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Eddie let the boys in from the cold. They gave him a hug with their solemn condolences, before Eddie directed them into Micola’s living room, where they removed their winter jackets and took their seats on the sofa and chairs. The doorbell rang again, and Sal lumbered in, his head lowered in mourning. He too embraced Eddie before kissing him on both cheeks.
Sal grabbed Eddie by his shoulders. “How you doin’, cuz?”
Eddie shook his head as he closed his eyes. “Hangin’ in there, I guess. I’m gonna’ miss that old broad.”
He guided Sal into the living room and took his coat. Tau and Dario stood and shook Sal’s hand before they all sat down.
Marco arrived next. Eddie let him in and accepted Marco’s condolences but with a callousness he hoped Marco sensed.
Marco took off his jacket and threw it over the arm of the sofa. He squeezed in next to Tau and Dario. Eddie and Sal sat in the two chairs across from them.
“I made some coffee,” Eddie said. “Not as good as Micola’s, but ah’ ... anybody want some?”
The four men shook their heads and the meeting began. Eddie relayed the details of yesterday’s killing of Micola. He struggled to keep his voice strong, swallowing often to press back the lump in his throat. He appreciated their pretending not to notice his show of weakness.
They sat in the living room for hours, discussing their roles with Eddie, and their official roles with the restaurant. Eddie wanted to get their stories straight on what they did for him so they’d be ready when the cops came snooping around, asking questions.
Dario and Tau were to say they worked on marketing customers—hustling to get them into the restaurant, as well as handling various pickups and deliveries. Marco, as Eddie’s driver, was already a truthful response. And Sal was to be considered the muscle. Security. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to the point where they’d ask for documentation of anybody’s pay. Eddie would worry about that later.
They next discussed the shooter. The woman. Eddie wanted immediate surveillance done on O’s girlfriend and of her family members and friends. He was fairly confident she was the shooter.
“A white girl. I want photos. She had on a puffy black jacket and a black winter hat—a knit one. I saw some blond hair hanging out of it. So I think it’s short, but maybe not. A black SUV. High-end. Big. Newer model. Find out what kinda’ car O drove. Find her house. I want it all.”
“Dario,” Eddie said, “you said you knew where O’s house was over in Minneapolis?”
Dario nodded. “Yeah. Lake of the Isles or one-a them high-class lakes over there. I can find out for sure where it is.”
“Good,” Eddie said. “Be discreet, though. Be careful who you ask.” He waved his hand across the room. “All of you’se. Be careful who you talk to, got it?”
They all nodded.
“I’m pretty sure I could pick her out from a photo,” Eddie said. “I mean, it happened fast, but I saw her face. I’ll know when I see her.”
He reiterated that he would handle the retribution. He wanted to handle it. He was looking forward to it.
“I think that’s it for now,” Eddie said. “You’se all know what you gotta’ do.”
They nodded.
“That’s it.”
He pointed at Marco. “You stay. The rest-a you’se can go.” Eddie stood, and Dario, Tau and Sal followed him to the door. Dario gave Marco a quick look before turning to leave.
Eddie shut the door behind them and returned to the same chair in the living room, across from Marco.
Marco raised his hands defensively. “I know what you’re about to say to me, Eddie. Micola told me.”
Eddie blinked as he tilted his head. “What? How would she know anything?”
“She said she’d heard you and Sal. You were arguin’. She wanted to warn me.”
Eddie sat back and stared at him, thinking.
“I denied it to her then,” Marco continued, “and I’m denying it to you now.” He sliced his hand in the air. “I did not steal from you. Never would. I have a family. I’m not that stupid.”
“Well,” Eddie said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, “how do you explain it then? Tau said he gave you packages of five grand. I get the packages from you, and two of them were forty-five hundred, one of them was four grand. How do you fuckin’ explain that, Marco? Huh? And how many other times were there, that we don’t even know about, ‘eh?”
Eddie watched Marco’s reaction. He appeared to be stalling, but then, his head popped up like he had an idea. He looked up at Eddie, wide-eyed.
“There were a couple-a times when Sal gave me the packages.”
Eddie frowned. “Sal? What? No.” He shook his head, taking in what Marco was telling him. “Sal’s my cousin. He wouldn’t do me like that. No fuckin’ way. Uh-uh. Not Sal.”
“I’m tellin’ you, Eddie. It wasn’t me. Sal’s the only explanation. Ask Tau. He gave a few packages to Sal, and then Sal gave ‘em to me.”
Eddie leaned back in the chair and rubbed his forehead.
“Jesus Christ.”
He sat there thinking, while Marco squirmed. Eddie finally spoke.
“Alright. Let me talk to Tau and then to Sal. “I gotta’ get to the bottom of this, on top of all the other shit that’s goin’ on. Who knows how long I’ve been gettin’ ripped off here? Go on. Get outta’ here. I’ll be in touch.”
He picked up the phone.
“Who you callin?” Marco asked.
“Sal.”
Marco stood, rubbing his hands on his thighs. “Ya’ gotta’ believe me, Eddie. I didn’t do it. I swear. Never would.”
Eddie flicked his hand at him in dismissal.
Marco paused. Eddie stared at him, still holding the phone.
“What?”
“Eddie, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this.” Marco looked at his feet and brushed his fingers through his hair.
“Spit it out. I got shit to do.”
Marco bobbed his head. “Yeah, right. So, ah’. I ah’—Kate and I have been talkin’ and we ah’—”
“Jesus H. Christ, Marco, what?”
“I’m out. I’m outta’ all-a this.” He shook his head at Eddie, crossing his hands, one over the other. “I can’t get any deeper into this shit. Kate and I—”
Eddie jumped to his feet, his mouth twisted into a scowl, as he screamed at Marco.
“I don’t give-a shit what you and Kate think about all-a this. You’re not leavin’. You got that? You’re in. All the way in.” He glanced at the floor and tipped his head as he laughed. “You—of all people—know that. So, no, you’re not out. You’re in. Alright? Capisci? You and Kate are just gonna have-ta fuckin’ deal with it.”
Eddie waited, as Marco opened his mouth to say more, but he shut it. Then, after a few seconds, Marco said, “Nope. I’m out.” He threw down his hands and walked out the front door.
Eddie watched Marco leave and then threw his phone against the wall, smashing it to bits.
