The Lucifer Messiah by Frank Cavallo

over.
    Despite his less-than-savory occupation, however, he was still a good Catholic. Divorce had been out of the question. So he had done the only thing he could do. He had made sure she had enough money to get along while he entertained himself, and he had sent her to live somewhere he knew he’d never have to go, somewhere he knew nobody ever really wanted to go.
    As far as he knew, his wife was happy on Staten Island.
    He was slumbering quite peacefully, the heavy shades drawn closed, when the man he called Lycaon, and nearly everyone else called Indian Joe, entered and roused him.
    â€œWhat time is it?” Calabrese mumbled.
    â€œSeven-o’clock. I know you’ve been sleeping late these past days,” Lycaon replied.
    â€œI need rest. The festival is especially trying for me. I will need all of my strength.”
    â€œI know, master.”
    â€œThen why do you disturb me?”
    â€œIt’s Mulcahy.”
    Calabrese, as if injected with a dose of adrenaline, rose immediately. He lifted his great girth into a seated position.
    â€œI’m afraid it is not good news. Two of the men on our payroll work out of the Midtown South precinct. A few moments ago we received a call from one of them, a Sergeant Maher, who incidentally wishes to thank you for the flowers you sent his wife on her birthday last month.”
    The suggestion brought a much-needed laugh to the fat gangster’s lips.
    â€œIn any case, he reports that they, and I quote:
Wheeled in three stiffs this morning. Shot down outside this guy Vince Sicario’s place.”
    â€œOur boys, I take it?”
    â€œIndeed. The one called Paulie Tonsils and his two guys, Gino and the Vig.”
    Calabrese scratched his chin.
    â€œWhat colorful names these people give themselves. Pau-lie Tonsils. I’ve never seen the like, in all my many years.”
    â€œIt looks like some of our boys took it upon themselves to locate Mulcahy.”
    â€œThis Sicario again, the one Scylla’s been looking at. Why does his name keep popping up?”
    â€œI did some checking. It turns out he’s a childhood friend of Mulcahy’s. Knew him here before he left for whatthey used to like to call
The Great War”
    â€œBefore he learned who, or even
what
he was. This Sicario individual is likely still unaware of Mulcahy’s true nature. Lucifer may be able to evade us, but if he has friends here, we can use that. I want this man. Through him we can get to Mulcahy—in whatever form he’s taken.”
    â€œI’ll have Scylla stay on him. We’ve already looked into his background a little, but not much has turned up.”
    â€œWhat do we know so far?”
    â€œVincent Nicholas is his full name. Used to be a police officer in this area, retired a few years ago for reasons we haven’t been able to determine. He’s been described by those who know him as
a real sonnuvabitch
and
not someone you’d want to mess with”
    â€œSounds like the sort I could use on my staff right about now.
    â€œAny family?”
    â€œNothing. Parents are dead, no relatives in the country. Married, but as far as anyone I’ve talked to can say, he and his wife haven’t spoken in years. He evidently has no friends. Not the most sociable of New York’s many denizens.”
    â€œFine. Keep our people out there. He’s sure to turn up eventually. When he does, keep someone on him. But do not, under any circumstances, try to snare him. Once he’s located, I want to be informed. If we lose him, we lose Mulcahy, and that cannot happen again.”
    â€œHe’s already proven he’ll kill to protect himself. Do you think he’ll try to leave the city?”
    â€œAlways possible, but not likely. He’s still one of us, after all, and he can’t resist the call of the season any more than the rest of us can. He’ll be here for the festival, but we have to get to him before then.