The Heist (27 page)

***

It was the knocking at the door that made her stir. Persistent, nagging, little taps by someone who refused to allow her escape. Michelle moaned. Her back hurt, her pussy ached, her thighs were sore. Lee had exhausted her. And even now she yearned for him. She turned over and groaned.

“Lee?”

The sheet next to her was cool and empty. Opening her eyes, she looked over and rose on her elbows. Lee was gone. But he had left something behind: a yellow flower from the island placed on the pillow. Smiling, she reached for it, the petals soft to the touch. She inhaled the deep apricot fragrance. “Sweet, very sweet.” Michelle smiled; she laid it on the nightstand with a silent vow to put it in water later. It was just like Lee to do the sweetest things at the oddest of times.

Tap, tap.

Michelle rolled her eyes heavenward in defeat then heaved herself up and off the bed. It was probably the staff wanting to change the sheets. She needed another two hours to gather her strength, especially for the games that night. “All right, I hear you!” She shuffled around the room stiffly. Looking for her robe, she only found his. She slipped it over her nudity. Her hair a knotty mess, she marched to the door and snatched it open. “Who…?”

“Hi, can I come in?” Nancy smiled.

“Well, I’m not dressed.”

“I saw Lee leave, it’s important.”

Michelle threw up her hand in defeat. “Come on in.”

Nancy walked in and closed the door. She stopped before the unmade bed then turned to Michelle. “I hate that I woke you, but it’s after twelve.”

“Yes, well, I had a long hard night,” Michelle replied, yawning. She chuckled with flashes of how long and hard it actually was.

Nancy frowned, not understanding the joke. “I came to warn you.”

“Warn me?”

“Last night after you and Lee left, there was a meeting with a few others. Yawi was there.”

“Okay?”

“You’re in danger.”

“Why?”

“Eddie Cumminskey. He’s telling anyone who will listen that he’s going to kill Lee. Or at least, that’s what Yawi says. There are several others upset with Lee, too, like Monk Eastman, and that freaky guy, Rawhead. My Japanese isn’t good, but Yawi says it’s going to happen. I heard him on the phone. And he’s blaming you.”

“Me?”

“They all think you have the Chalice. Do you?”

Michelle just stared at Nancy.

“You wanted to know who killed Pops Dixon, right? I didn’t want to say last night, but Yawi was really mad when he lost the Chalice, and he has the power to make things happen. Things most would think of as an accident. I don’t know if he did it, but….”

“But you thought you’d let me know? Where’s your loyalty?” Michelle folded her arms over her tender, sexed-out breasts.

Nancy gave her a nervous smile. “I like you. I just wanted you to know the truth.”

“Tell me what you really think.”

“I don’t understand.”

Michelle moved in closer and Nancy took a step back. She unfolded her arms. “You think I know where the Chalice is?”

“I never said that.”

“What if I told you I did? What then?”

“Well, I’d just say be careful, I guess. A lot of people want that thing.”

“What would Yawi say about this little visit?”

Nancy blinked. “Look, I wanted to warn you is all.” She walked past Michelle into the room. Michelle watched her snatch up the small pad and pen on the nightstand. She scribbled something on it. “Here’s my number. We’re all going out to the beaches today. Call me and I’ll come back. We can talk more or something.”

Michelle accepted the paper. Nancy smiled. “Okay, then. See you soon.”

“Right. Thanks so much for the warning.” Michelle opened the door. Nancy looked relieved. “Oh and, Nancy, you be careful, too,” Michelle added with a wink before slamming the door after her.

Michelle studied the paper. The numbers, and then her name. The way Nancy did the curly loop with her lettering. She went to her purse. Fishing inside, she removed the note that was delivered to her home. She checked the letters against Nancy’s signature. They were close. Too close. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

***

Lee walked along the outside perimeter of the beachfront estate with Escobar. Both of their men hovered. The ocean rolled in against the rocky cliffs circling the estate and large palms swayed in the wind. Escobar’s loose-fitting white shirt and wide-leg pants pressed to his body, thanks to the persistent breeze. “You hit Rawhead’s place. Don’t even deny it; we know. He wants blood.”

“You shouldn’t have pulled Rawhead into it.” Lee shrugged as if bored with the topic. “As for his revenge, tell him to go for it.”

