The Millionaires

61

“Brandt! How you feeling, you old fart?” Gallo announced, his wide grin highlighting the brand-new chip in his front tooth.

“Jimmy-boy!” Katkin said, enveloping Gallo in a back-patting bear hug. Pulling him into his office at Five Points Capital, Katkin asked, “What brings your fat ass back this far south?”

Gallo glanced at DeSanctis, then back to Katkin. “You mind if I shut the door, Brandt?”

Watching his friend, Katkin stopped. “If this is about Duckworth…”

“So they were already here?”

“The two kids with the dye jobs? First thing this morning. I’ll tell ya, I knew something wasn’t right. Then when I got the call from you-”

“Was there anyone else with them?” DeSanctis interrupted.

“You mean besides the daughter?”

Once again, Gallo shot a quick look at his partner. “What did she say?” he asked Brandt.

“Not much. The kid with the dark hair spent most of the time fishing. All the daughter did was sit there. She was cute, though – kinky hair, understated, but also real fire in her eyes. She watched me like a cat – know what I’m saying? Nothing like her dad. Why, you think she’s got something going?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Gallo explained. “Three days ago, an account with Duckworth’s name on it disappeared from New York. Today, this… this daughter won’t sit still for a single question.”

“Any idea where they were headed?” DeSanctis asked. “Any other contacts you may have for Duckworth?”

Katkin crossed around to his desk and clicked through the electronic database on his computer. “All I have here is his home, and some old work address-”

“Neowerks,” Gallo interrupted. “That’s right – I almost forgot about that one…”