[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hMmnlhb.png[/img][/center] [b]Scarsdale, New York[/b] Adrian and Misty sat in luxurious wingback chairs and watched two men playing pool. One was tall and heavyset, dressed in jeans and a tacky Christmas sweater that had a goofy reindeer on it. The other man was short and thin, wearing a tailored navy suit with french cuffs. They’d been playing the game when the two goons had pushed the he and Misty through the doors of the study and made them sit in the chair. The two men continued their game for a few minutes before Misty finally spoke. “Ten bucks says you miss the six,” she said to the at man. A look of annoyance flashed on the big man’s face as he struck the cue ball with his stick. The white ball rolled across the table and struck the six. It started towards the corner pocket before veering to the left and clattering against the side wall of the table. “Pay up,” said Misty. “I don’t think Mr. Regetti will be doing that,” said Chase. “Even though he’s already paying ten times that for Mr. Wexler’s time. Isn't that right, Jake?” “Very astute,” Jake Wexler, the man in the suit, said as he rubbed chalk on the end of his cue. “But if you did your homework, Miss Knight, you’d know that Mr. Regetti abhors gambling.” “I’m sure he does,” said Chase. “He’s a smart man, after all. As the head of one of the biggest bookmaking empires on the east coast, the temptation to gamble with house money would be too great.” “Those are baseless allegations,” said Wexler. “Mr. Regetti has proven time and again that he is an upstanding businessman whose source of income is completely legitimate.” “So why does Angelo Campisi have him so scared?” asked Misty. “Scared enough to bring us here at gunpoint to have this little meeting. This is what my father calls a ‘come to Jesus’ talk.” “Really?” asked Chase. “See, my dad called it ‘the nanny’s job, that’s why I pay her.’” “Angelo keeps his mouth shut,” ordered Regetti. His voice took Chase back. It was so... [i]high[/i], almost as if he had been sucking on helium. It was a complete contrast to the big, imposing man with heavy eyelids. He didn’t bother to even look in Chase and Misty’s direction as he lined up for another shot. This time, he easily sunk the six ball and moved to make another shot. Chase thought that it was a good thing Regetti hadn't looked their way. Misty was shaking with silent laughter. Chase elbowed her in the ribs. A loud "HA!" popped out that she quickly turned it into a cough. Regetti and Wexler stared hard at the two of them. Chase suddenly remembered the don's street name... it was Squeaky Regetti. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as he spoke. “As a lawyer, I have to do what’s in his best interest,” said Chase, clearing his throat. “Do what’s in your best interest,” Regetti said in his cartoon voice. “Angelo takes the deal and goes into witness protection, then that’ll make me very angry. With Angelo gone and out of reach, I’ll have to turn my rage… towards the people who helped him.” “My client speaks legally,” Wexler said quickly. “We would be forced to pursue… legal action towards you, perhaps a lawsuit for slander.” “Yeah,” Regetti said as he looked up from the table. “And we all know how fucking bloody those slander lawsuits can be.” --- [b]Brew Brothers Midtown[/b] “We gotta leave town,” said Misty. She and Chase were on barstools at the watering hole just around the corner from the office. This had been their original destination before the mob detour into upstate. Chase nursed a scotch while Misty was on her third coke and rum. The jukebox was playing “Jingle Bell Rock” for what had be the sixth time since they’d arrived. She resisted an urge to shoot it before turning back to Chase. “That’s the only way we can come out of this okay. You resign from Angelo’s case and let the chips fall where they may.” “A new lawyer takes over, Regetti is still going to hold us -- me, actually -- personally responsible for it. If he can’t get us, he’ll go after our families. My old man in Connecticut would be harder to get at, but what about your dad?” “Yeah,” Misty said with a sigh. She put her head down on the bar. “And that poor murdered girl." "You think Regetti did it?" "Why would he take away a potential alibi for Angelo?" asked Misty. "No, someone killed her because she had to know something.” “Which was what?” asked Chase. Misty polished off her drink and shook her head. “I don’t know. But it was important enough to kill her.” “If Angelo is really innocent,” said Chase. “Then there’s gotta be something in all those boxes of files that prove it. I’ve just got to comb through them in the morning with Gladys. Maybe something will shake out. What’s your gameplan for tomorrow?” “I think I’ll see what my old boss has to say about Rosa’s murder,” said Misty. “After that, I’ll head back up to the scene of the crime and see if I can find anything out.” “NYPD still probably has it sealed.” “Yeah,” Misty said with a smirk. “They probably do. But I don’t think that’ll stop me.” Chase laughed and took a sip from his drink. “Well as your attorney in this matter, I have to advise you that this course of action is highly illegal, dangerous, and just my knowing about it could be grounds for my disbarment.” “You gonna stop me?” “Hell no.”