CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

As they all were still digesting the information that had just been laid on them, Nikki, who had been supervising security with Sal’s underboss Robby Yale, came into the parlor. “Boss?”

Teddy and Mick both looked, but everybody knew Nikki was talking about Mick. She was looking at Mick too. But Mick, being Mick, didn’t respond.

“What is it?” Teddy asked her.

“We just got a call from Scarletti.”

“And?”

“They found Reuters.”

When Mick heard that one of his capos that had been missing for damn near a week was found, he looked at Nikki. “Where?” he asked her.

“In the back of the warehouse at the docks. He didn’t die there. He was moved there. And according to Doc, he’s been dead for nearly a week.”

“When he first went missing,” said Teddy.

Nikki nodded.“Right.”

But the crucial question had not yet been asked. But Mick knew it had to be answered. “What did his examination find?”

“Same M.O. as the guys that hit us. No fingernails. No toenails.”

“Shit,” said Teddy. “Shit!”

“It’s getting closer and closer,” said Sal.

“What about the Z?” asked Reno. “Did he see the Z?”

But Nikki didn’t know about that. “What Z? He didn’t mention a Z.”

“He won’t see it if he’s not looking for it,” said Mick. And he looked at Teddy.

Teddy got him on the phone. He put it on Speaker. “Doc?”

“Teddy T what’s up?”

“Nikki says you examined Reuters.”

“Nikki is correct. I’m still examining him matter of fact.”

“Do me a favor and look at the palms of his hands.”

“You mean the fingernails?”

“What are you asking me about fingernails? I said the palms.”

“Yes sir.” There was the sound of scrambling. Then Doc was back on the line. “Okay, I’m looking at his palms.”

“Look closely. What do you see?”

There was a long pause. “I’ll be damn.”

Teddy looked at Mick. Mick stared at Teddy. “What do you see, Doc?” Teddy asked him.

“I missed that.”

“Missed what?”

“I’ll be damn if somebody didn’t carve a z in the palm of his hand.”

“Both hands?” Mick asked.

There was another pause. “Yes, sir. Both hands. Let me check beneath his feet.” Another pause as the sound of walking could be heard. “I’ll be damn. Beneath his feet too. There’s a z carved in his feet too.”

Mick nodded.

“Okay, Doc. I’ll be in touch,” Teddy said and ended the call.

Mick walked away, to the window, his back to them all.

“And I’ll put our guys on even higher alert.”

“Highest,” Mick ordered.

Teddy was surprised to hear his father say that. “Right,” he said.

And because one of Mick’s men had now been taken out, there was no doubt that the war was on. They didn’t need confirmation of that z to prove it either.

“What’s the game plan, Uncle Mick?” Tommy asked.

“We wait,” said Mick. “Get all the sleep you can get. His ass is coming to us. No doubt about that.”

“It goes without saying,” said Charles, “that as of right now this retreat is over. I want every couple to spend the night together in their own room. Jenay will show you to your rooms. The young people will get the multi-bed rooms because right now I want the couples together.”

Then he looked at all of them in that room. Especially those that were participants at the retreat. “Ladies, your men will need energy to fight this battle. Give it to him,” Charles said in no uncertain terms. Every one of the women stared at him. “Get your shit together and get it together now. We cannot afford any distractions. And I mean none.”

Mick dropped his head, which astounded everyone. It was the first telling sign of defeat that they had ever seen him demonstrate.

It was a sobering sight to see.