Barely Legal

66

A cab pulled up to Cousin Lou’s house in Queens. Mookie got out, told the driver to wait, and went in.

Lou was asleep on the couch. Mookie gave it a kick. Cousin Lou woke with a start and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“What the fuck?”

“Where’s the girl?”

“Upstairs.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s locked in.”

“When did you see her last?”

“This morning. I took her to the bathroom.”

“Let’s go.”

Cousin Lou led the way upstairs and unlocked the door.

Melanie was sitting on the bed. She sprang up when the door opened, but shied back when she saw it was Mookie. He walked in, took ahold of her chin, and twisted her face up to look at him.

“Who are you?”

She pulled away and glared at him.

“Come on, honey. What’s your name?”

“Melanie Porter.”

“You’re Herb Fisher’s girlfriend.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“But you know him.”

“He’s my brother’s attorney.”

Mookie’s eyes widened. “Really? Who’s your brother?”

“David Ross.”

A grin spread over Mookie’s face. “Is that so?” He jerked his thumb at Lou. “Lock her up. Call your cousin. I want at least two guys here at all times. Preferably three. And stay awake.”

As soon as he was out the front door, Mookie whipped out his cell phone and called Taperelli.

“I think we just hit the jackpot.”

Jules Kenworth digested the information. “Run that by me again.”

Taperelli spoke with glee. “We got the councilman’s daughter. We thought she was the lawyer’s girlfriend because he’d taken her out. We didn’t peg her as the councilman’s daughter because she’s got a different name — Melanie Porter. You wouldn’t know her father was Ross.”

“She’s the councilman’s little girl?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that great? As long as we’re holding her, the old man’s going to do what we want. Now you don’t even need a verdict. We just hang on to her until after the vote.”

“That works this time, for this vote, but I need Ross to approve everything I do. I want his kid in jail so he always votes my way.”

“I understand.”

“Then do it.”