The Last Don - Mario Puzo [217]
“That was not my ass,” Athena said, “but thank you anyway.” She smiled at him.
Suddenly Losey was holding her hand. “You’re the greatest-looking woman I ever met,” he said. “Why don’t you try a real guy instead of those phony actor faggots.”
Athena took her hand away. “I’m an actor too, and we’re not phonies. Good night.”
“Can I come in for a drink?” Losey asked.
“I’m sorry,” Athena said, and rang the bell to the Villa. The door was opened by a butler Athena had never seen before.
Losey took a step to go in with her, and then to her surprise, the butler walked outside and quickly pushed her into the Villa. The three security guards formed a barricade between Losey and the door.
Losey looked at them with contempt. “What the fuck is this?” he said.
The butler remained outside the door. “Miss Aquitane’s security,” he said. “You will have to leave.”
Losey took out his police ID. “You see who I am,” he said. “I’ll kick the shit out of all of you, and then I’ll lock you up.”
The butler looked at the ID. He said, “You’re Los Angeles. No jurisdiction.” He pulled out his own ID. “I’m Las Vegas County.”
Athena Aquitane had remained just inside the doorway. She was surprised her new butler was a detective, but now she was beginning to understand. “Don’t make a big deal out of it,” she said, and closed the door against all of them.
Both men put their IDs back into their jackets.
Losey gave each in turn a hard stare. “I’ll remember you guys,” he said. None of the men reacted.
Losey turned away. He had more important fish to fry. In the next two hours Dante Clericuzio would be bringing Cross De Lena to their Villa.
Dante Clericuzio, Renaissance hat perched on his head, was having a great time at the wrap party. He used fun to prepare himself for serious action. A girl in the catering crew had caught his attention, but she gave him no encouragement because she had focused on one of the stunt men. The stunt man had given Dante threatening looks. Lucky for him, Dante thought, I have business to do tonight. He looked at his watch, maybe good old Jim had managed to snare Athena. Tiffany had never showed, though she had been promised. Dante decided to start a half hour early. He called Cross, using the private number with the operator.
Cross answered.
“I have to see you right away,” Dante said. “I’m in the ballroom. Great party.”
“So, come up,” Cross said.
“No,” Dante said. “These are orders. Not on the phone and not in your suite. Come on down.”
There was a long pause. Then Cross said, “I’ll be down.”
Dante stationed himself so that he could observe Cross making his way through the ballroom. There seemed to be no security around him. Dante patted down his hat and thought back to their childhood together. Cross had been the only boy who had made him fearful, and he had fought him often because of that fear. But he loved the way Cross looked, had often been envious. And he envied his cousin’s confidence. It was just too bad . . .
Once he killed Pippi, Dante had known he could not let Cross remain alive. Now, after this, he would have to confront the Don. But Dante had never doubted that his grandfather loved him, he had always shown his love. The Don might not like this, but he would never invoke his awful power to punish his beloved grandson.
Cross was standing before him. Now he had to get Cross to the Villa where Losey was waiting. It would be simple. He would shoot Cross, and then they would drive his body out into the desert and bury him. Nothing fancy, as Pippi De Lena had always preached. The car was already parked behind the Villa for transport.
Cross said to him abruptly, “So what is it?” He did not look suspicious or even wary. “Nice new hat,” he said and smiled. Dante had always envied that smile, as though the guy knew everything Dante was thinking.
Dante played it very