We waited until Danny had the truck in gear. When it set off down the road, Nico and I got into my car.
“Isn’t she great?” said Nico.
I was confused. “What, the car?”
“No, silly. Danny.”
She? Danny was a she?
Well, that explained the gorgeous cheekbones.
“Gina, I know this is last-minute. But can I bring Danny to the wedding?”
“Sure,” I said, my tone bright. “One more won’t break the budget. Just make sure to let Aunt Vera know, for numbers.”
What a day for surprises. As we pulled onto the highway, I could almost feel his happiness.
The bachelor party was at the Knights of Columbus hall. I pulled up in front to let Nico out. Three thugs were standing on the sidewalk, having a smoke. Unfortunately, they spotted me. So I did the friendly thing. I got out of the car with Nico to say hi.
“Hey, Gina,” said Joey. He actually looked happy to see me. “Looking forward to the big day?”
I grinned back. “Can’t wait for it to be over. Would you want Aunt Miriam running your wedding?”
His tank of a body did a little shiver. I knew it would. Mere mention of that name has a terrifying effect on the men in our family.
Joey is a distant cousin of mine from Buffalo. At one time, he would have liked to be a “kissing cousin.” That wasn’t going to happen. Even then I was fussy about my men. Thugs didn’t make the list.
Bertoni had his usual sneer on. He is as skinny as Joey is solid. It is said in the family that Joey could bench-press a Volvo station wagon. Even with Bertoni sitting in it.
Lou was the third goon of the bunch. He is okay. Not too much in the brain department, but he is big on respect. Since the art-gallery reverse heist of last month, I am riding high in the family.
“Where’s Carmine?” I said. He is the last of my degenerate Yankee cousins and the worst of the bunch.
“Still in New York. Coming with Big Sally and the rest on Friday.”
I nodded with a forced smile. I keep my distance from Big Sally, who heads up the New York branch of the family. With any luck, they wouldn’t get here because of the storm.
And I could seriously do without Carmine. The rat-faced fink had nearly bankrupted me a few months back by pulling a rotten scheme while babysitting my store. I got him back but good, and it has been an uneasy truce ever since. While I don’t generally approve of blackmail as a career choice, it has its uses.
“Lainy coming to the wedding?” Bertoni asked.
“Of course. She’s my maid of honor. She’ll be here on Friday.” All the boys have a thing for my best friend, Lainy. You may have heard of her. Lainy McSwain and the Lonesome Doves were currently singing in Vegas. They were topping the country charts with their new hit “You’re Roadkill on My Highway of Life.”
“Will she be singing at the reception?” asked Lou, all excited.
“That’s the plan. See you all on Saturday,” I said. “Have fun tonight.”
I gave a little wave as I took off.
On the way home to my condo, I thought about the whole male-bonding thing. Pete said bachelor parties weren’t really his thing. I believed him, but I didn’t mind him going to this one. It would give him a chance to bond with my male relatives. This was a good thing, because they really don’t welcome a whole lot of outsiders into the family. And you really do want to be welcomed, believe me. The alternative is unpleasant. A few of the non-welcomed are now swimming with the fishes in Burlington Bay.
Besides, he couldn’t really get out of going to his own bachelor party. Guy parties like these were a big excuse to gamble, drink too much and eat all kinds of junk food.
Also, a lot of business was conducted at these things. Pete would avoid that part. But I knew him well, and he would hold his own with the gambling and drinking. It was a good thing he’s a big lad with an Irish constitution.
Man, I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was get home, have a quick supper and take a long bath. That wasn’t asking too much, was it?
The gods hate me.
***
I pulled into the driveway and my usual parking spot. I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat and climbed wearily out of the car.
“Well, well. Look who’s here,” said a familiar voice.
Crap. It was Spence. Tall, skinny Spence. The creepy guy who once had a crush on me in high school. Now a cop in The Hammer and my personal nemesis. Could this week get any worse?
“Gina Gallo, the girl with the longest confession. Who just happened to be involved in a gunfight in Hagersville. What a coincidence.”
Gulp. “What are you doing here, Spence?”
“Following up on that gunfight. You were seen. I figured you’d turn up here eventually,” he said.
“What gunfight? Don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t the Wild West.” I forced a smile. “Besides, I don’t even own a gun.”
“Then what about these bullet holes here in your fender?”
“What?” I hoofed it around to where he was standing. Holy shit. There were three holes in the back passenger-side fender. I hadn’t seen them when I got in on the driver’s side.
“Freakin’ hell!” I said, throwing my arms in the air. “They shot up my car!” Now I was mad.
“Who shot up your car?” said Spence, folding his arms across his chest.
“Don’t know,” I said, going in for a closer look at the holes. “Two big guys. Don’t know them personally.”
“I’ll bet you don’t.”
“Give me a break, Spence! I’ve had a really bad day.” No kidding. Not to mention it was the first time I’ve ever been shot at. “Besides, how did you even know it was me?”
“Got a report about a hijacking and gunfire at a Tim Hortons. The local cops got a description of the car from some bystanders, and the license-plate number. I recognized it. My lucky day.”
Shit.
“Gina,” Spence said, shaking his head. “Stealing a truck. I never expected to see you sink as low as this.”
That hurt.
“I wasn’t stealing it! It was my truck,” I said, poking a finger through the air at him. “I was merely sneaking it back from the thugs who took off with it!”
Oops.
And that’s when I got hauled down to the police station.