MURDER TAKES TIME

Chapter 71

 

A Long Wait

 

Current Day 

I decided to go for Tito quickly, though I still had some things to get ready. The shopping was done, had even gotten the railroad spike—a good, old rusty one I found loose by the tracks. And the house was ready too. All I needed was my accomplice. Anyone would do, even a homeless person. Someone like that would be even better; the less chance of recognition, the better I liked it. 

By about ten that night, I had the details worked out. Within two hours, I found someone willing to do what I wanted for a couple of hundred bucks and return cab fare. I waited until 1:00 AM, then hailed a cab. I gave Tito’s address. As we drove, I explained to my accomplice what would happen, and then I paid him in advance. I ducked as we got to Tito’s street, reminding him to stop near the end of the block, after he passed Tito’s house. 

“Are there cars parked at the curb?” I asked the cabbie.

“All the way up and down,” he said. 

“Stop just before the end of the street,” I said, then waited.

When the cab came to a stop, my decoy opened the door and stepped out. I slipped out with him and rolled under the car by the curb, keeping close to the sidewalk so they couldn’t see me from the surveillance windows. Besides, they would be focused on the cab and the guy getting out. I lay still, watching as he walked down the street and turned the corner to the right. The plan was for him to walk two blocks. The cab would circle around and pick him up. I don’t know what activity this spurred in the rooms where they were stationed, but I’m certain it generated a lot of conversation and concern.

I waited for at least an hour, then, inch by inch, I crept up the hill toward Tito’s house. I wore black clothes and kept my face turned toward the sidewalk, away from their cameras. After much misery I made it to Tito’s car and positioned myself right underneath it. If someone bent down, they could have seen me, but people seldom look under cars. Now all I had to do was wait.

As I lay there, I thought about how my life was about to change. Again. When I finished with Tito, I planned to leave the city, find a place where I could settle in and be happy. Maybe find…someone. I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. I had to focus or I wouldn’t live to find that someone. 

After a few more hours, the front door to Tito’s house opened. It was early in the morning. Six-thirty, maybe seven. Footsteps came down the walk, then around to the driver’s side. That would be Manny. 

He unlocked the car, got in and started it, then beeped for Tito, a signal that all was okay. It was difficult to stay focused with the car running, but I concentrated on Tito and the men coming to the car with him. If he did his normal routine, he’d get in, and his men would shut the door behind him. That gave me about a ten-second window. I drew my gun, waiting. The footsteps drew closer. I saw Tito’s brown Ferragamo shoes on the sidewalk. 

When the door opened, I rolled out, jumped up, opened the door and got inside, pointing the gun at Tito’s head. “Don’t try anything,” I said, then, “Manny, lock the doors.” 

The guys outside drew their guns, but mine was pointed at Tito; besides, now that the doors were locked it was done with. The windows were bullet-proof. “Move, Manny. Now.”

“Where to?” Manny asked. He kept his head straight ahead, but his eyes darted back and forth to the mirror. 

“Just move.” I drew my second gun, the one I’d used on Muck.

“You’re dead!” Tito screamed, and when he did, I popped him with a tranquilizer dart.

“What the hell?” Manny said. “You kill him, Nicky?”

“Just put him out. Take the first right. Be quick. If you try anything, you’re dead. If we get caught, you’re dead.”

“We’re not getting caught. I been doing this too long.” 

“I know that.”

Manny pulled out with some speed, but not screeching-tires type speed. I looked at the obvious FBI car on the corner. It showed no signs of moving. 

“Take a right at the second corner, then a quick left.” I checked behind us a few times. I think we took them by surprise. 

After half a dozen blocks, I had Manny take another right and an immediate left, running a red light in the process. I watched closely. Nothing. No tails. 

“Sorry what they did to Gina.”

I looked at Manny through the mirror. “You have anything to do with it?”

“Coordinating.”

“Give any orders?”

“Passed them along, but I told Tito to let Gina go. I knew the kid.”

“That true? About you being sorry?”

He nodded. “I liked her. She had balls.”

I laughed. Thought about how she would stand up to anyone. “Yeah, she did.” I was quiet for a minute. “I don’t want to kill you. Do I have to?”

“They won’t get a word out of me.” He stared at me through the mirror.

“You talk, and I’ll find you. It’ll be worse than Johnny Muck.”

Manny held up his right hand, as if swearing an oath. “I don’t even know you.”

“Okay, then. Do as I say, and you’ll be safe.”

I told Manny to go to Red Hook, where I had a car stashed. When I was convinced we had no tails, I had him pull over by an old warehouse by where I parked the car. “Give me your cell phone and your piece.” As he handed them over, I got out. “Keys, too. Now put Tito in my car.”

He handed me the keys, got Tito out, and set him in the back seat of my car. “That all, Nicky?” He said it with a pleading voice. He probably thought I was gonna pop him. 

“Manny, look at me,” I said, and when he did, I stared him down hard. “I wasn’t screwing with you earlier. You say anything, and I’ll find you. Hear me?”

“You lettin’ me go?”

“I said I would.” As I opened the door to get in, I told him, “I’d bail out if I were you. But if you don’t, and if the other bosses get an idea to come after me, tell them I’m through with it. This was between me and Tito.”

“Hey, Nicky. Thanks.”

I nodded, got in the car and drove off. Valley Stream wasn’t far away, but when you had a body in the back seat, it was. I kept the tranquilizer gun handy in case I needed to pop Tito again, but if traffic wasn’t bad, I’d get there before he woke up. “Sleep well, Tito. I’ve got some nice surprises for you.”