Page 49 of Tommy Gabrini: All Fall Down
But Tommy was still wide awake.
The idea that those kidnappers allowed Destiny and the baby to go free with no ransom demand or any ask at all, and then to say that he had won as if it was some twisted game, was bugging the hell out of him. To implant his son. To shoot up a school. To hold their daughter and grandson hostage. But to what end? Because one thing Tommy knew for certain was that saying he won and calling it a day was not the end. No way was that ever going to be the end! He would see to that. He was going to track those fuckers to the end of the earth if he had to. Nobody was going to traumatize his children in his name, and kill all those other people’s children in his name, and get away with it. Bears would fly before that happened.
But as he began to doze off himself, he couldn’t imagine who would be responsible. That was what was driving him nuts. Who could be behind this bullshit? He had enemies, alright, but this was beneath even them.
But just as he was about to fall into the same sleep pattern his family had fallen into, a light tap was heard on the door and then it was opened by Sal.
Tommy looked at his brother. He could see in Sal’s glistening eyes that something was up. Something major. And Tommy didn’t delay. He quickly held GG in his arms as he climbed over his son and got out of bed. Then he laid GG down where he had been laying, put on his shoes, and hurried out of that bedroom.
He wanted answers. No more talk. No more delays. He needed to get to the bottom of who ordered the killing of all of those children and tried to blame his son. And how in the world did they think they were going to get away with traumatizing Tommy Gabrini’s entire family without Tommy Gabrini traumatizing, and doing even worse, to theirs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When Tommy and Sal entered Tommy’s home office, Mick was seated behind Tommy’s desk, Big Daddy was seated on the edge of the desk in front of the chairs, Reno and Robby Yale were seated in the chairs, and Hammer and Amelia were leaned against the side wall. Sal went and sat beside his underboss. Tommy stood at his desk. If any breakthrough happened that fast, he was certain it had to have come from Hammer’s office or from Mick. That was why he was looking specifically at those two. “What we got?” he asked them.
“We found the boarded-up diner they took him to,” said Hammer.
“Anything there?”
“Nothing. Not even a lick of DNA.”
“That’s it?”
“We also have in our custody one of the men that snatched TJ,” Hammer said.
Tommy was surprised. “You have him? Based on what? TJ’s description?”
“We have more sophisticated ways of bringing descriptors and eyewitness sketches to life, so yes. He was close enough for us to take it from there.”
“Who is it?”
“Barry Sedaka ring a bell?” asked Robby.
Tommy frowned. “Barbell Barry? The guy that used to run whores for Luddie’s gang?”
Robby nodded. “That’s the one. Loved to rough up women. Couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag, but he could beat up on a woman.”
“I’ve never had any dealings with him at all. I only knew him through Luddie. Why would he have anything to do with me or my family?”
“That’s what we wanted you to tell us,” said Hammer.
“There’s nothing to tell. I don’t know him like that. But you’re sure it’s him?”
“We’re certain,” said Hammer. “We went to TJ’s room and showed him a lineup of six men. He pointed out Barry Sedaka easily. Said he was certain that was one of the two men that snatched him.”
Tommy now realized it was probably after TJ saw Barry’s face again that he came and got in bed with him and Grace. Barbell was going to pay for that. Tommy would see to it. “Where is he now?”
“He’s at one of Sal’s safe houses,” said Hammer. “He has several in your town.”
Sal didn’t like the insinuation. “How would you know what I got, Hammer? What I got ain’t got nothing to do with your Fed ass.”
“My Fed ass got your nephew’s kidnapper in custody,” Hammer shot back. “So watch yourself, Sal Luca.”
Sal wanted to zing him back, but Hammer had too much power. The kind of power out of the reach of every mobster on the planet: He had the law on his side. And not just on his side. He was the most powerful lawman in the country, and he never hesitated to use that power to help the family. His reach kept all of their asses out of prison at one time or another. Sal knew it too. He knew not to push it. Not with Hammer Reese.
“If you know where he is,” Tommy said, “then why are we still here talking? I need to find out what he knows and who hired him.”
“Not so fast,” said Hammer. “My guys have to interrogate him first. They’re questioning him as we speak.”
