Page 70 of Family Ties and Alibis

Pete leaned in. “I see Luigi over by the main doors.”

“I’m sure Paulie and Tony are also close by.”

The wait continued. Finally, a familiar figure appeared. “Tommy Castellini,” Carlita said in a low voice. “Ione is meeting with Tommy.”

Wearing a suit and tie, Vinnie’s brother-in-law ambled over to her.

Ione greeted him, nervously glancing over her shoulder.

Carlita turned the volume up on the earpiece. “What are you doing here?”

“He knows,” Ione said.

“Knows what?”

“What happened to Sal, how you took him out. He has my name.”

Tommy’s eyes narrowed. “How did he get your name?”

“I tripped on the frickin’ dumpster during Garlucci’s attack. Wiley asked me if I was okay. I thought he was knocked out cold, but I guess not.”

“You idiot,” Tommy hissed. “Vinnie could have followed you here.” He placed a light hand on her elbow, guiding her toward the employee-only corridor. They stepped around the corner and out of sight.

Carlita clutched Pete’s arm. “It’s Tommy. Ione told him Vinnie knows what happened to Sal. He called her an idiot and took her to the back.”

“There’s not much we can do but wait.” Pete removed the high-tech glasses. “These are pretty slick.”

“Don’t break them. Elvira will charge us an arm and a leg to replace them,” Carlita joked.

Pete pointed to his ear. “Are you hearing anything?”

“Nothing other than muffled voices.”

Carlita’s phone rang. It was Mercedes.

“Hey. What’s going on?”

“Tommy Castellini met with Ione. She told him Vinnie knew what happened to Sal, and he remembered hearing her name during his attack. He called her an idiot and hauled her off to his office.”

Mercedes whistled loudly. “Vinnie is gonna head over to Royal Flush.”

“What’s his plan?”

“To ask her why she ran right over to Royal Flush after he confronted her.”

“In front of Tommy?” Pete whispered in a loud voice.

“I’m thinkin’ he’ll wait for her outside,” Carlita said. “Seeing how he’s already caught her off guard and she’s scrambling, now is the time for him to make his move, to apply more pressure. Hopefully, she’ll crack.”

“Unless she helped Tommy kill Sal,” Pete said. “I doubt she’ll confess to murder.”

“True.” Mercedes’ voice grew faint. “I’m gonna give Vinnie a heads-up, let him know what you overheard.”

“I planned to call him, but since you’re there, you can tell him what we know.”

The call ended, and the waiting game continued. Customers came and went.

Tommy Castellini reappeared, looking as if he was heading in their direction.