Chapter 18
Ringo
Ellie was here, but not where I was allowed to enter.
For a little thing, Molly had the ferocity of a chihuahua on steroids.
I sipped the premium whiskey and studied the bar.
I’d spent at least an hour in the alley behind the bar trying to find any sign of where Pornstach ran off to. Then I visited Ellie’s condo again.
Alfonzo Conti-Messina himself met me there. His girl was going to pull through. But he had to remind me of what I owed him.
“He knifed her.”
More proof that Johnny Porciello wasn’t and never would be a professional. She’d be dead if it was one of ours. “Did you reach out to Vincent?”
“He’s still sore you took out all five of his men. You couldn’t let one live?”
That didn’t deserve a reply. “Did the sale go through?” I’d given him the information for the family’s lawyer.
“It’s going through. I spoke with my cousin.”
Which one?
He read my face. “You know. He’d be your third cousin, I guess.”
“How is Remo?” I knew of him. He wasn’t a bad person—a banker by trade.
He’d only been scorched by Don Conti’s failures.
I’m certain his sudden rise to power was giving him nightmares, though.
Not a single male heir in the Conti family lived long.
Don Conti being the exception of the past three generations.
Messina studied the pavement. “He’s on board. What did you do? Threaten him?”
Didn’t have to. Dianora and Leandro followed in their fathers’ footsteps well, eliminating or tyrannizing the competition. “I don’t threaten people.”
His chin tucked closer to his neck, as if avoiding the garrote prepared for it.
I switched to the subject he came here for. “The company Adelmo created, it’s too legit. I’ll need a business manager who is squeaky clean and knows their shit. Not family. I think for all of our sakes, letting it continue as-is might turn down the heat on us.”
Alfonzo licked his lips. He’d have come to the same conclusion, but I also knew he was eyeing the vacuum and calculating just how far he could shove his toes in before they got cut off.
“Did you talk to your uncle from Sicily?” Mario visited him last week.
“Yeah.”
He certainly didn’t sound happy about that. Which spoke volumes.
“Listen, the Left Hand doesn’t like the fancy shit. We’re only interested in Adelmo’s portion. We’ll stay out of your business, I promise.”
“After you decimate it like you did with Vincent’s boys?”
“Do you have problems like he did?”
His reply was short. “No.”
“Then there’s no need to fix them. Is there?”
His eyes traveled to the boarded-up slider and the crime tape. “I think you need to fix your own house first. Then I’ll have more confidence in your ideas. Until then, you owe me.”
He strode away, turning his back on me. That cut me to the bone.
“Can I get you another?”
Molly’s offer snapped me back to the present. “I’m good.”
“Ellie says it’s on the house.”
All the more reason to turn it down. I laid a banknote on the bar. “Make sure the staff, not the management, splits this.”
Her eyes widened just a little.
It was a large enough denomination to warrant the shock. And, it could buy that bottle of Ellie’s premium Irish whiskey. “I’m not Porciello. I don’t need her charity.”
Molly snatched the money up. She tucked it into a bundle of singles, then stuffed it into the pitcher behind the bar. Her guilty glance at me turned into a blush. I ignored it and studied the rest of the bar. In particular, the back hallway Molly ran off to when I asked about Ellie.
Soon enough, she and Kat emerged. I picked up my drink and met them at the far end of the bar.
“Ringo.” Kat’s greeting was cold.
Ellie’s wasn’t much better. “You’re not going to stay here all night, are you?”
“Only until you leave. Then, I’ll go with you.” She would not be left alone again if I could help it.
“You know, this whole jealous Jedi vibe you got? It’s kind of suffocating.”
That was cute. “Do you want me to back off?” I’d also called Don Manca and Mario and filled them in. Don Manca had expected my change of heart. Mario?
He didn’t take it well. He threatened my life at least a half-dozen times.
Kat, who’d only been eavesdropping until that point, spoke up. “Would you? Would you leave her?”
Never. “That isn’t on the table.” I’d gotten the green light from Don Manca. He wanted this union. If only to ease the tension between his grandson and me. But Mario was dead-set against it. He feared I’d break Ellie’s heart.
Judging by the hope in her eyes, I’d say leaving her would do that. “I can ease up a little. But you need to be safe. And I don’t want to see any of your friends hurt while you’re doing that.” I slid a glance at Kat to convey the message.
