Chapter 16—Dante

As promised Vinny sent the names over.

He’d narrowed down the list of potentials to two hundred guys.

We were all at the office, everyone including Gibbs who wanted to come and see what we were getting from Vinny.

The fax came through just after twelve with the note attached to it saying It’s one of them.

I felt more hopeful last week when I knew I’d be getting a list of names what I never factored in was that having just the damn initials on a name meant there would be dupes. Not just one and two either there were several.

Lots of J.S’, lots of E. L’s, a shit load of M.S’ and even more K.G’s.

It was going to take forever. It was going to take fucking forever to just go through the names and narrow them down even more.

Alex looked the way I felt. Claudius did his trademark smirk and Gio just stared. Marcus being Marcus templed his fingers and glared at the paper.

“I don’t want to be an ass and point out that this is going to be quite the task.” Gibbs said.

“I will search through every fucking name on that list.” I said, that was my plan.

Tedious as it was the fucking upside was I had two hundred names on a list and one or two of them could have been Christina’s killers.

“Looks like that’s all we can do,” Claudius said.

Gio straightened. “We search and combine techniques. We just need to know specific things. For example, we have a date the picture was taken at Crowthorne Hall, but we know those guys hung out a lot at the society. Maybe if we can get some kind of footage of the people inside the building at the time. Or a record. Maybe they signed in. Can we get our hands on something from so long ago?”

“Records and footage from the Antonella property?” I raised my brows at him. “You think we’re going to be able to get our hands on that?”

Gio shrugged. “It’s an idea. I’m just trying to think of ways to narrow the search. I think we should focus on the society since they did more events there.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Claudius offered up.

“How are we going to get our hands on stuff like that?” I had to ask.

“Walk in and take it,” Alex said.

Claudius snapped his fingers and pointed at Alex nodding.

“The man knows me.”

Marcus sighed. “Please make sure you have enough back up.”

“Jesus Christ. You guys are serious?” Gibbs asked.

“Yes, of course we are. It’s simple we go in, split off to where the records are kept. Some of us keep watch, others sniff around and see if we can get what we need. I don’t have any other ideas. Anyone else want to share?”

“I’ll come with you,” Marcus said. “I think we do it like this. Get the secret squad to have a look see on the layout of the place so we know where we’re going. Me and Claudius go in the main building and look around like we’re there for an exhibition or something, you guys split duties on who’ll look out and who’ll get into their records. Get the other guys to keep watch too. Double up just in case there’s trouble.

I was so glad Marcus and Claudius were on the ball with this. In fact, everyone seemed to be. My damn mind was too drained to see for shit.

It was a good plan. “Thanks guys.” I said looking at all of them. “I’ll contact the squad and round up the boys.” That meant Luc’s boys.

Even though Luc wasn’t part of the business anymore, they still followed him and came in when we called them. Donny, Lois, and Saul were the main ones I’d contact. I didn’t think we’d need any more guys.

“Good, let’s plan for Wednesday evening,” Claudius stated. “Until then we go through these names and see who’s who. Match people up with their initials.”

“I can help with that,” Gibbs said. “I can help match people over the ten year span. I have access to government records. I was thinking,” he looked at me. “Is there anywhere else your sister could have met this guy besides the Crowthorne?”

I wasn’t sure. “She worked for a charity in their office. It doesn’t feel like the two could be linked.”

Gibbs narrowed his eyes. “Which charity?”

“Help the Homeless,” I replied.

“Well, some politicians and government officials do a lot of charity work to support their campaigns.”

“I didn’t think of that,” I answered. There seemed to be so much I hadn’t thought about and I wanted to know everything. Having this new direction opened up the floor.

“It’s an avenue I’d like to explore. Leave no stone unturned. What about your sister’s things? Looking through some of her stuff may have more meaning now.”

I nodded. That part I did think of. “Her stuff is at my mom’s house. We never threw anything away, just in case.”

It was a good thing we kept it all. Even if I didn’t think I’d need it I don’t think I would have had the heart to throw anything of hers away anyway. It would feel so final, like I was letting go.

“Are there any friends of hers too that we could speak to?”

Friends …

There sure was. Maria was here at the right time, but I didn’t want to involve her.

Asking her anything would involve her more than I’d want, because I’d have to tell her the other stuff too.

“There’s a friend, but I’ll only involve her if it’s necessary.”

Gio narrowed his eyes. “Why? Why wouldn’t you ask her straight up? Maria would want to help.”

“I just think I’d like to see what we come up with on our own first. She’ll want to know what I’m up to and worry about it. She’s the kind of woman who’ll want to get too involved.”

“We can’t have that.” Claudius gave me a pointed stare. “Don’t ask her anything unless if you have to. We have enough works in motion to go on. The last thing we need is anyone involved could be seen as a weakness.”

I nodded in complete agreement. “I’ll swing by the charity though and see what I find.”

“That will help,” Gibbs agreed. “Perhaps get a list of officials who’ve worked with them. Help the Homeless is going to be a big one to work with in Chicago. Running a campaign and supporting such a charity is bound to make you look good of course, assuming our guy could be as important as that.”

“I’m on it. I’ll do that today.” Christina’s old manager had been very supportive. He might not still be there, but it would be good if he was.

“Good, we all have something to do.” Claudius chimed in.

There was a knock at the door and we all looked around to it.

No one would just come by like that and knock. Not even Claudius’ secretary.

This office was off limits to everyone.

Claudius readied his gun, as did the others. We were trained to shoot if that door swung open and there was any sign of a gun.

No questions asked, no one would be crazy enough to come knocking on the boss’ door.

All that from an incident years back when the Fontanes thought they could assassinate Raphael. A whitman came for him. Old Raphael hit him with the first bullet that went straight between the man’s eyes. But before he went down his body was riddled with bullets.

He was dead, dead, dead.

The knock sounded again and then I heard whimpering, like a woman crying.

Hearing it too Claudius lowered his gun and rushed to the door.

“Ava,” he gasped.

I’d forgotten her. She was actually the last person to come here to the office and knock.

Claudius opened the door, but it wasn’t Ava standing there. No, it was Maria.

I jumped to my feet when I saw her and rushed over to them. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I’m so sorry to come here, I didn’t know where else to turn,” she cried.

“What happened?” I asked taking hold of her shoulders.

“Flynn. The police took Flynn to child services.” She could barely talk. With all that I was concerned about with her staying at Vira’s I’d never factored in that possibility. Fucking hell.

Her shoulders shook as she sobbed, but she continued. “I left him with Sophia and her boyfriend while I went to sort out the apartment and the police picked them up. They won’t give him back to me. They think I’m a bad mother.” She broke down and practically collapsed against me.

I pulled back just so I could look at her.

“Listen to me, I’ll get him back. You hear me?”

“They said they —"

“No, listen to me. I’ll get him back Maria. Trust me. Can you do that?”

She nodded.

Thank God we were who we were, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to make such a promise.

I looked at Claudius who was already grabbing his jacket.

“You coming, or you gonna just stand there?” Claudius asked.

Marcus came over, sympathy in his eyes. I used to roll my eyes when I watched him make a fuss over Amelia and Ava. Now I was grateful he was here.

“I’ll get her home.” Marcus offered. “Come on pet.”

“Thank you.” Maria winced.

I wished I’d just stepped over that damn line and did what I said I’d do last night.

Maybe she’d listen to me now.