Page 29 of Labria

“Yes, of course.” Jamal said, and it was clear he didn’t know any of our rules or social graces. He was just a Black kid from the Westside. The only thing he knew about the mafia probably came from Coppola and Scorsese movies.

“Come.” Nicco stood. “We met in Chicago before I was the underboss. Now I am the Don and when you enter my office, you have to show your loyalty and respect.” Nicco raised his hand and Jamal rushed to take it in his. He bowed his head and kissed Nicco’s Trinacria ring.

“Greetings Don Bregoli.”

Nicco extended his hand to the chair. “Have a seat and state your business with my consigliere.”

What did this young man want, and why was he here in Vegas?

Jamal took the leather chair that all the others took before him. “I am very good at finding things and have come across something I believe is valuable to you.”

“And you flew all the way to Vegas to tell us about it.” Nicco stated.

“I drove. I drove to Vegas. It was the safest way.”

“Wait, you drove here from Chicago?”

“Yes sir, Cenzo has taught me to be discreet. I didn’t want to make a call. I didn’t want to tell anyone what I was on. I didn’t know who I could trust with the info I have.”

I had my answer to why Jamal had weapons on from that had to be taken away by our security. There I go again with OUR.

“Okay fine.” Nicco relented. “Okay kid, give us the info that so damn good you drove across the country to deliver it in person.”

“The streets know you are looking for Tom or Marie Ignacio.” Jamal leaned forward in the chair and placed his elbows on his knees.

“Yes. What else?”

“I found Marie.” Jamal looked at Cenzo, then over at me.

Nicco chuckled. “You, a kid, found the infamous sister of the guy we’re looking for.”

“Yes, I found Marie Ignacio.” Jamal subtly bobbed his head up and down.

“Look kid, I like you, but are you wasting my time?”

“No, sir, I would never come all the way here without receipts.”

“Keep talking, son.”

“Marie wasn’t in Chicago.”

“We already knew that much.” Nicco barked, but didn’t deter the young man’s calm demeanor.

“Marie, she was working as a nurse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and that’s not a territory you service, so that’s probably why she was hiding out there.”

“How do you know this woman is the right Marie Ignacio? That’s a common name.” Nicco inquired.

“Medical records. Frankie showed me the pictures and files on her. He let me go off and look for her. I was told to secretly and quietly drive her here to you.”

“Frankie told you to drive this woman here to Vegas?” Cenzo asked.

“Yes.”

“Where is she?” Nicco was back to his interrogation now that there was a reason to believe Jamal.

“She is asleep in the truck of my rental car.”

“Is she alive?” A good question since everyone in the room knew Jamal was a killer. We all were killers.

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