Black Diamond by John F. Dobbyn Read Free Book Online

of South Boston.”
    â€œAre you talking Irish Mafia?”
    â€œPut it as you wish. There’s not a politician elected in this ward without the nod from Paddy Boyle. And I daresay, not a family in Southie whose vote Paddy can’t deliver.”
    â€œOut of fear?”
    â€œOut of love and respect. And gratitude. If there’s a family in Southie he hasn’t helped with a word to a judge for a kid, with a delivery of groceries when the old man drank away the paycheck, with a boost for college money when it wasn’t there—”
    â€œWhat is he, Saint Robin Hood?”
    The eyes darted right and left like little blinking lights before he spoke.
    â€œWell now, that’s one side of it. The other side, I’m only repeatin’, there are those who say there’s not a criminal act in Southie that doesn’t put more than a penny in Boyle’s pocket. And that one. Vince Scully. He’d as soon cut your throat as look at you. You don’t know what you’re dealin’ with here.”
    â€œI’m learning, Binney. I’m learning. How about Sean Flannery?”
    The pump had been primed. “He’s part of the same mob. No better than Scully. He was here a bit ago, but he left.”
    I thanked God that I’d asked Tom Burns to put a man outside of Colleen’s house. I had one last question. “Where do I find Boyle?”
    He looked at me as if I’d turned purple.
    â€œDid you hear nothin’ I’ve said? Have you lost the few brains God gave you?”
    I finished the shot of the Dew I’d been nursing and said into his ear, “We do what we have to do. Right now, you have to say one more word, and this fine bottle is yours. You’ll take it and leave. No one the wiser. Where do I find Boyle?”
    He leaned close enough to kiss my ear.
    â€œFor better or worse, here it is, Mikey. You’re sittin’ next to it. That door to your left leads to Boyle’s office, not that I’ve been inside of it.”
    When I slid the shiny green jug across the table into Binney’s quivering two hand grip, he breathed a sigh of fulfillment.
    â€œYou’ve earned it, Binney. Thank you.”
    He pulled his cap down to eye level and darted glances left and right.
    â€œAnd I’d say you’re welcome, Mikey. But we may both regret this night till our dying day, if we should live that long.”

CHAPTER SIX
    I was back sitting in my car outside of the Failte Pub, stymied for a next move, when my cell phone buzzed. I could tell from the tightness in Mr. Devlin’s voice that what was coming would not make my night.
    â€œColleen called, Michael. They called her. They’ve shaken her up pretty badly.”
    â€œWhat did they say about Erin?”
    â€œThey were pretty rough. They threatened things—”
    â€œDammit! That could be my fault. I should never have called the Beverly police.”
    â€œHang on, Michael. There’s good news here too. At least we know Erin’s still alive.”
    â€œDid Colleen talk to her?”
    â€œYes. That was part of the threat. They let Colleen hear her crying.”
    It took every ounce of restraint I could muster to stay in that seat. It was only possible because I had no idea of what direction to go.
    â€œWhat else did they say?”
    â€œThey had a demand. Ten thousand dollars.”
    That jarred me from several different directions.
    â€œHow do they want it delivered?”
    â€œThey said they’d call tomorrow morning at eleven thirty with instructions.”
    I sat there with the phone in my lap, trying to square the inconsistencies that were banging off the walls of my mind.
    I put the phone back to my ear when I heard Mr. Devlin’s voice.
    â€œWhat are you thinking, Michael?”
    â€œProbably the same as you. It doesn’t make sense. It can’t be worth the risk of kidnapping to these thugs for ten thousand