Page 84 of Perfect Vengeance

“Who’s asking?” The only people who had his number were FBI personnel and those he knew and trusted, which was a very small circle.

A pause. Sounds of motor vehicles and jet engines came through the phone. “My name is Danny Viggiani. I hear you’re looking for me.”

Jack’s heart thumped faster. This was the witness he’d never expected to hear from—the one who might have witnessed Jim Spencer’s murder. He’d given Meat permission to give Viggiani his phone number if the guy ever surfaced and was willing to talk. Neither of which he actually expected to happen.

He rolled off Gina and sat on the edge of the bed. She rose up on one elbow, watching him with concern.

Another roar through the phone told him the guy was at an airport. “Where are you?”

“JFK, but not for long. I can’t afford to stay out in the open. As soon as Tino gets word I’m back in the US, he’ll come looking for me.”

That jibed with Jack’s information. On Tino’s orders, Viggiani had been directed to Sicily and to stay there until the heat over Jim’s murder died down. Apparently, Tino didn’t trust his own men not to dime him out. With good reason.

“What was Jim Spencer wearing when he died?” He had to be sure this guy wasn’t lying. He wouldn’t be the first Mafia witness to perjure himself in exchange for a pass on other crimes. Like aiding and abetting the cold-blooded murder of a federal agent by dumping the body in a field. Jack’s information was that Viggiani and Psycho Fiori not only witnessed the murder but followed Tino’s orders to make Jim’s body disappear.

“Black pants and a blue polo shirt.”

He gripped the phone tighter. Very few people knew what Jim had been wearing that day, and his clothes had never been returned to his wife. No photos were ever released, nor would they be. The file was still classified.

Adrenaline pumped harder through Jack’s veins. His gut told him Viggiani was telling the truth, but he had to be sure. “What else can you tell me about the body?”

“Tino cut off the guy’s finger, wedding ring and all. Had a green stone in the ring. The sick bastard keeps it in the safe at his shore house. I’ve seen it there myself.”

Bingo. Viggiani just confirmed what Gina had seen. The guy was legitimate. His testimony and a search warrant at Tino’s shore house would get him the PC he needed to arrest Tino for murdering a federal agent. He had to act fast before Tino emptied out the safe. He also had to grab this witness before he disappeared in the wind. Or Tino killed him.

Viggiani’s return to the states without sanction would be a red flag that he was about to throw Tino under the bus. According to Meat, Tino trusted Psycho Fiori with his life but wasn’t certain about Viggiani’s loyalties.

“Stay at the airport,” Jack ordered, reaching for his pants. “Go back inside the terminal, get to a restaurant, and stay put. I’ll call you when I get there.” He ended the call, shoving his legs into his pants and searching for his socks.

Gina sat up, clutching the sheet to her breasts. “Is everything all right?”

“Better than all right.” Everything was kick-ass. By the end of the day, Tino Falzone would be behind bars.

He tugged his shirt over his head, then sat on the bed again to phone Smitty before calling SAC Morrison. In addition to the op on Saturday, he needed Smitty’s help scooping up Viggiani and finding a safe place to stash the guy.

She touched his arm as he cued up Smitty’s number. No sooner did he drop a quick kiss on her lips than his partner answered.

“You on your way in?” Smitty asked. “I’ve got bad news and some seriously interesting news. Which do you want first?”

Jack stiffened. “Give me the bad news first.”

“Your clownfish—John Wayne—died yesterday.”

Some of the adrenaline bled from his veins. Ten years was a long time for a clownfish to live in captivity, but he’d miss the little guy.

“Where is he?” Jack asked.

“I wrapped him up and put him in the freezer. In case you want to give him a proper burial. ASAC Standish wanted me to flush him down the toilet, but I convinced him not to.”

“Thanks, man.” If Standish so much as touched John Wayne, he’d ram his head down the toilet.

His chest felt tight. For chrissake, it’s just a fish. He’d known it was coming, but now Annie Oakley was alone. When things died down, he’d have to get her a new companion.

“What’s the seriously interesting news?” He cradled the phone between his chin and shoulder, tugging on his socks.

“Remember that in-depth background check you ordered on Gina Perot because her records only went back twelve years?”

He’d been about to pull on his last sock but froze. He glanced at Gina, who still watched him silently. “Yeah?”