The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (70 page)

It was nearly
two o’clock when the cab driver pulled up in front of the courthouse on Pearl Street. Gio tipped the driver generously and got out of the cab. He took the steps two at a time to reach the front doors and became frustrated when he saw the line to get through the security checkpoint. He might miss the whole damn thing, and have to head over to Rikers to pick her up after he paid her bail.

But again, he got lucky. He didn’t have to wait long. He saw Vinny on the other side, and when he recognized Gio he raised his eyebrows at him and with a nod of his head indicated that he could bypass the line. He grabbed one of the plastic bins and dumped his wallet, cell phone, and keys inside which Vinnie grabbed and placed on the conveyor belt ahead of the half a dozen others waiting for their turn.

“It’s nice to see you man, although I wish it was under better circumstances.” Vinnie waved him through the metal detectors, then gave him a brief hug. Vinny was another Rosedale boy who had gone into the police force. Although over ten years older, he had younger brothers who Gio had hung around with. He, too, knew Lisa and her family.

“Thanks man. I really appreciate you getting that message to Lisa and helping me out over here.” He indicated getting him through security easily as he began to follow him towards the courtrooms.

“No worries. But like I said, you owe me a beer. I really want to catch up with you guys and hear what you’ve all been up to. I’m sure Sal and Rocco would like to tag along, they sure as heck miss you.”

“Absolutely. I’d love to see them.”

“I’ll walk you down, but then I need to get back to the front. You just might catch the tail end of the proceedings.”

Gio shrugged his shoulders hoping, but not really feeling it. It was highly unlikely that they would make it to her courtroom in time. He followed behind Vinnie as he weaved his way through the people standing idly and chatting with other courthouse personnel and legal professionals.

They passed by the bank of elevators and continued to weave their way through the crowd. They went past two hallways and then took the third. This hallway contained the courtrooms that dealt with federal crimes. Attempted murder was definitely a federal crime.

This hallway was slightly narrower and the floors were now wood instead of marble. They passed courtroom after courtroom, some larger than others. The hallway was long and getting darker in this older section of the building. Lights sconces illuminated the paneled walls. Everything shone brightly but the only natural light came from the massive bank of windows all the way at the end of the corridor that faced Worth Street.

And they were nearly there. Her hearing must be in the very last courtroom, Gio thought.

When they got there, Vinny reached for the double doors while nodding at the guard who stood sentry. Vinnie quickly let the guard know that Gio was the bondsman. And just like Gio thought, the court was beginning to empty once he got his first foot inside the door. He just caught a flash of ginger hair, being led out of one of the doors in the back of the room. He saw two attorneys standing up front conversing with the bailiff. He has sure one of them had to be Lisa’s attorney, and the other the prosecutor, but he didn’t recognize either one.

“Sorry man. I tried.” Vinnie gave him a sheepish grin, and held out his hand for Gio to proceed ahead of him. Gio nodded, and then made his way up to the front skirting around the spectators from the galley who were leaving now that this hearing had been concluded. Gio recognized some of the more prestigious reporters. And one of them apparently recognized him.

He saw the smile spread across Cheyenne’s face. She tilted her head and whispered something to her photographer who looked up at him, startled. In the next instant a camera flashed in his eyes. Perfect, just fucking perfect, he thought. He wondered what headline would appear next to his photograph. He’d find out tomorrow. Cheyenne worked for
The World
and that paper wasn’t well known for its well-researched reporting. It was practically tabloid fodder. The stories were so sensational they bordered on yellow journalism.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Giovanni Marino. One of the prodigal sons of the city has returned.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Cheyenne. Still lining birdcages, I see.” He tried to pass around her, but she just stepped into his path.

“I actually work for
The Times
now.” Her smile was malicious.

“That’s a step up. Well I guess, you’ll have to play fair now. Won’t you?”

Her smile disappeared. And Gio couldn’t help but hear the snicker coming from her photographer. “Oh, I’ll play fair, alright,” she quipped, but as she passed him, she made sure to get in the last word. Dropping her voice down to a husky whisper, she pressed right up against him and got close. “You used to like to play, Gio.” Then she took off down the aisle on her way to write her story. Gio thought of that one night when he’d allowed her to take him back to her place. He’d been drinking then, and a lot of it was fuzzy.

