Lethal Lullaby-Chapter 11
Eight Days a Week
After much discussion and back and forth suggestions as to how to insert "Giovanni" into Vincent's restaurant as seamlessly as possible, it was finally decided he would go in as the new assistant manager, as a favor to Salvatore. This way he would have complete access to all areas, including the offices, and could get away with asking questions without arousing suspicion, since he would be trying to learn the business.
Della left the room briefly, then returned with a notebook and pencil. She passed them over to Perry, who winked at her reassuringly. Then he, Salvatore and Tony made a list of questions that would help him learn, first and foremost, if everyone who worked there was loyal to Vincent and, by extension, Salvatore, and second, what the employees knew about the murder and Tony's beating.
Paul pulled his chair away from the bedside and positioned it near Della's. Glancing at her, he noted the pale color, the clouded hazel eyes that watched the attorney, and the straight line of her mouth. It didn't take Sherlock to deduce Della was still worried and unhappy about the plan. He reached out, grasped her hand, felt the tremble that she was trying valiantly to hide.
His own mouth tightened and his shoulders drooped a little. "Hey, Beautiful, relax. The big guy is not going to take any unnecessary chances. He loves you and the little one too much. That's why all this discussion." He waved his free hand toward the bed. "They are going to go over every small detail to make sure Perry'll be safe."
Della tried to smile, but it didn't make the grade. Meeting his anxious blue eyes, she softened her voice. "I know, Paul. It's just that . . . there's always the one thing no one can predict. And with Perry involved with gangsters, there are probably more things." She sighed. "Besides, between the two of us, I'm a little vague on why this is all so necessary. I know Mr. Richards was killed in the restaurant, but . . ."
Paul blinked at her. "But?"
She shook her head. "I suppose the questions I have are better suited for Perry."
Paul's brows furrowed. "You can tell me, Beautiful. I don't mind being a sounding board."
"I want to help Salvatore, Paul. I want to help him very much. I certainly don't want him in a gunman's sights! But his son Vincent isn't involved in any of the family business. He's always been clean. Until the attorney general was murdered. So, I don't see that any of his employees are responsible. I think the solution is coming from another direction."
He took that information in, mulling over the implications. "So, you think it really does have to do with the IOUs, rather than an attempt to frame Salvatore?"
She looked at him for a long, quiet moment. "I think, with our adrenaline spiking over what happened to Tony, we might be looking for gangsters behind every bush."
Perry, momentarily distracted from Salvatore and Tony, stole a glance at his wife and friend. He saw the conference they were having, read the anxiety in Paul's face and the concern on Della's, and longed to cross the room, to kneel next to them and talk. But he made no move to leave Tony's bedside. Forcing his attention back, he rejoined the others.
Paul took Della's hand in both of his, turning her to face him. "Del, what about the guard Tony recognized? The one from the rival family?"
She looked down at her hand in his. "Salvatore is vulnerable, Paul. Of course someone would try to eliminate him. I'm not saying his enemies aren't going to attempt something. But that man was here long enough to gain some measure of trust. His arrival wasn't overnight." She looked toward Perry and sighed again. "I worry about him, Paul. Our clients aren't in danger of Mr. Burger's prosecution. Those charges have been dropped."
That made Paul chuckle in spite of the serious nature of their conversation. "Poor old Burger! He really wants to pin the murder of his good friend on Salvatore! I bet it just ate his lunch to stand next to him at the church!"
"Hamilton cared about him enough to ask for Perry's and my help the first time, Paul," she reminded him. "I imagine the pain is intense. He doesn't have anyone in his personal life, other than us and Lieutenant Tragg."
"Boy, that's sad," Paul teased, but at the look in her eyes, he dropped the levity. "Sorry, Beautiful."
"My gut is telling me this plan of Perry's is foolhardy. And what of the escaped Nate Donovan? Will he come after Perry? Perry never testified. So far as I know, Donovan doesn't know Giovanni is anyone other than who he says he is. Rico surely didn't, and Rico would have been his source."
Paul squeezed her hand. "And now that he's planning to go back to that identity, you think Donovan will take a shot at Giovanni." "Del, I promise I will be with him all the time. I won't let anything happen."
"I know, Paul, but—" Suddenly her whole demeanor changed. A sly smile spread across her face. She stood up, and checking to see that Perry was still occupied, pulled Paul to his feet.
Paul stumbled after her as she led him out of the room. "Easy, Beautiful."
But Della continued pulling him across the hallway to Salvatore's office.
Once behind closed doors, she locked the door and turned to Paul. "Listen to me. I have an idea how we can protect Perry."
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Once Perry was sure they had covered all the bases, he turned to find that his wife and best friend had disappeared from the room. Figuring that Della had gone up to be with Katnip, he headed up the stairs. In the nursery he found Mae in the rocking chair making silly faces at his daughter.
He grinned then asked, "Della isn't here?"
Mae smiled up at her favorite nephew. "I thought she was with you." But then she frowned. "Is something wrong?"
Perry walked over, taking his daughter in his arms. He made funny faces at her too, then answered, "No, Mae. Nothing like that. We were talking logistics and she just got bored with all the men-talk. She's probably wandering around the house somewhere."
