Authors: S. W. Frank
He learned Nico was in town, which was a surprise. Then again Nico was full of surprises. He came and went like a chameleon, never sticking around like the others, always elusive, but one of a few he respected and trusted. He sent a message through Vincent
request
ing
Nico
utilize the jet,
for a quick jaunt to Puerto Rico to
double-check
on
security
and his family.
He
called ahead giving the
pilot
clearance
to fly Nico out today. He
hoped Nico wasn’t put-out by the
sudden
request
, but seeing Nico would certainly cheer his wife
, especially
on this solemn day. He wanted to be there, he told her that and she was understanding about it, but still…
“I really
pray somebody does find the killer and cut his heart out for what he did to
Danté
.” Her eyes were following something or
someone approaching.
Alfonzo turned. He recognized the pale, short woman in the plain
black
dress
, sunglasses and simple black hat
. She was a p
olitician, a Republican to boot, whose seat in government was temporarily empty due to the sudden death of her only child.
The suited men on her heels allowed her three feet of space when she stopped
. They
spun their heads in search of any possible threats
.
The biggest threat was coming here, Alfonzo surmised.
“Excuse me for
interrupting;
is it possible we can speak in
private
Mister Diaz?”
His blue eyes traveled to the men sitting behind the tinted windows of the car
waiting,
then to the politician, “One sec.” He gave Kiki a quick peck
on the cheek and said,
“I’ll check on you,
from time to time,
okay?”
She glanced at the arrogant woman with an air of impatience. “
Okay, take care
Alfonzo
,
”
t
hen traveled down the grassy
incline to a car beyond a row of tombstones.
Alfonzo’s attention came to rest on the Senator, “Do you usually visit people during funerals?”
Her thin lips were stern, “I’ve had to say good-bye to my
only child
. Something I never thought would happen, but it has. I’d visit the devil in hell to get answers.”
So, she considered him the devil. “What answers are you looking for?”
“Jessica was
my
daughter
’s friend
. I need to know what happened th
e other
night.”
“My cousin is grieving. She’s lost a good friend
and
she’s wondering
the same thing.”
The Senator’s expression was ice, “
I’m in mourning, I recite
kaddish
each day. I did not see Jessica at the hospital or her friend’s funeral,
why is that?”
“
In keeping with
Halacha
, your daughter was buried in accordance to Jewish Law. My cous
in would have attended, but the arrangements were
private. She would have come if the information was shared with
her.”
Alfonzo’s statement shattered her frozen features. He spoke a fact. S
enator
Liebowitz
sat with her daughter’s body throughout the night, the image of her beautiful child seared like fire in her mind. She wanted answers, only Alfonzo’s cousin could provide.
“I would like to talk to Jessica, can you arrange it?”
“She’s devastated by the loss of her friends
, t
his
isn’t a good time
.”
The Senator was undeterred, “Let’s walk a bit.” She moved forward, stopping her security with the gesture of a hand and led the way across the grass. Her heels d
ug
into the earth of the scared burial ground. His stride was effortless and he was at
her side instantly.
He was c
urious
to hear wh
y
she sought him out, here in Jacksonville
.
When they were out of earshot from the suits, she spoke, “I’m aware your cousin had nothing to do with what happened to my daughter, however, she was at the nightclub
.
We just want to know if she can give us the name of the person who sold my daughter this stuff.”
Alfonzo put his hands in his pockets,
“You mean snitch?”
“
Her friends are dead, it’s not snitching it’s helping
to find
justice
for her friends
. I’m aware of your legal troubles in New York
. H
elp
me
get the person who did this to my
child
and
your minor problem goes away
–and
if you still want
that contract
it’
s yours.”
She’d been busy using government resources for her personal agenda.
She was ‘
The middle-man
’. W
ell intentioned
, but in the position he found himself in many times. Senator Jillian
Liebowitz
’
request was unorthodox,
immoral, unethical, perhaps criminal, however she was
a mother
first,
a
nd not
a politician
standing
there
in front of him. The cold exterior softened
with her plea.
“Haven’t the police made an arrest?”
“The pharmacist, he’s the corner dealer. I want the bastard who put this garbage on the street!”
“The police are handling it, don’t you believe in the competency of the law?”
Her eyes held the same fire as his the day he swore to catch the person who killed his uncle, “I’m not a patient woman, besides, the legal system takes far too long.”
“Hmm
, but it’s the same system schmucks like me are told works
.”
She lifted her chin defiantly, “You have the means.”
“You tracked me here
.
I’d say you also have the means to find anyone you wanted.”
“
If I knew who I was looking for, it’s probable –but I don’t. Then there’s the matter of what to do when they’re found. Isn’t this true?”
“I don’t know Senator,” he said ambiguously, “it depends on the motives of the seeker.”
The Senator gazed down at the grass, “
Vengeance of a mother who will not see her daughter, or hear the laughter of grandchildren
.”
“Grief is hard, isn’t it?”
“It’s harder when you’ve lost a child, believe me.”
“But you have
faith;
many people find it comforting in dark hours.”
“And it is, but I’m human
.”
“We all are.
”
Her eyes were on his face, “Do this for me. Bring me peace and you
’ll have made a new
friend.”
“Favors shouldn’t buy friends.
Trust and
Loyalty
are
more valuable
in friendships
.”
“Then you would have made yourself a
trusted and l
oyal friend.”
Alfonzo smirked, “I hold my friends to
their word Senator
Liebowitz
, walk away and it
’ll
be as if this conversation never happened.”
“I deal with men in the Senate who
lack
scruples;
you
’re
a
s
aint in comparison. Bring
solace
to my heart and
to
those losing children to this
man-made
epidemic.
Loyalty is a small price
for me to
pay
for th
is
.”
Alfonzo nodded, “As a sign of good-faith, I’ll need you to extract my cousin from the police investigation. She cannot provide any information because she doesn’t know where or when her friends copped
the
drugs.”
“Okay.”
“And when I get a call from my criminal attorney telling me the summons
has been
dismissed
then
I’ll deem you a woman of your word
and return the favor
.”
“Fair.”
Alfonzo turned and
walked
swiftly
to his car. Inside, he reclined in the backseat next to Lou and the driver pulled away.
“
Was that Senator
Liebowitz
?”
“Yep.”
“What did she want?”
Alfonzo removed the phone from his pocket and played the conversation he recorded.
“Hot damn!”
Lou exclaimed
when
it ended.
Alfonzo
nodded
his sentiments exactly. Hot damn!
CHAPTER
TWENTY
-
FIVE
The last time Nico set foot on a yacht it almost got him killed. This was a different set of
circumstances,
he wasn’t here to whack anybody,
but to see
Alberti
.