Ellie frowned. “He’s right, Kat. Johnny showed up last night after you drove away.”
“What?!” She glared at me. “Where were you?”
“Getting the car.”
“You fucking moron!” Kat took two steps away, then circled back around to yell at me. “Tell me you killed him.”
“I didn’t.” Couldn’t. I was too busy worrying about Ellie.
“Why the fuck not?” She swore loudly, and the outburst got attention. One glare and the nearest patrons sipping their drinks shifted to empty seats farther away. She quieted and asked Ellie, “You’re okay, right?”
Ellie nodded at her question. “He pulled a gun on me. Ringo almost hit him with the car which made him run.”
I wished I’d done it.
“Where do you think he went?” Kat asked.
That was the billion-dollar question. Alfonzo didn’t know. Vincent might, but he wasn’t talking to me. I’d checked Johnny’s old haunts to no avail.
“If I knew where he was, he’d be dead already,” Ellie said.
“Say that a little louder, why don’t you?” I muttered and glanced around to see who was still listening.
“Oh, get over yourself, Ringo. Just because you had one bad night doesn’t mean you suck.”
Only two people understood what she’d said.
Kat stared at me, realization dawning. I raised a brow as if to ask, “Are you going to say anything?”
Her obvious avoidance answered for her. “You have an MBA, don’t you?
” I’d done some background work on Ellie before coming to Chicago.
I knew all about her former boss getting drummed off the police force.
I also knew that Kat worked hard to obtain scholarships for college, but remained here with Ellie.
“Yeah.”
“That’s why she’s my business partner.” Ellie swung an arm around her waist, giving her friend a squeeze. “There are no secrets between us.” Her steady gaze sent a warning at me.
“I suppose you’re too busy to look at an acquisition?”
“What kind of acquisition?”
“Shipping and logistics. CCI. Did Ellie mention them?”
Kat blinked as she nodded.
“I need a competent business manager. Not family, but close. Someone loyal and honest but sharp. I think you fit the bill.”
“Working for you?” Kat’s tone indicated her distrust.
“For the parent company once the sale goes through. It’s legit.” I scanned the bar they’d built. “It’s not as fun as this place, but…”
“My starting salary as Chief Operating Officer needs to be at least fifteen percent higher than the base average for Chicago, not the region. I expect profit-sharing, full benefits package, and a minimum of 40 days leave.”
“You’re leaving me?” Ellie piped up.
“Please. I can juggle your books and a shipping conglomerate. Ye of little faith.”
Ellie’s face fell.
“Besides, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other a lot if this one sticks around. Are you going to stick around, Ringo? Or are you playing with my girl?”
They’d talked. “I proposed.”
“Badly.”
They definitely talked. “I apologized for that. She knows why I said it that way.”
“I don’t see no ring on her finger. That means, you have to step up your game. If you got any game, that is.”
Did she know who she was talking to? I glanced at Ellie, confused.
She sent me a look that called my bluff and doubled down on it.
“I’ve got game.”
Ellie ran behind the bar and flipped a switch. In an instant the mirrored sign with gold lettering turned into a glaring lightbox of green and flashing yellow. The word, “Blarney” was outlined in glowing red.
The regulars seated the bar slapped the surface, and the ones at the tables picked up their tattoo with glee. “Blarney!” They chanted.
Kat climbed onto the rungs of a stool and like a side-show barker shouted over the crowd as she called their attention. “This liar here says he’s got game.”
The shouts of “Blarney” increased.
“What say ye?” she shouted.
My ears rang from the din.
Ellie lined up a row of shots.
“No…” I couldn’t afford to get drunk. Ellie’s safety relied on it.
“Then admit it, you are full of shite.” Kat picked up the first glass.
Was she going to go shot for shot with me? I calculated half of the row. I should be able to manage that.
I reached for the next in line.
Ellie stopped me. She placed a tumbler on the bar-top. Next, she set four bottles down next to it. “We call this the Four Horsemen. You drink two while Kate drinks her row.”
I eyed her pour. “One.”
“Then you admit it, you’ve got no game.”
If I were to stay on top of Ellie’s safety, I had to remain sober. “Woman,” I warned.
Ellie grinned evilly. “You come to our bar, you play by our rules.”