“You like living dangerously, friend?” Escobar chuckled. “Eddie? He’s got a few bullets with your name on them, too. Monk Eastman is quite offended, and Yacazza is calling for an emergency session of The Order.”

“Escobar, I’m touched. You’re worried about my health.”

“Make jokes, Lee. You came here to antagonize everyone. Pops betrayed you, not the brethren. How Rawhead got the Raspberries is beside the point. He had them. You know the code.”

Lee raised a brow, but didn’t object.

“Why is she here if not to rattle everyone’s cage? Because I know you don’t have the Chalice.”

“She’s with me. That’s all the explanation you need.”

Escobar chuckled. “I see, so she’s bait. You think someone’s going to show their hand? We’ve already been through this. Pops played us all.”

“Someone has already showed their hand,” Lee replied, switching his gaze back to the estate.

“Smoke and mirrors, huh, Lee? Get them all riled up while you slip in and out from the back.” Escobar stepped into Lee’s face. “Pops Dixon made a lot of promises. That Chalice is anyone’s game. I know he was your boy. I know you bankrolled the heist and he flipped. But he sold those Raspberries out from under you. The rules of the business say you were entitled to the stones, but not the Chalice. That’s still up for grabs.”

“Rawhead stole the Raspberries from me. I let it go. I expect the same courtesy from you and Rawhead. Honor among thieves and all that shit.”

“Honor?” Escobar ground out through clenched teeth. “This is my business, our business, and you’re off course, my friend.”

“Off course maybe, but I caught on and protected The Order.”

“Some believe there was never a threat. This shadow organization that put the Feds on us, this wild story Pops told you. All of it is bullshit. There’s no proof. Where is the threat? Where is it?” Escobar opened his arms to the sea beyond. “Pops had you fooled then and he has you fooled now.”

“Doesn’t matter if any of you believe or not. The Chalice isn’t a myth, and whoever owned it gave Pops the key, that person works outside of our organization. That’s the proof. I stopped the investigation from the Feds; I did my part. The Order wants me gone, take a vote and make it happen. It’s time I do things my way.” Lee turned, but paused.

“That’s not wise. You step away from your chair and you and she are fair game.”

Lee chuckled. “Let’s cut the bullshit. Pops destroyed the sanctity of The Order. Every man is now in it for himself. At least be honest about that.”

Escobar nodded. “That drunken bastard ripped us apart.”

“No.
We
did. We let greed rip us apart. We forgot why we do what we do, who we are. Pops saw it, and it didn’t take much for him to prove it.”

“There is no honor among thieves, Lee. I think you were the only one who believed the shit Pops fed you.”

Lee nodded and wiped at his jaw. “Maybe. Pops didn’t have to die, Escobar. You and I both know that. It was bad business the way we let this one go.
Chocolat
wants revenge for his death. I plan to grant it. So stay out of her way while she gets to the truth.”

Lee gave Abahti a nod and he followed. He lowered his voice to be sure it didn’t carry in the wind, and Abahti moved forward to listen. “Eddie’s making threats. Make sure
Chocolat
is safe.”

***

Michelle had put on a backless, long flowing sundress and pinned her thick wavy hair up from her face. She walked out through the lower lobby. The whiney bark of Consuela’s dog could be heard off to her right, so she headed in that direction. Several members of the different families were at play. Either in the game room or out near the pool, frolicking under the island sun.

Michelle ignored them. Inside the parlor, she found Consuela speaking with one of her staff. The Hispanic diva held her pooch in the nook of her arm, pointing where things would be arranged for the night’s poker game. She wore a golden-yellow bikini and sarong. Her hair was teased and large golden hoops dangled from her ears. Her beauty was exaggerated by the heavy makeup and the jewelry she wore.

“We need to talk.”

Consuela looked over her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed on Michelle and then she dismissed her with the toss of her hair. She continued in Spanish with the instructions for the night’s festivities.

“It wasn’t a question, Consuela. We need to talk now!”

Consuela turned and smiled. “What is it,
chica
? Lee let you off your leash too early?”

“Either we talk now or I ask my questions to your husband later.”

