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There was another old saying my mother used to love—keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Maybe simply returning to Boston and coexisting with my past wasn’t enough. Maybe I needed to embrace it, to turn around and look the devil in the eye before I could move on with my life. Maybe, I could use this situation to my advantage. I’d be on the inside. I could use my position to do a little investigating and find out who killed Johnny.
I didn’t want to say yes to Tommy’s offer, but I also very much did not want to say no.
Tommy just waited, one eyebrow cocked, and in the end, I did the only thing I could do. I released my breath with what remained of my morals. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Good.”
“One thing, though,” I grabbed his wrist before he could get up from the table. “I’m going to keep trying to figure out who murdered Johnny. He was my patient, and they almost killed me. I’m not letting it go.”
Tommy smiled wearily. “I’d expect nothing less, Cass.”
6
Connor
TwodaysafterIwalked out of Lady D’s with my wife-to-be’s file in my hand, I entered the cafe across the street and slid into a booth across from Callum.
“I almost wasn’t sure if you were going to show up.” Callum grunted as he flagged down a waitress. “Two coffees, black, and keep ‘em coming, sweetheart.”
“I was checking out the new spot with Teagan,” I said. “We put up a down payment on it.”
“You two movin’ in together, then?”
I shook my head. “Teag and Alfie. Alfie’s still recovering from that bad investment with Gordie last week.”
Callum smiled at the waitress as she doled out fresh coffee cups and a steaming carafe. “We keeping an ear to the ground about that? I want to make sure we’re being smart with our money.”
Of course, we weren’t talking about apartments and investments—warehouses, guns, and loose-lipped former employees was the actual subject of conversation. Although we were in home territory, you could never be too careful about who was listening.
I took a sip of coffee. It tasted like battery acid. Tommy’s deep dive into Gordie’s phone had turned up a big fat zilch, and so had the preliminary feelers I’d thrown out. I needed to tell Callum about the mole.
“About that,” I said, “Looks like we might have a conflict of interest there.”
“Oh, yeah?”
I nodded slowly. “Something that Johnny said to me, just before he left town. Seems like one of the guys might be playing for the other team. I’m already on it, but I thought you should know.”
We could have been discussing the Sox’s opening day prospects, as unperturbed as Callum looked, calmly perusing the menu like a dowager at high tea. I don’t know if anybody but me could see what was brewing underneath.
“I’d like to meet this gentleman once you find him. Make sure he gets sorted out.” Callum turned the menu over, squinting at the specials. “How are the neighbors at the new place, anyway?”
“Friendly, but they keep to themselves.”
“Good. Have Teagan bring them over a plate of brownies and introduce himself.”
Maybe it was the lack of sleep I’d been getting over the past few days, but I nearly laughed out loud over the mental image of Teag in a frilly apron and oven mitts. There’s a picture for you.
Callum checked his watch and pulled a flask out of his pocket. He poured a healthy dose of whiskey into my mug. “Drink up. You look like hell.”
“Right back atcha.”
That got a rare smile out of him. Despite our conversation, Callum was in a good mood. A minute later, I knew why. The café door opened, and Michael Quinn walked in.
“Mikey!” Callum was on his feet, embracing his best friend and former partner in a bear hug. “About time you got up off your ass and came to work.”
If I looked like hell, then Michael Quinn looked like death warmed over. I was shocked at how quickly he had gone downhill. The former kingpin of South Boston had always been statelier and more poised than his counterpart, but he was rail thin, now, his fine suit hanging off his tall frame, hair gone white and wispy.
Callum acted like he didn’t even see it, so I followed his lead. Nobody likes to be reminded of their own weaknesses. I gripped Michael’s cool, dry hand and let him pull me into a one-armed hug. “Good to see you, sir.”
