Lethal Lullaby-Chapter 7

All Through the Night

As Perry left the room, Salvatore crossed to sit at the table with Paul. Helping himself to the scotch, he leaned back, studying the private eye, swirling the amber liquid around in the glass. Paul Drake does not like me. This much is clear. Or, perhaps this is too strong a word. He does not trust me. I suppose, if our situation and position were reversed, I too would feel as he. And yet we will have to table our differences. This murder is too complicated for any one man to solve; we will have to work together.

"Well, Mr. Drake?" There was a trace of sardonic humor in his tone, but his eyes were steady.

Paul studied the older man intently. He had told Perry he wouldn't trust the mobster any further than he could throw him, but something in the way he had looked as he had talked to Della and Mae . . . Maybe he wasn't all bad. Paul frowned down into his glass. I think we're past the point of personalities. At some point I've got to either fish or cut bait. He took a deep breath, then quickly and quietly filled Salvatore in on everything he had told Perry, watching the man's face change from relative calm, to fear and, finally, anger.

When Salvatore didn't say anything, Paul leaned forward, staring at the man. "I've leveled with you, Mr. Pinelli. Your turn. Care to tell me what you know about all of this?"

Salvatore sipped the scotch, savoring the taste of the fine liquor. He wasn't sure how much to withhold from the private investigator. There were things Perry might not want this man to know. But Paul's gaze was intense and direct, and his jaw was firm. Perry and Della trusted him with their lives.

Without further hesitation, he began. "This bastardo cop who worked Tony over, I believe he is on one of my competitors' payrolls. But unfortunately, this I cannot prove. When we were at the hospital with Tony, he called Della, Nicky."

Paul slammed his glass on the table. "What!"

Salvatore lifted his own glass to his mouth and drained it. Then he gently set it on the table next to Paul's.

"This is why Perry, Della, the baby and the delightful Mae are going to stay here." He lifted a hand to forestall Paul's immediate protest. "I also invite you to join us, for your safety. I have contacted my brother who will send his men to help protect my home. I assure you I will do everything in my power to keep all of you safe."

Paul heard the sincerity and the controlled fear in the man's voice and realized he had been too harsh and quick in his judgment. Salvatore obviously cared for his friends, even if they were recently acquired.

"So," he hedged, "do you think Tony's beating and the AG's death are connected?"

Salvatore arched an eyebrow at the question.

Paul grinned. "Stupid question. How do you think it tracks back to Rico . . . your son's nightclub?"

The older man smiled faintly at that. "If I were a betting man, which I am not—"

Paul coughed and now Salvatore did smile.

"I would put even money on the certainty that my son left a legacy of destruction and death. But Tony? My Tony did not deserve the beating, Mr. Drake. No reason for it. He was forthcoming with the information the detectives requested. He did not resist. Either the police in Los Angeles are as corrupt as is rumored, or the man responsible took his orders from an enemy of mine. However, how that connects to Mr. Richards's murder? I am afraid the connection eludes me."

Paul stared at the older man. "I think that's a little naïve, Mr. Pinelli. Your man Tony took a liking to Del—to Nicky. It isn't a stretch to believe he would take matters into his own hands to protect her."

"Not like that. There was no threat to Della, Mr. Drake. No threat now that my son is dead. So no reason for Tony to eliminate a disgraced man who had indicated he would resign from his office. No need for anyone to kill him. Certainly not over IOUs. Not for any reason."

Paul mused on that. "And Donovan? Did he have some sort of personal grudge against you? I know he was working with Rico, but his target was Richards. I just don't think he had enough time to get from . . . The timing feels all off."

"I agree," a deep, rich baritone said quietly. The owner of the voice was leaning against the doorframe at the entrance to the room. He detached himself and came over to where the two men sat.

Paul grinned up at him. "Speaking of timing, you picked a hell of a time to disappear!"

Salvatore smiled at him. "How are my beautiful angels, Perry?"

"All three are resting comfortably."

"Okay," Paul rose to his feet, "So, what's the plan? To the hospital?"

