The Spia Family Presses On - By Mary Leo Page 0,98
the one who put the hit out on Dickey. Apparently, Giuseppe was sent here to get that ring. I figure that’s what he and Dickey were arguing about on Leo’s porch when I saw them the other day. Dickey wouldn’t give it up, so Giuseppe was supposed to whack Dickey and take it, but somebody got to Dickey before Giuseppe could do the deed.”
Lisa leaned back, looking confused. “And you believe this Soprano knock-off because . . . ?”
“Because he has no reason to lie to me, and it was the way he told me. As if we were sharing a secret that could get us both in deep shit.”
“Does Babe still have the ring?” she whispered.
“No. I have it hanging around my neck under my dress.”
She gazed down at my chest, but the dress was loose-fitting. No way could anyone tell there was a man’s ring dangling between my breasts.
“Are you nuts walking around with that thing? It’s like a ticking bomb. From what you’re telling me, Giuseppe still wants it, and if he was willing to whack Dickey, won’t he be willing to do the same to you? Okay, so maybe he won’t whack the bosses’ daughter, but he can cause you a lot of pain. Then there’s Dickey’s killer who turned your apartment upside down last night looking for it, and took back Dickey’s pinky. This person is serious, honey. Take that thing off and give it to somebody. I don’t care who, but get it away from your body.”
“And just who am I giving it to? Giuseppe or the killer? Either way, we’re all screwed, especially my mom.”
“This is getting way out of control. Just sitting here with you is dangerous.”
“I don’t know what else to do with it.”
“Throw it in a futso.”
“Oh yeah, that’ll work.”
She swirled the olives in her glass. “Did Giuseppe happen to mention why your dad wants that ring? Is it worth more than we think? What’s the big attraction?”
I shrugged. “He couldn’t answer those questions. It’s not something one of the crew can ask the boss when he sends them out to do a piece of work. Besides, I was way too stunned by the whole your dad is alive thing, to think straight.”
“Wow! Your dad’s alive.”
I watched as she took several sips of her martini. A pang of envy tore through me.
“Wait, there’s more to this. Nick and his team of rather exceptionally well dressed detectives, who look way too Italian, closed down our business this afternoon while they were busy dusting for clues. I have no idea what they found, but they took a bunch of stuff with them when they left.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell her about Peter Doyle’s demise just yet. It might put her over the edge.
Lisa chewed on her top lip. A sure sign the next thing that came out of her mouth was guilt. “Mia, you should know they already know it’s Dickey’s blood on the millstone.”
My calm meter jumped up a notch. I shook my head. She didn’t know what she was talking about. “It’s too soon. They couldn’t possibly know already.”
“I spoke to Nick. He shouldn’t have told me, but—”
“I can’t get a hold of you, but Nick can? How does that work?”
“I called him, but I had to. I needed to know if he was driving into the city to pick me up, or if I should catch a ride here.”
I stood, angry that my best friend wouldn’t bother to call me when she learned that this evidence could potentially shut us down for good.
“And you didn’t call me, because?”
“Because I just learned about this right before I left and I figured it would be better if I told you in person.”
I folded my arms. “You should have called me. I would have never come to this thing. I would have stayed home and . . . and done something. Maybe I would have found Dickey. He’s got to be there, the vultures are circling.”
An eyebrow went up. “And then what? What would you do if you found him? Especially after today. Like you’d call Nick. That’s why I didn’t tell you on the phone. I think we should tell Nick what’s going on when he gets here. What we know. What we saw. That the Tundra is parked in the parking lot— hopefully it’s still there—and that potentially the killer is in this very room. Never hide anything suspicious from the authorities. Eventually they will find out you