Chapter 64

Antonio

Two weeks ago

The call came just after 2:00 a.m. I had been half asleep on the old leather couch in the apartment, with a wrinkled newspaper splayed open across my chest, and one leg slung over the armrest. A documentary hummed quietly on the television, volume turned low so it wouldn’t wake the old man or anyone else. Bottles of beer were sprawled around the table from the heavy drinking of the night, and my head hurt just by looking at it.

The phone vibrated against the coffee table, and that was enough to disturb my sleep. In the business, one should expect phone calls at odd hours, but with my plan to lie low, I didn’t think anyone would need me at that hour.

I sat up slowly, reached for it, and thumbed the screen. It was an unknown number, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised. Calls like that were expected, especially when goods were being moved, and so I answered.

“Antonio speaking.” I drawled, almost uninterested.

“We