Knowing her, she's off plotting somewhere! Well, I suppose that's Della's business. Mae smiled knowingly but didn't vocalize her thoughts.
Turning his attention to the baby, he smiled as her tiny fingers touched his cheek. He puffed it out and his little girl threw back her head and giggled. Then he pressed his lips gently to her soft cheek. "How's my little Katnip? Did you miss Daddy? Daddy certainly missed you!"
The little girl gurgled, and then hiccuped, causing a rumbling laugh from her father. Her second hiccup made her lip curl up and her eyes widen. Perry's mirrored them, his own blue eyes reflecting the love and adoration he had for her.
"She definitely has my way with men." Della entered the room, coming over to wrap father and daughter in a hug.
Perry eyed his wife suspiciously, but she was focused on their daughter, reaching out to tickle her bare toes, causing the baby to squirm in his arms. Della took the little girl, snuggling her close.
"Hey, I was doing just fine with her!" he protested, then leaned in to kiss her lingeringly. "So where did you disappear to, Madame Mason?"
Still concentrating on the baby, she just smiled. "Oh, Paul and I were just talking about everything that's happened. Weren't we, Lemondrop?"
"Lemondrop?" Mae queried, then fell silent again.
Della's attempt to avoid Perry's question only made him more suspicious. They still hadn't had an opportunity to really hash things out privately. But that was about to change. With everything he had on his mind right now, he decided to let Della have her plot. He trusted her in everything. If she didn't want him to know, he would simply leave it alone.
"Salvatore mentioned dinner would be at six. How about if we go relax for a little before we need to change?"
Della smiled at her husband. "Mmm. That sounds perfect. Okay with you, little lady?"
Wrapping an arm around Della's waist, they walked together into the adjoining room, pushing the door closed. Mae still sat in the rocking chair. Giving a slight shake of her head, she stood slowly and crossed the hall to her own room. She knew in her heart that her niece was up to something. Della had inherited her aunt's devious streak. Things were going to get interesting.
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Dinner was a light-hearted affair. Perry and Paul had helped Tony into a wheelchair so that he could join them at the table. Salvatore had gone to great lengths in selecting delicious wines to be served. Perry and Della were both surprised that dinner consisted of steak, lyonnaise potatoes and delicate asparagus tips in a creamy wine sauce. When Della questioned Salvatore, he just smiled and winked in Mae's direction. Her blush in return caused Della to raise her napkin to hide her chuckle.
Conversation flowed, and although tension was still high, the diners made it a point to table business while they ate. More than once Mae and Salvatore were lost in a world of their own, with the former spicing up her usual family stories with an extra dash of humor. Salvatore regaled her with adventures from his misspent youth, then softened them by telling her he had learned his lesson, seen the light, and now walked the straight and narrow.
For dessert, the chef wheeled in a cart and prepared a flaming Cherries Jubilee. As dinner finished, they all declared themselves stuffed.
The men then suggested Della and Mae retire so that they could go over their plans one final time.
The two women happily left the room, arms linked and heads together. Once again Perry wondered what his beautiful wife was up to. Then he reminded himself that she was with Mae, and the chances of her doing something before they turned in for the night was slim. Then he focused on what needed to be done and making triple sure they hadn't overlooked any detail.
Once upstairs, Della sat in the nursery to feed Katherine while Mae sat across from her. Both women looked at the other, smiling.
Finally, Mae gave a small cough. "So, Child, are you going to tell me what you have going on in that devious mind of yours?"
Della was humming softy to her child. She looked at her aunt and shook her head. "The less you know, the better. Let's just say Perry is going to be very unhappy with me and if you don't know, he can't blame anything on you."
Mae frowned at her. "Please tell me you're not going to do anything dangerous. Sweetheart, you have to think of Katherine."
Della stood and placed the sleeping baby in the crib, bending to kiss her forehead and place her blanket over her. Turning to her aunt, she knelt in front of her.
"Mae, I am thinking of Katherine. But I'm also thinking of Perry. He's going into this in disguise to make himself a target for a hitman. The only protection he'll have is his wits and a couple of Salvatore's bodyguards. Vincent isn't used to any of this. Tony is out of commission and Salvatore can't be part of this. He's literally forcing me to choose between his life and my daughter."
Mae placed her hand on Della's cheek, wiping away a tear that had fallen. "I understand you think that. It's a terrible choice to make. But as you always tell me, you two are a team. Just now he needs to be in the front, and he needs to feel you against his back. Everyone else involved in his brilliant plan is expendable but you. I know you have something up your sleeve." Her smile held a touch of regret. "Just promise me you'll . . . be careful. Katnip needs her mommy."
Della hugged her aunt tightly. "I'll have my own protection. And I'll do my best to stay . . . well, at least try to stay in the background."
Mae gave her niece a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I guess that's all I can hope for. That, and a phone call to that handsome lieutenant."
Della stood up, swiping at a couple of stray tears. "I better go get myself presentable for Perry. Goodnight, aunt Mae." She opened the door to the adjoining room, then turned back. "I love you."
"I love you, too, dear."
Della closed the door leaving the older woman to stare at her sleeping goddaughter.
"Katnip, I sure hope your mother knows what she's doing."
