Velma Gone Awry by Matt Cost

Author:Matt Cost
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: detective private eye investigator PI P.I.; mysteries mystery series; thriller suspense crime fiction literature; 1920s roaring ’20s historical fiction; Brooklyn Bushwick New York City; gangster mob boss; shady businessman corrupt elite
Publisher: Encircle Publications
Published: 2022-08-22T19:44:09+00:00

Chapter 19

8 was again paying the bill. This time it was for Martin Hoffman at Ethan’s Delicatessen, underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. The joint was groceries on one side and tables for eating on the other.

If the man was out digging up information for him, it certainly seemed payment enough, but a scoop on the potential story seemed fair enough. Plus, he’d given him the lead on Bugsy and Meyer killing one of Hartmann’s minions at the Candy Store. Oh, well. It was not like 8 was actually paying, as he’d be expensing Hartmann for it.

“What’d ya find out about the dead fellow?” 8 asked.

“Tito Cattaneo,” Marty said. “Was most certainly in the employ of Nicolò Schirò.” He took a bite from his pastrami sandwich, chewing noisily. “Came over from Sicily about five years back and rose up through the ranks.”

“Any idea why he got whacked?” 8 looked at the remaining portion of his salami sandwich. He figured he was going to have to get more to eat. It certainly wasn’t a portion that he’d recommend for an adult male.

“It could be that Hartmann’s trying to get back in the good graces of Rothstein and Luciano. Seems to be a conflict brewing between the modern gangster and the old guard. The purists like Schirò don’t think the Italians should be doing business with the Jews and Irish. Luciano seems to be interested in making money, no matter who he’s doing it with.”

“Even the Germans,” 8 said.

“Even the Germans.”

“Don’t make sense, though, does it?” 8 said. “Hartmann whacks one of Schirò’s goons, and then Bugsy turns around and kills one of his. Last time I checked, Lansky and Luciano were bosom buddies, and they keep Bugsy on a tight chain.”

“All these gangs are loosely affiliated, in one way or another, but that don’t mean they don’t act autonomously on most things,” Marty said. “Maybe Hartmann’s even trying to throw a wedge in between Luciano and the Bugsy and Meyer gang.”

“Could be,” 8 said doubtfully. “I suppose.”

“But I don’t actually believe any of that phooey.”

“Yeah? Why not?”

“Here’s the thing,” Marty said, taking another bite. “Tito ran with a bloke named Tomas Lombardo. They shared the apartment that Tito got whacked in.”

“Yeah?” 8 rolled that around in his mind. “You thinking if we find Tomas, we might have a better idea of why Hartmann sent some Chicago lightning his way?”

“Nope. Think I might already have a guess.”

“Yeah? You thinking about sharing it?”

“I’m thinking about getting a piece of pie,” Marty said. “You want some?”

8 was about to reach out and shake his friend into spilling whatever it was that he was building up to, but then caught himself. The pies he’d spied under a glass case when he entered the delicatessen had looked absolutely delicious. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

Marty snapped his finger and asked the elderly waiter to bring them two slices of the apple pie. With cream. And coffee.

“Okay, get to it,” 8 said. “You’re squirming around in your seat like a five-year-old that’s got to take a whizz.

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