I picked up the tumbler. “Remind me to bring you some of Loppa’s special reserve mirto.” I slammed the concoction, ignoring its assault on my senses. Irish whiskey should never be gang-banged with that combo of corn mash, scotch, and tequila. The drink was an abomination.
Which was likely the point.
I set the glass down and indicated she should refill it.
Kat drank four shots.
The sign above their heads must be on a timer because it began to flash.
I braced for the second drink. The first hit my system like a freight train. And it was only going to get worse. “This reminds me of that night Mario and I stole Signora Verina’s home made berry brandy.”
“Did you get caught?”
I slammed the drink before answering Ellie’s question.
The alcohol burned, but not half as badly as before.
My head swam a little. “I puked on her prized ram. But Mario was the one who had to bathe it.” The liquor was purple.
Even after it mixed with the contents of my stomach.
The berries in it stained the wool. I laughed at the memory.
I set the glass down. Kat offered me one of her shots. I declined. She started to finish them off, holding the last one under my nose to smell.
Lemons and tea.
The bottle label claimed it was bourbon. “Wait a minute.”
“Too late.” She laughed and finished the final shot to a cheer from the bar.
I’d been duped. I pointed at Ellie. “You.”
“I get to drive your car home. Keys.” She wiggled her fingers at me.
I held them back with one demand. “Don’t wreck it.”
Tall Bob signaled for a drink as the sign’s lights went out and the bar resumed its normal din. I breathed through the fumes muddling my head.
Kat led me to a table near the restrooms, just in case. “Are you serious about that job offer?”
“I am. I need to run it past the—” Even as drunk as I was, I stopped before telling secrets. “—the board.”
“Is it really legit?”
I nodded. “Adelmo, the former owner, late owner. Shit. My brother—half, he tried to get out of… well, you know. It cost a lot of money and wasn’t very fruitful.” I blinked. “So yeah.”
There was more she needed to know. I tapped the table to get her attention. “Edward.”
“Who?”
“You’ll meet him. He’s putting up one hundred and sixty million. That will get you on your feet with it.”
“Is he a silent partner or?”
“Full. He likes his American investments. And…” I scanned my memories for anything incriminating. There wasn’t. Edward ran a tight operation. “… his buy-in allows the other investors a degree of certainty everything will be profitable.” I rested my head on a hand. “They don’t trust me.”
“Why?”
I stared at Kat. She’d not asked “who” which was wise. “Because, I’m just the messenger. Not the brains.”
“What kind of messages do you send?”
I grinned lopsidedly. “You don’t want to know.”
“Are you serious about marrying Ellie?”
My nod wobbled a bit. I tipped off balance but caught myself. “I am.” My desire to quit was the one thing Don Manca disagreed with. But it would go a long way toward appeasing Mario. “I’m getting out.”
“Out? Really? Does Ellie know?”
I shook my head. “I need air.” I walked through the back door and stood in the alley where I’d skidded to a stop.
The apartments fronting the opposite side of the block had tight fences which kept the noise and the riff-raff from disturbing them.
Except for the gap between two fences that Porciello sprinted through. I stared at that space for a long time.
Ellie joined me. “Are you doing okay?”
“You shouldn’t be out here.”
“I’m worried about you.”
The drinks were wearing off, thank goodness. “Remind me never to bet against your friend.”
“You’d lose.”
Confirmation aside, I had other things to think about. “How many times did Johnny visit you here?”
“Are you getting jealous again?”
“No.” Surprisingly, that was the truth. I was looking at this like I would a job.
Wide open to the street on the north. A sharp turn to exit into the quieter street to the south and west. There was a sister pub next door which was directly linked to the Blarney Zone by an open beer garden, and hemming in the other side, residential buildings.
Some of them had to have security cameras pointed at the alley.
There was no way to murder someone here and get away with it.
“He came here maybe twice. He usually took me to the clubs downtown and near the university.”
He wanted to be seen with her. “He was using you.”
“I know.”
I slanted a look in her direction.
“I’m sorry?”
“Don’t be. I’ll find him.”
Ellie hooked her arm with mine. “About that, can you let someone else to do it?”
“What are you saying?”
Her cheek flinched. “Can you ever retire?”
I cupped her cheeks. “I’m trying.”
The smile on her face was worth the trouble it would cause.