“If we want to hit the doctor’s office, why don’t we just go in there and do it?” Tony said after a pause. “It don’t make sense wasting all this time.”
“We’re waiting for the secretary,” Angelo said. “We want to be sure the place is empty. Plus, she can let us in. We don’t want to break down any doors.”
“If she lets us in, then she’s there and it’s not empty anymore,” Tony said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“Trust me,” Angelo said. “This is the best way to do what we have to do.”
“Nobody ever tells me anything,” Tony brooded. “This whole operation is weird. Breaking into a doctor’s office is crazy. It’s even crazier than when we broke into the Manhattan Organ Repository. At least there we got a few hundred in cash. What the hell are we going to find in a doctor’s office?”
“If it doesn’t take too long we can see if there’s any cash in here, too,” Angelo said. “Maybe we can also look for Percodan and stuff like that if it will make you happy.”
“Hard way to get a few pills,” Tony muttered.
Angelo laughed in spite of his aggravation.
“What do you think about old Doc Travino?” Tony asked. “Do you think he knows what the hell he’s talking about?”
“Personally, I have my doubts,” Angelo said. “But Cerino trusts him and that’s what’s important.”
“Come on, Angelo,” Tony whined. “Tell me why we’re going in there. Isn’t Cerino happy with this doc?”
“Cerino loves the guy,” Angelo said. “He thinks he’s the best in the world. In fact, that’s why we’re going in.”
“But why?” Tony asked. “Tell me that and I’ll shut up.”
“For some of the guy’s records,” Angelo said.
“I knew it was crazy,” Tony said, “but not that crazy. What are we going to do with the guy’s records?”
“You told me you would shut up if I told you what we were after. So shut up! Besides, you’re not supposed to ask so many questions.”
“There, that’s just what I was complaining about,” Tony said. “Nobody tells me what’s going on. If I knew more about what was happening, I could do more; I could be more help.”
Angelo laughed sarcastically.
“I can tell you don’t believe me,” Tony complained. “But it’s true. Try me! I’m sure I’d have some suggestions, even for this job.”
“Everything is going fine,” Angelo assured him. “Planning is not your strong suit. Whacking people is.”
“That’s true,” Tony agreed. “That’s what I like best. Bam! It’s over. None of this complicated stuff.”
“There’ll be enough whacking over the next couple of weeks to satisfy even you,” Angelo promised.
“I can’t wait,” Tony said. “Maybe it will make up for all this waiting around.”
“There she is,” Angelo said. He pointed ahead to a heavyset woman emerging from one of the apartment buildings. She was busy buttoning a red coat with one hand and holding a hat to her head with the other.
“Okay, let’s go,” Angelo said. “But keep your piece out of sight and let me do all the talking.”
Angelo and Tony got out of the car. They walked over to the woman just as she joined a cab line.
“Mrs. Schulman!” Angelo called.
The woman turned toward Angelo. Her distrustful hauteur evaporated as soon as she recognized the man. “Hello, Mr….” she said, trying to remember Angelo’s name.
“Facciolo,” Angelo offered.
“Of course,” she said. “And how is Mr. Cerino getting along?”
“Just great, Mrs. Schulman,” Angelo said. “He’s getting pretty good with his cane. But he asked me to come over here to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”
“I suppose,” Mrs. Schulman said. “What is it you’d like to talk about?”
“It’s confidential,” Angelo said. “I’d prefer if you came over to the car for a moment.” Angelo gestured toward the black Town Car.
Obviously discomfited by this request, Mrs. Schulman muttered something about having to be somewhere shortly.
Angelo slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and lifted his Walther automatic pistol just enough so Mrs. Schulman could see its butt.
“I’m afraid I have to insist,” Angelo said. “We won’t take much of your time and afterwards we’ll be sure to drop you off someplace convenient.”