Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“What? You have keys for the whole city?” I asked, shaking my head at him.
“It’s impressive how little security they use in these Boardwalk shops,” he said, grabbing a duckling that had fallen on the ground, turning it around, then shoving it in one of the organizers attached to the wall. “Any progress last night?”
“Yeah. I went to the piano lounge and made contact with Frank. Got myself invited to a private poker party. But more than that, I think I might have come across someone on the inside we can use to get more information.”
“Who’s that?”
“The lounge singer.”
“Monroe something,” Remo said. I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew the name of everyone who worked there.
“London.”
“Langston. London must be her stage name.”
“Monroe is her real name, though?”
“As far as I can tell, yeah. I don’t have much on her. Why do you think she’s someone we should tap?”
“Frank treats her like his little pet. And she very clearly isn’t into it. He gets handsy. He wants more. She can get close.”
“Safely? Not having her rape or murder on my conscience.”
“She handles him well. Keeps him on the hook without letting him think he can have anything. I didn’t get a chance to really talk to her. But I did slip her a note asking her to meet me today. Figure I can feel her out. But if I think she’s an asset, do I have permission to rope her into this?”
“Okay. But tell her as little as possible for the time being. Until we know if we can trust her or not.”
“Got it.”
“Did you learn anything at the poker game?”
“He’s friends with a bunch of dicks. Well, one or two were alright. The others—”
“The one with the mustache?” he asked.
“Yeah, he was there.”
“He owns one of the sleep-and-fuck motels around here. Officially.”
“Unofficially?”
“He’s got a deal with a local pimp to use the rooms for the Johns to have their trysts.”
“Classy. Is he dangerous?”
“Depends on who you are. He thinks he’s some big, bad. But he’s never been in a fight in his life. But if you’re a woman… that’s a different story. He had two sexual assault cases thrown out. I would imagine it’s because of intimidation. And there have been rumors for a long time that he roughs up the working girls.”
“Sounds like someone who should slip, whack his head on the pier, and fall over.”
“Trust me, he’s in my plans. But I can’t be making too many waves with the smaller players or it will put the bigger ones on watch. What time are you meeting the girl?”
“Three. Then I’m thinking of going back to the casino tonight to hit a few tables. See if Frank approaches me again.”
“Good.”
“How’s Dom?”
“Up thirty grand,” Remo said, shaking his head. “Told ‘em he’s gotta start losing tonight. But I think he’s made some contacts around the casino. Which is good. I’m heading out first. Give it a few then finish your run.”
With that, he turned and made his way out of the small square building.
I waited a few then made my way back out, making a show of stretching as I walked back onto the Boardwalk.
“Get yourself some lunch, sweetheart,” Remo’s voice reached me as I started to walk again. Glancing over, I saw him handing cash to an older woman with stringy gray hair pushing a shopping cart loaded down with random shit she’d likely collected walking around town.
He’d be a good boss.
I would be glad to help him take over this town.
I finished my run and made my way back to the hotel.
Then there was Domenico in his own workout gear, likely coming up from the gym.
“Making any progress?” I asked when the doors slid closed.
“Making connections. But I gotta start losing or that shark of a pit boss is gonna wanna have a private conversation with me. You?”
“Got a date this afternoon with a lounge singer who might be an in with Frank.”
He nodded at that.
“What do you think of Remo?”
“I think he’s gonna be a good boss. Seems to have a good handle on the town. Has a heart. Haven’t seen the hard, though.”
To that, Dom nodded. Like he’d been thinking the same thing.
“Guess we’ll see,” he said as the doors slid open and we walked off in different directions.
I went into my room, showered, shaved, and got dressed before heading out.
As I showed up at the café, there was a damn flip-flopping sensation in my gut.
It took an embarrassingly long time to recognize it as nervousness.
I was fucking nervous.
Like a kid on prom night.
I stood out front of the building, heartbeat fluttering, thinking she wasn’t going to show up.
Until a car pulled up right out front.
Then there she was.
CHAPTER SIX
Roe
I fretted over my outfit for an embarrassingly long time for someone who usually prided herself on knowing exactly what to wear for any function. It was just something that came along with being in and around the fashion industry. You picked up on the dressing rules.