MURDER TAKES TIME

Chapter 54

Late-night Call

9 Months Ago

Frankie trudged up the steps, worn out from another long day dealing with frustrating people and even worse cases. He opened the door to the apartment, lighting a cigarette before he hit the kitchen. He felt sorry for Paulie, was worried about Nicky, and disgusted with Tony. Maybe he felt sorry for himself too. Tired of living the life he did. 

A bottle of water accompanied him to the chair, where he sat in silence, pondering his situation. Pretty soon he fell asleep, not waking up until the phone rang. He looked at the clock—1:00 AM. Who the hell is calling this late?

“Hello.”

“Bugs?”

“Nicky. Is this you?”

“It’s me.”

“Where the hell are you? Where did you go?”

“I’m okay.”

“Okay? You had me worried to death, you prick. It’s been six months. Maybe more.”

“Sorry, Bugs. But listen. I need help.”

“Anything, name it.”

“I’m with a girl, and she’s in trouble.”

“What can I do?”

“Good old Bugs. You don’t even ask what I want, and you’re ready to help.”

“Friendship and honor, remember?”

“I always remember. Not many others do, though.” A slight pause, then, “Tito’s after her, Bugs. Tried killing her already.”

“Martelli?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you call the FBI? You know—”

“She doesn’t want that; besides, she has evidence that could put Tito away. This could be big for you. Bust Tito, and it makes a mark for your career.”

Bust Tito, and it puts a mark on my chest. 

Frankie lit a smoke. “You know I don’t give a shit about that, but I am worried about you. If Tito’s after her, and if you’re protecting her, that means he’s after you.”

“Yeah, well, there’s more to it than I’m saying, but he’d like to have both of us, which is why we aren’t coming in.”

Frankie sucked hard on the cigarette, draining the life out of it.

“Still straining those smokes, huh?”

“Screw you. But, yeah, I am. What do you mean, not coming in? Why did you call?”

“Like I said, she’s got evidence that could put Tito away. Murder. You want it or not?”

“What’s in it for you?”

“Getting him off her ass. Way I figure it, if he’s gone, nobody else will bother with her.”

Silence followed, then, “Where do we meet? Where are you?”

“No need for you to know that. And no need to meet. I’ll mail you the evidence and a statement. Do what you can with it.”

“Be better to have a live person.”

“Yeah, well, guess you’ll have to do without.”

“When can I expect it?”

“Within the week,” Nicky said. “Give me your address.”

“A week? Going somewhere else to mail it?”

Laughter, then, “Always said you were smart. Not as smart as The Brain, but smart.”

Bugs gave him the address, then said good night. “Take care, Nicky. I’ve got your back.”

“Me too, Bugs. Me too.”

No sooner had he hung up than Bugs thought of all the questions he hadn’t asked. Was this evidence Tito-specific, or would it affect his crew? Nicky didn’t say, and Bugs wondered if Tony or Paulie might get hurt. Some smart detective he was. He checked the caller ID but it had been blocked. 

Now what? Why didn’t I ask Nicky what the evidence was? Shit, for that matter, why didn’t I ask Nicky about a lot of things? 

#

The next morning Frankie went to work as normal, then slipped out to the coffee shop down the street. He called Tony from the pay phone by the rest rooms, then ordered a plain coffee, took a booth, and waited. It didn’t take Tony long to get there. 

Tony walked in, spotted Bugs and headed towards him, stopping to order coffee. He slid into the seat opposite Bugs. “What’s going on? Why the sudden meet?”

“Where’s Nicky?”

Tony raised his eyebrows. “How the hell do I know?”

“I know your friends in Brooklyn are looking for him.”

“No surprise there.”

Bugs leaned in close. “What I need is the truth. Why is Tito after Nicky and the girl?”

Tony sighed and ordered a drink. “She’s got something on Tito. I don’t know what, so don’t ask, but then she blackmailed him. And I mean big.” Tony took a sip of his drink. “Tito went nuts when she did that.” He looked around. “Here’s where it gets dicey, Bugs. You’re not going to like hearing this, but he hired somebody to do Nicky and her both.”

“What?”

“I swear on my mother’s eyes. Nicky took her on the run.”

Bugs leaned back and drained his coffee. “Shit.”

“Yeah, shit is right. Tito’s gonna kill both of them if he ever finds them. And there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s why I’ve been trying to find Nicky, to get word to him.”

Bugs sucked on a dry smoke, then ordered another coffee. Instinct warned him to keep quiet, but friendship told him differently. “If I were you, I’d distance myself from Tito.” He took a drink of water, rattled the ice in his glass, then continued. “I’m only here because of old times. No matter what, I don’t want to see you and Suit go to prison. Tito’s going down.” 

Tony looked at him, suspicion evident in his narrowed eyes. “What’s this about? You talk to Nicky?”

“Why would you ask that? Why bring up Nicky if you don’t know anything?”

“Whoa, Bugs. Don’t get nervous. Just a guess, that’s all. Anyway, I appreciate the heads-up, but there’s no need to worry. Whatever you people are after Tito for, it can’t touch me.”

Frankie gave Tony his investigative stare. “You sure?”

“Absolutely positive,” Tony said, and smiled. “Me and Paulie are clean.” He laughed. “Maybe not clean, but clean enough.”

Tony picked up his coffee cup as if it were a drink to toast with. “Friendship and honor.”

“Friendship and honor,” Bugs said, and tapped his cup against Tony’s. 

#

Bugs and Tony left together then parted ways. By the time Tony hit the end of the block, he was on the phone. “Bobby, get our phone company guy. Tell him to get records of Frankie Donovan’s calls in the past few days. I want names if we can get them, but mostly I want locations. Got that?”

“Got it.”

Tony gave him Bugs’ phone number then hung up. Nicky had to have called him, and once he found out where Nicky had called from, it wouldn’t be hard to find him. All the way home, Tony worried, regretting his life and the choices he’d made. He felt sure there was some parable about a man who dug a hole too deep and couldn’t get himself out, but for the life of him he couldn’t think of it. And his life might depend on remembering that solution. If ever he needed Sister Thomas’ help, it was now. The hole he’d dug was so deep he couldn’t see the top.