Skip's eyebrows lifted. “All of it?”
“No, just the ribs. Lany said someone else got his face.” And just as soon as I knew who that someone was, I'd be having a little talk with him.
Skip shook his head as he stood. “My yacht needs a full-time chef anyway.”
Those of us who knew what he was talking about laughed. Detective Sparks and Agent Crenshaw looked confused.
I wasn't going to explain it.
“I'm going to go call my boss and let him know I may need a few days off and then make sure I have everything I need in the infirmary. Give me about ten minutes, and then you can bring Lany in.”
“Thanks, Skip.”
Detective Sparks glanced at me once Skip and David had left the room. “You have an infirmary in your house?”
I wanted to laugh but couldn't. Not when Lany was injured.
“We have a fully stocked infirmary, a couple of panic rooms, panic buttons in every room, and a full-time security staff on duty twenty-four hours a day. Lany also has two personal bodyguards.” I glanced at Marcus, who was leaning up against the wall near the entrance. Dmitri stood next to him, but his pose was much stiffer. “They pretty much get hazard pay to deal with Lany.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Yes,” every one of us said at the same time.
Detective Sparks paled.
“Guess I need to order some cupcakes then,” Crenshaw stated.
Detective Sparks turned to stare at him with total confusion. It seemed to be a regular expression for the man. “Cupcakes?”
“Lany has worked on several of my cases before. Nothing like this, though. He usually just looks over case files for me and gives me his opinion. He asked to be paid in cupcakes.”
“Instead of ordering them, you should ask our cook, Mrs. Martinez, to bake some for you,” I said. “Lany loves her cupcakes.”
Crenshaw smiled. “I'll do that.”
“Sir,” Brant said as he appeared in the entryway. “Mr. Castellano has arrived.”
Oh, this should be fun.
“Let him know we have guests and then let him in if he chooses to stay.”
Brant gave a curt nod. “Yes, sir.”
I glanced at Detective Sparks and Agent Crenshaw. “Before Vinnie comes in, I want to warn you not to start anything. He is a guest in my home, just as you are.”
“He's a mob boss,” the detective protested.
“Former mob boss, and he has never been found guilty of anything,” Jerry retorted. “We have a very clear understanding with Mr. Castellano. If we find him guilty of something, we will toss him in jail. Until that time, he is innocent until proven guilty.” Jerry quickly raised his hand when the detective started to speak. “And, yes, IAB is fully aware of our association with him. They are not happy with it, but we have broken no laws.”
“But—”
Before the detective could say more, Vinnie stepped into the living room. His eyes immediately went to Lany and me. “How is he?”
“A little banged up. Skip is here now. He'll be giving him a full check-up in a few minutes. He just had to make a call first.”
Vinnie glanced at the others in the room before walking to me. He grabbed a USB drive out of his pocket and held it out to me. “I spoke with Carlos and the others. This is everything they could give me on that drug house. Carlos said he would call if he found more.”
“Thank you, Vinnie,” I said as I took the USB drive. “This will be a big help. Lany has already chosen the office wall for the storyboard.”