“Smooth, Gio.” Vinnie stated behind him. “You’re in town ten minutes and you’ve already pissed off one of the biggest reporters in the city.”

“It’s what I do,” Gio chortled.

Vinnie snorted. He remembered Gio’s humor all too well. The man was never about impressing anyone unless he wanted to get in their pants. And he could be a downright charmer. His younger brothers had thought him a God. “Let me bring you to her attorney, then I got to skedaddle. Looks like they’re done up there.”

“Yeah, let’s go talk to him.”

The galley had cleared of most of the observers by then, and it seemed only those involved in the workings of the court remained in the room. The judge must have called a recess for the courtroom to become nearly this empty. Lisa’s attorney was well dressed, Gio noticed as he saw him pack up his briefcase at the defendants table. Across the aisle the prosecution was doing the same. The defense was dressed in Armani, so definitely not court appointed. Lisa must be doing well still, he thought.

Gio briefly though about Albert as he approached the defense table. He wasn’t surprised that Albert Rasmussen hadn’t shown up for this, or any of the other blue bloods in his clan. Too good for this type of thing, and his family definitely wouldn’t want to rub elbows with the lowly at such a proceeding. They’d show for a trial, that’s for sure. They’d take turns and provide plenty of damning evidence at testimony to seal Lisa’s fate, put the nails in her coffin one at a time. They’d also give the press perfectly crafted speeches and express shock and disappointment at all the right times. That’s who they were. But secretly, Gio had been hoping to run into Albert. He knew seeing him would have put a damper on his plans to destroy his soon to be ex-wife.

But alas, Albert hadn’t shown his face. He was probably waiting for just the right moment to make his appearance.

The defense attorney snapped his brief case shut and looked up just as Gio and Vinnie stepped beside his table.

“Hello. Can I help you?” he asked smoothly cocking his head to the side and lifting one eyebrow. He was young, Gio noticed, probably his own age. Tall too. He looked eye to eye on Gio, raising an eyebrow to remind Gio he was waiting for an answer. Gio assessed the man in front of him before speaking. His suit and manners spoke quality, but Go sensed something off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, yet.

“I’m Gio Marino.” He offered the attorney his hand which he clasped firmly.

“Ah, yes. I got your message. Sorry you were delayed. I should have recognized you. I took some classes with Blaze. I’m Alex Rodriguez, Lisa’s attorney.”

“Thank you,” Gio acknowledged the apology, but continued. He was hoping that the attorney had asked the judge for concessions, since the bondsmen was on the way. “I am ready to take care of the bond though.”

“Are you?” The attorney’s eyebrow arched.

Uh-oh. That did not bode well. Gio recognized the sign and the gleam in the attorney’s eyes. He just nodded preparing himself for the worse. “How much?”

“A million.”

Gio didn’t flinch. He didn’t ask questions either. He and his brothers would need to put up ten percent. He would make a call and have the money wired over. They’d need to make sure Lisa didn’t run either. He went to turn when a hand on his arm stopped him. It was the Lisa’s attorney.

“Yes?” Now it was Gio’s turn to arch his eyebrow.

The attorney smiled and lifted his briefcase back to the table. “Mrs. Rasmussen gave me a check to give to you. Please,” he encouraged Gio to wait.

“She gave you enough to post the bond?” he questioned.

“Mrs. Rasmussen gave me a blank check. Told me to give it to you, and you were to fill it out in the amount you would need.” Gio had a million questions now, but he’d need to ask them of Lisa. He took the proffered check and again began to leave with Vinnie on his heels.

Again the attorney stopped him with an arm on his shoulder. “Please Mr. Marino. A word.” Gio turned and faced him. He didn’t want to dally, was hoping to catch Lisa before she was transferred. “I told the judge, you were on the way, and they are holding her across the street for one hour. The judge was delighted to hear that you were posting the bond, it seemed. She gave specific instructions.”

Gio was relieved he wouldn’t have extra paperwork to do, but these special instructions from a female judge, well, he knew that was not good.

Alex noticed Gio wince, but continued. “The judge, well, she left unusual instructions.” Gio winced again confirming Alex’s suspicions. Gio had quite the reputation, and Alex knew from his research and stories that he’d heard from Blaze, that Gio had been involved with his client. His own interest in Lisa had been piqued years ago, and he had hoped for more. But she had shut him down. Now they kept their relationship on a professional level.

