“Any idea how I might get ahold of Marco’s wife?”
“Giada?” Ricky’s sudden burst of laughter broke the tension. “Giada and Marco haven’t lived together since I was a kid. She got the house when they split. The only thing they have in common as far as I know is Kevin Bacon.”
Nick’s brow furrowed as I blanched. “The actor?”
“No, the dog. Uncle Marco gets Kevin when Giada’s in Florida. Giada gets the dog when she’s at her place in Venice Park.”
“And she’s in Florida now?”
“Beats me. Marco’s my mom’s brother,” Ricky explained. “Giada’s the other side of the family. Things got weird between everyone after Marco and Giada separated. If it hadn’t been for their prenup, they would have divorced a long time ago. We mostly all keep to our respective sides of town. The Toscano side sticks close to Ducktown.”
“Ducktown?”
“And Chelsea.”
“Is that where Marco lives?” When Ricky didn’t answer, Nick said, “All I’ve got is a cell number, and he’s not picking up.”
“He doesn’t pick up for anybody,” Ricky muttered. “He screens his calls.”
“You know where I can find his house?”
Ricky spread his arms, gesturing to the city around them. “Why would a guy like Marco need a house? Any hotel on the boardwalk is home to Marco. A high roller like him? One who’s brought in a lot of business for them over the years? He can get a free room any day of the week, eating free meals and drinking free booze at any one of these places. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? It’s just one more thing he’d have to split with Giada.” Or give to her entirely, depending on their prenup.
Nick’s gaze skated from Ricky to the towering hotels behind him.
“Good luck finding him,” Ricky said, as if he were reading Nick’s mind. “You gonna give me your keys? I got to get back to work.”
Nick handed Ricky the keys to the Cadillac. I slipped out of the car as Ricky ducked into the driver’s seat.
Nick stood for a moment, staring at the Cadillac’s taillights as Ricky drove off. My cell phone vibrated with a text message from Vero.
Found something. Get your ass back here.
“Want me to take you to your meeting with Sylvia?” Nick asked, startling my attention from the screen.
I shook my head. If Nick was my escort, I wouldn’t stand a chance of ditching him. “Charlie can drive me. He can wait in the car.”
I left Nick standing on the curb and headed into the lobby. I typed a message to Vero as I walked:
I’ll be there in an hour.
Nick followed a few steps behind me, remaining silent in the elevator, as if he sensed I needed some space. He didn’t bother to ask to come in when I unlocked the door to my room and said a hasty goodbye. After all, it was his own fault I was in a hurry to meet with Sylvia.
I dug a fresh pair of jeans and my only decent sweater from my luggage. After a quick change of clothes, I swabbed some gloss on my lips and ran a brush through my hair. I was just coming out of the bathroom when I heard raised voices through the wall. I pressed an ear to Steven’s door.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little unreasonable?” Steven asked.
“Your child defecated in the pool. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say your family’s no longer welcome to use it.”
Delia’s small voice interrupted the two men. “Daddy, are we in trouble? Maybe we should call Mommy.”
“We don’t need to call Mommy. Daddy has it all under control.”Steven did not sound like he had anything under control. Zach started crying. Delia turned the TV on too loudly to try to calm him. Steven raised his voice, shouting over it, making the hotel manager raise his too, escalating their argument. “Fine. If you’re going to be a dick about it, we won’t go back to the pool.”
“Daddy, Mommy says that’s not a nice word. We’re not supposed to say that.”
“Just a minute, Delia. Let the grown-ups talk.”
“Sir, we still need to discuss the matter of the broken vase in the lobby.”
