Summer was coming. Ferris didn\u2019t like summer, for a number of reasons, but no amount of internal griping could keep the season away. He could feel it in the thickness of the air \u2014 the humidity that dragged in from the seaside and stuck to every surface imaginable. The thought of escaping to the air conditioned sanctuary of a nearby convenience store crossed his mind, but unfortunately he had agreed to meet Alex on the corner of Stone and 6th Street. This would prove to be the first of many poor decisions.<\/p>\n
He gazed at the newspaper stand at his left, silently willing his pores to close. This was to be their second date and he had little intention of sweating his way through it. His gaze had nearly lost focus when a set of words caught his eye. The black print on the newspaper headline sharpened in his vision, forcing him to zero in on the text.<\/p>\n
MARIANI INVOLVEMENT SUSPECTED IN STRING OF TRUCK HEISTS<\/i><\/p>\n
The Marianis \u2014 once a contender for power in Southport, now reduced to a handful of survivors desperately trying to regain what they had lost. Ferris felt little pity for their syndicate. Though no Mariani had personally given him the wide scar on his side, they had, in a way, sponsored the memento.<\/p>\n
He passed the vendor a dollar bill, keeping his eyes down as he began to read the article. He had only made it to the second sentence when a voice interrupted his effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Ferris.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, hi Alex,\u201d he said, glancing up to watch her approach. \u201cYou made it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alex was dressed a bit nicer than she had been on their first date. The sake bar they had reserved was by no means casual, nor was its week-long waiting list for a table. It was only through a string of favors and phone calls that he had managed to make the reservation. If she hadn\u2019t offhandedly mentioned her love for chirashi, he might not have made the effort at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terrible, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d he droned, staring at her dumbly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe truck heists,\u201d she explained, gesturing to the newspaper in his hands. \u201cI heard a driver got shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, oh right,\u201d he replied, glancing down at the paper before hurriedly rolling it up. \u201cTerrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe we still have organized crime in this day and age,\u201d she frowned, politely ignoring his fumbling. \u201cBut hopefully I can help put them all behind bars. Um, if I can get a job, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cB-behind bars,\u201d he said, his voice fading at the last syllable. \u201cYeah. Er, yes. I mean, you\u2019ll get a job. I\u2019m sure you will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferris had now lost the battle against his own body; a bead of sweat began to trail from his temple. He had forgotten that an average person didn\u2019t deal with gambling rings, body disposal, and suppressed Berettas on a monthly basis. He took in a breath, using the air to force down the fear that was trying to rise somewhere in his gut.<\/p>\n
Through the years, he had been surprisingly successful in coming across as \u2018normal.\u2019 Now would be an inopportune moment to ruin his facade. A part of him wondered if this was wrong \u2014 to hide a significant portion of his life, to smile and agree like some kind of fraudulent imbecile. He liked Alex \u2014 he really<\/i> liked her. If they were to get to know one another, it would become increasingly difficult to pretend he was a law-abiding citizen.<\/p>\n
Then again, this was only their second date. Perhaps he was overthinking it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d Alex asked, tilting her head in concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, yeah,\u201d he replied, pushing the newspaper into his bag. \u201cIt\u2019s just this heat. It tends to make me stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cWell, then. Let\u2019s find this place and sit in some A\/C.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, neither he nor Alex would find refuge in the sake bar. Rather than a smiling host, they were greeted with strings of police tape, the yellow strips draped around the block like old Christmas lights. Broken glass covered the sidewalk \u2014 apparently someone had broken into the jewelry store beside the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerfect,\u201d Ferris sighed.<\/p>\n
Alex was caught up in a mixture of disappointment and thrill. The scattered policemen and yellow tape seemed to pique her interest, though she was doing an admirable job of keeping it down.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn,\u201d she said. \u201cI wonder when it\u2019ll open again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably not for a while,\u201d Ferris replied, eyeing the crooked parking of the police cars that had overtaken the block. \u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I weren\u2019t wearing this dress, I\u2019d say a diner,\u201d she said, giving him a helpless smile. Alex\u2019s point was indeed valid \u2014 her clothing would look fairly odd in an establishment that served pancakes and sloppy joes. \u201cYou know any other places around here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferris paused at her question, averting his eyes as he thought. He certainly did know an establishment in the area \u2014 one just down the street, in fact. It had a refined atmosphere, a reputable menu, and a terribly impressive wine list. Not only would he be able to get a table, but he was certain their meal would be on the house.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the restaurant was run by a notorious criminal family \u2014 one he wasn\u2019t quite ready to expose his relationship with.<\/p>\n
