Because Jacky was in town.
Lucky nodded. He was living in her apartment. Acting as her bodyguard. But like you, I knew there was more between them.
So you were checking her out to see if she was right for Jacky.
We both know that women who look as good as Sunni does are usually bitches. But as it turned out, she was the exception to the rule. Shes for real in every way.
Were in agreement on that. Tell me more about the packages, Joey pressed.
During the conversation, Sunni said something I thought was odd. She said the two gifts inside the package were exactly what Frank had ordered this time. One in each size.
One in each size?
Thats right. Two gifts. One in each size. For eleven years I thought I was picking up one gift for Franks mistress. A mistress he obviously cared a lot about because he never missed a month. But suddenly I learned there were two gifts inside one package. And they were in different sizes. Lucky took a swallow of scotch. I thought that was worth checking out, so I decided to fly
down to Florida and stake out the post office box.
And that led you to Santa Palazzo.
Lucky nodded. For two days the same man showed up at the post office to retrieve the mail from the box. On the second day, I followed him. When he entered Santa Palazzo, and it was guarded like a fortress, my curiosity doubled. I decided to buy a camera and hang around for a few days to take some pictures. I wanted to see who came and went. Thats when I discovered Rhea.
Lucky reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a handful of pictures and tossed them on the coffee table. I figure you know where this is going. Those are the people who went in and out, the four days I watched the house. Theres only one in there that youll recognize other than Rhea.
Joey reached for the pictures and shuffled through them, looking for confirmation of what he already knew. When he spied the picture, he said, Frank was there. Hes known where Rheas been hiding the entire time.
It looks that way. But theres something else you need to know, fratello. Santa Palazzo belongs to our father. In Key West he goes by the name Frank Palazzo.
The news was such a shock that for a full minute Joey didnt speak. Finally, he asked, Youre absolutely sure? Theres no mistake?
None. Hes owned the estate for twenty-four years.
And Rheas been there since she left town?
Id like to say Ive confirmed that, but I havent. But my gut tells me shes been there the entire three years. She looked relaxed. Talked to the guards. Smiled. Laughed. What Im saying is, shes no prisoner.
If thats true, then Frank helped her run.
We both know he was upset when you broke off your engagement to Sophia DLano.
Youre saying he paid Rhea off?
Maybe. When Frank wants something bad enough, moneys no object. Then, neither is using a power play. He could have cut Rhea a deal. He could have told her she could keep the baby if she cooperated with him.
You think he knew she was pregnant.
Franks a cunning son of a bitch. Sure he knew. How, I cant say, but thats what motivated him. Thats what my gut tells me.
She could have gone to Frank. Maybe she blackmailed him.
Lucky raised his heavy brows. Thats an interesting twist. You think shes capable of that?
Three years ago Joey would have said no. Today all he could think about was that she had denied him his child.
Im not saying it didnt happen that way, Lucky stated. But the Rhea I remember didnt seem capable of blackmail. She never even bad-mouthed her psychotic ex-husband.
Thats because she was too busy surviving Studs hell, to spend time thinking of much else, Joey reasoned, showing more emotion than he would have liked.
Rhea doesnt strike me as the manipulative-bitch type. Soft-spoken and kindhearted comes to mind. I cant pinpoint what made her sexy as hell three years ago. I mean, it wasnt exactly due to the condition she was inthe bruises and allbut she had something that made a man look twice. We both cant deny that.
More than a dozen qualities had made Joey look twice at Rhea Williams. And any one of them could be blamed for why he had ignored his own rules and mixed business with pleasure.
Up to that point he hadnt wasted his time on married women, or divorced women packing baggage. And Rhea had had one helluva lot of baggage. Her ex-husband had been a cop. And if that hadnt been enough to make Joey steer clear of her, the fact that Stud Williams was a dirty cop working for Frank should have.
Remember when Frank offered to spearhead your investigation to find Rhea? Smart move on his part if he was the one hiding her out. My guess is, he put himself in that position to intercept information and to keep you in the dark.
Joey said, We never got any good leads. I always thought that was strange.
Lucky nodded, rested his glass of scotch on his long jeans-clad leg. I traced his flight itineraries for the past year. It wasnt easy. Frank covers his tracks better than a snake on stilts.
And?
Ive confirmed eight visits to Key West this past year.
Joey swore, then leapt to his feet. Why didnt I suspect he was involved in Rheas disappearance?