Chapter Seven
In a palatial home surrounded by high walls dotted with security cameras, Franco Saducci paced behind his desk. The operation to take out Donovan Blake had been a disaster, and those responsible were quaking in front of him.
“Success depends on meticulous planning,” he railed. “That means not leaving anything to chance. Not one fucking thing!”
Rick Torinno, Franco’s underboss, had been in charge. Though he’d been with Franco for years and had served him with unwavering loyalty, he had no illusions. He was just as expendable as the next guy.
“How the fuck did this happen?” Franco shouted for the umpteenth time glaring at him. “What did you miss?”
“Not a damn thing, boss. I swear we scouted the location and there were no cars or trucks anywhere. And that road is never used,” Rick exclaimed. “No-one would dare go through there on a stormy night, especially in torrential rain. It floods.”
“Yet a car drove up just seconds before Donovan was about to meet his demise!” Franco barked. “Are you sure there was no tracker on the fucking van? You must have been followed! Why didn’t you spot the tail?”
“There wasn’t one, and besides, that car came from the opposite direction.”
“It was a simple job,” Franco continued, ignoring Rick’s comment. “Kidnap the bastard, beat him to death on a deserted street, then strip him of his valuables. The cops would assume he’d been the victim of a brutal mugging, but Boris would be told he was next if he didn’t play ball. It wasn’t a complex job, but not only did Donovan escape, he outsmarted you and made me look like a total fucking amateur,” Franco yelled, throwing his arms in the air.
“There is some good news, boss,” Rick offered tentatively.
“Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”
“I’ve identified the woman. Her name is Phoebe Beaumont.”
“How?”
“I saw her license plates and traced them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Franco demanded, already knowing he hadn’t given Rick the chance to say much of anything. “So? Did you find her?”
“Yeah, no sweat. She lives in a condo not far from where we were. I called Manny and Salvo and we went in. The place was empty but I put in a couple of hidden cameras. When she goes back I’ll be alerted.”
“So—we have some light at the end of this fucking tunnel after all. I’ll leave her to you,” Franco declared, a grin curling his lips. “And this time, don’t let me down.”
Though Rick had messed up, Franco had every confidence Rick would make the woman talk. He could be charming, but he had ice flowing through his veins. She’d tell him everything he needed to know, then bring her to the office for some fun.
“In the meantime, I want you all on the fucking streets looking for Donovan and the girl,” Franco ordered. “Use money or muscle, whatever it takes, just do it, and don’t come back until you’ve got something I want to hear.”
* * *
Everyone left except Rick, who silently fumed. The Beaumont girl and Donovan Blake had made a fool of him and he was determined to hunt them down. He hadn’t found anything when he’d visited the condo, but it had been a crazy night and he was going back to see what he might have missed.
“Okay, Rick, now we’re alone,” Franco exclaimed. “Tell me what you couldn’t say in front of the others.”
“I’m sure that girl showed up in that back street totally by chance,” Rick began. “There’s nothing to suggest she knew Donovan before that moment. She was simply on her way home from work. It was just fucking bad luck.”
“And you know that how?”
“When I tracked her down I found out when she left the hospital. She’s a nurse.”
“Computers,” Franco grunted. “You can find out shit about anyone now, but get your ass back to that condo. See what else you can learn about her. Just make sure you’re not seen.”
“I’ll be a ghost,” Rick replied, then choosing his words carefulIy, he lowered his voice and added, “Boss, why don’t we change our approach. Screw the middleman. Let’s demand a direct meeting with Boris…just him and us. We can tell him it was Donovan Blake who screwed up, that he got spooked and caused problems. If we get our foot in the door we can take him out from the inside, maybe get one of his soldiers to turn against him.”
“Maybe, but it could make us just as vulnerable.”
“But we’ll have the upper hand,” Rick said confidently. “He won’t know our real reason for changing course and wanting to work with him instead of against him.”
“Rick, that’s a dangerous assumption. Boris may be many things, but he’s not a moron. He’ll be looking for ulterior motives the moment I broach the subject. Now go and find whatever there is to find in that girl’s place. And Rick, don’t come back empty-handed.”