Michelle caught the bristle as Consuela's eyes darkened. It was now or never. She had suspected Consuela's hatred misplaced, now she'd play a hunch. Could this woman be intimately aware of her father, maybe even charmed into doing his bidding? Women like Consuela responded to power. According to Lee, Pops had more power than any of these men with the Chalice under his wing. Maybe Consuela was the key.

“
Abandónenos
,” Consuela instructed, dismissing her staff. Everyone cleared the room. She put down her dog and dusted her hands. “
Loca!
That’s what you are.”

Michelle smirked. “Tell me about you and Pops?”

“I have nothing to do with Pops. I mean, I had nothing to do with him.”

“When I first got here, you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. You were defensive. I just thought it was because you were a bitch.”

Consuela smirked. “Takes one to know one,
chica
.”

“True. But then I started remembering Pops the last few years of his life. He went on and on about the thrill of Joker’s Wild. I thought he’d never been. I was wrong. Oh I get he wasn’t wanted here, but he’s been, and more than once. Hasn’t he?”

Consuela’s smirk faded.

Michelle began to pace. Her plan was working. She hoped to God her intuition rang true, though she knew in her heart it was. “I know these men. We both know these men. We can at least agree on that much.” She narrowed her sight on Consuela and stopped in front of her. “They would never let the hired help come play. That’s what he was when he walked away. Lee would never willingly indulge Pops’ addiction. He was too busy trying to keep him straight. Yet Pops was invited and attended anyway, according to Nancy. When I look around at the people who are given this privilege, I see it’s for a purpose. Take for instance, Bill Dwyer, the wannabe. He’s here because Don Gio is pissed at that job he pulled. He and the others want to weaken him, to do away with him. The lack of respect. That honor code. Right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She turned to leave.

Michelle grabbed Consuela’s arm and delayed her. “Sure you do. You and I both agree Pops had terrible taste in women.”

“This is ridiculous!”

“Is it? How was Pops able to get close enough to Escobar and set up a side deal? Escobar would be suspicious knowing that Pops worked mostly for Lee. Unless someone was in his ear, leading him. You were fucking my father, weren’t you?”

Consuela glanced around to see if anyone heard the accusation. “You bitch! Say that to my husband and I will….”

“You won’t do anything! I want you to tell me who Pops was meeting that night. Who was the final bidder on the Chalice?”

“It doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to do a damn thing about it. He’s untouchable.” Consuela shook her arm from Michelle’s grasp.

“Tell me!” She grabbed both Consuela’s arms this time.

“It was Yacazza. Your father had decided on dealing with Yacazza, that’s who.
Now
what are you going to do?” Guilt and rage warred on the woman’s face.

“Don’t you worry about that.” Michelle was indeed learning to listen and decipher the truth out of the mouths of liars. Especially when dealing with the treacherous witch standing before her. Michelle let her go, turning to leave.

“Wait!” Consuela called. Michelle head turned to see her face, tight with worry and contrition. “Pops was a good man. You never appreciated him. He told me how you abandoned him. I see you now riding the coattails of his glory. You unworthy, selfish brat."

“Spare me, he was my father, I know him better than any of you!” Michelle hissed.

“Really? Did you know that he was clean and sober, powerful, until he met that bitch of a mother of yours? That she broke him? That every day he saw you he saw her, and it kept him reaching for the bottle?”

Michelle clenched her first. The urge to strike was so strong she thought she did. She trembled with rage. Consuela gave her a satisfied smirk. “I cared about him. In the end, I was the only one that did. That’s something no one knows. For him, I’ll tell you. The night he was to meet with Yacazza, he stashed the Chalice somewhere in Chicago. He said it was somewhere you would know how to get to. He had no intention of giving it to Yacazza. He had this crazy idea that The Order could be destroyed. That he’d let them destroy each other then set us free. All of us, me, you, Lee…he wanted out and he thought taking down The Order was the way to do it.”

“He was wrong,” Michelle said, still wanting to smack Consuela.

“Do you know where it is?”

Michelle shrugged off the question and strolled off to avoid further incident. She headed down the hall blinking away her tears. She stopped when she saw Bill Dwyer grab Nancy’s arm. Nancy snatched it away, but not before she caught Michelle staring. Nancy picked up the nearest drink and tossed it in Dwyer’s face. “Don’t even think about it! If you try it again, I’ll tell Yawi that you hit on me!” she shouted before storming off.