\u201cSort of,\u201d he started, running his hand over his head. \u201cBut you\u2019re probably not in the mood for Italian, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love Italian,\u201d she said, her face brightening at the thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d he said, then cleared his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it in Little Italy? That\u2019s pretty close, I wouldn\u2019t mind the walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, let me see if I can get a table. They\u2019re pretty busy, so\u2026 no promises,\u201d he said, forcing a smile as he slipped his phone out of his pocket. He took a few steps away, pressing buttons in an attempt to pretend it wasn\u2019t on speed dial.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Ristorante Giorgetti,\u201d came a voice after several rings. It was Sergio. \u201cHow can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, I was wondering if there are any tables available tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid we\u2014 Ferris, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, yes,\u201d he replied, swallowing as he gave Alex a sideways glance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you calling for?\u201d Sergio said, barking out a laugh. \u201cJust come over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ferris could feel the panic, which had started off as a tickle, beginning to swell tremendously in his chest. He closed his eyes, then cupped his hand over the phone.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSenti, ho un appuntamento e ho bisogno che tu faccia finta di non conoscermi,\u201d Ferris said, hoping that his Italian was correct. \u201cSenza offesa.\u201d<\/p>\n Sergio continued laughing; Ferris hoped that Alex couldn\u2019t hear it through the phone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, like you\u2019re a stranger? Are we that embarrassing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cS\u00ec, fallo e basta. Table for two \u2014 for Levinstein.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Fish. I mean, yes Mr. Levinstein,\u201d Sergio replied. Ferris could hear him grinning through the phone.<\/p>\n \u201cUn’altra cosa ancora…\u201d he said, making sure to keep his voice low. \u201cTua sorella \u00e8 l\u00ec?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Emily\u2019s out tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, thank you,\u201d Ferris said, finally exhaling. \u201cWe\u2019ll be there in about ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n He hung up, stuffing the phone in his pocket before turning to give Alex a helpless smile.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo, did they have a table?\u201d she asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Lucky, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat! Is there, um\u2026 a reason you were speaking in Italian?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re\u2026 they\u2019re really<\/i> authentic. His English wasn\u2019t that great.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d she replied, her voice slow.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s get going before they give our table away,\u201d he blurted, hoping desperately that he hadn\u2019t just made an enormous mistake.<\/p>\n Ferris realized, upon arriving, that his actual mistake had not been choosing Ristorante Giorgetti for his date. The true blunder was in trusting Sergio to take his task seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome,\u201d he said with a forced Italian accent. \u201cDo you have a reservation, Sir<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris stared back at him, deadpanned.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It should be under Levinstein.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVa bene. Ah, s\u00ec<\/span>. Here we are. You called earlier \u2014 a table for two?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUn momento prego!\u201d Sergio replied, giving the two a dashing smile as he gathered a pair of menus. The smile, melodramatic as it was, seemed to suit the Italian\u2019s handsome features. His tawny hair was loosely combed and he had been fortunate enough to inherit his grandfather\u2019s fair blue eyes.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m going to kill you<\/i>,\u2019 Ferris mouthed, his eyes dangerously narrow as they followed their host around the grand piano. Despite Sergio\u2019s theatrical display, Ferris was glad that he could show Alex the restaurant. It had a polished interior, its walls lined with black and white photographs of family and notable guests. Candle sconces gave the space a warm glow, lighting the smooth wooden surfaces below. The air was rich with the scents of wine and garlic, reminding him that he was actually quite hungry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope you do not mind,\u201d Sergio began as they passed the bar. \u201cThe only table, it is back in the private room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n From the corner of his vision, Ferris noticed a familiar pale face towards the back of the restaurant. Demos made brief eye contact with him before looking away. Apparently, Sergio had informed him of the \u2018situation\u2019 and he had the common sense not to approach.<\/p>\n Through a pair of mahogany doors was the back room, one which the Giorgettis often held gatherings or meetings in. There was a long table set in the center, one which Ferris had clear memories of \u2014\u00a0 the sound of his father\u2019s voice, strikingly grim as he threatened a man across the table \u2014 the seat which Angelo Mariani, now deceased, had once sat in \u2014 they were all as clear as yesterday.<\/p>\n A brick fireplace occupied one end of the room, its mantle crowned with an oil painting of the Italian tall ship Palinuro. Not even a private room could escape Gino Giorgetti\u2019s love for boats.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have short staff, so I will be waiting to your table,\u201d Sergio crooned as they took their seats.