Chapter 49.5: The Gossip says . . .
A/N: Take note of the title . . . that’s all I’m sayin’.
Joe’s POV
After two months in Delaware, Mañoso’s made arrangements for me to move to Charlotte. Same procedures as before: new name, new cards, new intel. My job is to get close to two agents, Harvey Mason and William Jackson. They’re DEA agents connected to a former ‘Inca’ in Atlanta named Reynaldo Gomez. His intel says that they’re using this guy to flip a drug kingpin in Miami, but they’re calling in too many favors. The op is too well known so it’s guaranteed not to work. After reviewing everything Mañoso has passed, I agree. It looks to be the biggest open secret in the government.
He needs to know what this op is really meant to catch. He doesn’t think that they’re working with MS-13, but they may be a front for someone who is and they’re too stupid to realize it.
Interesting. A multi-layered sting. I’m glad my will is up to date.
My new partner for this op is Ana DiBardino. I’m waiting at the Waffle House (I love this place! A full fucking meal for under $10!) when an agent I recognize walks in.
I remember her. She was number two on my ‘I’d fuck you if I were single’ list in Fairfax. 5’8″, curvy, and stacked. Thick black hair, light brown eyes, and a cute, pert nose. She looks Italian, but I can’t tell because the nose is throwing me. I smile and she beams and walks over.
I’m wondering if Cupcake is thinking of me right now. I’m certainly thinking of her and I have the zipper print on my dick to show for it.
“Ana?”
“Eric?” I smile and motion for her to sit. I give her a few minutes to check out the menu and we order.
“So, what info do you have?”
“Not much.” She frowns. “Aguilar hasn’t spoken to me much about this stage of the op. He said you would take point; I should follow your lead.”
Really? Mañoso trusts me that much? I think not. I think I better call him before I say shit to her.
“Well, I don’t have much either, so I think we better start with getting acquainted with the area. Learn the highways and major roads. That’s always the first thing I do.” Lie. I review intel first, then decide what to do. If she really doesn’t know anything, Mañoso may not trust her. If she does, she’s holding back. Either way, I don’t trust her yet.
We chit chat over the meal and leave, tipping handsomely. I love this op. The unlimited spending is a wonderful thing. We spend the next few hours riding around Charlotte in my vehicle, a Chrysler 300C with the HEMI motor. The POS for undercover is back at my apartment. I asked Mañoso why I had such a flashy car.
Silence, then, “One: you’ll become associated with it, not the POS. People will expect to see you in it, so when you’re out and about in the POS, you disappear. Two, your cover is as a consultant from a high priced company. You have to look the part.”
Oh. I was cool with the car, but black? I’m not a RangeMan. He could’ve gotten blue or bronze or green. Anything but black. The color makes me feel as if I have his name tattooed on my ass.
“What’s the deal with diBardino?”
Silence, then, “Explain.”
“She says I’m running point and she has no intel. Doesn’t sound like you, so I’ve shared nothing you’ve told me.”
I start the timer on my watch. I’m certain one of these days I’ll be able to take a piss between the time I ask the question and when he finally decides to answer. “She’s correct. I’ve told her nothing and you are running point. Tell her the bare minimum.”
WTF? “Wanna tell me why?” Silence. “I’m not one of your men, Mañoso. You can’t hold back shit on me. I’m not going to scream it from the rooftops, but if you don’t trust her I need to know why. I need to know why I need to be on my guard with her.”
“Glad you’re with us tonight. We’ve got a gorgeous couple of days coming up . . . “ Jesus, Reg Taylor will finish the entire weather forecast before Mañoso finally speaks.
“I’m unsatisfied with her work. She’s successful, but not in the objectives. I need her to focus. You’re a good agent, so I want you to assess her. Tell me what kind of agent she is. I trust your judgment here.”
Now I know she’s untrustworthy. If Mañoso trusts my judgment, she’s got problems.
