Page 63 of Saltwater Promises
Chapter 26
Lenny wasthrilled. That meeting couldn’t have gone any better. Gary, for all his grumbling, had been right – Lenny didn’t need anybody’s help.
He was going to get his cut of the money, turn in his good-for-nothing father, and then make a run for it. He’d already found a mansion he liked in Jamaica; it was a place right on the beach.
After David and his buddy, what’s-his-face – mini-David – left, Benzini pulled Lenny aside.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” he asked.
“For you, always.” Lenny turned around to yell at Gary. “Go wait in the car.”
Gary didn’t say anything and did as he was told.
Good. Despite being old and out of touch, Gary could still serve a purpose.
Once he was out of sight, Benzini spoke again. “This is for your ears only.”
“Got it.”
“Unless Gary is someone that your dad sent along after Vinnie’s unfortunate run-in with the King County Jail?”
Lenny frowned. “He’s nobody. Don’t worry about it. And when are you getting Vinnie out, anyway? I thought you had a magic touch with this stuff.”
Benzini smiled. “Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about your friend. He should be out this week.”
“Ah.” A week. Lenny would be gone by then. Maybe he’d send Vinnie a postcard from the beach.
“To be honest,” Benzini let out a sigh, “I was hoping he’d be out sooner. He’s got more experience with this sort of thing.”
“Oh yeah? More experience with what?”
“It’s nothing personal, Lenny. Vinnie is more of a hammer, you know?”
He didn’t know what game Benzini was playing. Vinnie was an idiot. Lenny had always been the brains. He didn’t have time for this nonsense. “What’s going on?”
“It’s Jared. He’s got a problem.”
Lenny shrugged. “Yeah? What kind of problem?”
“One that can only be handled discreetly.”
Lenny rolled his eyes. “Yeah, like I said. No problem. Just tell me what and I’ll get it done.”
“Good.” Benzini cleared his throat. “I don’t want this issue to worry Marco, because Jared’s gallery has been tidy and efficient. What we’re doing is preemptive, you understand?”
“Sure.”
He nodded. “One of the artists caused a stir recently. Nothing substantial, she’s just getting some attention. Jared thought she might be a good candidate to do some work for us, if you know what I mean.”
All of the stupid paintings looked the same to Lenny. He didn’t know why they had to be so careful who painted the ones they sold at the “special” rate. “Yeah, and…?”
“Jared did some checking and found out that she’s ex-FBI.”
Lenny crossed his arms. “Is she a plant or something?”
“No, no, it doesn’t seem that way.” Benzini smiled, slipping on a pair of sunglasses. “Like I said, the gallery is a well-run machine, so there’s nothing to worry about. We just don’t need anything disrupting that machine.”
“You want me to go smash up her studio or something?” That would be easy enough. Vinnie wasn’t the only one who could cause damage.
