Part 10 (1/2)

Jack looked back at Severino, nodded his head, and walked out. Paolo escorted him to the front door. The guys in the hallway eyed him with awe and puzzlement.

I guess they're not used to seeing people walk out of that office still breathing.

Jack stopped at the door and held out his hand. Paolo nodded, and a guy handed Jack his gun. Jack stared at the old man. ”Paolo, if-”

”Look, kid. You just asked Severino. Are you going to insult me and ask me now?”

The two men stood toe-to-toe for a moment before Jack holstered his gun and walked out the door.

d.a.m.n it. He wanted to scream. Mancini hasn't heard from anyone. If someone abducted her...it has to be related to her father.

Jack marched down the driveway and started down the street. He headed the opposite way from his car. He planned to double back and get the Impala but, as he crossed the street, he noticed the man at the corner. He stood in the shadow of a tree and Jack couldn't make out his face.

Jack looked back up the street but, as he did so, he unzipped his jacket, letting it hang open, giving him faster access to his gun. As he walked toward the man, he started to make out details.

Short. Five five or five six. Curly hair...Ilario.

Marisa's brother nervously s.h.i.+fted back and forth as he waved Jack closer.

”Is my sister okay? Have you talked to her?” He grabbed Jack's arm.

The family resemblance to Marisa caused a pain in Jack's chest.

”No. I told you all I know. Did anyone-?”

”Bull.”

”What?”

”That's BS. Either the guy who called knows more than you, or you're lying.”

”Why would I lie?”

Ilario let go of Jack's arm and he took a step back. ”How do I know you even know my sister?”

Jack's hands went out.

Besides the photo, what can I tell him?

”How am I going to prove to you...?” As his head tipped to the side, Jack looked down the block. ”There.” He pointed toward the side street. ”Last Christmas I parked with Angelica right there.”

Ilario's eyebrows arched. ”She didn't come in?”

Jack shook his head. ”We sat there for an hour and she didn't even say anything. Your sister, she's good to me. I would have sat there all night with her. At midnight, she laughed. I asked why and she told me the two of you would exchange one early present, then. You forgot one year when you were little, so you took one of your father's presents from under the tree and wrote her name on it. She gave you a Power Ranger and you gave her a corkscrew.”

Ilario kept looking at the street, but Jack knew that wasn't what he was seeing. Ilario held his hands up to his head and pressed them both into his temples. ”The Fed who called kept asking about knock-offs. My father went crazy afterward.”

”Knock-offs?” Jack shrugged.

”Counterfeits.” Ilario looked at Jack as if he were slow. ”You know, handbags, jackets, c.r.a.p like that. It's one of the rackets. Big money, low risk, low cost. My father has a piece of it but doesn't control it.”

”Who does?”

”The Yakuza.”

”Are the Yakuza against your father?”

Ilario exhaled as he shook his head. ”Everyone is against my father, but I don't have anything to do with his business. I'm actually going to medical school.” He rolled his eyes. ”But my sister...”

”If someone did take Angelica, they're going to contact your father.”

”Yeah. My father's already getting cash together, but what if they don't call? What if it isn't about money?” Ilario wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

”Ilario, they'll reach out to your family. You need to let me know right away when they do.”

”How can I contact you?”

Jack shook his head. ”I need to reach out to you. What's your phone number?”

”You don't trust me?” Ilario glared up at Jack.

”The trust isn't mine to give. It's Angelica's. I can't betray that.”

Ilario nodded but his eyes smoldered. Now Jack could see the resemblance to Severino. Ilario reached into his pocket to take out a cell phone. ”Here.” He handed it to Jack. ”It's a burner phone. I have a drawer full. I'll call you on it.”

I actually said drop the knife Jack walked up the sidewalk as Ilario hurried back to the house. Jack went up the block and started the route to the Impala. Before he took the last turn, he waited. Besides a woman walking a dog, the side streets were empty.

He quickly strode back to the Impala and slid behind the wheel. As he exhaled, he stretched and flexed his hands. Jack focused on his breathing, trying to calm the tremor in his leg.

They already knew about Marisa. Prescott must have been fis.h.i.+ng about the connection between the Asian guy Thaddeus saw and the Yakuza and Severino. Why would Prescott call him if he didn't think there was anything to it? Unless he just wanted to rub salt in his wounds. Severino is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. You can hate the guy, but it's still his daughter.

He popped the panel again, dropping Ilario's cell phone in, too. Jack spun the car around to head for the highway. When he reached an intersection, he stopped abruptly. Four SUVs flew by him with Big Nose driving the lead car.

They're on the move.

Jack waited for a few moments before he pulled out after them.

Four cars. Easy to spot. Easy to get spotted if they bunch up.

Jack didn't have to worry too much about the caravan getting bunched up. To them, stop signs and traffic lights seemed to be merely suggestions as they plowed forward. They quickly made their way to the highway and headed for the city.

I don't know if Severino is with them, but I don't think they're going home.

Jack slipped through the traffic as the row of cars moved into the left lane. The lead car, a giant, black SUV, would go right up on the b.u.mper of the car in front of it until the driver pulled out of the way. As the outskirts of the city approached, the caravan suddenly s.h.i.+fted toward the off-ramp. Jack felt like a fighter pilot as he eased back into position to follow them. At the end of the off-ramp, he no longer had to wonder where they were going. A huge, red archway, with giant yellow letters, said it all: Chinatown.

It's not a caravan. It's a war party.

Jack weaved through the traffic until he saw the cars double-park in front of a two-story restaurant. There were plenty of people on the streets, but the car traffic here was light.

d.a.m.n. I can't drive right by them.