Annabel muted the sound on the monitor before she walked out, unwilling to share her apology with more people than those who had to hear it. Perhaps if it was sufficiently heartfelt, Cain would let her guard down enough so the agents assigned to her case would find something that would actually stick.
Chapter Forty
For the first time she could remember, Cain looked behind them as they pulled away and saw no tail. The freedom wouldn’t last long, but their visit had accomplished what she needed. Doubt—in some cases it was almost like a virus in someone’s brain. Cain had managed to plant the seed of doubt in Annabel Hicks’s mind about her office’s motives.
“Now what?” Muriel asked.
“We drop you off at your office, then wait.” The leather of the seat creaked a bit as Cain relaxed into a more comfortable position. The clouds forming to the west were increasing the humidity as well as the ache from her still-healing gunshot wound.
“Wait for what?” Muriel persisted.
“For the thing I spend my life waiting for, cousin. The right time.”
Their talk on the subject was over. Cain had always gone out of her way, as had her father and her uncle Jarvis, to keep Muriel above the fray that was their lives. She was the one Casey who worked exclusively for the family but was beyond reproach as far as the law was concerned, and nothing would make Cain do anything to change that.
“Are the other papers I asked for ready?”
“They’re in the office whenever you and Emma want to pass by and sign.”
The buildings of the warehouse district distracted Cain for a minute as she gazed out the window. Her head was starting to hurt from all the thoughts running through it.
Just like a master strategist, she had planned how to win the dangerous game they were playing, but unlike any game, this situation was starting to gain unexpected players and scenarios. She would have to be careful to maneuver without mistake.
“What papers?” Emma asked.
“I asked Muriel to draw up a new will, as well as the paperwork that would make us officially a family. They’re no different than what we have for Hayden.” Cain turned from the window to Emma. “If something happens to me, I want you and our children taken care of.”
“Fine, but just make sure nothing happens to you.”
Ahead of them Lou jumped out and opened the large door that would allow them to drive into the new club. The offices upstairs were starting to take shape as well, and Muriel’s staff had been moving in and re-creating all the files lost in the explosion.
A team of carpenters was busy putting the finishing pieces on the bar. Eventually the top floors would be separated from the club area and also have their own side entrance. Unlike the last time Cain had been in the building talking with Blue, a cadre of craftsmen was working to meet Cain’s opening-day deadline. They had one week left to finish, and the foreman was pushing everyone to the limit.
“Make sure they sweep every day, starting today.”
“Cain, even the feds wouldn’t bug your attorney’s office,” Muriel said.
“And one of their agents would never let a known mob boss in the city hire him to kill me, but what do I know.”
“We’ll begin today.”
By the time they finished their business with Muriel, the sun was starting to set, and Katlin came in and asked to speak to Cain. Emma and Muriel were talking as Katlin and Cain sat with their heads together. Emma was listening to Muriel but also keeping an eye on Cain. From the time Katlin arrived Cain hadn’t opened her mouth to interrupt. Whatever the guard was reporting, it had Cain’s undivided attention.
“Are you sure?”
“The men I posted said Giovanni drove a van into the garage and left about forty minutes later, with Gino. And earlier in the day the two live-in workers left, with what looked like all their possessions. A cab took both women to the airport, where Gino’s people put them on a flight to Mexico City. We know one lady was the full-time housekeeper and the other was Little Gino’s nanny, but we don’t know why they were let go.”
“Why indeed?” The memory of Gino’s wife from the night before popped into Cain’s head. The amazing food in front of Eris had sat untouched, but she’d consumed glass after glass of wine.
“Our men followed the two Bracato idiots to their final destination, then took a short swim to find what was in the bag they dumped. It was definitely Eris. No visible wounds except some nasty bruises to the face, most probably courtesy of Gino.”
“What do we know about Gino’s wife?”
“She’s dead, boss. What does it matter?”
“What do we know about the woman?” Cain asked again.
Almost as if she’d known Cain was going to ask that question, Katlin handed over a file complete with pictures. “Her name was Eris Dubois, and she was twenty-eight years old. She hooked up with Gino about three years ago. Dumb move. She was a little into the blow, and that’s how the connection between them came about. Last year she checked herself into rehab, and a few months after that she was pregnant.”
Cain flipped to the next item in the folder and chuckled, amazed that her cousin had gotten this information. “Is this an original?” She pointed to a sheet pulled from Eris Bracato’s obstetrical file.
“Me, involved in such illegal activities?” Katlin joked. “Stop asking questions and pay attention.”
Cain returned her attention to the page Katlin handed her.
“A few months after she gave birth to the next Bracato generation, Eris got pregnant again. Only thing is, the second time around they weren’t so lucky, and she lost the baby about two months into the pregnancy. After that, she spiraled back into drugs and handed off the responsibility for the baby to the woman who boarded a plane yesterday.”
As soon as Katlin stopped talking, Cain started tapping her fingers. She drummed in staggered intervals, stopped for a while, then resumed her disjointed cadence.
When Cain refocused, Katlin asked, “Do you want me to do any more?”
“Eventually, but for now keep your people on Gino’s house and see what happens next.” Gino was probably in an emotional tailspin. No matter what a cold bastard he was, the woman was his wife, and he had to feel some remorse. “Remember, when I tell you to move, Katlin, I want you to be fast and invisible. Do you understand?”
“I know I disappointed you last night, but if you need me, I won’t do anything else wrong.”
“Don’t go making promises you don’t expect to keep.” Cain laughed and put her hand behind Katlin’s head, then looked beyond her at Merrick. “Are you sure you haven’t found other alliances that invalidate ours?”
Katlin also looked at Merrick, who was standing next to Emma. “If you think that, you missed the point of last night. My alliances—I should say our alliances—are to you. When this started we had five problems, and now we have two, at least as far as the Bracatos are concerned. If that’s not good enough, then I’ll apologize again.”
Cain squeezed the column of Katlin’s neck and smiled. “I know why you did it, but if you do something like that again without my say-so, I’m going to kick your ass.” Her voice was low, but the smile never disappeared. “Just this once, though, thanks. Because of you and Merrick we do have only two left, but it’s those two that concern me.”
“I’d be worried if Dalton Casey had raised Giovanni and Gino, but he didn’t. We’ll be fine, I’m sure of that.”
On the other side of the room Emma continued to listen to Muriel talk, but her eyes never left Cain. She still needed to tell her about Juan Luis.