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I try to call Ricardo again but there’s still no answer. I’m guessing I’ve been well and truly ghosted.
I can’t even begin to fathom why. Was it something I did? Have I done something wrong to make him act this way?
I keep trying to ring him for the rest of the day. It’s like his phone never existed. I fill up his voicemail, not caring how needy I might sound. I just want to talk to him at least once.
When I check my bank balance, Diego wasn’t kidding. The money is there. Another half a million on top of what he gave me.
A pay off.
I’m starting to feel like maybe I was just a business transaction. He got a better deal from his rival than from me so he took that deal, whatever it is. Maybe they split the city together, half each, maybe they become partners. Who knows?
What I do know is that he doesn’t call me back In fact I won’t get to speak to him for another two whole months. By then the money dumped in my account is the least of my problems.
FIFTEEN
RICARDO
* * *
We’re about to go when Diego asks for a word. “What is it?” I snap when he steps in front of me as I’m loading my gun.
“In private,” he says. “Important.”
I look around me at the crew that’s assembled. They’re all poised and waiting for the word from me. We’ve been planning all night and now it’s time to go. “Hold,” I say to them before following Diego into the backstage area of the club. “This better be good.”
“Kelly’s been stealing money from you.”
“What?”
“I had my suspicions after you lent her that cash for her parents.”
“I didn’t lend her anything. I gave her that money.”
“Wasn’t enough. The main account’s five hundred thousand in the hole.”
“Are you sure? You better be sure, Diego.”
“See for yourself.”
He digs out his cellphone, tapping onto it for a few seconds. When he turns it my way, I can see Kelly’s bank account. Five hundred thousand transferred an hour ago from the Swiss holding account. I don’t say anything. Now is not the time to be thinking about this. I’m about to take a crew to whack Don Colombo.
The plan was to take him out at his house but he left it in convoy around midnight, heading out toward his warehouse down by the docks. That kind of location, I can’t just walk in for no good reason so I’m taking a crew with me. If it turns into a bloodbath, so be it. As long as he dies, that’s all that matters.
“Stolen from me?” I ask, looking at Diego closely. “How long have you known?”
“It was flagged up by the bank because it was such a large amount. Accountant came to me. I let it go through because I thought you’d want proof she took it.”
“Good work.” I glance at the time as something occurs to me. “I’ll deal with her later. We better get moving. It’ll be light soon. Not a word about this to anyone.”
“Got it.”
We got back out. The men look at me, waiting for orders. “Let’s do this,” I tell them, picking my gun up and shoving it into my shoulder holster. I keep a close eye on Diego.
We move out as a group, quiet, no one talking. A row of black cars are in the parking lot. I get into the driver's seat of mine. I’m not letting anyone drive me on this job.
In the back of my car I’ve got enough weapons to take out a city block. From plastique to hand cannons, one way or another, things are going to end today.
We peel out, moving through the city in convoy. I’m alone in my car, gives me time to think. Is it possible that Kelly is stealing from me?
