Judge & Jury - James Patterson [43]
“Pellisante,” I answered.
It was Ray Hughes, the agent who’d taken my place at C-10. “Nick”—he sounded happy to catch me—“any chance you’re free?”
Sometimes we’d have lunch, and Ray would pick my brain, or I’d pick his. I figured all he wanted was to go over my testimony for the upcoming trial. “I’d hate to miss out on Ellen, Ray, but I think I could find my way down to see you.”
“Not here. There’s a government jet waiting for us. At Teterboro.”
If Ray wanted to grab my interest, he had it. The offer of a crummy sandwich at his desk in the Javits Building would have done the trick, too.
“A plane to take us where, Ray?”
The acting head of the Organized Crime Unit paused. “Marion.”
I stood up quickly from my desk, coffee spilling over my work notes.
Marion was the federal prison where Cavello was being held.
Chapter 51
ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, the government Lockheed touched down at the airport in Carbondale, Illinois. A car was waiting for us and drove us to Marion Federal Prison. Marion was a vast, depressing-looking redbrick fortress stuck in the middle of a marshland in rural southern Illinois. It was also one of the most secure federal prisons in the United States. Although Cavello had yet to be convicted, after what happened in New York, the government wasn’t taking any chances.
Warden Richard Bennifer was waiting for us. He escorted us out to the special control units, where Cavello was being held. The only visiting station was a glass-paneled room, with a guard standing by with a Taser and a surveillance camera running at all times. The prisoners here were lifers, level sixes, lost to the outside world for all time. I rejoiced. I was looking forward to seeing Cavello spend the rest of his life in a place like this.
Ray Hughes and Joel Goldenberger remained outside and watched through the one-way glass.
Cavello was already sitting there when I came in. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit, his feet chained together. He was gaunter and older than when I’d seen him last, and a thin, gray growth clung to his jawline.
He’d been informed the government was here to see him, but the government was here to see him a lot. When he saw it was me he did a double take. Then came a wistful smile, as if he had just found an old friend.
“Nicky!” He tilted back his chair. “Is it a holiday or something? Who’s minding the class?”
I sat down across from him, behind the protected glass, and didn’t laugh. “Hi, Dom. How’s the jaw?”
“Still hurts.” He laughed. “Still think of you every time I brush my teeth.”
Then he twisted around to the guard behind him. “You watch this guy. Last time he came to see me in jail, I had to take my meals through a straw for months.” He wheezed a laugh. “This is the guy that should be in here, not me. Anyway, you’re lookin’ fit, Nicky. Playin’ any golf? Retirement looks like it agrees with you.”
“They let me come back, Dom, just for a day.” I smiled thinly. “To deliver some news.”
“News, huh? Good, I don’t get much news in here. Jeez, Nick, they got some special downward career spiral planned out for you. You’re a messenger boy now. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I like the company. It’s just that, you look a little peaked, eh? Must be that kid, huh? Tell me, how’re you sleeping these days?”
I balled my fists tightly. I knew he was trying to make me react again. But this time I just let him go. “I’m going to be sleeping just fine, Dom.”
“And how’s that gal doing? You know, the pretty one who was on that bus. I heard she pulled through. I tried to send a little money to some kind of fund.” He shrugged. “But my lawyer told me that when they heard it was from me, they sent the check back. Imagine. And for once I was just trying to do something nice. How’s that for sour apples?
“Anyway, Mr. Messenger Boy, I’m doing all the talking. What kind of news you got for me? I’m all ears.”
“We thought you’d want to know. The government’s going to be adding two new indictments against you.”
“Two more?” He sighed theatrically. “Who can keep track?”
“These you