"Black both times, darling," Joe called out.
Darlene delivered the coffee and then left, closing the door behind her.
"Nice," Vito said.
"My wife's sister's girl," Joe said. "Anice girl."
"That's what I meant," Vito said.
Joe Fierello smiled at Vito. Vito did not like the smile.
"Like Tony," he said.
"Darlene doesn't go off overnight to the Poconos," Joe said. "You understand?"
"Absolutely."
"Don't misunderstand me, Tony's a nice girl. She's over twenty-one and she can do what she likes.
"I'm sorry there was that confusion about the markers," Joe said.
"They offered me the markers," Vito said. "I didn't ask for them."
"You went up there as my guest; they're holding me responsible for the markers. You're a nice fellow, Vito, but I don't like you six big ones worth. How soon can you make them good?"
"Right now, Joe. That's what I came here for."
He reached in his pocket and took out the envelope from the Flamingo.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"I'm making good my markers," Vito said, now very confused.
"You don't understand," Joe said. "I'm a businessman. You don't make your markers good with me."
"With who, then?"
"You really don't know, do you?"
"You got me pretty confused, to tell you the truth," Vito confessed.
"Let me make a call," Joe said.
He took a small leather notebook from his jacket pocket, found a number, and dialed it.
"This is Joe Fierello," he said when someone answered. "Could I talk to Mr. Cassandro, please?" He covered the microphone with his hand. "Mr. Cassandro is sort of like the local business agent, you know what I mean?"
Vito nodded.
Business agent, my ass; this Cassandro guy is with the mob.
"Paulo? Joe Fierello. You know those financial documents you were a little concerned about? Well, don't worry. They're good. Mr.Lanza is right here with me now, and he's anxious to take care of them."
He started nodding, and again covered the microphone with his hand. "He says he's sorry, I don't know what the fuck he means."
He removed his hand from the microphone.
"I'm sure Mr. Lanza would be perfectly willing to come wherever you tell him, Paulo," Fierello said, and there was a reply, and then he went on: "Whatever you say, Paulo. He'll be here."