Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
No one gets in our way, though. Fathers and husbands may be pissed, but they’re not stupid. They know not to mess with us, and that’s the way I like it. Of course, we’re not going to get any golfing partners from among the sheep. But we aren’t the only ones who have a dangerous past.
I’ve got a number of acquaintances at the club who’ve been known to gamble and get in fights. There are all levels of criminals on the golf course, from the white collar to the blue collar and everywhere in between.
I spy the mayor on the green, and I roll up my sleeves. The golf course is an excellent place to do business. The mayor isn’t corrupt, but he won’t turn down a good deal either, and I’d like him to sign off on a project I’m financing. It’s for a series of wind turbines on the outskirts of town.
“Bob!” I say, approaching him with my golf club in hand.
“Cisco,” he responds, using the nickname that only a select few are allowed. I don’t mind. He’s telling the world and all his golfing buddies that we’re close. He’s giving me a nod to let me know that he’s willing to listen to my request, and that he values my friendship.
We shake hands and play a few holes before getting down to business.
“I was wondering when I would hear from you,” Bob says.
“Yeah, well, I’ve been pretty busy,” I respond.
“Aren’t we all?” He chuckles.
“You remember Giovanni,” I say, introducing my brother for the umpteenth time.
“Of course,” the mayor says.
“I’d like to stop by your office,” I announce, knowing that’s not exactly the type of friendship he has in mind.
“Can’t we conclude our business on the golf course?” he asks. “Fewer cameras, if you know what I mean.”
I laugh. He’s all about political posturing, and I can respect that. If I were him, I wouldn’t want to be seen with a mobster like myself either. “All I need is a handshake,” I say.
Bob reaches out to shake officially, giving me a grin and a pat on the shoulder. He likes to pretend that he’s the biggest dog in the city, but we both know who runs the town. Now that the business has concluded, we’re safe to talk about other things.
The mayor has an adult daughter who’s studying art somewhere in Europe. We talk about her for a while, and then we talk about sports. The mayor’s wife is giving me the side eye, and I wonder why in the hell she’s on the green to begin with. She’s not a golfer. She’s just here to be a thorn in my side.
“Why don’t you go get us some coffee, sweetheart?” I ask just to put her in her place.
She scowls, adjusts her sun hat, and stalks back to the golf cart.
“Go easy on her,” the mayor protests.
“You’re not gonna win any more elections if she won’t give you some breathing room,” I suggest, hinting at the fact that maybe I had something to do with his current political position.
It’s true. I have that kind of effect on people. I can rally the vote when I need to, and confuse the process to the point where my guy always comes out on top. Bob and I had an understanding a while back, and I know he appreciates it.
“I’ll talk to her,” he says.
“You do that,” I agree.
My phone pings, and I pull it out of my pocket.
Frankie: Dad, I just got an A on my exam!
It’s like he’s still a kid and coming home with papers he wants me to post on the fridge. I’ve gotta hand it to him. His heart is in the right place. I know he wants to become a lawyer to give back to the family, and I grudgingly appreciate the sentiment.
Me: Good job.
Everyone else in my life’s got their hands out for a paycheck, but not Frankie. All he wants is my respect. He works so hard, even though he doesn’t have the head for grunt work or scholastic life.
That tutor of his, though. It’s been about three weeks since she’s been working with Frankie, and I have to say I’ve seen an improvement. He’s all business about college now. Instead of having a bunch of slackers around the house, he keeps to himself, studying and reading up on the latest cases.
Whenever I see him in the hallway or at the breakfast table, he can’t wait to tell me about whatever it is he’s reading. Some of it is pretty interesting, I have to admit. Like the information about what cops can and can’t do. I find that particularly valuable in my line of work.
I can’t help but think about Marlena. I see her almost every day as she walks into the house. She doesn’t know I’m watching, of course, but I know her schedule. I know she goes upstairs to work with Frankie and doesn’t come out for a couple of hours. I know they’re not doing anything but work up there because I asked.