Private Vegas (Private 9)

“The driver’s-side window was down,” Val said. “Water was flooding in like a dam had broken, and it was pinning me inside the car. But there was a bubble of air at the ceiling, and when the car was underwater, I took a deep breath and swam for the window. I’m a Miami girl, remember. I can swim.”

Val eked out a brave smile, then I asked her to go on.

“I remember cracking my head on the doorframe, Jack. I lost some air when I did that, but I pushed off from the car and got onto my back and just kicked until I surfaced. And that’s the last thing I remember until I woke up here.”

“You’re amazing, Val. No other word for it,” I told her. “I’m sorry this happened. You took a mic and a recorder to a gunfight, and that’s my fault. I should have sent someone to back you up.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be a gunfight, Jack. Or any kind of fight. I was just trying to get the guy to incriminate himself. And now I don’t even have the recorder.”

I said, “You have your life. And we have you. You’re going to be a great investigator, Val. In fact, you should take my job. You’ll do fine.”

“It’s a deal. You heard him, Justine.”

Val had a great smile and a very decent handshake.

I hugged her. “I’m very proud of you,” I said. “You’ve got a gigantic future at Private.”

Chapter 113

JUSTINE AND I had just arrived at the Atlantic Terminal for our flight back to LA when I got a phone call from a man I’d hoped I would never hear from again. I was wrung out from my night at Mountain View Hospital, but it was either speak with the head of the Noccia crime family or wonder what Ray Noccia wanted until he showed up at my door.

I chose the find-out-now option.

I stabbed the Answer button on my phone and said my name, then listened as Ray Noccia said, “It’s been a long time, Jack. A couple of years, right?”

“What can I do for you, Ray?”

Rain was starting to come down. Justine and I ducked into the closest hangar as the downpour began in earnest.

Noccia said, “I’ve got some business to discuss with you.”

“You know that’s not going to happen, Ray. I’m not interested in your business. I thought we’d been over this.”

“Don’t be dramatic, Jack. I want a conversation. That’s all.”

I told him I was working, that I’d call him after I checked my schedule.

“And, listen, Ray, I’ll pick the time and the place.”

I hung up, and, standing under a dripping overhang, I said to Justine, “Want to grab something to eat when we get to LA?”

She looked drained, but then, we were about to get into a plane again.

“What does Ray Noccia want with you?” she asked me.

I shrugged.

“Like always with the Noccia family. It will be what I least expect, when I least expect it.”

Chapter 114

IT WAS SUNNY in LA when I dropped Justine off at her house and then called DA Bobby Petino from my car. I left him a message saying that I had to speak with him urgently.

Then I drove home, took a shower, and was dressing for work when Bobby returned my call.

I said, “Bob”—and he cut me off.

“Jack, you’re on my call list. I heard about Lester Olsen and what he did to your assistant and the rest of it, but the Love for Life racket is a job for the Vegas DA, not me.”