Perry shook his head. He glanced away from his friend to meet Salvatore's eyes. "I have something else in mind." Refocusing on Paul, he asked, "Could you excuse us for a minute? I'll meet you at the car."

"Don't you want to talk to Tony, to find out what he was so afraid of?" Paul protested, offended at being summarily dismissed, especially since all of this concerned him too. But at the serious look on his pal's face, he swallowed the rest of his rebuttal.

Perry waited until he heard the door close before he spoke. "Salvatore, I need something from you."

"My life is yours for the asking . . . Mio Figlio."

Perry smiled at the sudden endearment. "I know that you have a way . . . Well, I'm sure you have a safe place . . ."

Salvatore stood and placed his hands on Perry's shoulders. "Perry, I will keep them safe. I will not show you now, but on my life, they will be protected."

Perry looked into the older man's gray eyes. As a lawyer, he knew that he should never trust a man who skirted the law. And yet, as he had pointed out to Della, Tragg, Burger, and Paul, no man is guilty without a trial, and without a jury. That made Salvatore innocent of past allegations. As a man, he hesitated at risking his own reputation by associating with a known—or at the least, suspected—mobster. But as a husband and a father, knowing that Salvatore would spend his life's last breath protecting the family he loved, Perry put his faith in the man's ability to do as he promised.

"Thank you, Mio Padre. I will keep you informed. I want Paul to run us past the restaurant. I want to see something . . ." He paused, then continued on a different track, "When I get to the hospital, I will make arrangements to have Tony brought here. It would be easier if you could arrange for a nurse and hospital bed to be installed somewhere here in the house."

The gray eyes twinkled in appreciation of the lawyer's foresight. "You and I are on the same wavelength, Perry. It will be ready before you return." He clapped his hands on his shoulders again. "You should also know that I have four of my own men stationed at the hospital. You will need a—how do you say it? A secret word before they will let you near Tony."

Perry's smile was grim and his eyes darkened, but he nodded his approval at Salvatore's precautions. "Of course."

"Il sangue è tutto."

He closed his eyes, committing it to memory. When he opened them again, they were a magnificent sapphire blue. "I will remember." He turned to leave, then looked back over his shoulder. "Della, the baby and Mae are all asleep."

Salvatore nodded. "All will be well."

Paul was leaning against the big car, legs crossed at the ankles, smoking a cigarette. While he had been cooling his heels, waiting for Perry, he had a chance to study the property.

The house was stylishly built, but he could tell the walls were very thick. He also noted all the windows were outfitted with bulletproof glass, something only a trained eye would see. A quick, but detailed survey of the beautifully manicured grounds revealed surveillance cameras and motion sensors hidden among the trees. There was an electrified, high fence surrounding the estate.

Glancing back to the house and the roof, Paul saw several heavily armed men casually lounging about. Still, he had no doubt they would be ready to deal effectively with anyone who dared to enter the grounds without authorization.

"He may be clean on other rackets, but he knows his business when it comes to protection," Paul muttered to himself. I guess I underestimated him some.

Perry came out of the house, hurrying down the steps. "C'mon, Paul. We're burning daylight! Let's go."

Sometime later, Della awoke. The warmth and reassurance she had felt when wrapped in her husband's strong, powerful arms remained, but she knew he was no longer in the room. A lazy smile spread across her mouth and her own dimples flashed.

I love that man, she confessed to herself, then laughed noiselessly. Of course I do. Perry is one of a kind.

She stretched her arms languidly over her head, then let them fall loosely onto the bed around her, reveling in the comfy mattress and ultra-soft sheets. A memory of how he had scooped her up and laid her on the bed send a lovely shade of pink to her cheeks. She lifted her left hand and studied the stunning ring Perry had placed on her third finger. The light in the room caught it, making it sparkle. Her smile widened as a tide of emotion swept over her. And then her face lost some of its radiance as she realized where she was and that Perry hadn't returned.

