Robert B. Parker's Slow Burn (Spenser, #44)(36)

As we moved toward the bridge over Storrow, I spotted Vinnie Morris leaning against a large black Mercedes. He was reading a newspaper. A cup of coffee was in his hand.

“Nice suit,” Z said.

“It’s what a life of crime can buy,” I said.

“Something to consider,” Z said.

I nodded. I fist-bumped him in our own private joke and walked toward Vinnie. He had on a navy linen suit with a crisp shirt open at the throat and slip-on loafers. As his watch glinted in the sun, I surmised it was probably worth more than my retirement account.

He nodded at me. “You pull a hamstring back there?”

“I was taking it easy on the kid.”

“Sure,” Vinnie said. “You versus a D-one running back. No contest.”

“You bring me a coffee?”

“Of course,” Vinnie said. “And there’s lobster benedict in the trunk.”

“Just passing through?” I said. I turned my torso back and forth and gripped my right foot behind me in a quad stretch. I did the same with the left. Tomorrow I would be sore. But as I’d be relaxing with Susan, it wasn’t a major concern.

“What the f*ck were you thinking, taking on Davey Stefanakos?”

“It was the first time I’d met Davey,” I said. “He seems very nice. Very professional.”

“You bet,” Vinnie said. “After what you and Hawk did to DeMarco’s people last year, he’s invested in more quality. Stefanakos will swallow you whole. He was a pro fighter. Beat the hell out of some Russian guy. Nearly killed him and got banned for life.”

“Not Ivan Drago,” I said. “He brought hope to us all.”

“I’d advise you get out of town for a while.”

“Already in the works.”

“Bullshit.”

“Doesn’t have anything to do with DeMarco,” I said. “It’s Susan’s birthday. I’m pretty sure DeMarco will still be pissed when I get back.”

“You bet he will,” Vinnie said. He reached for his coffee, took a sip, and then shook his head. “He may have put some money down on the deal.”

“The deal?”

“Your head,” Vinnie said. “Your f*cking life. You think you’re making buddies with DeMarco like you did Tony Marcus and Gino Fish? You guys shake hands and then start sending each other Christmas cards? Christ, not everyone gets soft.”

“No one ever accused you of getting soft.”

“Damn right,” Vinnie said. “It was take over my own crew or get pushed out. I wasn’t raised like that. No one pushes me out until I’m ready.”

“I agree.”

“So watch your back,” Vinnie said. “I’ll be there if you need me. But I can’t be there all the time. Who else knows where you’re going?”

“Hawk, Z,” I said. “Henry Cimoli.”

“And don’t tell nobody else,” he said. “I’d keep Hawk and Chief Dan George there close. DeMarco thinks you’re trying to frame him for that church fire and all these crazy fires.”

“I made an inquiry,” I said. “Through your pal Tommy Torch.”

“Tommy Torch is no friend of mine,” he said. “He’s a pederast lowlife. Looks like he told DeMarco and his crew what you were up to. Must’ve gone to the highest bidder.”

“I didn’t offer him anything,” I said. “Besides putting in a good word with the D.A. if his info worked out.”

“You know how to go right to the criminal’s heart.”

I nodded. Vinnie offered his hand. As he did so, he looked over his shoulder and then along the Esplanade. Convinced no one was watching, he nodded and got back into the long Mercedes.

I watched him cut up into Beacon Hill as I walked back to my apartment.

Nice to have friends.





Did you kill him?” Kevin said.

“Would you shut the hell up,” Johnny said. “Jesus.”

“I’m serious,” Kevin said. “You need to let me know. Because that makes me part of it. I’m not going to jail for this shit. I just want to help.”

“You’re already part of it,” Johnny said. He lit up a Marlboro Red and blew smoke out the window. They were stuck in traffic on the Neponset Bridge headed over to Quincy. He mashed his horn and pounded the wheel with his fist.

Johnny had to check on a faulty sensor at a packie before they made the rounds tonight and Kevin decided to tag along. Johnny had two places that were perfect in Roxbury and another in Braintree. Johnny had grown up there and knew the streets by heart.

“Just what did Featherstone say to you?”

“Like I said, he saw your vehicle at the warehouse we torched,” Kevin said. “I told him it was probably one of your security jobs. But he kept on pushing it.”

“Did he mention anything about any cops or guys in Arson?”

“Nope,” Kevin said. “I think he kept it to himself. He was just kind of talking out loud.”

“He was sure as hell talking to somebody,” Johnny said. “I f*cking know it. He was asking you about me because he’d already decided what to do. He wanted to play the f*cking hero and take me down. He thought you’d be his goat.”