One of the Wicked: A Mick Callahan Novel by Harry Shannon

scum bag walked."
    "Easy on the tough-guy talk, Jerry."
    "Why? Can you tell I've been practicing?"
    "Toole was already connected by that point, is that what you're telling me?"
    "No way Toole could have afforded DeMartini on his own, Mick."
    "And this attorney does a lot of work for Pesci."
    "Give the cowboy a prize."
    "You have addresses and other information on these clowns if we need it, right?"
    "My man, I could steal their identities and fuck up their credit in a heartbeat, just say the word."
    "Who knows, maybe we will." I got up, paced and stretched. "Okay, likewise the stripper?"
    The picture arrived a second later. She was a real looker.
    Jerry said, "Brandi DeLillo was born Barbara Ann DeLillo, in Newark, New Jersey. She's twenty-eight years old. Brandi dropped out of high school, moved to Atlantic City, then Nashville, and finally Vegas. She did a six-month stint in drug rehab, under court order. Prior to that, our girl had a couple of busts for prostitution and some speeding tickets, but other than that she's clean."
    "Credit history?"
    "Brandi tends to live large, but you'd expect that from a working girl. In the past few months she has paid off and closed down some credit card accounts, downscaled to a less expensive apartment. She's drawing pay as a waitress, so maybe she dumped her sugar daddy and plans on going back to college to become a surgeon."
    "What?"
    "Hey, she's probably got great hands, right?"
    "Very funny."
    "Thanks. Oh, and Larry Donato just e-mailed me. He's going to give us Dave Lopez to watch out for the girl. Lopez has a lot of free time the next couple of weeks and needs the extra money."
    "Sounds good." I sat down again. The computer announced that I had mail, too. "Thanks, Jerry. Great job, as usual. I'll look this stuff over and let you know when I decide my next move."
    " Our next move?"
    "Jerry, I have a bad feeling about this one," I said. "Other than hiring Lopez, I'm thinking maybe I'd better keep this one simple and take care of it on my own."
    Jerry shook his head. "What was that? You're cutting in and out. Can't hear you. I'll call back when I'm packed and ready to drive up."
    "Hold on a second . . ."
    The screen went dark. Jerry was gone.

Six

    "You must understand one thing," Nicky said. "An organization such as ours survives by demanding absolute loyalty." He held up his glass of red wine, swirled the glass and sniffed the bouquet before continuing. "And absolute honesty as well."
    "Honor among thieves?"
    "Quite."
    The young attorney nodded vigorously. His collar was overstarched so the action made his neck itch. The two muscle men on either side of him did not respond. They were too busy searching the restaurant with lidded, suspicious eyes. They reminded the attorney of giant lizards. Maybe aliens from a dinosaur planet.
    "Very nice," Nicky said. He put the glass down without finishing it and tapped a brief note on his BlackBerry. "I shall have to order a case for my collection. Are you sure you don't want to try it? This is a fine California Cabernet. It would be superb with any red meat."
    Jacob Mandel shrugged. "I've never cared much for alcohol."
    "But a man must have a vice. Yours?"
    Mandel weighed the question, visions of a fat retainer dancing in his head. "I've been known to smoke a bit."
    "Marijuana?"
    "Never," Mandel lied. "Only tobacco. I have a weakness for Cubans."
    "Wonderful. I have a few aged Cohiba in my cellar. As you know, they are exceptional, and no longer manufactured."
    "I'm impressed. They're impossible to find these days."
    "I'll send some over before the ink is dry on our agreement."
    The taller of the two bodyguards sat up in his chair. At six foot two, Lucky was still several inches shorter than Nicky. He stretched, popped his neck, and spoke through clenched teeth. "Three o'clock."
    Nicky sighed. "Lucky, what is it now?"
    The second man got up, as if to head for the bathroom. His name was apparently Andy. He answered the question. "That couple over