| 3:06a |
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“I wouldn’t know about that
The Wall
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“I wouldn’t know about that
The Wall Street attorney left, and at the sound of the closing door, Louis rushed across the room
to the inlaid Queen Anne desk and virtually pounced on the ivory French telephone—as usual,
tipping over the tall thin instrument twice before securing the stem with one hand while dialing
with the other“Fucking swish horn!” he mumbled“Goddamned fairy decorator! Mario?”
“Hello, Lou,” said the pleasant voice in New Rochelle“I’ll bet you called to wish Anthony a
happy birthday, huh?”
“Who?”
“My kid, AnthonyHe’s fifteen today, did you forget? The whole family’s out in the garden and
we miss you, CousinAnd hey, Lou, what a garden this year
“You also may be something else
“What?”
“Buy Anthony a present and send me the billAt fifteen, maybe a broadHe’s ready for
manhood
“Lou, you’re too muchThere are other things—”
“There’s only one thing now, Mario, and I want the truth from your lips or I’ll carve them out of
your face!”
There was a brief pause from New Rochelle before the pleasant-sounding executioner spoke“I
don’t deserve to be talked to that way, cuginoThere was a book taken from that general’s place in Manassas, a very
valuable book
“They found out it was missing, huh?”
“Holy shit! You got it?”
“I had it, LouIt was going to be a present to you, but I lost it
“You lost it? What the fuck did you do, leave it in a ‘taxi’?”
“No, I was running for my life, that maniac with the flares, what’s his name, Webb, unloading at
me in the drivewayHe grazed me and I fell and the lousy book flew out of my hand—just as the
police car arrivedHe picked it up and I ran like hell for the fence
“Webb’s got it?”
“I guess so
“Christ on a trampoline !”
“Anything else, Lou? We’re about to light the candles on the cake
“Yeah, Mario, I may need you in Washington—a big cannoli without a foot but with a boo |