Throwing the covers back, she climbed out of the bed. Grabbing a robe, she slipped it on before easing open the connecting door which led to the nursery. Mae, wide awake and sitting in the rocking chair, a beautiful smile on her face as baby Katherine sucked contentedly on her bottle in her arms, gave a soft, happy sigh.

Without looking up at her, Mae chuckled lightly. "So the sleeping beauty awakes. I'm not surprised that you slept so long, uhm, after…"

"Aunt Mae!" Della was blushing furiously. "I'm sorry if we," she half-choked on the word, "woke you."

She chuckled again, which caused Katherine's eyes to widen. "That's quite alright, my dear. It's good for children to know their parents love each other. Besides, my goddaughter and I are getting along very well."

Della crossed to her aunt, giving her a kiss on her cheek. "I have the feeling my daughter will become more attached to her great-aunt than she is to her mother."

Mae laughed and patted Della's hand. "Not a chance. She will always want her mother."

As though to prove her point, Katherine lost interest in her bottle and gurgled happily at her mother. Della's heart melted. Taking her into her arms, she pressed kisses to her daughter's head and face. Katherine gurgled again, then let out a dainty, ladylike burp.

Meeting her aunt's eyes, Della said, "Thank you, Mae. I wish things weren't so convoluted. Perry and I wanted to have time away from the practice to really bond as a family. I suppose we have time away, but with what's happened . . ." She trailed off as she passed her daughter back to Mae. "I guess I'd better get dressed and see what mischief my wandering husband has gotten into."

"Oh, that reminds me," Mae grunted as she shifted the infant into a comfortable position. "Salvatore peeked in a few minutes ago. He said that when you were up, he wanted to see you in his office." She laughed to herself. "Reminds me of being sent to the principal!"

Della frowned at her aunt. "My! That does sound ominous, doesn't it? Will you be alright with Kathy for a few minutes?"

"Kathy?"

Della sighed. "Just testing it out. Before I give in on 'Katnip,' I think I should try some regular names. I owe it to her. How would you feel if you had to go through life with that moniker?"

Mae grinned. "It isn't so bad. I had to endure 'Mayday Kirby' and 'She's older than the Maeflower!' all my days. Katnip is playful and sweet and—fitting. And Della?" Her niece stopped in the doorway. "Stop worrying about Perry."

Della merely nodded and went into her room to dress.

Ten short minutes later Della knocked on the office door. Salvatore's booming voice answered immediately.

"Come, Della," he commanded as she opened the heavy door, "I have been waiting for you." Salvatore rose from behind his desk to cross the room and take both of her hands in his. "You look beautiful. And well rested."

Her face skipped pink and went straight to deep crimson. I will get Perry for this, if it is the last thing I do, she promised herself, mortification sweeping through her.

"Come," he laughed, tugging gently on her hands he escorted her to a comfortable chair beside his desk. Resuming his seat, he looked at her with a twinkle in his gray eyes. "Please do not be embarrassed, mio caro. It is only right that your husband loves you! When I went to check on the bambina, your aunt told me you were still sleeping and why. It is a good thing between two people who are is love as you and Perry."

"I'm going to kill her," she breathed softly, but a little of the embarrassment was fading. "Yes, I am deeply in love with him. Whether he is Giovanni, Johnny, or Perry. I'm also very worried about him. What's going on, Salvatore? Where is he?"

He read the anxiety in her expression and took on a serious tone. "Easy, Della. Perry and Mr. Drake have run an errand and have gone to the hospital to see Tony. They should be back shortly. I will tell you everything, but first I must show you something."

With that he stood and, taking Della's hand, led her to the panel of his office where he repeated his earlier routine, making sure she knew exactly how to repeat his motions.

When she was finally in his secure room, she was truly impressed. The surroundings were secure, and if anyone actually breached his security, she and the baby and Mae would have a safe sanctuary.

Looking at the older man now, she smiled graciously. "Thank you, Salvatore. I know now why Tony wanted us here."

He bowed slightly. "And, I gave my solemn promise to Perry I would protect you with my life. I will keep that promise, mio caro. Now. I will tell you of what I know about our current situation."