Page 17 of Fish out of Water
But everything was as it should be. Quiet and calm.
Which meant I had more time to kill.
I closed the door and went to the kitchen, dropping the envelope of money onto the counter before pulling out the first drawer and digging through, looking for any sign of who Vito was dealing with. The first one was full of paper take-out menus and unused single-serve sauce packets. I slammed it shut and moved to the next one, working my way down the line.
After digging through every cabinet and drawer I was still no closer to figuring out what stupid scam my uncle was running this time.
He’d spent most of his life trying to make fast and easy money.
Only it was never fast or easy.
And he never actually made money. He lost it all, and then some, every time.
This time was probably no different.
Except for the fact that the money pile was significantly taller than normal.
Which meant Vito might have found bigger fish to swim with.
All the more reason I needed to stay far from Julia. My uncle never should have dragged her into this. It was a dick move.
An unsurprising dick move. Vito wasn’t known for thinking of how his actions would affect other people.
One more reason this was going to be my last trip here. It didn’t help him and it sure as hell didn’t help me.
I moved to the bedroom, looking through the dresser as I continued my search for anything that might indicate what in the hell was going on. Luckily Vito was tidy, so the task wasn’t terribly difficult, and I made it through the closet and drawers in less than ten minutes.
And still had nothing to go on.
The spare room was set up as an additional sitting area with a recliner and television. Blackout curtains covered the windows.
Probably so he could hide back here when he didn’t want anyone to know he was home.
I sifted through the small stack of mail on the table next to the chair before moving down to the shelf underneath. Three phone books were stacked up under a cordless phone that might have been the first one ever issued. Other than that, the shelf was empty.
The man needed a cell phone. Everyone had cell phones these days and, based on his preferred past times, I could use an easy way to hunt him down.
This could have been over before it started. A quick location search and I would be on my way back home.
I went to where my bag was dropped on the uncomfortable bed I hardly slept in last night, snagging it before going to the front of the apartment. I’d been more hopeful than I should have and only brought a single change of clothes when I came last night.
I grabbed the envelope of money off the table and tucked it into my bag, zipping it up as I walked out the door.
“Leaving so soon?” Sharon Sherling was right outside.
Like she was waiting for me.
“Did you meet Julia?” She said it like it might explain my departure from Sweet Side Apartments.
“I just need a change of clothes.” I pulled the door closed and locked it. “Looks like I’m going to be house-sitting a little longer.”
Word traveled faster than lightning in a place like this, and as much trouble as Vito caused me I still didn’t want his image tainted in the eyes of his neighbors.
“I hope Vito enjoys his time up north.” Sharon said it slowly.
Like she didn’t quite believe the excuse I’d given her.
“I’m sure he will.” I gave her a smile and redirected the conversation. “Can I pick anything up for you while I’m out?”
