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Carlita spun around and ran out of the building. Move, move, move. She resisted the urge to look back. Instead, she jogged across the street, praying the man was following her.
Moving at a rapid pace, she stepped into her building.
Ziffra, a look of pure fury etched on his face, and breathing heavily, appeared. She lingered long enough to make sure he saw her and slipped around the corner.
“You have no proof I killed Enzo.”
“Costanza, who is in hiding for reasons of his own, claims otherwise,” Carlita said. “We have proof.”
“Show me,” he demanded. “Stop with the games. Otherwise, I’m going to call the police myself.”
Carlita stepped back into view. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glint and a slight movement. “Let’s go back to the beginning when my husband, Vinnie, purchased this property. You came over here to find out what was going on. Vinnie told you he planned to open a business and loan money himself, which would put you in direct competition, maybe even put you out of business.”
She continued. “You did some digging around and discovered he planned to do just that. You firebombed this place to stop him. Unfortunately, Vinnie died before he could prove it was you.”
“You presented a nice fairytale lady,” Ziffra smirked. “Try selling it to someone else.”
Carlita ignored him. “Fast forward to a few days ago. Mr. Enzo and Mr. Costanza show up. Again, you’re protecting your investment, so you come over here to see what’s up. You get in their faces, argue. Costanza and Enzo even mention they might follow through with Vinnie’s plan to open a legit business. You finally leave. Costanza takes off to run an errand. You come back here, argue with Enzo a second time and then shoot him. For good measure, you break a few of his bones.”
“Prove it,” Ziffra taunted. “You got nothing on me, lady. You’re grasping at straws.”
Vinnie stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, and pointed it directly at Ziffra. “Is she? Maybe it’s time for a confession.”
Ziffra made a choking sound and stumbled back.
“This is my son, Vinnie,” Carlita said. “He’s here to help convince you to tell the truth.”
“You can’t shoot me.” Ziffra nervously cleared his throat. “Two bodies in the same building in one week? The cops are gonna throw you in jail.”
“You’re right. Maybe we don’t want to shoot you. We have other ways to make you talk.”
In the blink of an eye, Luigi came out of nowhere. He lunged at Ziffra and shoved him to the ground. “Got it.” He grabbed the man’s gun and slid it across the floor. Not releasing his grip, he finished frisking him. “He’s clean.”
Tony appeared. In a single swift move, he grabbed hold of Ziffra’s arm and yanked him to his feet.
“How many people you got ganging up on me?” he huffed.
“Two of my sons and a former mobster,” Carlita said.
“Who thoroughly enjoys coercing confessions from the guilty party.” Luigi began cracking his knuckles.
Carlita thought for a second Ziffra was going to pass out. Instead, he stood his ground, summoning up his best poker face. “I have nothing to hide and nothing to say.”
“Meaning you have no idea how this building got firebombed?” Carlita arched a brow. “You’re lying.”
Luigi punched him in the gut.
“Oof.” He doubled over, the wind knocked out of him from the force of the blow.
Carlita winced when Luigi landed the second blow.
“Okay. Okay,” he gasped. “I might’ve tossed a couple of explosives into the building. It was a dump before your husband ever bought the place. It wasn’t much of a downgrade.”
“What about Enzo? Did you kill Enzo?” Vinnie demanded.
“No. I…”
Luigi doubled up his fist, preparing for a third powerful blow, this one to Ziffra’s face.
