Tony took the envelope and leafed through the bills to count them.
“We get the cash back tomorrow.” Sal buzzed the door open. “That gives you twenty-four hours.”
Tony smiled and hurried out the door. “Thanks, Sal.”
The morning after Manny won, he felt like he’d won the lottery. Tony had been right! His luck would never have changed if he hadn’t been in the game. UCLA got killed, as everyone figured they would, but a last-minute flurry of meaningless points from a reserve guard meant that UConn didn’t cover the spread.
Manny raced through the drizzle to the newspaper building. He bounded the stairs from the subway stop and sprinted down the block through the revolving door to the Breaking News.
Inside, his footsteps echoed off the marble as he walked to the island in the middle of the lobby, where he greeted the receptionist, who watched him closely. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Young and attentive, the Latin receptionist spoke into her mouthpiece, pushed a few buttons on the switchboard and followed his fidgety fingers with her eyes. “May I help you?”
His grin felt so big that he was sure he looked like a mental patient. “I came to see Tony the Ear.”
“Tony Morelli.” She looked down and ran a finger down her clipboard, then shook her head and picked up a pencil. “Mr. Morelli hasn’t come in yet. Would you like to leave a message?”
Manny moved aside for an old lady who stepped in front of him, eyed him and whispered to her poodle. “I’ll just wait,” he said. He shifted from one foot to the other.
“You can’t stand there,” the receptionist told him. “This isn’t a waiting area.”
“Well.” Manny looked past her at the clock on the wall. “It’s eleven-thirty. What time does he come to work?”
“He usually gets in at nine o’clock.” She juggled a few calls, then said, “If you have his number, I would try him at home.”
Manny’s breath quickened. What if the Ear had taken off with all his winnings, his wedding band and his wife’s bracelet?
“I don’t have his number on me. Can you look it up?”
She answered after taking a phone message. “I’m sorry, sir, but we can’t give out any private information.”
“This is an emergency.” Fear turned to anger, and his voice was getting louder. “Just give me the number and I’ll go.”
A security guard tapped Manny on the shoulder. “I’m afraid you’ll have to leave now, sir. Would you like me to show you the way?”
“All right. All right.” Manny stepped back. “I’m going.”
On the street in front of the Breaking News, taxis and limos splashed up and down the wet streets. People rushed past on the sidewalk, fumbling not to impale him or one another with the metal ends on their umbrellas.
Manny pulled the collar of his Knicks jacket over his head and ran into a covered stairwell by a deli. At the counter a guy who looked like a derelict sipped something steamy.
Manny sucked down the last drop of his mouthwash. He didn’t even have enough for a double espresso. He needed to get his winnings, but where the hell was Tony?
Tony wasn’t hard up for money. He’d been banking his vigorish all those years, and he always made good on his bets. Everyone trusted Tony.
Half an hour after standing in the chill, Manny slicked back his hair and went back to the Breaking News. His wet sneakers squeaked on the marble floor.
“No luck.” The receptionist looked up between calls. “Tony never came in.”
“Well, can you find out if he’s sick or something? Did he call someone? His boss or his secretary? I just need a little help here. Tony doesn’t answer his cell phone. He’s not at our usual haunts. He just up and disappeared.”
The receptionist squinted. “It’s only been a day, you know. Call tomorrow morning.”
“Hey.” A young redheaded guy stepped up to the reception desk. “You a friend of Tony’s?”
Manny nodded. “Who are you?”
“I work with him on the sports desk.” The guy frowned. “Did you try him at home?”
Manny shrugged. “I don’t have his number in the Bronx.”
“That’s ancient history, pal.” The copyboy shook his head. “Tony moved in with his mom near Riverside Park. She was taking care of him after they found his tumor.”
“What tumor?”
The guy backed up and lowered his palms like he was pushing down the trunk of a car. “You knew he had cancer, didn’t you?” The guy led Manny to the revolving door. He whispered and wrote on the back of his business card. “I’ll do you a favor if you call me when you find him. I need to collect on a debt.” He handed Manny the card. “Try this address. His mom will be able to help.”
Manny approached Tony’s modern high-rise as the security camera watched from its perch atop the intercom.
He rang the buzzer next to Tony’s last name.
“Yes?” A woman’s voice came through the box.
“Hey. I came to see Tony. Is he okay?”
“Who are you?”
“Manny. A friend of Tony’s from way back. He has something for me.”
“Oh, I know exactly what you mean.” She said, “I’ll be right down.”
A minute later she was standing in the doorway with him. Slim and petite, she was too darn sexy, Manny decided, to be anybody’s mother. “Pleasure to meet you.” He took her hand. “Are you Tony’s sister?”
“Oh, another charmer like my Tony.” She looked Manny up and down. “I’m his mother, of course. And I know he didn’t go to work today. I called the office.” She frowned. “Gee, your breath smells minty. Anyway, I called his girlfriend, but she said they broke up last week. Do you know his girl-friend Diana?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s just not like Tony to take off, especially what with the chemo appointment. This is the first one he’s missed after all this time.”
Manny’s heart thudded against his chest. “You mean you don’t know where he is?”
“The police won’t help because it hasn’t been twenty-four hours since he went missing, but he didn’t come home last night. I have a bad feeling, Manny.” She crossed her arms. “Tony didn’t call me this morning. Whenever he sleeps out, he always calls me in the morning.”
Manny felt his shoulders droop.
“I found this on his dresser. It’s got your name on it, see?” She held out a wooden cigar box.
Manny took the box and stepped back. “Thanks.” He wanted to rip into it, but if his winnings were in there, it was just too much cash to flash on the street.
Her eyes glistened with urgency. “You can come upstairs if you want to open it inside.” She shifted in place. “I’m dying to know if there’s anything in there about where he went, and my friend Sal told me I should look through everything, but I just-do you know Sal? He has been so nice lately, but since my Tony left this with your name on the package, I couldn’t open it and go rifling…” She stopped and smiled sweetly. “I just made coffee. Why don’t you come up?”
“Thanks.” Manny stowed the box under his arm and edged his way backward. “I’m running late, or I would.”
“Are you sure?”
Manny stepped onto the sidewalk. “I’ll call if I find Tony. I promise I will.”
Disappointed, she pursed her lips together. “Don’t forget. Maria Morelli. I’m in the book.”
He sprinted down the sidewalk, sneakers splashing in the rain.
Manny felt someone watching him before he turned and saw the man. Manny looked back. The guy was definitely tailing him. He was overweight with a silver front tooth, and Manny knew he could outrun him if he had to.
He cut through a public passage and came out on the next street. He looked behind him. Not only was the guy still there, but now Manny thought another guy was following. He wished he had his bike.