Dirty Work (Rapid Reads) Read Online Free PDF Page B

outta here, you moron,” Vespucci shouted at Mr. No Neck. “Take the little man’s weapons and give ’em back when he leaves.”
    No Neck wasn’t pleased. But he followed his master’s orders like a good dog.
    “Okay, little man, you got my attention,” Vespucci said. “What do you want with it?”
    “First thing I want is for you to not call me little man.”
    Vespucci’s lip started to curl in an angry sneer. He wasn’t used to people correcting him. He wasn’t used to someone like Gulliver doing anything but kissing his ass. But then the sneer vanished. Vespucci said, “You got some balls on you, little — sorry. You got some balls on you, Dowd. I respect that.”
    Gulliver bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, Mr. Vespucci.”
    “So, you know Nina, huh?”
    Gulliver smiled. “Since we were kids in Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island, yeah.”
    “Then maybe you can talk some sense into her, Dowd. She’s taking some chances she shouldn’t be taking.”
    “Funny thing. I think she hoped I could talk some sense into you.”
    Vespucci was a slender, handsome man in his early sixties, with a sharp jawline and graying hair. He shook his head in disbelief. His brown eyes were on fire. It was one thing for this dwarf to have balls. It was something else for him to give Vespucci trouble. He stood up and came around the big desk.
    “What sort of sense does Nina want you to talk into me?” he asked in a threatening voice.
    “Her sixteen-year-old daughter’s missing. Nina thinks you might have her.”
    “Why’s she think that?”
    Gulliver said, “Because you threatened her when she told you she didn’t want to front for you anymore.”
    Vespucci’s body stiffened. As smoothly as a cat, he grabbed some framed photos from the fireplace mantel. “See these here?” he barked, shoving the frames at Gulliver. “These are my daughters and my grandkids. You think I would take Nina’s kid just because she’s pissing me off ?”
    “I know only what I read in the papers, Mr. Vespucci. I know you’ve had people killed. And to get to where you are, I know you’ve killed people yourself.”
    “You take some chances, Dowd. Some big chances. Talking to me like that in my house.”
    “Maybe, Mr. Vespucci. I didn’t survive this long by being afraid. I’m here because Nina’s daughter is my daughter too. So I’ll risk whatever I have to find her. I didn’t find out she was my kid until last night. I want to know her more than I have ever wanted anything. For me, that’s saying a lot. I think maybe you can understand.” Gulliver held Vespucci’s photos out to him. “If your girls were in danger, wouldn’t you take risks?”
    “Okay, I understand now.” Vespucci replaced the pictures on the mantel. “But I ain’t got the kid. I swear on the life of my own girls and grandkids. You gotta believe I wouldn’t do that.”
    “But you threatened Nina that you would, Mr. Vespucci.”
    “I did, but that’s all it was. Nina’s been around long enough to know how this stuff works. You don’t pull out on me when it suits you. She knew that going in. Still, I wouldn’t hurt her kid. I wouldn’t hurt nobody’s kid. She knows that. I’m surprised she sent you h ere. I’m surprised by a lot of things.”
    Gulliver understood. “Nina and I dated for around two months when we were seniors in high school. Then she broke up with me on graduation day. She left for the University of Colorado. I didn’t see her again until last night.”
    “That’s when she told you about the girl,” Joey said.
    “Yeah. I’m a licensed PI. I do a lot of missing-kids work.”
    “You sure as shit can handle yourself. I’ll give you that, Dowd. I’ve seen Tony beat the crap out of guys a foot taller than him. You made him look silly. But I don’t have the girl.” Vespucci crossed his heart. “If you need some info you can’t get elsewhere, just let me know. I’ll get it for you. We understand each other?” Vespucci said.