“What was the weapon?”
“A chain saw. He cut a guy’s leg off. He claimed it was an accident.”
“This is not a nice man.”
“I have a couple contacts in Newark. See if you can find some crackers and cheese in the kitchen, and I’ll make some phone calls.”
I went to the kitchen and poured myself another glass of wine. I found some brie and something else that was creamy and herby. I’m sure all bought by his housekeeper, Ella. I put the two cheese wedges on a cutting board with water crackers, apple slices, and fresh strawberries and brought them in to Ranger, along with the bottle of wine and our glasses. I set everything on Ranger’s desk, and I spread brie on a cracker for myself.
Ranger took his headset off. “This is nice.”
“I take no responsibility. Ella had everything prepared.”
Ranger sliced off some mystery cheese and ate it with an apple slice. No empty-calories cracker for Ranger. Ranger was into health.
“I talked to two people in Newark,” Ranger said. “The opinion of both is that Gregor Bluttovich is dangerous. Bulgarian mobster. Nicknamed Blutto. Large ego. Terrible temper. Probably criminally insane. Both contacts used the word psycho to describe Bluttovich. He has a mid-size operation, and he’s overextended. Word on the street is that he’s eliminating squeamish business partners.”
“Like Wellington?”
“Yes.”
“Where would Vinnie fit in this?”
“Bluttovich owns Wellington. So Vinnie scammed Bluttovich. And it’s not healthy to scam Bluttovich.”
“How not healthy?”
“As not healthy as you can get.”
“Dead?”
“Very dead,” Ranger said.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Have another glass of wine.”
“And then?”
Ranger’s eyes locked onto mine.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get me drunk,” I said to Ranger.
“Not drunk,” Ranger said. “Just relaxed and naked.”
I was distracted by an icon blinking on his computer screen.
“Why is the little flame flashing?” I asked him.
“I’m hard-wired to the control room. One of our systems just sent in a fire alert.”
He tapped a key and an address appeared.
“Hamilton Avenue,” I said. “Omigod, that’s the bonds office!”
Ranger put his headset on and talked to the control room, verifying the fire. He took his headset off, swiveled away from his desk, and stood.
“I suppose this is the end of our romantic moment,” I said to him.