Robin Cook - Critical

Even calmer after the blow, he opened his phone. With trembling fingers, he punched in Vinnie's private cell phone number. It was the phone Vinnie carried with him night and day.

"Tell me you are calling me with some good news for a change," Vinnie said, in the overly calm voice Michael feared. Michael remembered a time that Vinnie had used that very same voice when he dismissed a guy. Then, as soon as the fellow was out of sight, Vinnie merely nodded to Franco, who also left. And that was the end of the guy, who was never seen again.

"I got to talk to you," Michael said, with as much equanimity as he could muster.

"Tonight?" Vinnie questioned serenely. In the background, Michael could hear festive chatter and the sound of Frank Sinatra crooning, a sure indication that Vinnie was still at the Neapolitan.

"The sooner, the better," Michael said. "Sorry to bother you, and I wouldn't have done so it if wasn't important."

"Well, suit yourself, Mikey but don't dillydally. The later it gets, the less tolerant I am for screwups, if that's what you are coming to tell me."

Michael put himself in high gear. He dashed back to the club, which was all but empty, save for his two friends and the three Jersey girls, since it didn't start to rock until after eleven. He told them he had an important meeting but that he'd be back. He then dashed down the fire-escape stairs that were used as the entrance to the club, jumped in his Mercedes parked across the street, and motored off. Since he was so far downtown, he took the Williamsburg Bridge and then the expressway all the way to 108th Street in Corona. In just slightly more than twenty minutes, he had the Neapolitan in sight.

Michael had calmed down significantly during the short drive. He'd even pondered what plan B might be if Vinnie simply refused to help, as he'd done that morning. Michael couldn't come up with any likely alternatives, meaning he had to convince Vinnie that he had to help. Such reasoning may have been well and good while Michael had been in the car, but now that he was crossing the street and about to confront Vinnie, his fears came back with a vengeance.

Just outside the door, he stopped, trying to think up an appropriate intro. Vaguely, he thought he'd try to appeal to Vinnie's vanity, which was at least a big target. With that thought in mind, Michael went through the door and slipped through the curtain.

The restaurant was filled with birthday party revelers. The ceiling was clogged with balloons, and streamers were everywhere. The tiny dance floor was littered with confetti, and a large banner hung behind the bar with the words Happy Birthday Victorio. Vinnie was at the same table as he was in the afternoon, with Carol at his side. Michael did not recognize his other friends. Frank Sinatra was still droning away.

When Michael looked at Vinnie, he did a minor double take. He couldn't help but be buoyed. Vinnie was laughing so hard his eyes were apparently tearing. Michael stayed rooted where he was in hopes of catching Vinnie's eye, but after five minutes it was apparent it wasn't going to happen. With reluctance, Michael started off in Vinnie's direction. He recognized a few people, but most everybody else was a stranger. Michael couldn't help but notice that neither Franco nor Angelo seemed to be present, although he did see Freddie and Richie at the bar.

As he neared the table, he finally caught Vinnie's eye, and he was pleased that Vinnie's smile did not falter. Vinnie introduced everyone, and Michael dutifully shook hands around the table. Then Vinnie excused himself, waved for Michael to follow, and walked deeper into the restaurant, waving at some of the guests and shaking hands with others. They then walked quickly through the kitchen, which was in a mild panic to get out the entrees. In the far back of the kitchen was a door to an office. Vinnie went through without hesitation. Paolo Salvato, the owner, looked up from his desk in surprise.

"Paolo, my friend," Vinnie intoned. "Would it be an imposition if we used your office for a few moments?"

Paolo stood up. "Not at all." He hustled out from behind the desk and disappeared into the kitchen, pulling the office door closed in the process.

"Okay, Mikey," Vinnie said, turning to Michael. "What's this new problem that couldn't wait until morning?"

Michael started by saying it was the kind of problem that only Vinnie could deal with. That was the attempt at appeasing Vinnie's ego. Then Michael hurriedly outlined what Angela had told him, namely that there was a woman doctor – a medical examiner, to be precise – who had suddenly taken it upon herself to solve the problem of the bacteria that had been causing the problems at the Angels hospitals. Michael added that this was a very unfortunate development, in that this doctor could go to the media and the IPO would be dead. He finished by saying that someone uniquely persuasive had to talk with her and convince her it was in her interest to cease and desist.

To Michael's relief, Vinnie didn't respond negatively, nor did his expression change while Michael had run through his quick summary. But when Michael was through, in the most unexpected manner, Vinnie cocked his head to the side and with an impenetrably wry smile asked, "By any chance, is the doctor's name Laurie Montgomery?"

"It is," Michael replied with amazement and not a little confusion.

"Oh, what a tragedy," Vinnie said, clapping his hands in delight.

"Do you know this individual?"

"Oh, yes," Vinnie said calmly. "Miss Montgomery and I have a history. She caused me one hell of a blowup with my wife over her brother's funeral home and also got me indicted and thrown in prison for two years. I'd say that means we know each other. But do you know who has had even more trouble than I have had with this bitch?"

"I can't guess," Michael said. He was astounded and thankful at this unexpected but fortuitous situation.

"Angelo! Fifteen years ago, she was responsible for his face getting so badly burned he almost died."

Vinnie fumbled in the side pocket of his jacket and tried to pull out his cell phone. In his haste, the phone seemed to resist. When he finally got it free, he quickly made a call. Franco answered. Vinnie put the phone on speaker.

"How are you two guys doing? Enjoying the cruise?"

"We're having a ball," Franco said. "The first part of the evening was a pain in the balls, but the second part has made up for it. The fish have been fed."

"Terrific," Vinnie said. "Is Angelo there?"

"He's right here."

"Put him on."

Angelo's unique voice came through the phone's speaker. Since he could barely oppose his lips, his b's, d's, m's, and p's had a distinctive muted quality.

"Angelo," Vinnie said. "What if I were to tell you that Dr. Laurie Montgomery… You remember her, don't you?"

Instead of answering, Angelo merely laughed in a decisively mordant fashion.

"What if I were to tell you she is endangering an important deal of ours and that you and Franco need to talk some sense into her like you boys did yesterday with Mr. Yang."

Angelo laughed again, but this time with obvious glee. "I'd tell you that you wouldn't even have to pay me. I'd do it for free, provided I could do it my way."

"Guess what? Frankie boy just sang that song a few minutes ago here at the Neapolitan. It appears that you're going to get your wish."

Vinnie disconnected. He put his arm around Michael's shoulder and guided him back through the kitchen. "Seems that this is your lucky day, too. The eight-K problem has been put to bed, and you can stop worrying about Laurie Montgomery. Not bad for a night's work."

Michael merely nodded that he'd heard. He was speechless. Twenty minutes later, after having a glass of wine at Vinnie's table, he sat in his car, still marveling at the unpredictability of life.