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, take your time,\u201d he said with an embellished hand gesture, then turned to leave.<\/p>\n Fortunately, Alex wasn\u2019t familiar with Sergio\u2019s normally stoic behavior and thought little of the man\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard of this place,\u201d she said, looking over the menu. \u201cIt\u2019s supposed to be really good. I\u2019m surprised we got a table. But isn\u2019t it owned by\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust good timing, I guess,\u201d Ferris quickly interrupted, folding his hands on the table. The back room was normally reserved for parties, as well as an occasional customer demanding privacy for their date. At least Sergio had had the courtesy to place them there.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, anyway,\u201d Ferris continued, ignoring the menu. \u201cI\u2019m, uh\u2026 I\u2019m glad you could make time for this. You must be pretty busy with school.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. My master\u2019s thesis is killing me,\u201d she said, still skimming the list of dishes. \u201cAnd I have to finish this book on solid-phase peptide synthesis by Monday. It\u2019s actually pretty interesting, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She stumbled over her words for a moment, unconsciously chewing her lower lip.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s… it\u2019s nice to have some free time. I\u2019m usually happier alone, but\u2026 I really like talking with you.\u201d<\/p>\n By then she was blushing, which in turn caused Ferris\u2019 face to warm.<\/p>\n \u201cMe too,\u201d was all he could think to say.<\/p>\n At this, she smiled. The room was silent for a minute until Alex tore her eyes away in embarrassment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s better than talking to my cat, anyway. She\u2019s a poor listener. Oh, jeez, do you like cats? Do you have one? Ah, no, why would you have a\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI have a dog,\u201d he said gently. \u201cA fat, stupid dog.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex laughed, or started to, before covering her mouth with her fist.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019d really like to meet him someday. Or her, if it\u2019s a girl. Er, not that I\u2019m inviting myself to your house. Unless you want me to\u2014 um, right. Anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that. We could watch that movie you mentioned last time\u2026 Brazil<\/i>, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n Her reply was interrupted as Sergio returned to take their orders. He was ready with a pen and notepad, making sure to write each word with a flourish.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich wine would be good with the eggplant parm?\u201d she asked, oblivious to the operatic batting of his eyelashes.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, a barbera, decisamente. We have a very nice Monferrato.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have a glass.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd for you, Sir<\/i>?\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris cleared his throat, showing Sergio with a tight-lipped smile that he would be discussing this evening with him later.<\/p>\n \u201cThe house pinot grigio,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the bass oreganata.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOttima scelta! I\u2019ll be right back with your wine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease. Take your time<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex leaned in as Sergio left, watching her date curiously.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that you ordered?\u201d she asked, her brow lowered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bass,\u201d he replied, wondering how that could possibly be suspicious.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t see it on the menu.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Oh<\/i>,\u2019 he thought. \u2018That\u2019s how<\/i>.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I ordered it last time. I guess they recently changed menus,\u201d he said, smiling weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you come here a lot?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know\u2026 once in a while,\u201d he said, finding a sudden interest in the room\u2019s decor. \u201cWith my mother. She loves their puttanesca.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t on the menu, either.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris was finding it more and more difficult to manage his pseudo-smile. Just as he thought he might break under her scrutiny, the double doors opened once more.<\/p>\n This time, however, it was not Sergio that entered the room. A host led in a pair of men, both of whom were seated at another table near the window. Ferris glanced over briefly, wondering why one of their faces was so troublingly familiar. They spoke to one another in hushed voices, their conversation just low enough to miss.<\/p>\n \u201cSo much for privacy,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s puff up to defend our territory,\u201d he said, knitting his brow in utter seriousness.<\/p>\n It seemed that Alex\u2019s efforts to stifle herself had reached their limit. Her shoulders shook, followed by an extraordinary laugh \u2014 one which started with the suppressed wheezing of an old man, peaking into a giggle that bore an uncanny resemblance to a tropical bird\u2019s mating call. Though she clamped her hands over her mouth, the laughter continued, muffled, into her palm.<\/p>\n \u201cOh god,\u201d she groaned, now hiding her entire face. \u201cOh, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, checking his own laughter. