses. He takes them off again and pretends like he’s wiping them off on his shirt and inspecting the lenses. I watch him for a while with mounting impatience and irritation ’til finally, the back of my neck’s heated, and I snap at him.
“Do we have a problem, Francis? You seem to have an attitude this afternoon. Speak your mind and tell me what’s got you so in your feelings.”
“Psycho, I’m not trying to shit on your plans…” he sighs, his narrow shoulders lifting up and then down in a lethargic shrug. “It’s just… you know… I’ve gotconcerns.”
“Which are?”
“The Five Families’ gathering is less than a month and a half away.”
“I’m aware.”
“You don’t think we’re being set up?” he asks, his light brown eyes larger than usual from behind his Poindexter glasses.
“Set up, how?”
“It’s all feeling off. I can’t explain it. But I haven’t felt right since that party.”
“You got fucked up. You were jumped by six guys. It’ll screw with anybody’s head. If you need time off to regroup, then say something. I’d rather you tell me than you letting it affect your performance in the middle of an important job.”
“It’s not that. It’s just… Psycho, Lucius took out Leandro Crotone.”
“He was my grandfather, Francis. I’m well aware he betrayed him and took over his family.”
“He took out the Pizzutos and the Viscontis. Wiped both out like nothing. Don’t you think if he wanted, he could squash us in one go? Yeah, we’ve ramped up our numbers in recent months, but we’re still just a crew that broke off from his organization. We’re a fourth the size of either of those families.”
“Are you saying he’s faking us out?”
Stitches nods, looking pale and sick, like he’ll puke up his lunch.
I’m unsurprised. I swallow more of my whiskey. “Francis, don’t you think I’ve given this thought? Remember when I told you I felt like he was being too quiet?Of coursehe’s faking us out. He’s waiting for me to get my hands on the other half of that tape.”
“Why not get it himself?”
“He hasn’t been able to. He’s tried.”
“I guess… it just… feels like there might be something we’re missing.”
