MURDER TAKES TIME

Chapter 42

Oaths and Friends

Brooklyn—20 Months Ago

Tony pulled up to the union hall, late for his weekly meeting with Tito. Paulie sat in the seat next to him, playing with the radio. As Tony turned into the lot, Paulie pointed to a car just leaving. “Ain’t that Nicky?”

Tony stared, suspicion burning through him. “Yeah, I think it is.”

“It’s good to have him back with us.”

“Yeah,” Tony said, and pulled up to the front. “Wait outside today, Paulie. Tito wants to go over some things with me.” 

“No problem, but hey, Tony, I been thinking, maybe you ought to tell Nicky about that money.”

“The money I invested for him?”

“It’s better he find out from you than someone else.”

Tony stared off into the distance. “Tell you what, Paulie. Keep your mouth shut and let me decide how to do it.”

Paulie shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

Tony slammed the car door. This was the third time he’d seen Nicky with Tito in just a few months. What the hell was he doing here? Nicky told Tony he was a union rep, but union reps don’t go see Tito. Tony took the steps into the hall two at a time, then made his way to the kitchen without a word to anyone, just a nod now and then in response to greetings. He poured some coffee, walked to the lounge and took a seat next to Manny. 

Manny loved to watch the news and hated to be disturbed, so they sat in silence. Curiosity was eating at him, but Tony waited until the timing was right. 

“Manny, what was Nicky doing here?”

He waved his hand without looking over. “Nothing.”

“Nothing? He’s here in the middle of the day, and it’s nothing?”

Manny picked up a half a sandwich and took a bite, damn near finishing it. Then he took a long swig of water from a bottle on the table. “What, you worried about your job?”

“My job? What are you talking about?” 

“I’m talking about Tito’s got himself a new boy, that’s what. Better watch your ass, Tony.” 

“Watch my ass? Get outta here. I taught Nicky everything he knows.”

Manny laughed so hard he coughed. “Now I know you’re nuts. You really better watch your ass if you think that.” He slapped Tony on the back and stood. “I gotta go. I’ll tell Tito you’re here.”

Tony got up and paced. Manny’s taunt stayed with him. Nicky is trying to steal my job. Something had to be done about him anyway. Sooner or later, he’d find out about Angela. 

#

Manny wore a frown as he came out of his meeting with Tito. He motioned for Tony to go in. “Hope your news is good.”

Tony walked in, already tense. “Hey, Tito.”

“Tony, tell me we made a lot of money last week.”

“What’s wrong, boss? Somebody giving you trouble?”

“Nothing.”

Tony went to pour a drink, patting Tito on the back as he passed. “Don’t tell me nothing’s wrong. I’ve known you too long for that.” He opened a bottle of brandy. “Want a drink?”

“If you’re getting a drink, the news must be bad. Don’t make me wait.”

“Guess I’ll have to be the one to brighten your day. We had a great week. Best one in two or three months. Paulie pulled through with a load of smokes; Jiggles did that airport deal; everybody came through.”

“In that case, pour me a glass.”

Tony poured him a drink and walked it over, sitting on the edge of a sofa across from Tito. “So what’s going on? Who’s giving my favorite boss all this trouble?”

Tito shrugged. “Some broad.”

“A broad? What, you get her pregnant?”

He laughed. “God no. She’s…I got to take care of her, that’s all.”

Tony thought for a minute, his brain churning. He was making a leap in his assumptions here, but why the hell else would Nicky be with Tito so often if he wasn’t a shooter? Nicky sure as shit wasn’t running any crews. If Tony was right, this would either make Nicky shine or show him up for the pussy he was. “Why not give it to Nicky?”

“He told you what he does?” Tito’s brow furrowed.

“We’re best friends,” Tony said, and shrugged.

Tito finished the drink, set the glass on a coaster and shook his head. “I’m giving this to someone else.”

“Suit yourself. All I’m saying is if you really want to test the guy, give him this one.”

“I don’t need to test him.”

“I don’t doubt that. Remember, I’m the one who brought him to you. Just—

“Just what?”

“Forget it. I doubt he’d do it anyway.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Tito asked, leaning forward. “Nicky does whatever I tell him to.”

“Hey, Tito, forget it. You’re better off getting someone else.”

Tito stood and walked to the kitchen. “That’s what I said to begin with.”

Tony said nothing. By the time Tito returned, the whole idea of Nicky was eating at him. 

“Why do you think he wouldn’t do this?”

Tony had the remote in his hand. He jumped from channel to channel until he found a football game. “Forget about it. He probably would.”

“I don’t want to forget about it.” Tito pulled on Tony’s shirt. “Tell me why you said that.”

Tony sighed. “Not that I doubt what you say, but there’s no way Nicky would take out a broad.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not him, that’s all. Nicky Fusco wouldn’t kill a girl if Jesus Christ came down and told him to.” Tony finished the brandy, set the glass down then continued watching the game. 

Tito stared, assessing Tony the way only Tito could. “You worried?”

“Why should I be worried? I just gave you the best report in months.”

Tito stood and walked around. “You should be worried. I’m happy with Nicky. He makes me a lot of money and handles a lot of problems. But I can’t have a guy I can’t trust.” Tito wore his be-careful-what-you-say smile, the vicious one. “Of course you know that, don’t you? Which is why you brought this up.” Tito nodded to himself as if working out a problem in his head. “Does Nicky know you hate him so much?” 

When Tony didn’t answer, Tito paced some more, then lowered his head as he raised his eyebrows and stared at Tony. “You’re rolling big dice here. If I give this to Nicky, he’ll either be a hero or a corpse.”

Tony shrugged, then got up to get more brandy. “I’m sure he’ll do fine.”