Bad Luck by Anthony Bruno Page A

made a face. “So what’s the big secret? You couldn’t call this in?”
    â€œI haven’t been able to corroborate the stuff about the land yet.”
    â€œSo what?”
    Now Tozzi made a face. “What’re you, crazy? I got this from the subject’s wife. Wives don’t have to testify against their husbands in court. That happens to be the law, if you remember. We could never use this to bring charges against Nashe. That’s why I didn’t call it in.” Tozzi took a swig of his drink. “Besides, Ivers would go nuts if he found out I was—you know, with Nashe’s wife.”
    â€œYeah, I know.” Gibbons swirled the beer in his glass and stared at Tozzi. This undercover had really brought out the guinea in him. The European-cut suit, the little Italian loafers, the styled hair. He had the look down perfect, low-echelon wiseguy with big ideas, the kind of punk who starts out as a driver or a bodyguard and works his way up in the family, hoping to be made a member some day.Getting made in the mob was like making the varsity team for these kind of guys. It’s what they live and breathe for.
    Gibbons nodded to himself, thinking, still staring at his old partner. Tozzi’s act was on the mark, but he hadn’t flipped. No, Ivers was wrong about that. Gibbons knew in his gut that Tozzi was playing it straight, doing his job. He was just doing it his way, the asshole. It would never occur to Tozzi that he could report what he’d learned so that Ivers could dispatch another agent to do the legwork that could back up his information. No, that wasn’t Tozzi’s way. He had to fly solo, make it a big adventure, then bring it in on a silver platter all by himself. He was like a dumb cat who brings dead birds to your doorstep and sits there, pleased as shit with himself, waiting for praise. Fucking Tozzi. Never was much of a team player. Gibbons sighed and took a sip of the piss. Neither was he.
    â€œSo what’s the story with the blonde?” Gibbons nodded toward the bartender.
    Tozzi smiled. “Valerie. Valerie Raynor. She’s nice. I really like her.”
    â€œYeah, and she’s got a good beat, easy to dance to.”
    â€œFuck you! It’s not like that.” Tozzi was suddenly vicious.
    Gibbons raised his eyebrows. Could this be love? “It must be something. You been buzzing around her like a fly around shit.”
    Tozzi stared down at the bar. “I told you. I like her. I mean, I really like her. You know what I’m talking about?”
    Gibbons looked over at Valerie in her gangster hat, pouring shots, and thought about Lorraine, Lorraine the way she used to be. He knew what Tozzi was talking about. “She mixed in with all this? Nashe and his creditors, I mean.”
    â€œNo, no, no . . . she just works here.” He sounded frustrated, like things weren’t working out the way he wanted with this Valerie.
    â€œThen what’s the problem? She’s not interested in you?”
    Tozzi shook his head slowly. “No, I’m getting all the right signals. All systems are go, as far as I can tell.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œBut how the hell can I put the moves on Valerie when Sydney’s always popping out of the woodwork? I gotta be careful just coming here to the bar.”
    Gibbons frowned. I got news for you, pal. You’re not that careful.
    Tozzi took another sip. “Sydney’s a weird little bitch. If she thought I was getting serious with someone else, she’d cut me right off. Probably have me fired. I’ve got to be at her beck and call all the time, or else I don’t get any more info. When she’s in the mood, I’ve got to drop everything for her. It’s getting to be a real pain.”
    â€œYou’re breaking my fucking heart. Such a hardship, porking a babe like Sydney.” Asshole.
    â€œSuck my dick.” Tozzi knocked back the rest of his