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A cold front had swooped in, its bitter air biting Eddie’s cheeks and burning his lungs. Winter finally had its grip on the city. His body’s involuntary shiver forced him to button up his coat and pull on his gloves, before swinging the strap of his briefcase over his shoulder. He walked over to Marco’s awaiting Mustang a few cars down from the front door of Fortunato’s. Exhaust plumed out the back as Eddie opened the passenger door and hurried into the warm car.
As Eddie settled in, Marco handed him a package of cash.
“Sal said to give you this.”
Eddie took it and flipped the bills in a fan before placing it in his briefcase.
“Thanks.”
They headed north on Payne toward the garage when Eddie’s burner rang.
“Tau. What’d ya got?”
“Eddie. We got problems.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I just heard from Dario that Stevie got pinched on his way back from a pick-up.”
“Shit! What about Mike?”
Eddie looked at Marco who gave him a questioning glance before returning to watch the busy traffic ahead.
“Mike’s good. It was just Stevie,” Tau said.
“How’d you find out?”
“Apparently, Stevie called his mom from jail. She called a lawyer, and then she called Mike’s mom. Mike’s mom called her sister ... and I don’t know. Somehow, somebody told Dario. Dario is freaking out.”
“Dammit! This is bad, Tau.”
“I know.”
“So they arrested him and confiscated the load?”
“Yep. It’s gone for good.”
“Shit! How the hell did this happen?”
“I don’t know. That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
“Dammit,” Eddie said. “Is Stevie gonna’ talk?”
“I don’t think so,” Tau said. “He’s too afraid of you. But what are we gonna’ do about the missing product?”
“I don’t know. Let me think about this. I’ll call you back.” Eddie flipped the phone closed.
“Sounds pretty bad,” Marco said.
“It is bad. Real fuckin’ bad.” Eddie pounded the dashboard. “Shit! Pull over. I gotta’ think.”
Marco pulled the car to the curb across the street from Yarusso’s and Eddie told him what happened.
“Eddie,” Marco said. “I wanna’ help you, but I can’t get involved in this shit. Kate would—”
Eddie’s face twisted. “Tough shit, Marco. You’re up to your ears in this. Just don’t tell Kate, ya’ hear?”
“But—”
“Marco. Please—shut the fuck up. I gotta’ think.”
Eddie eyed Marco’s dark reaction—the way he bit the inside of his cheek and shook his head—before gazing out the front windshield. Marco was the least of his worries.
Eddie’s phone lit up in the dark car. He flipped it open.
“Talk to me, Dario.”
He could feel Dario’s pacing through the phone, but surprisingly, he sounded cool.
“Eddie. Don’t worry. I got this. I’ll talk to Dax and let him know what happened. Dax’ll call Mateo’s guy and tell him we had a situation, but that we’ve got the cash for them. We’ll have to take the hit for now and see how they react. Not sure how they’re gonna’ feel about this, but it’s all we got right now.”
“Good. We’ll see if that holds ‘em. I don’t like it, but ....”
“Yeah, but Eddie. This is how it goes. Shit gets pinched. We all take the risk. We just gotta’ deal with it. Part-a business, know what I’m sayin’?”
Eddie was surprised by Dario’s take-charge attitude.
“You’re right, Dario. Thanks for handlin’ this like a professional.”
“Thanks, man. That means a lot. I won’t let you down. Don’t worry. I got this.”
“Good. Keep me posted. I want to know everything. Find out what’s goin’ on with Stevie, too. I’m worried about him spillin’ to the cops.”
“Alright, Eddie. Talk to ya’—”
Eddie slapped the phone shut.
“Come on. Let’s get these errands done. I gotta’ get back to the office.”
Marco kept quiet.
At the restaurant, Eddie opened the passenger door but paused before getting out. “Listen, Marco. About earlier, I—”
Marco lifted his hand. “I won’t say anything to Kate. It’s fine. Sounds like you have everything under control.”
“I do. It’ll all work out. No need to worry Kate about any-a this, capisci?”
“I won’t say a thing.”
“Alright. Good. I’ll see you’se tomorrow afternoon, ‘eh? Oh, and here.” Eddie dug into his pocket and gave Marco a wad of cash.
“That’s a grand. Okay? Nothin’ to Kate, right?”
“Thanks. And ah’, yeah. Nothin’ to Kate. I’ll see ya’ tomorrow.”
Eddie pulled himself out of the car and slammed the door. He watched as Marco made a U-turn to go home.
