I place the balance sheet to the side, looking at the next sheet of paper.
This one is an inventory sheet and below the rows featuring the names of alcohol are a few more items, but they're not actually written out. Instead there's short little abbreviations that mean nothing to me.
Ct35
Li46
Ma108
Interesting.
My breath catches in my throat when I come across the next sheet of paper. This one is a map of New Rising and the areas circled on the map are ones I recognize as properties belonging to the Costa Family. I wouldn't think much of it if it weren't for the numbers written in red with an arrow next to them. They clearly represent a decrease and the numbers written in blue with an arrow pointing up on the opposite side is a decrease.
Is this showing the loss the Costa Family is incurring from their products being intruded on?
Maybe it feels like a far drawn conclusion but with what I've had to go on so far, this is the best lead I've ever gotten.
And I instantly think of a way to confirm it.
I take the map before placing the other papers on the desk. I fold the little paper up, shoving it down the front of my dress since I don't have any pockets. Giovanni or Vito can confirm whether or not these numbers correlate with the losses they've seen. I'm sure they have to have the numbers written down somewhere and if not, it wouldn't take long for them to crunch the numbers.
It's so fucking simple.
To think if I would have just come in here sooner, I could have found these papers. I mean, it's possible they aren't related to the drugs, but if they are...
My thoughts are broken as the knob on the door starts to turn.
Fuck.
My brain works quickly as I try to come up with a way out of what is about to be a messy situation. I scurry around the desk, plopping into the chair just as Todd steps into the room. His eyes narrow as they land on me and his lips press into a thin line. "Winter, what do I owe the pleasure?" He steps further into the room.
I open my mouth to respond but pause when the inventory man I ran into with Todd once before comes stepping into the office. What was his name?
Mario, I come up with after a few moments.
Mario's eyes sweep over me before he takes a stance up against the wall by the door. He folds his arms over his chest, his lips twisted into a deep frown.
"Winter?" Todd asks as he plops down into the seat of his chair.
"Oh." I rack my brain for something to say and spit out the first thing that comes to mind. "I'm sorry, I just..." I glance at Mario and my nerves aren't fake as I give a tight laugh. "Oh it's nothing, I was just going to ask you more about..." I lower my voice, leaning forward, "Amarie's connections," I whisper.
Todd's face brightens and he sits up further in his seat. "Ah, of course."
He looks far too pleased.
Did he tell me about Amarie's connection to throw me off the trail leading back to him?
I stand up quickly and glance at Mario again. He's still staring me down like I'm a piece of scum on the bottom of his shoe.
"But I can come back later," I say, inching toward the door.
Todd stands as well, approaching me and my hands become clammy. His brows are furrowed slowly and I continue to inch toward the office door. I'm just about to back out of it when Todd grabs onto my wrist and his brows knit together. "What's that?" he asks.
"Huh?" I follow his gaze down the front of my shirt where the little white piece of paper is very clearly peaking out.
Shit.
He meets my eyes and pinpricks slam across the back of my neck.