Gio knew two female judges. He had slept with one. “And they are?” Gio asked, seeing the smirk on the attorney’s face getting larger at his discomfort.

The attorney clarified. He cleared his throat first. “Well, because Mrs. Rasmussen is a woman of means, although the bulk of her assets will be frozen at midnight per the judge’s orders, part of the court order and guarantee of bail was that Mrs. Rasmussen be in your sole custody and be restricted from going near Rasmussen properties or Johnny Rasmussen, the minor child. The judge directed me to tell you this personally. It seems,” again with the voice clearing, “she knew you?” Alex tried to play it cool, but couldn’t help but add, “A very strange request.”

Gio’s eyebrows arched.
Please not Ronda, please not Ronda
, Gio thought before asking, “Who was the judge?”

“I believe her name was O’Malley. The Honorable Ronda O’Malley.”

As much as Gio didn’t want to reveal too much, Ronda fucking O’Malley was a ball-breaker, and it just slipped out. “Fuck!”
Fuck was right.
Could his day get any worse?

Making Bond

G
io headed to
the police station right across the street, and he was there within ten minutes. In fact, it was where he and Andreas had worked together. Lisa was being held at the lock up until a transfer could be arranged back to Rikers. He hoped to get to her before the transfer happened.

Walking into his old station was like a blast from the past, and he recognized many of the faces; it had been only two years after all. The desk sergeant smiled broadly as he approached. Bobby Gunn was a good guy. Forty years on the job, and twenty since he’d been shot and assigned to the desk. His arm had never fully recovered full range of motion, but Bobby never let that get him down. He was just happy to be of use.

“Whoa, look what the cat dragged in?” Bobby’s surprised expression was mirrored by his boisterous booming voice as he came around the counter, lifting part of the front desk to make his way through. Others in the precinct looked up and called out their own greetings.

“It’s nice to see you, Bobby. When the hell are you going to retire?” Gio laughed as the man gave him a very strong one armed bear hug slapping him on the back.

“Oh God, never. The grand kids get dropped off nearly every day. This job keeps me sane.”

“Right!” Gio laughed again. Other employees passing by called out to the duo in front of the massive desk, but most scurried on their way to their desks and went right back to work as Gio waved hello in their directions or as they passed. Andreas’ old partner, before Gio made detective winked, and went back to questioning someone sitting at his desk. Gio knew from his years here that this was very much a working precinct. Their old captain ran a tight ship, and they had one of the best records in the city.

“Listen, Bobby,” Gio interrupted Bobby’s tale about one of his grand kids, “Sorry to cut this short, but I’m actually here to post bail for Lisa Rasmussen. Her lawyer said she was brought here waiting for transport to Rikers.”

“Oh shit. I just called that in. I’ll cancel it.” He rushed behind the desk closing the gate behind him and picked up the desk phone. His fingers flew across a key board at the same time tapping out numbers Gio couldn’t see from this angle.

“Yup, it’s me again. Listen, cancel the transport for the Rasmussen woman. She’s making bail and we can release her here . . . Ok thanks. Yup, you got it.” He hung up the phone and began pulling out papers that were in front of him in hidden cubby holes. “All set. Here is the paperwork you’ll need to fill out, then it’s gotta be sent to the clerk’s office. I can fax it for you, but you’ll need to hoof it to the comptrollers with the check.”

“Same place?” Gio asked, grabbing the papers from Bobby’s out stretched hands.

“Yup, same place. You can fill those out over there.” He pointed to a desk across the atrium and Gio began to head that way.

It took Gio
nearly thirty minutes to get all the paperwork filled out, and Bobby was dealing with someone when he was finished. He waited as patiently as he could while Bobby talked down an angry mother who was there to claim her son who’d been thrown in the drunk tank.

When an officer came to get her, Bobby apologized for the delay. But he took Gio’s papers and told him to go on ahead to the comptrollers. He’d have the papers faxed and taken care of before Gio made the ten minute trek. It was in the building next door, but they were attached by a walk way on the third floor. He just needed to walk through an incessant number of corridors to get there. The clerk’s office was a maze of intricate turns in the monolithic building. “Thanks, Bobby.” Gio nodded and set off.