“Let’s go find this guy,” Jack said, heading in the direction of the bar.
Once inside, they asked around, and though no one would tell them who he was, many eyes swiveled in the direction of a forty-something guyshooting darts.
“Thanks,” Scott said to the bartender as he and Jack left. They didn’t go far. The alley next to the building waswide and empty.
“How long you think we’ll need to wait until he comes out?” Scott wanted to get back to check on Heather. The images of her crying and falling apart in his arms jabbed deep inside. He wouldn’t even go anywhere near the ones of them entwined on the bed, or God help him, the kitchen table. After dinner yesterday they’d spent a long portion of the night exploring every inchof each other.
“Here he is,” Jack warned and they flanked the man as he moved on the sidewalk.
“Kenny Jefferson?”
Kenny’s eyes narrowed and he frowned. “Whowants to know?”
“Tony Pascucci gave us your name. Said you might be able to help us.” Jack threw out the ex-mobster’s name.Would it help?
“Tony, huh? I ain’t got nothing to help no one.”
“All we want is some information. It’ll only take a second.” Scott didn’t want to be hanging around this guy any longer thanthey needed to.
Kenny attempted to walk around them, but Jack moved closer and Scott maneuvered him fartherinto the alley.
“You worked for Victor Cabrini for a while.”
“Yeah, what of it? The guy got whacked and left me with no job.” His eyes darted around the area.
“We were told you worked at the mill building on Prescott Street in Menatuck. What can you tell us about that place?”
“I can’t tell you nothing. Get the fuck out of my way.” He reached into his pocket and Scott grabbed for his hand then twisted it behind his back. The man held a knife.
“All I’m doing is asking you a few questions. Cabrini’s dead, so you don’t have to worry about snitching on him. I want to know what the buildingwas used for.”
“Yeah, what’s in it for me?”Kenny grunted.
Memories of Heather lying still on the ground after her house exploded flashed through his mind. She’d almost been killed.
“How about I don’t break your face?” Scott snapped, as he slammed the man into the wall harder. “Is that reason enough to give mea few answers?”
“Okay, man, let up. I’ll tell you what youwant to know.”
Releasing him, Scott allowed him to turn around but hovered right in his face.
“The building was used to hold stolen goods. We used to move them in andout at night.”
“What else?”
“I don’t know what else.”
Scott’s hand pushed against the man’s throat. “Why would someone be opposed to renovatingthe building?”
“What the fuck, man, I don’t know. Unless there’s still stolen shit in there. I…wait, the basement. We were told not to go intothe basement.”
Easing back on the pressure, Scott asked, “Why? What was in there?” He only remembered debris and empty boxes.
“I don’t know. I never went down there. You think I was going to risk getting my ass killed by disobeying Victor Cabrini? I ain’t that dumb, man.”
He’d have to look more closely at the basement. Stepping back, he crooked his head toward the street. “Thanksfor the info.”
Jack stepped in front of Kenny, and it almost looked like he handed him something. Then the man took off down the street. Once back in the car, Scott glancedat his cousin.