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy laugh \u2014 you heard my stupid laugh<\/i>. God, you probably want to go home now, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI like it,\u201d Ferris claimed, lowering his head in an attempt to catch her eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s cute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh god, shut up. It is not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is!\u201d<\/p>\n His insistence seemed to rekindle the laugh and, before she could stop herself, she was once again wheezing. The men at the other table looked over briefly, then returned to mumbling over their menus.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a horrible liar,\u201d Alex said, peeking at him from over her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, really, I\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n His sentence was cut short by the creak of a door. From over Alex\u2019s shoulder, he could see Demos\u2019 figure through the crack. The Italian\u2019s expression was urgent as he gestured for Ferris to step out. Noticing that Alex was still distracted by her own embarrassment, Ferris curtly shook his head, showing with a quick nod that he was occupied. Demos responded with an intense glare, waving his hand with even more insistence. After a moment, Ferris sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, sorry. I\u2019m going to find the men\u2019s room. I\u2019ll be quick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re never coming back, are you?\u201d she asked, still mortified.<\/p>\n \u201cI will. I promise,\u201d he assured her, then stepped away from the table.<\/p>\n Demos was waiting beside the piano with folded arms. He was still glowering, his fingers clenching impatiently on the sleeve of his suit.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ferris hissed once the doors had closed behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s him. That\u2019s the guy,\u201d Demos said, as if it were obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat guy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe cop,\u201d Demos said, jerking his thumb towards the back room. \u201cThe one Lee told us about.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris fell silent, taking a moment to stare back at his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d he finally muttered, glancing back over his shoulder. \u201cSo that\u2019s why he looked familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe asked for the back room, probably because he knows we have meetings in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you want me to do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust keep an eye on him,\u201d Demos said, placing his hand on the piano\u2019s sleek finish. \u201cSee if he leaves us any presents.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris let his eyes drop to the floor, considering his response in silence.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you\u2019re on a date, but this is important,\u201d Demos said, this time more gently. Ferris knew what his answer would be \u2014 he knew from the moment Demos had first opened his mouth. No matter how much he protested at the start, in the end, Ferris could never tell him \u2018no.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right. I got it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks. Now hurry up, get back in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Once he\u2019d returned to his seat, Alex seemed to have wrested back control of herself. Her breathing had calmed and most of the flush had left her cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was quick,\u201d she said, gingerly adjusting her glasses.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a long line. I\u2019ll try later.\u201d<\/p>\n As he spoke, he let his eyes flicker briefly to the other side of the room. Both men were still poring over their menus, looking rather inconspicuous in their business casual attire.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Ferris\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d he said, blinking as he snapped his attention back to her face.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there\u2026 a reason you\u2019re pretending you don\u2019t know these people?\u201d<\/p>\n Ferris froze in place, his lips quirking as he processed her question.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d he said, his tone flat. \u201cWhy do you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of obvious. I mean, the Italian on the phone, and your being weirdly familiar with everything here, and\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Yes,\u201d he said, sighing as he rubbed his jaw. \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the reason\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d he started, swallowing as he threw together an excuse. \u201cIt\u2019s true. I\u2019m a regular here. And I know this place is maybe kind of famous for being owned by criminals, so I didn\u2019t want you to think\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would I think poorly of you because you come to a restaurant? It\u2019s not like you<\/i> commit crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah, yeah. I\u2026 I guess I was just being silly. Sorry I wasn\u2019t honest,\u201d Ferris mumbled before daring to look up at her expression. Luckily, there was much less anger in her eyes than he expected.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I know it\u2019s a dumb excuse, but\u2026 I really like you and, well\u2026 I didn\u2019t want to make the wrong impression,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to lie,\u201d she said, giving him a soft smile. \u201cI like you, too \u2014 just how you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Her words, well-meaning though they were, seemed to tear something inside of his chest \u2014 he felt suddenly ill, doing everything in his power to hide the nausea from his features.