“I found Katie a bit messed up in LA and brought her back with me yesterday. She was involved in a shooting a month ago. She and her colleagues raided a warehouse owned by the Alessi brothers.” This produced a whistle from Newman, but no one else. Unlike the others, he left Howling regularly for work and had obviously heard of the Italians.
“I’m guessing these guys are some heavy-hitting crime thugs?”
Cubby nodded at Buster’s words. “Katie said her boss thinks the Alessi brothers have someone on the inside who tipped them off, and they walked into a setup. They opened fire; and some were killed, others injured.”
“Well fuck, if that just don’t sour your coffee,” Buster snarled.
“She injured her wrist, but otherwise she’s doing okay, at least physically.”
“Well fuck,” Buster said again, which was his standard response when something got him riled.
Cubby took up the story again, and told them how the youngest Alessi was shot, and that when he died as a result of his wounds yesterday, his brothers had put out the word that they wanted to know who had killed him and if they were dead or alive. “They also posted a reward of $100,000 for the information.”
“Oh my God, tell me that’s not my sister.” Jake closed his eyes. Tex reached over and pushed his head down between his knees. He stayed there for several seconds before lifting it.
“Yes, she’s certain she shot him, and the bullet they got out of his chest confirmed it.”
“Christ.” Jake looked in pain now. “No, no, no.” He shook his head as Buster gripped his shoulders hard. “My baby sister, who used to play dolls and love everything pink, shot someone, and now a crime family has a hit out on her.”
“I got Katie out of LA straight away,” Cubby added. “Only her sergeant knows she’s here, and he’ll keep me posted on any news he gets relating to the Alessis. He doesn’t believe anyone knows it was Katie who fired the shot, but someone she works with might throw her name around, and who knows what they’d spill for the right amount of money.”
“And these Italian assholes have plenty of that is my guess?” Buster said.
“They’re worth millions.”
“You got any pictures of them?”
Cubby handed the papers he’d printed out to his friends. “Nothing may happen, but we need to be vigilant anyway.”
“This town is meant to be calm,” Buster said, looking at the faces of the Alessi brothers. “You know, market days, carnivals, and stuff like that. Our biggest worry should be who’s hosting fucking poker night next, but we’ve had shootings, Vegas moneylenders, and now drug lords are about to descend.” He shook his head. “I’m getting seriously pissed about all this, it’s fair to say, and for the love of God, McBride, check your shirt before you leave the house, you got baby puke on it.”
“My sister’s in danger and you’re worried about baby puke on my shirt? When did you even notice shit like that anyway?” Jake snarled.
“You gotta have standards, man.”
“Willow,” the others said in unison. “She’s turned him into a fashion queen.”
Cubby looked at the torn neck of Buster’s t-shirt and shook his head. “She needs to try harder.”
“Who is hosting poker night?” Newman said. “Because I did it last.”
“Baker boy,” Cubby muttered, studying the eldest Alessi. The man’s eyes were really close together. His list of credentials would make someone facing life shudder.
“The hell you say!”
“Fair’s fair,” Tex said, running his eyes down the brief Cubby had prepared on the men. “These fuckers sure do have their fingers in shit. Let me see what else I can turn up from a few of my contacts.”
“I’d be grateful,” Cubby said. Ethan knew people who knew people. “The only people in Howling who know this are you lot and my deputies, because they’ll need to keep a look out, and I trust them to keep this close.”
“I’ll see what I can find too,” Newman said. Jake just looked sick.
“We’ll keep her safe, Jake.”
“I have to believe that,” he said, inhaling.
“Well hell gents, we got trouble,” Cubby said, looking up as he heard the outside door open. “Shit,” he added as he noted the scowl on Katie McBride’s face.
“Hide those papers and start talking about the hunting trip we were planning,” Jake said, seeing her. “It’ll throw her off.”
