But that was a problem for another time.
“So the mob,” I said, “meaning Gio and Izzy and whoever else is part of Syracuse Something LLC—are using Sal’s body shop and Sambuca Ristorante to launder money.”
Mendoza nodded.
“And you’re working undercover to stop them.”
Another nod.
“Good to know,” I said. “I’ll definitely take that under advisement.”
Mendoza looked a little surprised, but he wasn’t the type to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. “Thank you.”
“Was there anything else you needed?”
He shook his head.
“In that case,” I said, “I think maybe we should call it a night. I have to figure out how to pull the plug on this whole thing without giving anyone too much information.”
Mendoza slipped off the stool and to his feet. “No more dinners at Sambuca, if you don’t mind.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I said. “I’ll make sure Greg takes me somewhere else on Sunday.”
He didn’t respond to that, just ambled toward the back door, the one from the kitchen to the backyard. Edwina got to her feet and followed.
“Just out of curiosity,” I asked, “where’s your car?” It wasn’t parked out front, or I would have seen it when Greg and I pulled up.
“Next street over,” Mendoza said, waving at the trees behind the house.
“Why would you cut across someone else’s yard to get here?”
“I didn’t want to drive directly to the house in case anyone was following me. I don’t think they were, but it never hurts to be careful.”
No, it didn’t. “You don’t think they know who you are, do you?”
“I wouldn’t have been allowed to leave if they did,” Mendoza said.
“And what happened tonight didn’t change that?”
He shook his head. “Your back was to Izzy. He didn’t realize that you recognized me.”
“That’s good.”
He nodded. “Just don’t wander into the back of Sambuca again. While he’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, he isn’t blind either. If he sees you again, he might get ideas.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
“And try not to make a nuisance of yourself in any other way, either.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He pulled the kitchen door open and crossed the threshold onto the terrasse. Edwina darted past his feet and onto the lawn to take care of business. The patch of grass just off the terrasse was lit by motion-activated floodlights, but the trees beyond were dark and off-putting.
“I can get the car out and give you a ride around the block,” I offered, but Mendoza shook his head.
“It’s just a few minutes through the trees. I don’t mind. Just make sure everything here is locked up tight before you go to bed.”
I promised I would. “It was good to see you again, Detective.”
