Page 74 of Family Ties and Alibis

“I’m guessing the cops are after Tommy Castellini,” Luigi said.

“Ione spilled the beans. The recording device worked like a charm. When she found out we had her on audio admitting to her part and implicating Tommy, she sang like a canary.”

“Was he behind your attack?”

“Not directly, but indirectly,” Vinnie said. “I’m struggling to wrap my head around the fact that my brother-in-law was trying to take me out.”

“Don’t think for a second Vito Castellini would not have done the same if he had a reason to,” Luigi said. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree.”

“Nope.”

“Ma’s been blowing up my phone, wanting to make sure everyone is all right.”

“Did you tell her it was Tommy?”

“Yeah. To be honest, she didn’t sound surprised,” Tony said.

Chapter 29

“What’s this?” Carlita slid the gift box toward Pete.

“Your pre-retirement gift,” Vinnie said.

“After we found out you and Pete picked an official date, all us kids started brainstorming to find the perfect gift,” Tony said. “Don’t get too excited. It’s not much.”

“After Tommy’s arrest and how you two seemed to have things figured out about his involvement, we decided it was fitting,” Mercedes said.

“Speaking of Tommy’s arrest,” Shelby said. “How is Brittney taking it?”

Vinnie tipped his hand back and forth. “At first she was shocked and then she got ticked. Brittney is refusing to visit him in jail.”

“What about Francesca?” Paulie asked. “Tommy being her only son and all.”

“It’s a mess.” Vinnie sucked in a breath. “She had a major meltdown and claims she’s no longer able to live on her own in her fragile mental state.”

Mercedes clamped her hand over her mouth. “Does this mean…”

“She’s staying under our roof for the foreseeable future.”

“I’m sorry, Son.” Carlita patted his arm. “Thank God Ione was willing to testify against him and had proof Tommy was behind Sal’s death.”

“Tommy’s plan was to cause trouble at the other casinos, thinking it would help drive customers away. Sal was trying to make money but ended up getting banned instead. After he and Tommy argued, Sal threatened to rat him out so he killed him.”

“But before Tommy did, Sal told him Ione knew,” Gina said. “Nothing like putting a target on your girlfriend’s back.”

“Ione wasted no time in pledging her allegiance to Tommy. Meanwhile, she’s covering her butt by recording their conversations, implicating him and clearing her name, at least as far as Sal’s death was concerned.”

“What about the guy who was with Ione when you were attacked?” Carlita asked.

“Wiley. The police picked him up. He admitted to everything, claiming he committed the assault under duress,” Vinnie said.

“Now that Tommy is out of the picture, who will run the Royal Flush Casino?”

“We have an assistant manager who took over, but it looks like I’m gonna be in charge of both Royal Flush and Treasure Cove, at least for the time being.”

“Do you think Francesca…” Carlita’s voice faded.

“Knew what Tommy was up to?” Vinnie finished her sentence. “I’ve wondered the same thing myself. Tommy swears up and down that his mother wasn’t involved. I’ve been going over different scenarios about how Sal got my private cell phone number and why I was the last person he called before his death.”