Secured Wishes by Charity Parkerson Read Free Book Online Page B

parking lot. The pair watched as the low-level thug made his way inside. Caleb followed closely on his heels as Jacob took up a position near the front door in case he tried to make a break for it. At one time James Thomas was actually Thomas Fratelli; better known as Thomas Two-toes. Jacob wasn’t real clear on how he came by the nickname, but Thomas traded information to Safe Haven in exchange for a new identity and relocated to the west coast; the same information that in turn led them to that alleyway, and now here he was in Boca Raton.
    It only took a minute for Thomas to reemerge from the store looking pale with Caleb’s arm slung over his shoulders. Caleb was smiling brightly, as if seeing an old friend, but Thomas’ smile was a little more strained thanks to the gun Caleb poked discreetly in his side.
    Jacob flanked his other side, and they led him around the building and into the station bathroom. Jacob entered first to make sure it was empty. Once Caleb shoved Thomas through the door, Jacob barred it from unexpected visitors. Caleb held his gun high, aiming for Thomas’ chest. “You gave us some bad info dude.”
    Thomas was short for a man, probably only five foot six, and at thirty-five his dark-brown hair was thinning to the point that he would most likely be bald by forty; if he lived. He shifted nervously from foot to foot. “No, man. No. The info was good. I swear. The men they were there right? Just like I said, right?”
    “Yeah man they were there,” he paused before adding. “Fully armed and gunning for us. They were tipped off, Thomas. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”
    “Now, Thomas Two-toes, you know he don’t Welch on no trade. You guys wanted to know where you could find the guys that killed them folks at church, and I told you. You guys wanted to know who their next target was going to be, and I led you right to it.”
    Jacob tensed at Thomas’ words, and Caleb took a step forward pressing the barrel of his gun against Thomas’ forehead. “What do you say we make a new trade Thomas? You tell me now about the church and the hit in the alleyway, and I won’t kill you,” he paused for a moment then added, “today.”
    Thomas looked right and left, as if assessing his chances should he try to run, but his shoulders sagged as he realized there would be no escape. “It’s all about Mickey the hammer,” He finally admitted. “He was getting all above himself, you know? Thinking he would make his way up the ranks by hammering his way through, right? Well the Paltones, they don’t look too kindly on being muscled around, especially by their own peoples, so they got him and his while they were sitting in the middle of Sunday service, but Joey Paltone, you know him right?”
    Jacob did know him. He was the head crime boss of the entire east coast. “He got to thinking maybe Mickey’d been telling his girl family business.”
    “His girl?” Jacob asked interrupting him.
    Thomas shrugged. “Yeah. Some little red-headed girl. Sweet little thing, Missy or Mindy, something like that.”
    “Mary,” Jacob supplied.
    “Yeah, yeah that’s it, Mary.”
    They weren’t looking for Gracie after the shooting for a reason; she was only incidental. Thank God. Now he could go home.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Gracie drew a sharp line and used the tip of her finger to shade in the area next to it. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment wondering if she should add a bit more detail. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
    Bob snorted. “I think we’re beyond asking permission.”
    “I guess we are,” she admitted. “Why are you here with me on a Saturday night instead of out with some hot woman?”
    “I am with a hot woman. Now it’s my turn. Who is this guy that has you tied up in knots?”
    Gracie kept her eyes locked on her sketchpad wondering how he could possibly know. “What makes you think I’m tied up in knots?” she asked, avoiding his question. He stayed