Page 6 of Taking Care of the Target

“Leave us,” Carlo said, his voice echoing through the room. “Now.”

Sal clamped his lips, his face all screwed up as he threw a silent tantrum.

As soon as the door was closed, Carlo sat back in his cushy leather chair, folding his arms across his chest. “You’ve told me repeatedly you want nothing to do with this side of the business, and I know you liked Cassie—hell, we all did. I hate the thought of having it done, but that’s the way it goes. It’d be a hard hit for any of us, so that’s why I was thinking of hiring out.”

Vince put his palms on the edge of Carlo’s desk and leaned forward. “I want to be the one to take care of it. I don’t want Jackhammer or Sal to do it. I want to be there to make sure it’s clean and quick.”

Carlo let out a long exhale. “I don’t know, Vince. I didn’t want to pull you in this deep.”

Vince barely held back a sarcastic laugh. “It never bothers you when I get your money in order to pay back Bobby’s debts.” His little brother was Carlo’s favorite way to pull Vince’s strings. “What’s one more undesirable errand?”

“This is different. But I won’t argue that you’re our best bet for quick and quiet.” He reached up and stroked his goatee then gave a small nod. “Do it.”

Vince straightened, working to keep any trace of weakness or how he felt about the situation from showing. “I’ll go late tonight and make sure she goes easy.”

Chapter Four

Cassie stepped out of the police cruiser and looked at the rundown apartment complex she apparently called home. Shaped like a U, three levels of concrete, iron railing, and seventies era brickwork faced a mostly cement courtyard with a couple of sad-looking trees.

Wow, real nice digs, Cassie.The complex didn’t trigger any sudden flashbacks or magically help her memories return. She sighed and glanced at Officer Duffy, who’d been kind enough to drive her from the hospital.

Tom. He said to call him Tom when I told him I preferred Cassie.With the uniform on, it was hard to think of him as anything butofficer. Over the past few days, he’d dropped by the hospital to check on her, even when he was off duty. At first she’d felt uncomfortable in his presence—especially since she was stuck in a hospital gown and didn’t have makeup or her glasses—but she got used to his friendly demeanor and how easy he was to talk to. He’d even brought in cards last night so they could pass the time playing games.

They walked to apartment number one, where pasted on gold letters spelled outLANDLORD, and Tom knocked on the door. He glanced at Cassie and smiled. “I keep forgetting to tell you how nice you look.”

Thankfully, one of the nurses brought her a change of clothes as well as a hygiene kit. “Yeah, behold the amazing effects of showering, actually getting dressed, and brushing your hair. I never knew I’d be so grateful for pants and a T-shirt. Clothes that randomly open in the back to moon everyone in the near vicinity just aren’t for me.”

Heat rose to her cheeks, the way it always did when the filter between her brain and mouth malfunctioned.I really wish I hadn’t added that mooning comment.Luckily she hadn’t moonedhim, or she’d die right there on the spot.

The door swung open, and then Cassie was eye-level with a tight black bun. She lowered her gaze to a face she didn’t have the slightest recollection of.

“You were supposed to be out of your apartment last week,” the tiny woman said, pointing a finger in her face. “I already had the place rented, and I’ve had to push back the cleaners, so now I’m going to have to pay them double to do a rush job. Just so you know, I’m charging you for it, along with an extra week’s rent.”

Confrontation had always sent Cassie into panic mode. Add money, which she unfortunately remembered owing a lot of thanks to Dad’s medical treatments, and her pulse steadily increased, pounding a rapid rhythm against her temples. She didn’t even know if she had a job, and now she had her own hospital bills on top of Dad’s. The news she wasn’t even supposed to live there anymore added another layer of stress to the entire situation.

“I’m sorry. I had an accident and my memory’s a little fuzzy, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Mm-hmm,” the woman said, pressing her lips into a tight line that managed to convey a heap of skepticism.

Tom gently maneuvered Cassie to the side and stood in front of Landlord Grouchy Pants. “Ma’am, Miss Dalton’s telling the truth,” he said in a calm, authoritative voice. “She was involved in a very serious accident and didn’t have any personal effects on her, which means she needs the key to her apartment.”

“Lost keys are a fifty-dollar charge.”

Obviously her tragic accident really tugged at her landlord’s heartstrings.

The muscles in Tom’s neck tightened, but he managed to keep his calm expression. “We’ll work out the details later, and if you know where she’s supposed to be moving to, I’ll be happy to look into that. Until then, can she get the key?”

The little ladyharrumphed, grabbed a large ring of keys, and started walking without further comment. Did the woman seriously think Cassie had faked amnesia to avoid fees? If only that were true, getting on with her life would be much simpler.

“What do you know about Miss Dalton?” Tom asked as the three of them made their way upstairs. “Do you know where she’s been working the past few months?”

The woman glanced at Cassie, and then charged up the next flight of stairs. “She keeps to herself. I’ve never seen her with anyone, but I don’t butt into others’ business. She had good credit, always paid the rent on time, and was a good tenant. Until now.”

You get hit by a truck and go into one little coma, and suddenly you’re a trouble tenant.

“I got a call from Hudson Grove Apartments and gave her a good referral, and shortly after that she put in her thirty days’ notice, which was thirty-fivedays ago.” The landlady stopped in front of number fifty-four and unlocked the door. She then held the key toward Cassie. “This here’s my spare. Better not lose it.”

“I won’t. Thanks.” With her credibility in question, her assurance probably didn’t do much for the woman, who promptly walked back the way they’d come.

---