And I’m not ignorant of the fact that he just gave me the most unwilling compliment I’ve ever heard. ‘I’m a good agent’. You’re fucking right I am. I’m no novice at this. I know how to handle myself undercover.
Mañoso: Spanish for a slime bag (no, literally. I looked it up. Had a great laugh.). Also means cunning and crafty, but I prefer the first definition. Makes me feel a hell of a lot better.
I call my mother next. Time to hear the gossip.
“Ma?”
“Joey! How are you, baby? Are you OK? Staying safe?”
“I’m good, Ma. How’s home?”
I spend the next 30 minutes hearing the usual. Carl had a date, Big Dog was in a cop-related shooting and is riding a desk, Gazarra is looking at a promotion, Angelina kicked Tony out again (Jesus! My brother and his wandering dick…), they made up again so Angelina is pregnant again (condoms! Come on! Condoms! Condoms!), Mom is praying that Cathy gets pregnant sometime soon, etc. The Burg hasn’t changed.
I’m waiting on news of Cupcake.
“Ma?” The note in my voice tips her off.
“No, Joey. No requests for a trip to Italy yet.”
I flop back on the bed. I won’t lose hope. Maybe she’s just waiting for me to come home.
“Well, how’s she doing at work?”
“We don’t know. We barely see her. What I do know is that Helen Plum has apparently given up on you.”
I sit up, surprised. I doubt it. Helen knows how much I love Cupcake.
“What do you mean?”
“Apparently she and Edna got into it with Helen Restler at Giovichinni’s a few weeks ago. Edna said she and Frank were throwing their lot over to that Ranger hood, but Helen wanted Stephanie to concentrate on work. She’s hoping that being in charge of that thug’s company will put her in front of other rich men.” Momma sniffs. “I always thought that Stephanie was a hot little piece but really. She had and divorced Richard. Now she’s fishing for a richer one? What’s wrong with my boy? For God’s sake, you love her and you’re willing to ignore that insane job she thinks is a career.”
My mother continues to grumble but I lie back on the bed, feeling like I just took one to the gut. Is that true? Is Steph looking for a more successful man? I mean, that would explain Mañoso. That fucker is clearly rich, but if she has a chance to meet other rich men over the year, maybe . . .
Has that been the problem? That I’m not successful enough?
The evidence would indicate it’s a possibility. Dickie was clearly an up-and-comer when they married. The divorce ruined his prospects, but if he’d been able to keep it in his pants, he’d be rich as hell now. Mañoso is definitely rich. Getting a look at the Miami headquarters cemented that for me.
With both me and Mañoso out of the picture for a year, is it possible Steph might start dating someone else? Sleeping with someone else?
Would she marry someone else?
This news has completely ruined my night. I feel sick. Mañoso is enough. I can’t handle fighting against anyone else. I get up and find my Maalox. I take a dose, just for old time’s sake.
“I don’t think that’s possible, Ma. I mean, Helen Plum knows I love Steph. Maybe she’s just trying to keep the gossip down.”
Momma sniffs. “Well, your grandmother is having a fit. Apparently Edna doesn’t fancy being related to us,” she says in a snooty voice. “Bella’s put it out that she doesn’t like the idea of being related, even by marriage, to an 80-year old whore. It’s started a senior citizens war.”
I fall back on to the bed with a laugh. “You’re kidding?”
“Nope. Edna fired back that Bella’s being faithful to the memory of a man dead 50 years and not worth a damn alive. Bella’s countered that Edna’s legs were open for business before Harry was cold in the grave. It’s tit for tat. Your grandmother is casting curses and evil eyes and Edna’s threatening to spray her with holy water. It’s ridiculous!”
I’m laughing over this. Two 80-year-old women are in a snit over my marrying Cupcake. This is insane.
After an hour, Momma and I finally disconnect. I lie back on the bed and think about what she’s said tonight. I’ve been on this op now for four months. I think about Cupcake every day and I’m hoping she’s doing a good job as ‘Managing Director’. It’s keeping her off the streets and giving her something new to do so maybe at the end of it, she’ll be willing to consider a desk job. Maybe she won’t be so willing to throw her life away. I hope so. I’m tired of watching the woman I love throw herself head first into danger.
