Berti Ristani had no business agenda he wanted to bring up with Buda, and he was mildly offended that Buda kept bringing up this Grazdani issue. He’d been enjoying talking to Buda about old times when they both first arrived from Albania. Back in those days it was no easy thing getting to America. Both had been lucky. On top of a common past, Aleksander Buda was one of the crew leaders Berti respected, and he’d been pleasantly surprised when Buda showed up unannounced.

“Okay, let’s find out. I know no one by that name specifically, but I do have two of my best guys with a similar name. But it’s not Albanian. It’s Italian. Anyway, I might complain, but I appreciate your concern like this. There’s been far too many blood feuds. Thanks for coming to talk to me.”

“It’s nothing, Berti. It would be foolish to act any other way.”

Ristani shifted his weight forward and the chair complained again. He placed his fleshy arms on the table and punched a button on an intercom.

“Drilon, can you come in the office for a second?”

Ristani looked at Buda.

“Drilon, one of my most loyal guys. He and his brother, who’s out on a job.”

“Anything special?”

“Not really. He runs a bunch of books in South Jersey, down to Philly. Friday nights, he likes to collect. He’s smarter than a whip, in contrast to Drilon, who, as the saying goes, is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Oh, Drilon, come in here.”

Drilon was used to being called into his boss’s office from his perch near the building entrance numerous times each evening he was on duty. Usually Ristani wanted something to eat, and this was what Drilon expected on this occasion. He walked into the office and saw the back of a figure seated in front of Ristani’s desk.

“Drilon, Mr. Buda has a question.”

Buda? Had Drilon heard correctly? The man twisted in his seat and Drilon saw the scar on his forehead. It was Aleksander Buda, a serious dude. What did he want?

“Simple question,” Buda said without emotion. “Do you know anyone named Pia Grazdani?”

“Say that again,” Drilon said. He thought he was hallucinating.

“Pia Grazdani.”