BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

I cannot believe he would do this to me, Ronnie fumed, shaking the phone in his hand. My own flesh and blood is a loser beyond words. It all comes from his mother’s side of the family. Ronnie waited for the beep on Horace’s voice mail, then whispered into the phone. “Son, you’re just like your crazy Uncle Noogie who’s rotting in prison.” He hung up, then quickly called back. “Son, I hate to admit it but you were a big mistake.” When he disconnected the second time, an idea sprung to mind. Smiling broadly, Ronnie dialed again.

Ronnie left message after insulting message until Horace’s mailbox was full.

67

Jack’s office called as he and Regan entered the town of Seaside Heights.

“Yes, Keith,” Jack said to his assistant as he put the call on the speakerphone so Regan could listen in to the conversation. “What have you got for me?”

“Horace Flake has been arrested several times for assault. He’s an unlicensed taxi driver and has been in and out of jail over the past twenty years.”

“Where does he live?”

“In Queens with his parents.”

“How about the father?”

“Ronald Flake has never been arrested but he’s been sued by four clients in the last eight years for not paying them in full.”

“Thanks,” Jack said.

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will. Talk to you later.”

“Poor Cleo,” Regan said as Jack disconnected the call. “I’d want to get away from the Flakes, too. I’m hoping this means that Cleo is just retreating from the world for a while.”

Jack turned onto a narrow street off the main road. Small but neat beach cottages lined the block. Clotheslines hung in tiny front yards that consisted of smooth white pebbles. No one was around. They found the Cammarizzo home and parked in front.

“Here we go,” Regan said.

As they got out of the car, the front door of the Cammarizzos’ opened.

“Be right back!” A frazzled, attractive fortyish woman emerged from the house, car keys in hand. She had light brown hair and was wearing aqua blue terry cloth shorts and a white sleeveless shirt. Clearly she was in a hurry.

“Excuse me,” Regan called across the small yard.

“What?”

“I was wondering if Dizzy is home …”

“No, that jerk is not home. He had a fight with my cousin and left her stranded at the beach with the three kids. Nice, huh? I’m going to pick them up now. That guy uses up all the hot water in the house, then he has the nerve to complain about me? I hope he drops dead.” She got in her car, backed out of the driveway, then hit the gas, sending stray pebbles flying.

Regan and Jack looked at each other.

“If I were Dizzy I might never come back,” Regan said.

Jack shook his head. “I can’t say I blame him.”