well.
“Saluto!” they responded.
They took a swallow, then De Luca lifted his glass again.
“To Nicholas Morello,” De Luca said. “Lui possa vagare attraverso inferno quardando per la sua testa.”
De Luca, Provenzano, and the Italian servants standingaround the table all laughed. When Provenzano saw the confused look in the faces of Rachel and Fancy, he interpreted for them.
“The Don said of Morello, ‘May he wander through hell, looking for his head,’” Provenzano said. “It is a joke about someone we knew.”
“Oh,” Rachel said, not understanding the humor.
Guido returned to the table then, carrying an envelope.
“Don De Luca,” Guido said. “Here is the money you asked for.”
“Is the money all in federal bills? I don’t want any local banknotes.”
“ Sí, Don De Luca. It is all in U.S. Government greenbacks,” Guido said.
“Grazi,” De Luca said, taking the envelope. He pulled out some bills, counted them, then returned the bills to the envelope and stuck the envelope into his inside jacket pocket. He looked across the table at Rachel and smiled.
“Forgive me for the interruption, signorina, ” he said. “But the cost of doing business with the police is quite high, and they insist upon federal bills. No local bank or promissory notes.”
“I understand,” Rachel said. “From time to time it has been necessary for Clarisse to do business with the police. They can be quite particular when it comes to how they wish to be paid.”
“And sometimes they want to do business with us without paying at all,” Fancy said.
“If your madam would agree to let me protect her operation, nobody would ever try and do business without paying again,” De Luca said.
One of the servants brought out a serving dish and set it on the table.
“Ah, la nostra cena, ” De Luca said as the servant removed the silver cover.
“Our supper,” Provenzano interpreted.
A few moments after they began eating, Guido came again to the table, then leaned over to speak quietly to De Luca.
“Show him in,” De Luca said. “Luigi, set an extra plate for the police commissioner.”
“ Sí, Don De Luca.”
The police commissioner was escorted back to the garden then. He was tall, gray-haired, and had a mustache, but no beard. He was wearing a white suit with a brown silk vest. De Luca rose to speak to him.
“Signore Hennesy, how nice of you to join our celebration.”
“‘Celebration’?”
“ Sí, our celebrazione di indipendenza. I’m having an extra plate set for you.”
“Thank you, no,” the commissioner said. “I can’t stay long.”
“I will be very disappointed, Signore Hennesy, if you do not honor our independence celebration,” De Luca said pointedly. “You are here for your money, I know. But surely you can take the time to have supper with friends and two beautiful women?”
Finally realizing that De Luca’s invitation was more than an invitation, Hennesy acquiesced.
“Of course I will stay and have dinner with you, Don De Luca. And I thank you—very much—for your kind invitation.”
“I am honored that you accepted.”
“I have heard that Tangeleno may be looking to have a…what is that word you Italians use for revenge?”
“We are Sicilian,” De Luca said. “And the word you are looking for is ‘vendetta.’ But do not worry yourself about Tangeleno. We can take care of ourselves.”
“Perhaps that is true, but I’m sure you realize what difficulty a full-scale war between you and Tangeleno would cause. For all of us,” Hennesy added pointedly.
De Luca laughed. “You mean you are afraid that if I am killed, your money will be cut off.” De Luca reached for his inside pocket. “Well, don’t worry about a thing. Tangeleno will not dare attack me. He knows I am too…” The sound of a gunshot interrupted De Luca’s comment.
“Uhn!” De Luca grunted.
Rachel saw blood spurt onto the table, then she looked up in horror as De Luca put both his
“Saluto!” they responded.
They took a swallow, then De Luca lifted his glass again.
“To Nicholas Morello,” De Luca said. “Lui possa vagare attraverso inferno quardando per la sua testa.”
De Luca, Provenzano, and the Italian servants standingaround the table all laughed. When Provenzano saw the confused look in the faces of Rachel and Fancy, he interpreted for them.
“The Don said of Morello, ‘May he wander through hell, looking for his head,’” Provenzano said. “It is a joke about someone we knew.”
“Oh,” Rachel said, not understanding the humor.
Guido returned to the table then, carrying an envelope.
“Don De Luca,” Guido said. “Here is the money you asked for.”
“Is the money all in federal bills? I don’t want any local banknotes.”
“ Sí, Don De Luca. It is all in U.S. Government greenbacks,” Guido said.
“Grazi,” De Luca said, taking the envelope. He pulled out some bills, counted them, then returned the bills to the envelope and stuck the envelope into his inside jacket pocket. He looked across the table at Rachel and smiled.
“Forgive me for the interruption, signorina, ” he said. “But the cost of doing business with the police is quite high, and they insist upon federal bills. No local bank or promissory notes.”
“I understand,” Rachel said. “From time to time it has been necessary for Clarisse to do business with the police. They can be quite particular when it comes to how they wish to be paid.”
“And sometimes they want to do business with us without paying at all,” Fancy said.
“If your madam would agree to let me protect her operation, nobody would ever try and do business without paying again,” De Luca said.
One of the servants brought out a serving dish and set it on the table.
“Ah, la nostra cena, ” De Luca said as the servant removed the silver cover.
“Our supper,” Provenzano interpreted.
A few moments after they began eating, Guido came again to the table, then leaned over to speak quietly to De Luca.
“Show him in,” De Luca said. “Luigi, set an extra plate for the police commissioner.”
“ Sí, Don De Luca.”
The police commissioner was escorted back to the garden then. He was tall, gray-haired, and had a mustache, but no beard. He was wearing a white suit with a brown silk vest. De Luca rose to speak to him.
“Signore Hennesy, how nice of you to join our celebration.”
“‘Celebration’?”
“ Sí, our celebrazione di indipendenza. I’m having an extra plate set for you.”
“Thank you, no,” the commissioner said. “I can’t stay long.”
“I will be very disappointed, Signore Hennesy, if you do not honor our independence celebration,” De Luca said pointedly. “You are here for your money, I know. But surely you can take the time to have supper with friends and two beautiful women?”
Finally realizing that De Luca’s invitation was more than an invitation, Hennesy acquiesced.
“Of course I will stay and have dinner with you, Don De Luca. And I thank you—very much—for your kind invitation.”
“I am honored that you accepted.”
“I have heard that Tangeleno may be looking to have a…what is that word you Italians use for revenge?”
“We are Sicilian,” De Luca said. “And the word you are looking for is ‘vendetta.’ But do not worry yourself about Tangeleno. We can take care of ourselves.”
“Perhaps that is true, but I’m sure you realize what difficulty a full-scale war between you and Tangeleno would cause. For all of us,” Hennesy added pointedly.
De Luca laughed. “You mean you are afraid that if I am killed, your money will be cut off.” De Luca reached for his inside pocket. “Well, don’t worry about a thing. Tangeleno will not dare attack me. He knows I am too…” The sound of a gunshot interrupted De Luca’s comment.
“Uhn!” De Luca grunted.
Rachel saw blood spurt onto the table, then she looked up in horror as De Luca put both his
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