Page 31 of King

We drive through the streets of Manhattan back to the apartment near Central Park, and finally, we arrive at the front entrance.I thank the driver and leave the vehicle, glad to be almost home.

Before I can enter the building, I get a call and check the caller ID.

It’s from the number I use to contact Carla.

I stop and answer.“Carla?What’s up?”

“Can we meet?I have some more news.”

I glance around and see that the black sedan that pulled out behind my uber has just parked a few cars down.

“Where are you now?”

There’s a pause.“Just down the street from you, actually.In Central Park.On Gapstow Bridge.”

“I’ll be right there.”

I end the call and then text Harrison, so he knows what I’m doing.

Natalia: I’m going to meet a friend in Central Park.Will be home in half an hour.

As I walk to the park, I wait for his reply, which comes in less than a minute.

Harrison: I’m on my way home now and will see you then.*Smooch*

Natalia: *smooches back*

I get to Gapstow Bridge near the Pond and Central Park Zoo.There she is — Carla.Standing on the bridge, overlooking the Pond.

I stand beside her and glance down at the water.It’s a famous part of Central Park, but it’s pretty remote and not too many people are passing by now.We’re alone.

No red-buttoned man around that I can see.For now.

“What’s up?”

“You asked me to contact you if I got any new information about the whole business,” she says and glances around.“Well, I did a bit more digging.Because of my clearance, I’m able to check databases and records, and I have a name.Deluca.Roberto Deluca.He was the mechanic on duty on the day your stepfather and mother had the accident.He was working at the FBI Headquarters and had access to your stepfather’s vehicle.I don’t know for certain if it’s him, but when I tried to find him, he was no longer working for the FBI.He quit a month after the crash.I haven’t been able to find out where he currently lives or even if he’s still alive, but I thought you might want the name.”

“Roberto Deluca.He’s Italian, obviously.Any links to Giordano?I wouldn’t think he’d have Organized Crime ties and work for the FBI…”

“Nothing I could find, but you never know.Anyway, that’s what I have.I was in the neighborhood, at the Zoo for a break, and thought we could meet and I could tell you.I don’t want any of this on file anywhere.Luckily, I’m adept with computers, so I can clean up most of my research, but still.Better to tell you in person than leave an evidence trail.”

I nod.“I understand.I wish this weren’t my life right now, but it is.Thanks for doing the research.I’ll see what I can dig up on my own.”

“Well, I’d better go.I’m meeting some friends for supper nearby.You can contact me through the Reddit thread if you find out anything new or need any other help.”

“Thanks again,” I say and pat her arm.“I really appreciate your help.”

With that, we part ways.Carla goes in one direction, and I go the other.I walk back to the park exit, and as I get to a path leading to the street, I see a man leaning against the fence, a paper opened.He appears to be reading, but when I check more closely, he’s talking quietly and has a red button on his lapel.

I want to go up to him and rip him a new one, as Gramps would say, but I don’t.Instead, I walk right past him and cross the street.Then, I go back to the building and enter, glad to be finally home.

When I get inside, the apartment is empty.Harrison isn’t home yet, so I go into my office and open my laptop, determined to do whatever research I can on this mechanic, Deluca.

Who are you, Roberto Deluca, and what connections do you have to the Italian Mafia?And why in hell aren’t you in FBI custody and awaiting trial for murder?

I search his name, but of course, I don’t come up with anything concrete.I don’t have access to the kinds of databases that Carla has or that Harrison and the FBI have.I search Facebook, and as luck would have it, I find a Deluca family member and can trace it back to Roberto.

He’s in a nursing home…