"Send a couple of guys to his condo. If they have to, tell them to pick the lock."

Quintera wasn't liking where this all was going. "Maybe the woman broke his nose, and he went to a doctor or the hospital. There was a lot of blood, Boss."

"Then have someone check it out. Do you guys ever make a decision on your own? Do any of you have a clue what's going on?"

"He's one of us, Boss. It don't seem right checking on him like this. And you know what else, Hank, I'm getting a little tired of you constantly telling us how dumb we are. Without us, where do you think you'd be? We've covered your ass for years."

"Was one of us. And you were paid to do that. You want out, there's the door, and don't let it hit you in the ass on your way out." Owens smelled revolution in the air. He toned down his anger, and said, "If something happened to Stu, I want to know. If he took himself to the hospital, we'll send flowers. If I have to, I'll buy him a new suit. But if he sold us out and took off, we need to know now. Not later, when our dicks get caught in the wringer."

Richards looked over his shoulder to where he'd left his cell phone on the desk after he heard it ring. He felt like blessing himself at the relief he felt. Anything to get out from under Owens's mean little eyes. He barked a greeting, then listened. He took a deep breath to steel himself against what he had to tell his boss. He closed his cell phone and stuck it in his pocket.

"That was. . .the lady we put in place at the Rabbit Hole. The party sat down and were chatting about nothing, then the woman's cell phone rang and she walked to the door to take the call with her back to our. . .our person. She returned to the table, turned her back again, then whispered something to all of them. They all got up and left. That's all she knows. They had ordered food but paid for it without waiting to eat. She did her best, Boss."

Owens nodded as he stared at one of the monitors that covered a poker table where Little Fish was playing. He pursed his lips as he watched the man he hated with a passion throw down a straight flush and rake in a pile of chips. He was so angry that he was almost cross-eyed.