“Carter?”
“Yeah, that’s it. Brady Carter.”
“I don’t know any Brady Carter.”
“He said you’d say that. He also said to tell you it’s about the reward you promised.” Her eyes narrowed. “Since when do we have money to pay a reward for anything?”
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. Tell him to hit the road.”
“Youtell him to hit the road. I’m going to take a shower.”
She disappeared into the hallway, leaving him glaring at her wake.
The gate buzzer screeched again.
“Dammit.”
Gennaro pushed out of his chair and lumbered into the foyer.
He checked the built-in screen on the intercom. At the gate stood a middle-aged man with a forgettable face. Gennaro didn’t recognize him.
He pushed the talk button and said, “Whatever you’re selling, we ain’t buying, so take a hike.”
“Mr. Gennaro? Wait. My name is Brady Carter. We met once, a few years ago.”
“I don’t care who you are. But if you push that button again, I have a guy here who’s going to come out and make sure you can never push another.”
Gennaro sneered. That was a good line. He’d have to remember it. Of course, none of the guys he occasionally hired as muscle were around, so he couldn’t back it up, but that hardly mattered.
“Don’t do that! I-I-I saw Johnny Fratelli.”
Gennaro’s brow furrowed. “What did you say?”
“A few years ago, you came around and said you’d pay for information about Johnny Fratelli’s whereabouts. Is that offer still valid?”
“YousawFratelli?”
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“Today.”
Gennaro was at a momentary loss for words. He’d been looking for Fratelli since right after Fratelli had been released from prison.
He pushed the talk button again. “You better not be lying to me.”
“I’m not.”
Gennaro buzzed the gate, then moved to the entrance.
When he heard Carter’s footsteps reach his porch, he opened the door.
“In,” he snapped.
Carter stepped inside, and Gennaro shut the door.
“You have one minute,” he said. “Start talking.”
