MURDER TAKES TIME

Chapter 72

Rule Number Five―Murder Is A Promise

Current Day 

Frankie dialed Paulie’s number at home, got the answering machine, then dialed the cell. “Suit, call me if you get this. It’s Bugs.”

Mazzetti lit another smoke and turned up the radio. “Donovan, I say we let this guy get Tito. Then maybe he goes underground, and we don’t ever hear from him again.”

“You probably would do that.”

“I’d do it in a heartbeat. What did Tito Martelli ever do for this world but suck it dry?” He dragged hard on his cigarette then changed the radio station. “I wouldn’t tell you if we were sitting next to this rat guy at the light.”

“When are you retiring?” Frankie asked.

“Not soon enough.”

“Be better for the NYPD if you did. They ought to do one of those forced retirement deals and get you off the streets.”

“You’re the one who said it, Donovan. Tito killed the guy’s wife. As far as I’m concerned, screw Tito. This is revenge, pure and simple.”

“The Feds are in on it now, and they want Tito alive.”

“Screw them, too.”

“So I guess I’m alone on this one, huh, Lou?”

“I got your back in a jam, but don’t go finding trouble. Let’s go about our business and see if it finds us.”

“Lou, this guy might be after me. He already killed Tony—his best friend. Maybe Paulie.”

Mazzetti shook his head. “Don’t think so. Can’t see it.”

“We’ll see what Manny has to say about it. They’ve got him at headquarters.”

#

Frankie looked through the one-way glass at Manny, sitting there for more than three hours now. He turned to Morreau. “He hasn’t lawyered up?”

“Never asked once. But he won’t say shit.”

“Let me try him.”

“It’s your case.”

Frankie went in and took a seat across from Manny. He extended his hand to shake. “I don’t think we ever met formally, but I’m—”

“Bugs Donovan. Yeah, I know.” Manny shook hands then clasped them in front of him again.

“What happened, Manny? Where’s Tito?”

“You really care, or is this just for the press?”

“I’m working a case. Whoever took Tito has killed six people so far. Maybe more.”

“Wish I could help, but I never got a look at him.”

“Never? Not when he jumped in your car? Or when you drove him all the way to Red Hook? Or when he took Tito with him into another car?”

Manny shook his head. “Kept behind me the whole time. Then he took my phone, my keys, and my licensed gun, and took off.”

“In what kind of car?”

Manny laughed. “You know, Bugs, I was never good at knowing cars. If it’s not a Caddie or a Lincoln, I don’t know what it is.”

A smile popped on Frankie’s face. “Me, neither. How about colors, though? You any good with colors? Was this car blue, green, white?”