Page 26 of Shakedown in Savannah

“Why? It makes little sense. Maybe it was someone who had it in for him. I wonder when it happened.”

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out,” Carlita said. “Anything on Lombardo yet?”

“Maybe. I got a lead and am waiting for confirmation,” Vinnie said. “I’m coming down.”

“Down here?” Mercedes asked.

“Yeah. If this is who I think it is, we might have some even bigger issues on the horizon.”

Carlita blinked rapidly, trying to process what her eldest son had said. “Bigger issues involving the family?”

“Correct.”

“Who…who is it?” she asked.

“I don’t wanna scare you, Ma. They’re definitely from the family, but not from around here. Not even close, at least not until recently. By the time I get there this evening, I’ll have a pretty good idea what we’re up against.” Vinnie told them he’d already booked his flight and would be arriving at seven thirty.

“I’ll come pick you up at the airport,” Tony offered.

“Thanks. If the goons call back, don’t talk to them.”

“We won’t,” Carlita promised.

“Before I forget, do you have any idea where the tax bill is going?”

“No, but I’ll find out as soon as I get home.”

“And who the property is titled to,” he added.

“Is it safe to be here?” Mercedes asked. “I mean, seeing how this is a mob target and all.”

“If my sources are correct, these guys aren’t after real estate. They’re after money. How many people know about the you-know-what?” Vinnie asked.

Carlita took the phone off speaker. “The Marshland Isles Diamond?” she whispered.

“Yeah.”

“Pete, Tori, all three of you and maybe Paulie. I’m not sure if I told him and Gina about it.”

“Anyone else?”

“Louise Delmario.” Carlita studied the ceiling. “Maybe Lombardo’s henchman aren’t here to make me live up to Vinnie’s ironclad passing-it-onto-the-heirs agreement. Maybe someone heard about the diamond we found and linked it to our name.”

“It’s possible. The timing makes me think there’s a reason Lombardo waited until now to have his men show up on your doorstep,” Vinnie said. “I’m still trying to put a few of the pieces together.”

“You sure you want to come down here?”

“I do.” Vinnie’s voice grew muffled. “I gotta get going. See you later.”

Carlita didn’t have time to thank him. He was already gone. “If Vinnie is coming down, I’m pretty sure we have a major problem on our hands.”

“Bigger than a burned-out shell of a building we’re going to pay six hundred grand and counting for,” Tony grimaced.

“Maybe.”

Back at Mercedes’ apartment, Carlita promptly pulled up the appraiser’s website. She typed in the property address and accessed the records. “The property is titled to…oh my gosh. You’re not going to believe this.”

“What’s the name?” Mercedes asked.

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