Excitement exploded from Haley's eyes. She could just see herself ditching Pine Snow and going to work for a major newspaper in Los Angeles. “Fill my stocking!”
“Before Ralphie left Brooklyn, he knew he was in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“The crime family−I won't say which one to protect you−that Ralphie's cousin and old man both belonged to didn’t want Ralphie around,” Rita explained. “But, because Ralphie did leave Brooklyn, he was safe. If the boy ever goes back home, he won't be home for long.”
Haley began tapping the pencil she was holding against her desk. “Okay, the menu is delicious, Rita, and I'm sure you're going to dig up some meat on Chris Carols and Marty Belvins.”
“Chris Carols worked for a major architecture agency in Manhattan,” Rita blurted out. “And guess what, Haley?”
“A crime connection?”
“You better believe it. Chris worked for a man who had his hands in the pockets of many criminal bankers that the FBI can't touch.” Rita grinned. “The man's ex-wife remarried one of the bankers in question. But it gets better. Before Chris divorced his wife, a man who worked at the architect agency he was employed at went missing. The man in question was his ex-wife's brother. The brother...are you ready for this?”
“Hit me!” Haley could see herself being given a large office overlooking Los Angeles.
“The brother has connections to the same crime family who wanted to hurt Ralphie!”
“No way!” Haley nearly fell out of her chair.
“I'm not lying to you!” Rita exclaimed.
“My goodness.” Haley could barely believe her ears.
“Oh, don't think the party is over yet, Haley. Marty Belvins suspended the cousin who tried to get Ralphie in trouble with the law from school. It turns out the cousin spent some time in Maine after his parents insisted he leave Brooklyn for a while. After he was suspended, he went straight back to Brooklyn.”
“You're kidding...me, right?” Surely Rita was lying.
“Shoot me in the foot if I am,” Rita demanded. “Now, let's get back to Sandy. Two guesses who Nathan Branch is?”
“Not a clue.”
“Nathan works for a crime family in Los Angeles that is connected to the same crime family in Brooklyn! Can you believe that?” Rita shouted. “That's why the guy never stays in jail for too long. He has friends in high places.”
“No way...”
“Yes, way!” Rita laughed a sick and poisonous laugh. “So, dear Sandy completes the circle.”
“Everyone is connected.”
“Even the husband...the dead husband...of Betty Vance. I did some checking. Guess who the guy was that wanted to build the recycling plant?”
“I know the man is—”
“But did you know he is from Brooklyn...and that he has connections to the same mafia family that seems to be connecting all of our players into one ring?” Rita asked. “I did some checking. Betty Vance's husband had some...side dealings...with Mr. Recycle Plant. When I say side dealings, I mean criminal dealings.”
Haley nearly fell out of her chair again. “This is too good to be true. I've got enough goods to put Candy away for life.”
“Well, there's the problem.” Rita's voice turned hard and angry. “I couldn't find nothing on Candy Baker, Betty Vance or the man who calls himselfPeppermint Tolsky. Mr. Tolsky's background is squeaky clean, and Candy Baker's background is even cleaner. Betty Vance...well, her background is clean, but we can argue she knew of her husband's dealings, but we wouldn't get far. Mr. Recycle Plant already made his confessions. And the county commissioner who was helping him already made his confessions. Betty is in the clear.”
“Or is she?” Haley began wondering how she could weave a spider web that could catch all of her enemies at once. “Rita, what if I somehow...break up the party?”
“I was waiting for you to say that.” Rita's voice lightened some. “What's your plan?”
“I'm not entirely sure just yet. We're playing with a loaded stick of dynamite here. My goal is to destroy Candy. I could care less about all of her friends.” Haley began tapping her desk with the pencil she was holding again. “Perhaps a single phone call to the crime family in question might shake things up a little?”
“Wrong party favor,” Rita warned. “The crime family in question, Haley, is extremely dangerous anddeadly.”
