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"No, sir," he said quickly, squeezing his eyes shut at his words "I didn’t un away and let go of Cardoesn’t concern you"

"Doesn’t it?" he asked, trying to stop tre where I think you’re going--"

"What did I just say?" Corrado asked "I told you in Durante to make your decision and you did You need to be a ht?" he asked exasperatedly "You’re going to her?"

"You have no right to intervene"

"I’ his head "I justChrist, I wanna knohere she is, what she’s doing Why the fuck you’re running off in the ? Is she hurt or so?"

Corrado stared at him as he rattled off questions, his expression blank, but Carmine could see the annoyance in his eyes He knew he shouldn’t have been questioning hijust a bit of infor at his watch, Corrado sighed i to speak and hope swelled through Carain Carmine recoiled as his uncle fired off two shots in his direction, the unexpected noise startling hi the driver’s side tires of his car rapidly deflating

"If you’re going to tail soun back in his coat "Call for a tow truck and go ho me down any reat," Carmine muttered as his uncle walked away

Corrado paused "That’s an order, Carmine"

20

Haven nervously watched the clock, waiting for the black rental car to slowly pull up the street It parked in a free spot directly in front of the brownstone, and Corrado cli inside He tapped once on her door, patiently waiting for her to open up

She started sta to explain what had happened, but he held his hand up to stop her She flinched from the suddenyou"

Haven stood still by the door as he checked out the place The apart if Corrado had flown out for nothing

"Is your upstairs neighbor home?" he asked

"Uh, no, not yet," she said "Kelsey stayed with a guy last night"

"Look around and tellhas been taken," he said "I need to check her aparted"

"Yes, sir"

She sorted through things, taking inventory, and found nothingEven the cash she kept in a draas still there Always use cash, Corrado had said, never leave a paper trail

Corrado ca the door open a crack as he lingered near it "The place is clean Anythingdown here?"

"No," she replied "I don’t really own anything valuable, though"

"Value doesn’t always equal a monetary amount," he said "No diaries?"

She shook her head before it dawned on her "Oh, crap!"

Darting into the living rooh of relief when she saw the worn leather book ast the others "I have Maura’s"

Haven turned to him and started to speak, to ask what she should do, when the front door thrust open, catching Haven off guard She gasped as Corrado turned, reaching into his coat for his gun He clutched it but didn’t pull it out as Kelsey appeared in the doorway, her eyes darting between Haven and Corrado

"Who’s the DILF?" she asked, leaving the door wide open as she motioned toward Corrado Her eyes scanned hi upon her lips

Haven’s cheeks flushed "Kelsey"

"Is this yourfriend?" Corrado asked "The one that lives upstairs?"

"Missing?" Kelsey’s brow furrowed "Are you a cop or solanced at her "Do I look like a cop?"

"Sort of," she said "I un"

Corrado iain with his coat

"He’s" Haven started, unsure of how to explain it

"Corrado," he said, finishing her statement as he politely held out his hand

"Kelsey," she said, shaking it "Obviously you already know that, though"

"Yes If you’ll excuse me, I need to make a phone call"

He walked to the kitchen, pulling out his phone The ly punched Haven’s arm "Where the hell did he come from?"

"Uh, I’ve known hionna lie--I was hoping you wouldn’t go hoet some of that stiffness knocked out of you, if you knohat I mean, but how did you pull that?"

"You think we?" Haven was stunned "No way! He’s ed "A man like that needs more than just one woht with hiet laid"

"Why do you think I spent all night with him?"

"You have the same clothes on fro in the world "Did you at least blow him?"

"Kelsey, shut up!"

"You’re such a prude," she said, s "If you won’t, can I?"