“I don’t get an invitation to yours?”
“You want one?”
“Want to meet the woman who tamed my brother? Sure I do. Will Alicia be there?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“I don’t know. Don’t you think she’ll find it weird seeing you getting remarried after Sofia? Damn shame what happened to her.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it tore you apart.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I loved Sofia.” He slaps my shoulder. “As did half of Chicago, am I right?”
“You’re going a quick way to a broken arm, Ernesto.”
“Chill out. Jeez.” He tosses a twenty at me. “Go get a drink. On me.”
“Save it to pay your cleaners. You’ll need as many as you can get.”
28
Hunter
* * *
“You want to clear all of these?” Frank asks.
I nod at the long list. “All of them.”
He scratches his forehead, spinning the paper around to face him. “All right. What did you do? Get her pregnant or something?”
He starts tapping on his computer screen.
“Just get it done.”
I lean back in my seat. “When are you going to get yourself a decent office?” I ask as I take in the peeling wallpaper, the yellowed certificates, and the rotten wood in the window frame. The newest thing is the titty calendar behind him, and it’s last year’s.
He glances my way. “You’re not thinking the right way. I get myself somewhere nice and shiny. It lights up like a beacon, says I’ve got cash. Might be worth robbing.”
“Who’s going to rob a mob banker?”
“Someone who only sees the building, not the man. But a place like this? Cabin on a construction site. No one thinks this place has got any money worth taking. Look at that safe.” He leans over and taps the top of it. “Looks like shit, but you could spend a week trying to get inside and not get anywhere. It’s alarmed up the wazoo, and I could have our people here within three minutes. It’s perfect. You’re supposed to be good at noticing things. How come you didn’t think I might have a reason for being here.” He taps the keyboard again before sliding his chair back and reaching for a bottle of whiskey. “All done.”
“You’re sure.”
“All her credit cards are clear, and her roommate’s as well. Hope she’s worth it.”
“It was a couple of thousand. It’s not exactly going to bankrupt me.”
He laughs. “That’s how it started with my wife. A couple of thousand here, another couple there. Look at me now, still working, aged seventy-three. All to clear the divorce settlement. I tell you this, Hunter. Don’t ever get married. Those bitches will suck you dry and then vacuum up your corpse for good measure.”
“I’m getting married tomorrow.”
He grins like he thinks I’m joking.
I shake my head.
His face crumples. “Shit, man. I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m sure it’ll be different for you.”