Page 10 of Third Crime's A Charm
“A birthday party? That’s brave for a man as hated as Martin Lonsdale. Especially if he’s about to cut a deal.”
“I suggested it. I can’t work in Chicago right now so we needed a good excuse for him to come to New York. But Marty will be safe at the party. He’ll have extra security and the guest list is all aging gangsters, geriatric celebrities, and crooked politicians. The hotel will be swarming with federal agents.”
“Only a fool would try something,” Matteo agreed. “You’re sure he’ll have the star with him?” he asked and Truman nodded, causing their lips to brush. The urge to throw an arm around Truman and taste his lips and tongue was strong but Matteo remembered how mortified he was when Neville and Carmine caught him in the study and he realized he’d been betrayed.
The waves were loud and Matteo could feel the cold spray against his cheek but he heard Truman swallow hard and the hand around his neck shook. Truman licked his lips and let out a hot, strained huff. “He’s kept it secret and hidden in a vault in his basement but he won’t travel without it, in case he’s arrested.”
“What kind of vault?” Matteo asked quickly. Getting into Lonsdale’s basement would be tricky and it would be a waste of Matteo’s time if he got down there and couldn’t open it.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it but it’s an old bank vault. I can get you a model name and number and even pictures. I have men inside Lonsdale’s team and can get one of them down there, but it’ll take a few days,” Truman said, confirming Matteo’s suspicions.
“Here would be easier but we’ll be cutting it close if we only have a weekend to work with. Let me think and we’ll talk more about it later, when we’re alone.”
“Agreed,” Truman said as he raised his head. The muscle in his jaw twitched and his chest heaved but Truman quickly regrouped. He smiled as he took Matteo’s hand and was charming and playful as they made their way back to the house.
His ability to remain composed and mask his emotions boded well for their heist. Matteo worked alone because he couldn’t put his faith in another person’s talents or nerve. He had too much to lose if his partner choked or cracked under pressure—during the job and after. Heists weren’t hard to plan and the crime itself was just the beginning. The weeks and months afterwards were the true challenge and when most criminals were caught.
Matteo didn’t carry his phone when he was doing anything illegal, he didn’t throw money around after a job, and heneverdiscussed what he was doing with anyone. Not even the people he handed his haul to. Matteo had carefully selected individuals who could have jewelry taken apart and redesigned and serial numbers on gems and watches changed.Theycould safely sell them and nothing could be traced back to Matteo because they never asked his name or where he was getting his goods. None of those contacts had any reason to turn on Matteo but he wouldn’t risk getting anyone else into trouble.
Having a partner also meant trusting them to be as disciplined as Matteo was. He was conspicuous about not having or caring about money and living off of friends and family. Matteo spent his allowance on his wardrobe and his face. But nothing too extravagant and only as expected for a minor royal. Nothing about his lifestyle changed, no matter what Matteo took. A flashy car, a trip, or mountains of cocaine would be a dead giveaway.
But there wasn’t much of a chance that Truman’s behavior would change and he had the most to lose if the secret got out. Matteo was reassured, but deep down, he didn’t like how easy itwas for Truman to control his emotions. Or that he might be the better actor.
We’ll see about that.
Four
Their first day at the beach house had gone smoothly and Matteo was being surprisingly cooperative. They had lunch with Donna and Neville in the kitchen and she served their dinner on the patio before turning in for the evening. She pinched Truman several times and whispered that Matteo was perfect and not to mess up and Neville ate his dinner in the den where he could watch a baseball game. A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket when Truman and Matteo came in with their dishes.
They shared it as they cleaned up and Matteo sat on the counter, swinging his bare feet as he drank and they discussed local shops and restaurants. The conversation was pleasant and Truman had managed to make Matteo laugh and smile. Once they’d come up with a loose itinerary for the week and finished the bottle, Truman and Matteo turned in.
If Matteo was nervous, he didn’t let on as he undressed, took a quick shower, and pulled on a pair of Truman’s pajama pants. He chatted about the differences between American ice cream and Italian gelato, needing to pick up sunscreen, his oldestbrother’s horses… Anyone would assume they’d been a couple for weeks.
He even knew which side of the bed to get into and was waiting with his chin propped on his palm when Truman joined him. Truman was a nervous wreck as he showered and dressed in a pair of silk pajama pants. He usually slept naked but was afraid he’d break and maul Matteo as he slid under the covers. His hard-on was obvious under the duvet so he immediately rolled toward Matteo.
“Thanks for today. I think it went well,” he said quietly and Matteo shrugged.
“I like Donna and it’s easier if she thinks we’re together. And I understand why this is easier and safer,” he whispered, gesturing between them. “The only reason you and I would spend this much time together is if we were planning something sinister or dating.”
“I resent that,” Truman pouted. “We could be friends and I do a lot of good, too. I have hobbies and philanthropy is one of them.”
“Philanthropy isn’t a hobby, Truman.” Matteo shook his head. “But it wouldn’t make sense for you to drag me to Chicago or to the St. Regis for a birthday party unless we were serious.”
Truman was relieved at Matteo’s change of heart and was glad to have cleared that hurdle. Although, there wasn’t much doubt that Matteo would relish the opportunity to hit a target like LonsdaleifTruman could get the time and privacy to lay out his proposal. Known as the Madoff of the Midwest, Lonsdale targeted smaller cities and financial institutions instead of global firms and millionaires. His victims were small town merchants, teachers, nurses, and firemen. Lonsdale had also laundered money for various mafia families in Chicago and New York, giving him a vast network of criminal connections.
“Good…” Truman agreed tentatively.
“We should do it in Manhattan.”
“Really? We’ll only have a two-day window there. We have almost three weeks if we move before he takes it to New York,” Truman cautioned but Matteo shook his head.
“It’s going to be too much of a coincidence if I was in Chicago when the star was takenandin Manhattan when all those parties were hit.”
“That’s a very good point,” Truman conceded. “He’s going to suspect me because the only other person who knew about the deal, aside from Blanchard, is dead. I’m not worried about Lonsdale pressing charges because he’d incriminate himself if he did. That would be stupid but I don’t want him to blame the theft of the star on anyone else or have it lead back to you.”
“There’s already a pattern in Manhattan and you can blame the leak on the feds,” Matteo suggested, making Truman smile.
“I’ll have to give the Justice Department a heads up, you can’t spring something like that on them without warning,” he agreed. “Marty’s going to hate that but what can I do?”
