Part 37 (1/2)
”Honey, you need to sit and listen to Cain or you'll make yourself sick,” she told Dallas.
”I'm sorry you all had to watch that on television today,” Cain said.
”It was a fluke, but that can't be helped now.”
”You said you had news,” Emil said.
”Ramon and I talked to Simon earlier, and she's fine,” Cain said for Juno's benefit. ”She went to the one place I thought no one would think to look, and the one place you wouldn't appear out of place going to,” she said to Dallas.
”Where is she?” Emilsaid, his face a clear picture of confusion.
”At Dallas's house in the French Quarter.Are you packed, Dallas?”
”I'm sure Remi would want her to stay here,” Emil protested, and Juno nodded.
”What Remi's going to want when she wakes up is to see Dallas, Juno, and you. That way when you report back to Marianna that her baby's bruised but definitely breathing, she won't think you're insane.”
”She's alive?” Dallas asked. She let go of Emma and grabbed Cain by her arms and shook her. ”Is she?”
”We planned for the shooting, but not for the television coverage.
She's alive, and I'm sorry you went through the pain of watching something that made you think otherwise. After seeing it I think it'll only help us, since it's so convincing.”
”How do you figure?” Emil asked.
”Nunzio Luca hired someone to kill her, and according to the news he did that. If Remi's dead to the world, there's no reason for this guy to try again. Having Remi out of sight for a while will help us deal with Nunzio, and help find this Jorge Cristo who pulled the trigger. Nothing helps you relax like success.”
”She's alive,” Dallas repeated, but not as a question this time.
”She is, and in need of some TLC. Go pack, just to give the appearance of going home, in case someone's watching.” Cain sent Dallas to the other side of the house with Emma.
”There's always someone watching, the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds,” Emil said.
”Simon's over there, but as soon as you get there she'll be leaving, since Ramon's going to need her help. You need to keep everyone out of there, Emil, including Dallas's manager Bob. Dallas and Remi haven't been seen together enough for you to worry about the cops, but if Bob finds out she's alive, the jig is up.”
”I'll kill the slime myself before that happens.”
”If you take that pleasure away from Remi, she'll never forgive you.”
Dallas came back with her bag hanging from her shoulder, which Emil promptly took from her. ”I'm ready, let's go.”
”Emil, you heard the lady,” Cain said. ”Go on, and tell Remi she'd better keep out of sight until I call her. If she needs anything, we'll do it through Juno and Simon, but her a.s.s doesn't move.”
”Don't worry. If she won't listen to me, I'll find a way to smuggle Marianna in to deal with her,” Emil said. ”Having Dallas there is all the incentive she'll need tolay low.”
”Dallas, again I'm sorry for putting you through this,” Cain said.
Dallas kissed her cheek. ”I have a chance to tell her how I feel, so you don't have anything to be sorry for.”
Juno kissed her too before she followed Emil and Dallas out, leaving Cain alone with Emma. Katlin, Lou, Merrick, and the others were in the lobby.
”You know something, mobster?” Emma wiped Cain's cheek free of lipstick.
”What's that, my love?” Cain sat in one of the kitchen chairs and encouraged Emma to sit on her lap. After this she had to arrange a meeting with Rodolfo, and she wanted to enjoy the stillness of Remi's home with her wife before she bothered.
”Don't ever think of giving me a hard time about playing matchmaker again.”
She laughed. ”Why's that?”
”You fraud, you d.a.m.n well know why. You've done everything you can to bring them together.” Emma ran her fingers along her jawline before kissing her. ”You're sweet.”
”I've known Remi a long time, and after seeing them together, I was sure it was right. Up to now that's only happened to me oncewhen I saw the picture that guy took of us at Vincent's place.
The way we were looking at each other made me realize that I had found my one and only love.” They kissed again,then sat together until Cain's phone rang.
”I know you have to go, but remember one thing,” Emma said, after Cain hung up with Katlin.
”Name it.”
”I see or hear of you getting shot and there'll be h.e.l.l to pay. Stay safe.”
”Go home and I'll join you in a couple of hours.”
Chapter Forty-Six.
”Hola.”Carlos Santiago answered the phone in Rodolfo's suite.
Rodolfo had been working the phones trying to find Nunzio or Junior Luca, but had come up empty. He was used to having people jump when he barked, so being ignored had left him in the mood to take it out on the people who still did listen to him, Carlos included.
”Who's calling?”
In the chair Rodolfo found most comfortable he gestured to Carlos to tell him who it was.
”A moment, Ms. Casey, and I'll see if he's available.” Carlos put his hand over the mouthpiece and said, ”It's Cain for you.”
”Cain, what can I do for you?” he asked after ripping the phone away from Carlos.
”I need to arrange a meeting whenever you can spare the time.
Tomorrow, if it's possible.”
”How about here in the hotel?”
Cain laughed. ”I'm already popular enough with the FBI. I don't need the DEA added to my alphabet soup. We can meet at my office if you want. I'll have someone pick you up.”