Page 140 of Cold Hard Cash

“Roger,” Augustus radioed back.

Jimmy kept his teeth together, but his eyes were wide with shock. He was completely amazed. He had known Cold was smart, but this was incredible.

Cold had planned all of this. Every last step. Corman was dead, Matteo was dead, and they had all of the evidence to free his father from prison.

“If you’ll excuse us, Detective.” Cold cradled Jimmy close. “I’d like to finish celebrating my birthday.”

Augustus glanced at the two of them warily. “I’ll be in touch.” He looked at Jimmy, his expression grim as he added softly, “Jimmy…” He was clearly struggling to find the right words.

Jimmy smiled through his tears. “It’s okay, Augustus… Just, please… Help my dad?”

“I will. I swear it.” Jimmy stepped forward, taking a deep breath and hugging Augustus. He remembered everything he and David had talked about today, and he knew Augustus had suffered too. He felt Augustus’ arms awkwardly come around him before squeezing tight and giving him a proper hug back.

“Thank you, Augustus.”

“Thank you, Jimmy. I’m… I’m so sorry.”

“I forgive you,” Jimmy said immediately and hugged him hard. “It’s okay, I forgive you.”

Up the alley came a blissfully familiar limo, and Cold gave Jimmy a nudge. “Have a good night, Detective,” he said, leading Jimmy away from Augustus and toward the car. “Try not to make a mess when you raid the rest of my club.”

Cold swept Jimmy into the back of the limo and held him close. He sacrificed part of his tender hold to pick up the phone, instructing, “Everything is fine. Take us home, Jerry. Merci.”

“This was your plan,” Jimmy said quietly, wiping his face. “You set Matteo up. You knew Corman was the murderer. But how?”

“He made that remark about you being blond at Tamerlane’s party,” Cold replied. “I thought it was strange, but I didn’t think anything of it until I saw your photograph. Then I realized he couldn’t have known what color your hair was unless he’d seen you as a child. The night he killed your mother.”

“And Gregory Rees?”

“Gregory Rees is Rufus Corman.” Cold kissed Jimmy’s forehead. “An alias.”

“Aren’t the Luchesis going to be mad you got Matteo killed?”

“Why? Corman was obviously working with the police and betrayed us all. He was the one wearing the wire.”

“He wasn’t… Oh.”

“Now you’re catching on.” Cold chuckled.

“How could you be sure Matteo would give him an unloaded gun? What if he’d tried to betray you?”

“Jules gave Matteo the guns. The first one, the unloaded one, he put in his jacket when he searched him. The second one, the one that had ammo, Jules didn’t give to him until after I came backstage to find you. Plus.” Cold parted his shirt to reveal a thick vest beneath it.

“Is that…?”

“Kevlar. A birthday present to myself.”

“You really thought of everything,” Jimmy said with a strained smile.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you,” Cold said, his voice taking on a soothing tone. “I couldn’t let Corman know what I was planning. He could not suspect it was a trap. I needed your response to be real.”

“It’s all really over now?”

“Yes,” Cold promised, kissing his forehead sweetly.

“And my dad is really getting out?”

“Yes.”