CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 54: BOWLING

When I had the chance, I went to a private VIP bowling lounge with Rockie and his gang. Bowling wasn't really my thing, but it didn't matter.

"Glad you could finally join us," Rockie told me.

"Yeah. It's been forever since we last saw you," Jordan said.

"I know. I would love to hang with you guys more often, but my schedule is just very busy, but I'm glad it worked out this time," I told them.

"Nah. I think you just don't like us," Duke said. "Nobody works that much."

"It's not that I work that much. It's just that my work schedule often overlaps with the times you get together," I said.

"Yeah. Or you're too tired," Rockie said.

"You would be too after a long day of work," I said.

"I'm sure it's exhausting sitting in your cop car all day," Duke said. "I'm curious. How many donuts do you eat a day?"

"None," I said.

"Really? How about mocha frappuccinos? I can't help but notice how much weight you've put on."

"It's muscle."

Duke laughed. "Yeah, right! I thought you had no time to do anything after work."

"I think that's enough interrogation," Cam said. "Just be glad that he's here now and let's have some fun."

"Thanks, Cam," I said.

We took turns bowling and, while I was waiting my turn, I sat by Rockie and talked with him. I told him about the truck of money and Diesel's visit.

"I'm grateful for the check, but I don't understand any of it. I mean, what kind of test is that?" I asked him.

"It seems obvious to me," Rockie said. "The Boss wanted to know how greedy you were. After all, only a greedy animal would ask for more than what they're given. It's not that being greedy is a bad thing. I think everyone in the Family is a bit greedy. That's why we joined in the first place. It's all about the money, but if you're too greedy... Well, that's when you get yourself into trouble. You take too many risks and you're more loyal to the money than you are to the Boss. But you're not that way. You proved that when you turned down the money."

"Then why did Diesel need to intimidate me? If I passed the test, why did he shoot at me?" I asked.

"He had to make sure you knew your place. You turning down the money proved that you weren't too greedy, but it didn't prove that you respected the Boss. When you asked him for extra money despite my warning, it showed that you didn't respect him enough. That's why Diesel was there. He was a reminder to respect the Boss; that your life is in his hands."

"Your turn, Rockie," Jordan told him.

I waited for Rockie to return to continue our conversation.

"But if the Boss was offended that I disrespected him, why'd he pay me extra?" I asked Rockie when he sat back down.

He shrugged. "Grace?"

"Grace?" I sneered, remembering the times we sang about amazing grace at church. "I don't take him for the type."

"You don't know the Boss that well. There's a reason we respect him. It's not just fear. Most of us don't even know the meaning of fear."

"You're up, Crypto," Duke told me.

I stood up and took my turn. I got a spare.

The guys clapped.

"Wow! Good job, Crypto!" they teased. "I think that's your first time knocking down all the pins!" Last time they teased me saying that I needed the bumpers, and the time before that, they laughed at how I rolled the ball.

I rolled my eyes. "Hey, I'm still new to this. I'm trying my best."

"It's okay," Rockie told me as I sat down. "There are worse things you could be bad at."

"Yeah. Like Poker," Duke said with a laugh.

"I don't know why you're laughing, Duke," Jordan said. "You lost pretty bad our last game."

"It was just bad luck," he defended.

"I'm pretty sure Crypto is better at Poker than you," Rockie told him.

Cam got a strike for the third time.

"How come Cam is so good at this?" I asked.

"It's all in the technique," Cam said as he walked back to us.

"Or the thumbs," Jordan muttered as he walked up to take his turn.

"Say, Rockie," I asked as he took a drink of his beer. "How do I get a number?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"When we were in Paris, you and my uncle were talking about your ranking in the Family. I don't have a number, but I want one."

"You have to prove yourself first," he said.

"Haven't I already done that?"

"You did a favor for the French. You have to do something for us."

"Like what?"

"You're the cop. You should know."

"There's not much I can do as a cop. I'm still new. I have to work with a partner."

"There's a lot you could get away with if you just show off your badge, not to mention the access you have to the police records."

"I'm not sure what is needed from me."

"Are you asking me for work?" he asked.

"A task would be nice," I said.

"I'm glad you finally asked. You're finally showing some initiative. It's about time. I'll talk to Diesel and see what he has for you." He stood up to take his turn.

"Is that his real name?" I asked. "Diesel? It's an interesting name."

"I'm not sure," Rockie said. "I don't know him by any other name but we have many nicknames for him. Sometimes we call him Destroyer, or the Jack, or Jack the Ripper, or the Phantom, or just plain D."

I waited for him to finish with his turn to ask him more.

"How long has Diesel been with the Family? Where did he come from?" I asked.

"Why the sudden interest?" Rockie asked me.

I shrugged. "He just seems like an interesting fellow."

"I don't know much about him. He doesn't talk about himself much. From the interaction I've had with him though, he seems kinda like you, so focused on his work, always wants to talk business. He puts up an emotionless, dismissive facade, but he's a nice guy."

"Yeah. He got my mail for me... I thought that was kinda weird."

"Really? That means he probably likes you."

"Likes me? He hardly knows me."

"I bet he knows more than you think. He lives and breathes his job. He makes a point to get to know everyone in the Family, not personally though. He doesn't have time for friends."

"How does he learn about everyone then?" I asked.

"Beats me. All I know is, whenever I bring a name up, he knows more about that guy than I do."

That made me think. Diesel had to have access to the police records in order to know personal details no one else knew. Maybe he was a cop or was close to a cop. That's probably how his record was erased. I had never noticed him among the police officers but I would keep my eyes out.

The more I learned about him, the more I realized how perfect of a target Diesel was. It sounded like he basically ran the whole organization. He knew everything about everyone in it and he was close to Spiney. I just needed to find a way to get information out of him. That was going to be the hard part.