Secrets & Lies by Raymond Benson Page B

private.
    â€œHow’s business, Leo?” he asked.
    â€œGreat. And that thing I’m working on is going well.”
    â€œThat’s what I understand. Mookie Samberg knows what he’s doing, even if he is expensive.” He belly laughed and lit another cigarette.
    â€œI’m going to New York in a couple of weeks to talk to the paper supplier.”
    â€œGood, good. I trust you, Leo. I know you don’t do a lot of work for us. I appreciate this initiative of yours. Everything all right? Do you need anything?”
    â€œNo, and thank you, sir. Listen, if there is
ever
anything I can do for you, please let me know. I have a whole warehouse operation at your disposal.”
    He laughed again. “Of course you do. Your father and I did a lot of business together. He was a wonderful man and a good friend.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd, it’s funny you mention it, but I
did
want to ask you about something that maybe you could do for me.”
    â€œWhat’s that, sir?”
    â€œStop with that ‘sir’ stuff. I don’t like it. And that ‘don’ thing doesn’t work either. That’s what they say in New York. I’m not a New Yorker.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œDon’t ever apologize. Makes you look weak.”
    â€œYes, s—um, I know.”
    â€œYou know, Maria likes you, Leo. She talks about you a lot.”
    â€œI like her too. She’s a lovely gal—er, girl. We’re going to Disneyland together next week.”
    He paused for a second, registering that his daughter was going on a date with me. How did he feel about it? Well, apparently it was okay, because he said, “That’s great. You’ll have a good time.”
    â€œI’m sure we will.”
    â€œNow listen. What I wanted to talk to you about. Your sister—”
    â€œChristina?”
    â€œChristina. She did some time.”
    â€œYes, she did, sir—damn, I’m sorry. What do I call you if you don’t want me to call you ‘sir’?”
    â€œCall me Vince. My closest friends call me Vince.”
    â€œAll right, Vince. Thank you. I’m honored.”
    â€œForget it. Anyway, your sister—”
    â€œChristina.”
    â€œChristina, she was in for armed robbery, right?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œIs she still in the joint?”
    â€œNo. We share a house in Hollywood.”
    â€œOh, I wish I’d known. I would’ve invited her to the party.”
    â€œIt’s all right.”
    He paused and looked at me, and then said, “I hear she’s good. At armed robbery.”
    That surprised me. “Yeah, I’d say she is. Was.”
    â€œDoes she know anyone else who could, let’s say, participate in a job?”
    This was getting better. I answered, “Sure. Me.”
    DeAngelo looked sideways at me. “You? You’ve pulled off bank jobs?”
    â€œI helped Christina a couple of times.”
    â€œAre you good? Tell me the truth. Could I call you professionals?”
    My sister was a pro, but I couldn’t say I was. I’d helped her out a couple of times, and she got popped on the second one. “Sure, Vince. When Christina and I did that sort of thing, we were very good. We robbed this bank in San Diego—”
    â€œListen, I may have a job for you and Christina. Are you interested?”
    Yeah, I was interested. If it was for Vincent DeAngelo, I was definitely interested. And Christina would jump at it in a heartbeat. I told him so.
    â€œGood. I don’t know anything yet, but if it happens, it’s going to be tricky. I need someone I can trust. It’s probably going to involvea Hollywood bank. I’ll know something concrete in a few weeks. You want to talk to Christina and see if it’s something she’s willing to risk? I know if she gets popped again it’ll be bad news.”
    â€œI’m sure she’ll be