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me。 But now look！〃 He lifted his glass。 〃These wines are the envy of the world。 And the Japanese economy； well； despite their present problems no one makes a joke about Toyotas； only Cadillacs。 I； myself； wouldn't be caught dead in a Caddy。〃
〃You'll pardon my curiosity；〃 Croaker said； 〃but how is it you know about me？〃
〃It isn't all that difficult if you give it a moment's thought。〃 Leonforte waved a hand in the air。 〃I have access to the same forms of electronic munication as do most branches of what is euphemistically called law enforcement in this country。〃 He sat back； feeling expansive。 And why not？ He had just humiliated his rival； run him off his own turf； and snatched someone his intelligence had classified as a federal agent； saving said agent's life in the process。
〃Really？ I would have thought most； if not all； of those forms of electronic munication were impenetrable to unauthorized personnel。〃
〃Who says I'm unauthorized？〃 Leonforte laughed at Croaker's stunned look。 〃Well； okay； so I am unauthorized。 Technically speaking。 But not everybody thinks so … or cares enough to keep me out。 These government people are overworked …〃
〃And highly underpaid。〃
Leonforte grinned。 〃That's it precisely； Mr。 Croaker。 Underpayment is the bane of the bureaucrat's existence。 To understand that is to understand everything about these people。〃 He spoke about 〃these people〃 as if they were a different and inferior form of life。 〃They move the country along in its business； and gaining their trust or … often more accurately … their interest is one of my prime concerns。〃
〃Greasing the wheels。〃 Croaker got some bread and olive oil into his mouth。 All the wine was souring his empty stomach。 It wasn't every day you came back from the dead； especially in the pany of one of the devil's disciples。
Leonforte raised a hand； indicating to the waiter that he wanted another bottle。 〃It's a fact。 Every car can use a lube job now and then； especially the ones that live on low…octane fuel。〃
Up close； Croaker could see that Leonforte had a thin scar across one…half of his throat。 He made no effort to conceal it； on the contrary； a man like him would be proud of such a mark of what must have been youthful bravado。
〃Okay； you know who I am。 So what？〃
Leonforte waited for the waiter to uncork the bottle and pour a sample of the Jordan into a fresh glass。 He waved the waiter away without taking a drink。 〃So here's what； Mr。 Croaker。 What on earth are you doing tailing Margarite Goldoni DeCamillo？〃
〃You seriously expect me to tell you？〃
Now Leonforte took the time to sample the wine。 He made a great show of it； then poured for them both。 〃I'll tell you something that may shock you。 We have someone in mon。 Dominic Goldoni。 We're both obsessed by him。〃
Croaker said nothing； but despite the bread； the cabernet was doing nasty things to his insides。
〃Maybe you think I'm full of shit； but if so； you better give the subject another think。 Let me tell you something about myself。 My father； Francis； God rest his soul； was a man from the old school。 What do I mean by that？ He was heroic； bigger than life。 He was interested in the elemental things in life： money； influence； respect。 He also fucked a lot。 He took me to a brothel when I was twelve。 It was tradition。 He watched while me and the whore got it on。 Maybe he wanted to instruct me； maybe he just got off on it； who the fuck knows？ But from that moment on he considered me a man。 Inside of six months he had put a gun in my hand and was training me to shoot； load； break it down even in the dark； very military in some ways； my father。
〃Anyway； it was all fucking preparation。 For what？ Making my bones。 'You ain't a man if you don't make your bones；' the old man used to say。 'And if you ain't a man； you're nothing。' He had a fucking point； I'll tell you。〃 Leonforte sipped his wine； savoring it as fully as the tale he was spinning。
〃So it was my father who told me to kill。 Some wiseguy had gotten out of line； passed ments about my father in public。 So he was to be killed in public … in the restaurant that was his favorite place； where he felt most secure。 'I'll make a statement；' the old man said； 'to this man's friends and to everyone else。 They'll get the point。'
〃I was just thirteen then； you understand； but my childhood was already a thing of the past。 It's what my father wanted； it's what I wanted。〃 Leonforte looked at Croaker for a moment。 〃I know you've killed men in your tune； but I expect you found it difficult。 I didn't。 It was like I was a messenger of God； like angels sang on my shoulder。 Bam！ Wham！ Blood and brains and clam sauce all over the fucking place； people screaming； the fucking guy's friends open mouthed or vomiting outright。 Christ； the sense of power was like nothing else in the world。 And you know something； I wanted to whack them all； everyone at that table； like they were infected because of their association with him。 But I controlled myself； dropped the gun and walked out through the madhouse。〃
Leonforte； flushed with the residue of absolute power recalled； hunched over the table。 〃Now here's the truth of the current situation： Dominic was a fucking genius。 I hated his guts； but I'd be a moron if I didn't admit the fact； at least in private。 He was clever enough to keep me at bay even though I had more money； more people； and more resources than he did。 He thwarted me every time I tried to go beyond a certain geographical point。 I never heard from him directly； there was never even a hint of a confrontation。 But in one state a property deal fell through due to a convenient change in local regulations； in another the feds raided a pany I was planning to buy； in still another a corporation I spent millions to take over had its assets mysteriously drained days before the signing。 Over and over again。 I know Dominic was responsible。 Now how the fuck did he do that？ Inquiring minds want to know； Mr。 Croaker； and my mind is exceedingly inquiring。〃
〃Fascinating。 But what does all this have to do with me？〃
Leonforte put his glass down with some force。 〃You want to play hardball； okay； you got it。〃 That unsettling light in his eyes took on a bestial quality。 〃He got to you； didn't he？ I mean Dominic。 Sure。 He had that effect on everyone。 You； my friend； tracked down Dominic's murderer and； so I understand； had a hand in whacking him。 You also had a hand where it maybe didn't belong； mainly in Margarite DeCamillo's panties； and now you're hooked but good into the family。〃 He held up a hand in what was rapidly being a signature gesture。 〃Not that I care； in fact； on one level it's pretty damn funny。 Guys will be guys； right？ Hell； it's another humiliation for him。 Man like that must've e out of his mother's ass； you follow me？〃
He pointed his finger at Croaker。 〃But you do that； being who you are and all； it gives us a bad name。 It's an infamia； like you insult us to our face； so at the moment I'm a little pissed off at you。〃
You and Tony D。 That makes two enemies today； Croaker thought。 Some days it just didn't pay to wake up。
〃On the other hand； I have a weird feeling about Margarite myself。 I mean； her brother gets whacked and he