V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone 22)

I looked down at the phone bill. Of four phone numbers she’d called, three had been disconnected. Someone was sweeping up in the wake of her death, shutting down all the links, eradicating evidence. The only thing I’d spied with my little eye were the two snippets of clear plastic. I met Marvin’s gaze.

He said, “What?”

“I did find these.” I held up a finger, alerting him to my find while I slid a hand into my pocket and pulled out the two clear plastic stems. “What do these look like to you?”

“The little doodads they use to secure price tags to clothes in department stores.”

“Right. You know what I think was going on? Twice a month Audrey met with her crew and they sat around the table clipping tags out of all the garments they’d stolen. I don’t know what happened to the goods afterward or what happened to the crew, but once she died, someone got busy dismantling the operation.”

“So now what?”

“I think I started in the wrong place. There’s no point investigating Audrey. She’s gone. It’s the younger woman we need. I’m still mad at myself for not catching her license plate.”

“Yeah, too bad you don’t have a time machine. You could whiz back to the parking garage and take another look.”

I felt a small mental jolt. My mouth didn’t actually drop open, but that was the sensation I experienced. “Oh, wow. Thanks for saying that. I just came up with an idea.”

14

DANTE

Late Thursday afternoon Dante finally caught up with his brother. When he left the office, Tomasso and Hubert were waiting in the parking garage, the limousine idling. As he emerged from the elevator, Cappi came around the corner, apparently on his way up. Dante saw him first and he was already in motion when Cappi realized what was coming down. He stumbled backward, arms flailing as he tried to put himself beyond Dante’s reach. He pivoted and he’d made it four steps when Dante tackled him from behind, both men going down with a grunt. Dante scrambled to right himself and grabbed Cappi by the front of the shirt. He hauled him to his feet in one move and jammed him against the wall. Both were breathing hard, Cappi trying to loosen Dante’s grip. Dante had fifty pounds on his younger brother and even with the age difference, he was in far better shape.

Dante’s breath came hoarsely as he tightened his hold, twisting one hand over the other so Cappi’s shirt collar formed a ligature. He could hear a momentary singing in Cappi’s throat and then there wasn’t air enough for any sound at all. Dante had lost touch with his rage and, consequently, had lost touch with his power. The feeling was familiar, immediate, and all-encompassing. He poured all of his energy into his hands until Cappi’s eyes bulged, his face engorged and hot pink. Sweat seeped through his pores, and Dante was happy.

His bodyguard, Hubert, had appeared at his shoulder. He’d stopped in his tracks, taking in the situation. He did a quick scan of the area to assure himself no pedestrians were close enough to see what was going on. If anyone noticed, one look at the three-hundred-pound bodyguard would have discouraged intervention. That was Hubert’s job, discouraging others from interfering with his boss no matter what he did.

Dante knew if he’d chosen to go on until Cappi’s legs folded and he sank as dead weight, Hubert would have shrugged and had Tomasso get out of the limo so they could load the body in the trunk. Dante knew he would have done it without a word of reproof. The simple presence of the man restored his self-control. Dante loosened his stranglehold, giving Cappi access to air. He kept his face close to Cappi’s, even though the kid’s nose was running and his breath was tainted with fear. “Listen, you dumb fuck! Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve done?”

Cappi grasped his brother’s wrist and pried his fingers away from his throat. Dante released him suddenly, shoving him hard against the wall. Cappi bent over and sucked in air, shaking his head. “She agreed to a deal. She was rolling over on us.”

Dante leaned close. “You don’t pull shit like that, you asshole. Audrey wouldn’t turn on me. Never.”

“Wrong. You’re wrong.” Cappi kept a hand on his throat, close to weeping. “They came down on her. They scared the shit out of her and she caved.”

“Who did?”

“Some cop. I don’t know his name. All I know is she broke down and agreed to tell ’em everything. She’d have done it right then only her boyfriend came through with the bail so they had to let her go. She’d set up a meeting with the DA first thing Monday.”