“Nah, I don’t want to do any business here,” Ryan said. “There’s new people moving into the building every day, and they might think something funny is going on.”

“All right, then we’ll meet at Vinny’s mother’s house. She works at Walmart, on the day shift, so he’ll have the place to himself.”

“Much better.”

“You and Vinny can start the count as soon as you get there. I’ll trust you.”

“Okay, but make sure nobody follows you from lunch.”

“You know me better than that, Gene.”

“Yeah, you’re right, I do.”

“Then you and Vinny drive down to Virginia this afternoon and pick up the hardware. Here’s his number, a throwaway. When you get back, drive by the liquor store on 17 North. You know it?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Pick a spot to watch from tomorrow. I’ll tell Vinny to steal an old car, and you two can decide where to dump it. Another thing: no phone calls between us, unless something goes wrong. Last time, I got some funny looks when that call came in. Just be there around eleven-thirty, so you know you’ll be there when they arrive. I won’t call you, unless Sean doesn’t show for lunch.”

“Got it.”

Al went home for lunch. “There’s a postcard from Florida for you,” his girlfriend, Gina, said. She was practically living there by now.

Al found it on the hall table. It was a beach scene, and the message said: Hi, I want to invite you down for a few days. Give me a call. It was signed, Charlie, and there was a number on the back. Al knew only one Charlie, the guy who used to work for his dad, with a partner named Frank. They had chewed the fat a few times.

“Are you going to Florida?” Gina asked.

“Maybe.”

“Me too?”

“Maybe. I’ll call the guy later.”

“The beach has always turned me on,” Gina said, kissing him on the ear.

“Well, that’s the best reason I ever heard for going to Florida,” Al said, giving her a kiss. “Give me a couple days to find out what’s going on, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, sounding doubtful.

“Don’t worry, babe, I go to Florida, you go to Florida.”

Chapter 46

Ryan and Vinny were back from Virginia by midnight, completely equipped with shotguns, ammo, rubber boots, gloves, and cheap raincoats, along with foul-weather hats and large sunglasses. “It’s supposed to rain tomorrow,” Vinny had said. He had also spotted a costume store in a strip mall near one of the gun shops and had bought a pair of false beards that amused him.

Together in the car for so many hours, Vinny had opened up a bit, and Ryan had grown to like him. He was very comfortable with the idea of walking into that liquor store with him.

—