“New Jersey has an online database for death records,” said Puller.
“I checked there—nothing. But he might have died in another state, and not all of them have online databases you can search.”
“I see your dilemma. But surely Tony or Teddy will know if he’s alive or not.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
“Sounds like your mother had quite the unique experience working undercover like that and bringing down the mob. And you have no idea where she is now?”
Pine shook her head. “If she’s still alive, she’s beyond even the Bureau’s ability to find her, because I’ve tried.” She glanced at Puller. “Look, I blew your collar. What can I do to make this good?”
“I’m not sure. We were going to make the arrest because we needed to lean on Vincenzo to get him to rat further up the chain. He’s small fry. CID wants the big boys, and none of the grunts we busted are really privy to their identities. I was deploying a team around the property when you walked into the circle. Ed was heading up the rear flank, but they weren’t in position yet. That’s how he was able to escape out the back.”
“Can I bring any Bureau assets to bear on this?”
He shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re well stocked with manpower and resources. And we’ll find him. He doesn’t have many places to hide.”
“Will you let me know when you do?”
“I’ll definitely do what I can.”
“I appreciate whatever you can do.”
“We better get going. Got paperwork to file on this.”
Puller rose and so did McElroy.
“A lot more paperwork, because of me,” said Pine.
“If I had a buck for every wrong move I made, intentionally or not? So, kick it out of your head. Just one of those things.”
After they left, Pine stared down at her unfinished meal and muttered, “Shit.”
Chapter 4
YOU HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING,” said Carol Blum.
Pine had returned to her room at the hotel where she was staying with her assistant, Carol Blum, who was in her sixties and had been in admin at the Bureau for nearly four decades. A mother of six grown children, Blum was rarely surprised or intimidated. She was traveling with Pine to help her on this case. Normally, Pine and Blum worked out of a single-agent office in Shattered Rock, Arizona. Known in Bureau parlance as an “RA,” or resident agency, as opposed to the far larger FBI field offices that were located in metro areas.
“I know, but I still feel bad. Puller is a good guy. Knowing him, he’d planned this down to the last detail, only he had no way of realizing I’d walk right into the middle of it and blow the whole thing.”
“But Tony Vincenzo was there? He definitely was the one running away?”
“Yes. John thinks he can track Vincenzo down pretty quickly, but I’m not so sure.”
“Is there any other way to get to Ito’s whereabouts, other than his grandson?”
“Tony was Plan A. But Plan B is I can talk to Ito’s son, Teddy. He’s in the prison at Fort Dix right here in Trenton.”
“Is Fort Dix a military prison?”
“No. It’s just on the military installation’s land. It’s run by the federal Bureau of Prisons. Minimum to medium security, though they’ve got some crime bosses doing time there, along with politicians and businessmen gone bad.”
“Okay. By the way, have you heard from Jack Lineberry?”
“He was supposed to leave the hospital yesterday. He can afford the best home care around.”
“Yes, I’m sure. But I was talking about—”
“I know, Carol,” Pine said sharply. In a calmer tone she added, “I haven’t come to grips with it, if you want to know the truth. I thought he might be able to help me find my mother, but right now he needs to concentrate on healing.”
“Understood.”
“But I will check in and keep him in the loop. And he might have some information for me that could help.”
Pine pulled out her phone. “I was going to try to schedule a meeting with Teddy Vincenzo. But an idea just occurred to me.”
“What?”
“I’m going to have Puller make the request to the prison. He may very well want to talk to Teddy Vincenzo, too, about Tony. Teddy might have some clue about where his son has gone to ground. And while it’s a federal prison, it is located on a military installation, so Puller can help cut through the red tape. We can get in faster that way.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Blum.
Pine made the call and Puller answered on the second ring. She told him what she wanted, and he said he would make it happen, with one condition.
“I want to go with you when you talk to Teddy.”
“I was going to insist that you do,” said Pine.
“I’ll try for zero nine hundred tomorrow, okay?”
“Works for me. I’ll meet you there.”
“See you then.” Pine clicked off and looked at Blum.
Blum said, “Well, this might be a silver lining. I imagine Teddy might know more about his father than Tony would about his grandfather.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Now the only question is, will he talk?”
“With prisoners, it’s always about the quid pro quo.”
“I know, Carol. But we’ll come up with something to dangle in front of him.”
“So what now? We wait until you meet with him?”
“No. I have another plan.”
“What’s that?”
“After Tony got away we searched for other people in the house, but I didn’t really search the house. I think I need to correct that oversight.”
“Do you have a warrant?”
“No, but Puller did. I can piggyback off that.”
“He won’t have a problem with that?” asked Blum, looking skeptical.
“I don’t see why he would. We’re on the same side.”
“Well, he’s looking to nail Vincenzo for a crime and use him to get bigger fish. You’re looking to find out about Ito and solve what happened to your sister.”
“And you think they’re mutually exclusive?”
“Not necessarily. But I’m not sure they’re wholly compatible, either.”
“Well, I’m willing to risk it.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say.”
“And you disapprove?”
“If I did, I would have said so. But just keep what I said in mind, that’s all.”
“I keep everything you say in mind, Carol.”
Chapter 5
YOU DIDN’T GET HIM, DID YOU?”
Pine looked over at the front porch of the house next to the Vincenzos’, where the old woman was still in the rocking chair, though her yarn and needles were nowhere in sight. It had grown chillier and she had on a heavier coat. Pine saw the orange glow of a rusted standup outdoor heater next to her.
“No, I didn’t.”
“He’s fast. But I thought you might have a shot. You’ve got long legs.”