I love Steph. I hope she’s doing well. She hates to fail, so I’m sure she’s fine. I wish I could pop in and check on her, but I’m sure Mañoso’s tracking me. In any case, she’s alive and safe. Mañoso’s men are looking out for her.
“God, please don’t let it be about the money. If it’s about the money, I’ll get a new job. But I want her to love me for me.”
Ranger’s POV
Morelli forgot to turn his wire off at the end of our call, so I listened in. The intel was amusing until he got to the part about Steph.
‘Trip to Italy’? I text that info to Hector, ask him to remain on the lookout for that phrase. He responds that he won’t spy on his partner for me. If I romance her, I have nothing to worry about.
Romance her? I’m fucking undercover! How in the hell am I supposed to romance her? Do I do it when I’m not being searched for? Do I do it when I’m not ducking through dangerous neighborhoods and shaking down drug dealers and crack heads for info? Shit, I’m trying to stay alive for her and he wants me to romance her? How about I survive this fucking assignment first! I’ve already used two of my new aliases and we’re only four months in. The feds might believe I’m overseas, but the MS-13 leadership has different intel and they’re hunting my ass, just to make sure. I get the feeling I’ll need to take a short assignment and be seen overseas immediately after this one, just to throw off the scent.
Besides, I can feel Hector’s disapproval. It’s disrespectful to ask a man to spy on his partner. Partners have to trust each other with their lives. If Babe ever found out that Hector betrayed her, even for me, she’d never trust him again. He won’t chance it. I wouldn’t if someone asked me to spy on Tank. I’d shoot the shit out of them first.
I text an apology, which is accepted 10 minutes later. Hector-speak for ‘That was shitty of you’.
Worse is the info about Helen Plum. That makes my blood run cold. Is that what Helen is hoping for? That if Babe runs my company she’ll find someone else? I hadn’t considered that as a possibility and it’s hard not to now. But as soon as I start wondering, I squelch it. Babe’s not mercenary. If it were about the money, The Cop would have been a nonissue years ago. If it were about money, she wouldn’t have kept my attention. One thing I can do is sniff out a gold digger. I’ve fucked enough of them, which is why Steph’s interest was refreshing. She acknowledged my obvious wealth and comfort but it didn’t impress her. I wasn’t gonna fuck her by dangling keys in front of her face.
I have ample evidence of that.
Nah. That’s a nonissue, but it’s clear in The Cop’s voice that he thinks it’s an issue for him. Again, a sign of how little he understands her.
I text Hector, ask about her state of mind. Not good. She’s been moody, difficult and unhappy since I left. She’s been careful not to let the NYC men see that but Hector’s seen it. Manny’s seen it. She’s unhappy. I was afraid of that. I call Hector and ask for Ella. I need to speak to her. Only she can help.
“Ella?”
“Hello. How can I help?”
“Are you prepared?”
“For Stephanie?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, I’m prepared. I know what to do.” She laughs. “The poor boys have no clue. I forget that the majority are single and the ones that aren’t are confused. They haven’t been on this side of the situation before. They don’t understand.”
Yeah, no man at Trenton is going to be prepared for it. I make a vow right then: No more popping up while on this op. She needs stability. My next appearance needs to involve a discussion about our relationship, not more sex. Hell, mentally she can’t take it right now. That’s clear. Ella is waiting on this. I’m waiting on this. I know it’s coming.
Now, how in the fuck am I supposed to romance her when I’m not even supposed to be in the damn country?
A/N: OK, I know I told a joke at Ranger’s expense, but it’s true. I looked up the meaning of Mañoso and one meaning (the first one to pop up on google) was hilarious and uncomfortably accurate. I figured it would be the meaning Joe would like the most. Type ‘meaning of manoso’ into google and see what you get. Tildes matter!
