FOR THE MOST part, the holding company owned commercial real estate that was leased out to a variety of businesses. A supermarket, a dry cleaner, a pet store, a hair salon, a natural foods store, and a couple empty lots.

“This is interesting,” Lula said. “Here’s this Sunflower guy who’s real bad, making his money off prostitution and gambling and drugs, and then he’s got this whole other side that’s got legitimate, boring businesses. Don’t you find that interesting? I mean, the man owns a natural foods store.”

“He doesn’t actually own the store. He owns the physical space.”

“Same difference. And a pet store filled with puppies and shit. I mean, can you see Bobby Sunflower selling puppies?”

“He doesn’t personally sell puppies.”

“But suppose he did. Wouldn’t that be weird?”

I’D DRIVEN PAST all the properties on Chet’s list and I was now parked on Liberty Street. Nothing on the list had the potential for holding Vinnie captive.

“I don’t know where to go from here,” I said to Lula. “I have two days to find Vinnie, and I’m out of ideas.”

“I got ideas,” Lula said. “They’re about lunch. I’m thinking nachos.”

“Good idea,” I told her. “I know just the place.”

I drove down Liberty to Broad and followed Broad across town to Marble Street. I pulled into the 7-Eleven lot and parked. Mickey Gritch was on the other side of the lot, conducting business as usual.

I gave Lula a twenty. “Get me nachos and a drink. I’m going to talk to Mickey.”

“You sure you don’t want me behind you doin’ backup?”

“No. I can manage on my own.”

I waited for a guy in a rumpled suit to walk away from Gritch. When the guy got in his car, I moved in.

“Hey,” I said to Gritch. “Long time no see.”

“Not long enough,” Gritch said. “Get away from me. You’re like poison.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know. By association.”

“Talk to me,” I said.

Gritch rolled his engine over. “I’m leaving.”

“You can talk to me here, or you can talk to me at your house,” I said. “I know where you live.”

I’d had good luck with Ernie Wilkes with that threat. I figured I’d roll it out and try it again.

“You wouldn’t do that,” Gritch said.

“Yep,” I said. “I would.”

“That’s not fair. A man’s home is his castle.”

“Where’s Vinnie?”

“I don’t know. I swear. I guess he was at Sunflower’s house in Pennsylvania, but it got firebombed, and they moved him. I’m serious now. Walk away. Let Sunflower do whatever he has to do to Vinnie. He’s dealing with crazy people. I don’t even know who they are, but they scare the crap out of me.”

“I need a name.”

“I don’t have a name. I’m not a big player in the organization. I heard Blutto tossed around, but I don’t know what it means. I don’t know if it’s a first name or a last name or a nickname.”