Fortune and Glory (Stephanie Plum 27)

“Let’s start with Philadelphia,” I said to Benny. “You knew Jimmy for a long time. Did he have any Philadelphia ties? A second home there? Business property?”

Benny shook his head. “Not that I know. Jimmy didn’t go across the river a lot. He was more a south Jersey guy. He liked the shore. Wildwood, Cape May, Atlantic City. He liked the slots. Sometimes he played the poker table.”

“Did he have any properties there?”

“He used to have a house in Cape May, but that was years ago. Back in the day when the mob was big and there were lots of occasions for us to use our special talents, we all had real estate. We were living high back then, spending money like water. When the contracts started to dry up, to use a fancy term, we liquidated our holdings. It’s not like any of us got poor, it’s more we got careful with our lifestyles. Except for Shine. He always has a couple girls on the side. Still likes a new pinky ring once in a while.”

“What about Ace It?” Grandma asked Benny. “If Jimmy liked to play poker maybe that’s the tie-in. Did he have a special casino?”

“He would go to the Hard Rock sometimes. Sometimes Tropicana.”

“I went to the Hard Rock with him once,” Grandma said. “We only played the slots. We didn’t go to the tables.”

“Did Jimmy have any aliases?” I asked Benny.

“Sure. We all

did. His favorite was Mickey Gooley. Sometimes he used Mickey Fast. He probably had others, too. I can’t remember them all. I can’t even remember all of my own aliases.” Benny shoveled more ziti into his mouth. “I don’t suppose you have more beer in your purse?” he asked Grandma.

“I could only fit the one bottle,” Grandma said. “You don’t want to drink too much anyway. You got a viewing tonight.”

“I want to do what’s right for Carla,” Benny said. “And I know she deserves a nice viewing, but I’m not looking forward to this. Everybody and their brother’s going to come out tonight. Half of the people would put a knife in my back if I didn’t sit against the wall.”

“That’s not true,” Grandma said. “You’re well-liked.”

“Not by everyone. I made a lot of enemies in my time.”

“Most of them are dead,” Grandma said.

Benny nodded. “Good point.”

“I guess we should be moving along,” Grandma said. “We’ll see you tonight.”

“Are you coming to the viewing?”

“Of course,” Grandma said. “I wouldn’t miss Carla’s viewing.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Everyone looked relieved when I returned to the office.

“You didn’t have to be so worried,” I said. “We just delivered a casserole.”

“What kind of casserole?” Lula asked.

“Baked ziti with cheese and sausage.”

“I might go to the after-funeral party to get some of that,” Lula said.

“Too late. Benny ate it.”

“Now all I can think of is ziti and melty cheese,” Lula said. “We should order from Pino’s.”

“I’ll go for the Vodka Rig,” Connie said.

“Make that two,” Lula said.

“Order me something without dairy or tomatoes or gluten,” Potts said.