Giovanni shrugged. “Mac is not going to like this.”
“Let’s hope I can answer his questions before Mac gets here.” I entered into the kitchen alone. It bustled, and all of the hustling bodies and stoves made it feel like a degree before hell.
Detective Stone stood in the corner, trying to stand out of the way, and when he noticed me, he called me with a finger.
Before I could get to him, I overheard Bruno talking to one of the other busboys. He was talking about how he couldn’t wait for someone to take “Mac” out. He hoped Stone would do it.
I tapped him on the shoulder. He froze. A second or two later, he turned around slowly, facing me.
“You’re fired,” I said. “Gossiping about my husband’s business is not tolerated. You signed the agreement when you started working here. Get your shit and go.”
“Fired?” he repeated.
I opened my eyes wide, trying to press the point. “Do you need a dictionary?”
His face turned a mean shade of red. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he closed it as soon as Stone came close to us. Bruno turned and left, and after, a few of the kitchen staff applauded softly.
Stone took me by the arm after the kitchen drama and led me outside. I protested, but it was no use. He said that he refused to speak inside of the restaurant.Why?Then I worried about Achille rounding the corner, seeing me.He couldn’t kill me in front of a detective, could he?I guess that depends on if Stone is in his pocket,I thought cynically.
“You could’ve let me grab my coat!” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to ward off the cold. It was like going from one side of hell to another in the span of a second. “What’s this about?”
“Where’s Keely?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “If it’s Keely you want, go findher. It’s freezing out here!”
“What do you know about Cashel Kelly?”
“Besides his name? Nothing.” I held up a hand. “Honest.”
He watched my face for any signs of dishonesty for a minute. Maybe looking for a tell? I stuck my hands in my pockets, not wanting to fidget.
“It seems like you girls keep a lot of secrets from each other. I thought ya’ll were friends.”
“You’re right. We’re not. We’re sisters.”
“Well, that makes more sense. Sisters don’t always get along as well as friends.”
“Is this visit about Keely?” Smoke purled out of my mouth.
“Yes and no.” He watched me again, this time with his hands on his hips. He had a coat on. Gloves. A hat. Maybe he thought if he made me stand out in the cold I’d break sooner. “Do you girls always go for the bad boys you’ll never be able to change?”
“That sounds like a lot of nonsense to me, Detective Stone.”
“I’m a little late on the congratulations, Mrs. Macchiavello. I heard you married Mac Macchiavello, one of the richest men in New York. He’s a man whose face is rarely seen. He glides just under the lines.”
“No need to wish me well in my marriage. You hardly know me. And again,nonsense. I’m out here freezing my ass off for nonsense.”
“What do you know about the Scarpone family, Mrs. Macchiavello?”
“At this moment? One of them is sitting inside of the restaurant. Having dinner.”
“His name is Achille Scarpone. He’s Arturo Scarpone’s youngest son.”
“I assume the other guy that was in there with Achille a few minutes ago is Arturo’s—”
“Grandson,” Stone answered for me. “Achille Scarpone has four sons. Well. Had. You remember ArminoScarpone?”
“Yeah.”
