Page 84 of Taking Care of the Target

McVee pushed aside his water glass and leaned his elbows on the table. “Why don’t you tell us where she is?”

“I’m sure you looked it up in their system,” Vince said, fishing for how much they knew.

“And I’m sure you know there’s not a record of a Cassandra Dalton buying a ticket. Look, we just wanna talk to her. The more witnesses we have against Carlo Rossi, the better. Let me play you something else.”

Vince’s muscles tensed as he waited to see Cassie onscreen again. Only the file McVee pulled up was an audio one. A recorded conversation between Sal and Carlo, giving the order to kill Cassie.

“What if Vince gets in the way?” Sal asked.

There was a pause, and then Carlo’s voice.“Just have him do what needs to be done.”

“That’s all the proof you need that Rossi didn’t care if you lived or died that night,” McVee said. “Don’t you want to put him away for that?”

Vince barked a laugh, and both agents looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I wasthere. I nearly got shot, so I don’t need proof to tell me he gave the order to kill me if necessary. Was that really your plan? Play a recording to get me to give you information on Cassie? No wonder you didn’t get any of Carlo’s men to turn on him.”

Mancini’s nostrils flared, and his muscles coiled like he was going to leap over the table.Bring it.With the overwhelming sensation of missing Cassie tumbling through him, he could use a fight right now.

McVee put his hand on his partner’s shoulder and shot him a look that made him sit back with a scowl. “What about the fact that your father was killed because Carlo took out one of his rival’s brothers over a money dispute? Your dad’s death was a retribution killing. Did Carlo ever tell you that?”

Vince worked hard to not react, but since hehadn’tknown, he probably failed.

“We know—or I guess we should say we highly suspect—he killed the guy for it, but your dad’s dead because of Carlo Rossi,” McVee said.

Shock, relief, disbelief—Vince wasn’t sure which to let overtake the others. But then he realized it didn’t change the past, or the fact that Dad knew the risks. What good would it have done to know? Would Vince have refused to move in with Carlo when he and Bobby were kids with no other place to go? Taken Bobby away from here a long time ago and prevented him from turning into a junkie? Moved away and lived a completely different life?

Maybe.

But again, it didn’t change anything. Helped a bit with the guilt and feeling like he was letting Dad down, though. “Well, now that I have this new information, I guess I’ll still testify. Good job.”

McVee ran a hand through his hair. “Cassandra could help put him—”

“If you and the US Assistant Attorney can’t put him away with what you have, you’re not very good at your jobs. I’ll never change my mind about Cassie.”

“Two buses went out at that time,” Mancini said. “We sent her picture to every stop along the way. It’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her. We’ll keep you in the loop about it if you cooperate with us.”

Vince gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, coming dangerously close to losing his temper. “If you want my cooperation, you’ll leave her out of it.Idon’t want to be responsible for getting her killed. I know you idiots think you can protect her, but I don’t have any confidence in the system. Carlo’s gotten to witnesses before, and if she dies, I have no reason to testify. She’s the only reason I even came back to help you get my uncle off the streets.”

Mancini opened his mouth, and Vince talked right over whatever he was going to say. “Threats won’t work on me, so don’t bother. And the fact of the matter is, I don’t know where she went. She’s smart, and I made sure she had everything she needed to get lost for good. I couldn’t even find her if I wanted to.”

Now he was going to have to make sure that was true. If hedidfind her, he’d have to go and yell at her for not doing a good enough job. After he kissed her—he’d hate to be too mean.

Of course, then he’d never have the strength to walk away again. Damn that video footage, and damn these assholes for refusing to leave her in peace so she could live a normal life.

Go ahead and damn Carlo, too, for causing this to be necessary in the first place.

Vince stood, fighting the urge to use physical force on the feds so they understood just how serious he was about leaving Cassie alone. He couldn’t make sure she was safe from prison. “We’re done here. Oh, and if you want me to live long enough to testify, I’d suggest not having anymore of these pointless meetings.”

***

Maude’s family members, her next-door neighbor, Cassie, and Deanne surrounded the massive oak table in the Hurst’s dining room. Basically, if Maude met you and you didn’t have family nearby, she took you in and fed you. Instead of the crazy cat lady, she was the crazy people lady.

The amazing food and jovial conversation created a comforting cocoon around them, blocking out the rest of the world for a while. But whenever there was a lull, Cassie thought about the phone in her pocket, and how many newspapers she could pull up with a couple of taps. Yesterday she’d seen the words “several arrested” and her adrenaline had spiked, along with her hopes. The last words of the headline ended up being “in a prostitution ring,” and her hope had cracked and crashed to the ground.

“So, Katie, how’s Oklahoma comparing to Maryland?” Owen asked, and she glanced up in time for all eyes to turn to her. At least she was getting better at answering to Katie. He shot her a crooked smile. “And you might wanna remember you’re surrounded by natives.”

“Ah, so no pressure,” she said, and chuckles went around the table. “So far I’m a Tulsa fan, so no need to get out the pitchforks just yet.”

“Happy to hear it. What made you move here, anyway?”

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