Sue Grafton - V is for Vengeance

She hesitated. “Lou Elle usually handles travel.”

“And now you do. Think you can manage it?”

“Yes, sir.”

He leaned down and pulled over the notepad where she recorded phone calls. He preferred a different system, one with automatic carbons so the top slip could be torn off and left on his desk. He jotted two names and a series of numbers on the lined page and pushed it back to her.

She glanced down. “Mrs. Vogelsang?”

“You have an opinion, you can keep it to yourself.”

“Won’t I need her birth date and passport number?”

He pointed. “What do you think that is?”

“Oh, sorry. What airline?”

“Surprise me. I want the itinerary in hand by the end of the day. Also, call the police department and ask to speak to Sergeant Detective Priddy. That’s P-R-I-D-D-Y. Set up a meeting here as soon as possible. Within the hour if he can make it.”

He crossed to the door and pushed into the inner corridor without looking back, but he could picture her dismay. What would she do with Len Priddy in the office? Admit she was in bed with a vice cop? Pretend she didn’t know the guy?

He stopped in Lou Elle’s office and found her tapping on her computer keys, her glasses low on her nose.

“Sorry to interrupt. I’ve asked Abbie to book some airline tickets. I don’t want you to think she’s treading on your turf.”

“Appreciate the information. Anything else?”

“That’s what I like about you. All business.”

“That’s what you pay me for.”

“Who do we know at St. Terry’s?”

“Medical records or administration?”

“You tell me. I need everything they got on these two.” Again, he jotted information on a scratch pad, tore off the leaf, and passed it to her. He continued writing while Lou Elle read the note he’d given her. “Pierpont? That’s a good one.”

“I didn’t name the guy. His mother did. Set up an account in his name. A hundred grand for starters. We’ll see how it goes from there. You make sure he’s taken care of regardless.”

Her gaze came up to his. “Regardless of what?”

“Life’s a crapshoot. You never know what’s coming down the pike.”

“Is this deductible?”

He smiled. “Good question. Talk to Saul and see if he can make it work,” he said. “As long as you’re at it, there’s something else you need to set up. A little switcheroo.” He handed her the second piece of scratch paper.

She glanced at it. “Ooo, for me?”

“I thought you and your hubby could use the time away.”

She folded the note in half and slipped it under her desk calendar. “Thanks. Very sporting of you. I’ll let Saul know about the rest of it since it’s his department.”

He said, “Everything is Saul’s department.”

“Understood.”

He spent the rest of the morning taking care of odds and ends. When Abbie buzzed him at noon, he’d almost forgotten what he wanted until she told him Sergeant Priddy was in the lobby. “Give me a few minutes and then bring him in. It won’t hurt him to cool his heels.”

“Would you like coffee?”

“Why not? Make the guy feel welcome.”

He took his finger off the intercom. No reason to chafe about Abbie’s deception. People did you in. People turned on you in a heartbeat. Pop always told him it was like that. His advice was to play the hand you’re dealt. No point wishing things were different just because the truth cut you as clean as a razor blade.

He got up from his desk and crossed to the wall safe, ran the combination, and opened it. He put his Sig Sauer in the inner pocket of his sport coat. When he sat down again, he buzzed Abbie and told her she could bring Priddy in. A few minutes passed before the two arrived. If he’d had a surveillance camera in the lobby, he might have been entertained by their shenanigans.

She tapped on his door and as she opened it, he reached forward and pressed a button on the answering machine. She and Priddy had apparently decided to play it cool. She kept her expression bland and indifferent, and Len made a point of ignoring her. Dante got up and shook Len’s hand, inviting him to take a seat. He’d never liked the guy’s looks. Something smarmy going on. His hair was a slick gray, combed back from his face, which was big and square. His skin was crepey, with an unbecoming puffiness along his jaw. He had bags under his eyes and his upper lids sagged until it was a marvel he could see. He couldn’t imagine what a gorgeous girl like Abbie was doing with a guy like him. Maybe she needed a sugar daddy and he got off being sexually serviced by someone half his age.

Dante said, “Sergeant Detective Priddy, it’s nice to see you again. It’s been a while.”

“You seem to be holding your own,” Len said.

“I was until recently.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, ‘Oh.’ Let’s cut to the chase here. My brother’s been seen in conversation with you. I’ve heard it from more than one source and it doesn’t sit well.”

Len continued to look at him. Dante could see that he was reluctant to confirm the claim and too smart to deny it. Len said, “I’m not sure this is a conversation we should be having.”

“Why not? The place isn’t bugged. I have it swept every other day,” Dante said, and went on: “I imagine you’ve come into all manner of information about how I run my business. Not that Cappi’s a reliable source.”

“I don’t think that warrants comment. You know your brother better than I do.”

“Here’s something he hasn’t been told and therefore hasn’t had the opportunity to pass along. I’m closing up shop. I’ve been meaning to get out for years, but it was never the right time.”

Len smiled. “You’re closing up shop because you’re under indictment and you know you’re going to jail.”

“I wasn’t aware we were discussing my motivation,” Dante said. “I admit my retirement is self-serving, but keep this in mind: I’m a good businessman. I believe in sound financial practices, the same as a bank. I’ve also kept the violence to a minimum and what there was of it was Cappi’s doing.”

“You’ve never ordered a hit,” Len said facetiously.

“No, I have not. Killing makes for bad public relations. Not that Cappi would agree. He can hardly wait to step into my shoes. Once that happens, you got a real problem on your hands.”

“I think I can deal with it.”

“The deal is the issue we’re here to discuss. He might be willing to slip you your share, but he won’t be as generous as I’ve been. You’d be wise to broker an agreement up front and make sure it’s on your terms, not his.”

“Is that what this meeting’s about? Unsolicited advice from a fucking gangster?”

“I don’t think of myself as a gangster. The term offends me. I’ve never been convicted of a crime.”

“You will be.”

“You’re entitled to feel smug because you win either way. I’m out, he’s in, it’s all the same to you. You think you’ve got your hands full with me, wait until Cappi’s in the driver’s seat. He’ll turn this town on its ear.”

“So why don’t you do us all a favor and get rid of him?” Len said.

Dante smiled. “Why don’t you? I’ve got enough problems as it is without adding murder to the list.”

“You only have one problem, buddy. We are taking you down.”

“Oh, please. How long has this investigation been going on? Two years, three? You’re playing patty-cake with the FBI and who else? DEA? ATF? All government grunts, a bunch of jack-offs. I already told you I’m out of here. Cappi’s the one you should worry about. Take him out and the business is all yours.”

Len got up. “Meeting’s over. Good-bye and good luck.”