The Goddaughter's Revenge by Melodie Campbell

Author:Melodie Campbell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC050000, FIC044000, FIC016000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2013-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Fourth time lucky, right? Wrong.

Another tip in the future bestseller Burglary for Dummies will be “Always case the place to make sure it’s empty before you break in.”

It was a good thing Pete had a game to watch the next evening, because I had a job to do.

I picked Nico up at seven. The sun was just setting. Nice thing about October—the sun sets earlier. It’s easier for cat burglars to get around in the dark without being noticed.

“No security system on this place, so we don’t need Stoner,” Nico said. “Traveling light today.” He patted the black leather pouch at his waist.

“Promise me something,” I said. “No moving furniture this time either, okay?”

Nico sighed. “You’re no fun at all.”

This house was in the tony area of Red Hill. I parked around the corner from the property. There were two other cars parked in front of me.

“This is good. We’re well out of sight.” I gestured to Nico to show him the way.

We walked nonchalantly down the sidewalk, just two young people out for a walk. At the target property, we turned and strode up the path to the front door.

Nico took a set of keys from his pouch. He eyed the lock and then selected a key. In it went. He turned it and pushed the door. It swung open.

“First key I used—how crazy is that? Never happens. Must be our lucky day.” He was all cheery.

That didn’t last long.

Nico walked in first. I was right behind him and pulled the door closed. I could hear voices coming from the living room. The television was on or something. Some people do that to make you think they’re at home.

Nico gasped and put a hand to his throat.

“Uh—Gina? We’re not alone.”

Two goons were looking right at us. They looked mean. There was a third guy, as big as a dump truck and probably just as classy. Worse, I knew him.

“Gina?”

Crap. Joey Battalia, my Buffalo cousin. And—wait for it—Bertoni, the creepy, slimy guy I’d most like to nominate for Whack the Wanker. The one who had made my life miserable in what Pete likes to call The Great Shoe Fiasco. I preferred to think of that episode as “Gina bails out the family, as usual.”

Bertoni still had the greasy hair. And the charm of a wood louse.

“Christ, Lou, it’s the crazy broad with the shoes,” Bertoni said to the other goon.

I didn’t even bother to acknowledge them.

“Joey, for crissake, you’re supposed to be in Buffalo. What the hell are you doing here?” I yelled, flinging my arms around.

Joey snorted. “What the fuck does it look like?” He put his big fists on his hips. “You got a monopoly on The Hammer?”

I stared at Joey. Then I closed my eyes to wish him away. Didn’t happen. He was still in front of me, all three hundred pounds of him, when I opened them.

“This isn’t fair,” I said, waggling a finger in his face. “You’re freaking American. Go work in your own country, why don’t you?”

And then I had another thought.

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