I blinked. “That’s the dirt you dug up? That he cried during the Titanic movie?”
“Like a baby. Buckets of tears.” He waved his hands in front of his eyes to show me like I didn’t understand.
“Yeah, I got you. But how does that help me out of this mess?”
“It doesn’t. But it’s hilarious. Come on. Picture Richard in his crisp little suit all stoic watching a romantic movie. And then crying at the end when everyone I’ve ever known is sensible enough not to go on a floating death ship. The propaganda around that boat. I don’t know why anyone bought into it. I still don’t trust cruise ships.” He shook his head. “Regardless, Richard was clearly embarrassed about the whole ordeal. And I got a firsthand witness of the events.”
“How the hell am I going to use Mr. Pruitt crying during the Titanic against him?”
“Well, I’m sure he’s embarrassed, or else he wouldn’t have been all alone in the middle of the day in a theater so far away from his apartment.”
“Tanner, I have a freaking woman following me everywhere. And Poppy threatened Scarlett. I need leverage. Or answers. Not…whatever that is.”
“You have to admit it’s funny.” He popped an appetizer into his mouth. “Almost as funny as this poor excuse for foie gras.” He started writing in his notebook again. “Titanic.” He laughed to himself. “You should have seen it.”
I tried to picture Mr. Pruitt crying during a movie. And I…couldn’t. Mr. Pruitt was heartless.
“Buckets,” Tanner said with a giggle.
And I couldn’t help it. I started laughing too. Not just at the thought of him crying over a romantic movie. But also just over the whole situation. Should I really be so worried about Mr. Pruitt? He’d had years to do something to me and he hadn’t. Why was I still scared of him? The man cried over Titanic for God’s sake.
“See,” Tanner said. “Hilarious. Now I have an important question for you. What do you think this restaurant’s nudity policy is?” He looked around like he thought a streaker was about to run by.
What? “I’m assuming they don’t allow it. It’s a restaurant.”
“That’s a darn shame.”
“Tanner, is that really it?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation back to whatever he found out about Mr. Pruitt.
He looked down at his notebook. “Well, I have a few more questions, but the nudity thing really is a bummer. The food is really going to have to make up for that deficit.”
“I’m not talking about the restaurant’s nudity policies. I’m talking about Mr. Pruitt. Is that really all you found? There has to be something else.”
“Oh. Well, yes. But the rest isn’t quite as funny though. I think it’s more of an after-dessert kind of discussion, if you know what I mean.”
“If you don’t tell me right now I’m going to leave before we even eat.”
Tanner sighed. “As you wish. But I did warn you. This might ruin your appetite altogether. “He pulled out a few pictures from his notebook. “Before Richard went to the theater, he had some sketchy meeting. I couldn’t get inside the old warehouse to see what was going on. But I did see one of the men that came out afterward.” He poked the top image.
I stared at the image of a guy with a deep scar under one of his green eyes.
“I did some digging. His name is Isaac Russo. He’s a known hitman. Richard recently paid Isaac a large sum and there was another equal amount that popped up.” He moved the picture of Isaac to the side to show another intimidating hitman. “This is Isaac’s brother, Antonio. He’s been in and out of prison over the last two decades but no verdict ever sticks if you know what I mean. I’m pretty sure he’s killed at least eight people. I think Richard hired him too.”
My heart was racing. But this was good news, right? Bad news for whoever the hit was against. But good news for me. The person trailing me was a woman. “Well at least Scarlett isn’t really in danger. Or me. Maybe we can use that money trail to pin a few murders on Mr. Pruitt?”
“Yeah, maybe. Although, I got all this information illegally, so probably not. And I wouldn’t say you and Scarlett are in the clear yet. The Russo brothers are good at what they do. But not great. Or else Antonio never would have even stepped foot in a prison. The real problem is that there’s one more hire. The worst hitman of all. Or should I say hitwoman. You know…because she’s a woman.”
I swallowed hard. “Where’s the picture of her?” I pushed the picture of Antonio to the side but there was no other printout.
“No known images of her I’m afraid. But she was paid recently too. So she’s definitely going through with a hit soon. And I’m assuming she’s really good because Richard dropped double the amount on her.”
“The woman that’s following me? Do you think that could be her?”
“All I know is that she’s a woman. And she’s good at her job. That’s probably why I couldn’t find a picture.”
Shit. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this last night? I could have been killed.”
“Richard’s been pretty insistent that he wants to speak with you. I doubt he’ll go through with your hit before you’ve given him the last word.”
Maybe that was true. But that had nothing to do with Scarlett. “I have to go.”
“We haven’t even gotten to the main. I heard the lobster really is quite lovely. I still can’t believe I wasted so many years of my life not eating lobster.” He shook his head.
I didn’t have time for Tanner to tell me for the tenth time that lobster had only recently become a delicacy and that he was making up for lost time by eating loads of it. He never made any sense. My parents had served lobster for years. It hadn’t just recently become a delicacy. “I need to tell James everything.” I stood up and pulled on my coat.
“It’s about time you told him you’re still upset about what happened with Brooklyn. I’m surprised it’s taken you this long. I really think harboring all these feelings of resentment and bitterness aren’t doing you any favors.”
“Not that. I’m talking about Poppy’s threat regarding Scarlett. I should have told him right after it happened. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Oh, yeah. You should really get on that. Let’s just finish up here…”
This was a little more important than a fake date night. “I’m sorry Tanner, but I have to go. We’ll do dinner another night.” I was already hurrying out of the restaurant before he could respond.
The valet looked up at me.
“I’m in a hurry,” I said.
“Bad date?” he asked as he looked for my keys.
Something like that. Why was he taking forever? I could see my keys from here. “Top right, one row down.”
“Ah, here we are. Let me just go…”
I grabbed the keys from his hand. “I can get it.” I pressed the button and heard a beep somewhere to the left. I took off running. It didn’t take me long to find my car and hop in. I started the engine, pulled out onto the street, and almost ran right into a pedestrian.