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d he said, somehow managing to get the word out of his throat. \u201cI\u2019m glad to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n From the corner of his eye, he caught movement from the edge of the other table. It was a subtle motion \u2014 a slight flick of the tablecloth, the sweep of a hand as it dipped beneath.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be honest from now on, okay?\u201d she said, leaning forward to place one hand over his.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he replied, his eyes tightening. With one breath, he gathered himself. His spine straightened and he forced them down \u2014 the feelings of guilt, of pressure, of every sick, nagging emotion that was screaming from the back of his head. They were smothered, hidden away to be dealt with at a later time.<\/p>\n Ferris smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that I know about your cute laugh, it\u2019s all free game, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Just as she started to laugh once more, their wine arrived. Sergio placed two glasses on the table, one with a rich red, the other a golden white.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Sir, would you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Serg,\u201d Ferris sighed, giving the other man a weak hand wave. \u201cShe figured it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, was it my acting? I thought I did a pretty good job,\u201d he replied in a defeated American accent.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no. It was me. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? I tried to\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cYou were great,\u201d Alex said, giving the tall Italian a thumbs-up. \u201cI totally bought the accent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrazie mille!\u201d he replied, bowing dramatically. Upon rising, he offered her a wink. \u201cEnjoy your wine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will,\u201d Ferris said, wishing he were standing so he could push the other out of the room by force.<\/p>\n The remainder of their dinner was considerably lighter \u2014 no further talk of lies or deceit came up and the food was, as expected, superb. He was glad that it was his turn to pay, as he could easily pretend that actual money was being exchanged. In reality, he couldn\u2019t remember the last time he had paid so much as a cent at Ristorante Giorgetti.<\/p>\n \u201cUgh,\u201d Alex groaned, holding her stomach as they exited the restaurant. \u201cI\u2019m full of gelato.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m full of regret,\u201d he echoed.<\/p>\n Alex laughed, this time making no effort to hide the act.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I think I left my wallet inside,\u201d he said \u2014 he had, in fact, purposely left his wallet on the table to reinforce those very words. \u201cBut you go ahead. I\u2019ll see you next week, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d she answered, grinning at the thought. \u201cCan\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n They both stood for a while, unmoving, as if waiting for the other to take some kind of further action. Alex lifted her hand, dropped it bashfully.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, well, see you then,\u201d she said, still red as she turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cGet home safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Once she was out of sight, he turned back into the restaurant. Demos was sitting at the piano, his eyes closed as he patiently played his favorite Satie piece.<\/p>\n \u201cHe left fifteen minutes ago,\u201d Ferris murmured as he gazed out the window. \u201cAnd he put something under the table. Probably a bug.\u201d<\/p>\n Demos continued playing, letting his fingers run over the keys until the song was finished. Once the last note faded, he opened his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then,\u201d he said, looking up at his friend. \u201cLet\u2019s give him something to listen to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have something in mind, don\u2019t you?\u201d Ferris asked, raising an eyebrow at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. Do we still have that DVD player upstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n A block away, an unmarked van sat parked beside a closed bodega. Inside were two men, both wearing headsets, and both quite full of Italian food.<\/p>\n \u201cDo we really need to start now, Shaffer? We just left the place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to see if it\u2019s working,\u201d the man replied, adjusting the headset over his ears.<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t think\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cShh,\u201d he hissed, holding up his hand. \u201cShut up, I\u2019m getting something. You hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got conversation,\u201d he said, straining to hear through the white noise. \u201cIt\u2019s two men\u2026 something about\u2026 something about\u2026 an offer he can’t refuse?\u201d<\/p>\n Groaning, the man\u2019s partner tore off his headset, tossing it to the control panel with a pitiful clatter.<\/p>\n \u201cShaffer,\u201d he said, covering his eyes with one hand. \u201cYou\u2019re a fucking idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer was coming. Ferris didn\u2019t like summer, for a number of reasons, but no amount of internal griping could keep the season away. He could feel it in the thickness of the air \u2014 the humidity that dragged in from the seaside and stuck to every surface imaginable. The thought of escaping to the air […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fishbones-book-02"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4oWx8-43","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":586,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251\/revisions\/586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fishbonescomic.com\/novel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}