"How do I owe you exactly? I hardly know you." Rex used his most certain voice.
"You owe me because you are still alive, fella. You realize that, right? You and your dame have been in my way ever since Carmine took the big sleep. I could have eliminated you both. Just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
So that's the criteria for killing someone…inconvenience. It wasn't our fault we showed up at the HOA meeting that night and that Carmine Nelson was found dead. Before he could point out Salucci’s lack of logic, he stopped himself.
He didn't bother to explain, knowing that a big stakes poker player who was known to be a real estate mogul might not take kindly to any inconvenience. Plus there was Viv's safety to consider.
He cleared his throat. "Okay then, how can I make it even? That's what you want, right?"
Salucci looked him up and down. "My solution is simple. It's kind of a test. If you pass, you'll earn my respect. If you don't, you're done. I'll drive you out of town and maybe keep your dame for fun. Get my drift?
"Incidentally, you'll never need a therapist so long as you pass my tests. I think everyone needs to be challenged to shape their character. Much better than paying a shrink."
He got close to Rex's face to add, "So this is your challenge, pretty boy. Find Joey Baker. Turn him in to the cops. When you drop him off, make sure they know you and you alone tracked him down. He'll be arrested and that's all you need to do. Got it?"
"I have a better idea." Rex smirked. "Let the cops find Joey on their own. That's why we pay them our hard-earned tax dollars."
Salucci growled. "If the cops could, they would have by now. Susan Farrah ain't as clever as she thinks she is." He leaned away from Rex with a faraway look in his eye. "She's like her mother. Beautiful but dumb. I knew her back in the day."
Rex felt relieved. "Don't worry. I'm on it. I will find Joey Baker and drop him off at the local police station." But I do have one more question… "Why is it that you want Joey Baker stitched up for this murder? Why not just let bygones be bygones?"
Salucci's face flushed red. "I didn't say you could ask questions. But so you know, loyalty is everything to me. My grandfather and my father did not tolerate snitches like Carmine or weak men like Joey Baker. Carmine's handled already and Joey's not worth my time. He has no follow-through and he's broken a commitment, a personal one he made to me. Let's just leave it at that."
The burly man popped his head out the door. "She's here," he announced.
"Good. Time to play cards. That's what you came for, right?" Salucci waved for Rex to go first.
Rex took his seat at the round table. A quick glance told him that one chair had been removed from the table. That left one empty, which had been pulled away, waiting for someone to be seated.
The bouncer stood behind the chair back, glancing at the ceiling. The door behind Rex opened.
"Ah, the lady's arrived," Frank Salucci announced.