Blindsight by Robin Cook Read Free Book Online Page B

outta here. Gone down to Florida or out to the coast. We might be sitting here for nothing. Have you thought of that?"
"Frankie has been seen," Angelo said. "He's been seen here at D'Agostino's." "So how did it happen?" Tony asked. "How'd they get close to Cerino in the first place?" "It wasn't complicated," Angelo said. "Vinnie Dominick called the meeting with Cerino. There were to

be no weapons. Everybody had to leave his piece in his car. We even used a metal detector that Cerino
had taken from Kennedy Airport. When Terry Manso started to serve coffee, he threw a cup of acid in Paul's face. The reason we know Frankie was involved was because he came with Manso." "How'd Frankie get away?" Tony asked.
"The moment Paulie got the acid the lights went out," Angelo said. "Then the place went crazy with Paulie screaming and everybody diving for cover in the dark. I was by the front window. I threw a chair through it and dove outside. That was when I saw Manso come out the front door. Frankie was already climbing into a car. It all happened so fast, few people could react." "How did you manage to get Manso?" Tony asked. "It was a race," Angelo said. "Manso lost. My car was directly in front of the restaurant with my piece on the front seat where I could get to it fast if something went wrong. I got off two shots as Manso tried to get into his car. He never made it. Both slugs went into his back." "How many people were involved?" Tony asked. He'd been curious about the acid episode since he'd heard about it, but he'd been afraid to bring it up. "The way I figure it, at least two more besides Manso and DePasquale," Angelo said. "Knowing for sure is one of the reasons we want to talk with Frankie." "God, it blows my mind," Tony said with a shake of his head. "I can't imagine how much the Lucia people promised to pay for this kind of hit." "Nobody knows for sure," Angelo said. "In fact, word has it that the punks did it on their own, thinking they'd be rewarded by the Lucia people for their balls. But as far as we can tell the Lucia people haven't even acknowledged it."
"So disrespectful," Tony muttered. "Acid in the face. Christ!" "That reminds me," Angelo said. "Did you get that battery acid?" "Yeah, sure," Tony said. "It's in Doc Travino's old doctor's bag on the backseat." "Good," Angelo said. "Paulie is going to like that. It's a nice touch." Tony stretched. He was quiet for a minute. Then he cleared his throat. "What do you say to my getting out of the car for just a second? I'd like to do a set of push-ups. My shoulders are tight." Angelo swore under his breath and told Tony that being in the car with him was like being locked up with a two-year-old kid.
"I'm sorry," Tony said with arched eyebrows. "I'm used to more activity than this." Locking his hands together, he did a series of isometric exercises. In the middle of one of these maneuvers he stopped and stared out the side window.
"Holy crap, isn't that Frankie DePasquale coming along beside us?" Tony said excitedly. Angelo leaned forward to see around Tony. "It sure looks like him."

"Finally!" Tony exclaimed as he fumbled to withdraw his gun and reach for the door latch. He felt
Angelo's hand on his arm. He looked at his mentor in surprise. "Not yet," Angelo said. "We have to make sure the kid's alone. We can't screw this up. It might be our only chance and Paulie doesn't want more trouble." Like an eager hunting dog restraining himself with difficulty from some flushed prey, Tony watched as Frankie DePasquale disappeared into the crowded grocery store. To his surprise, Angelo started the car. "Where are you going?" he demanded.
"I'm just backing up a bit," Angelo explained. "It appears that Frankie is alone. We'll take him when he comes out again."
Angelo angled back to the curb at a bus stop. He left the engine running. They waited. Twenty minutes later, Frankie came out of the store with bundles in both arms. Angelo and Tony watched as he walked directly