Shallow Graves

family who broke away, who did something different. She wanted to do the same. I changed my name, she changed hers to my new one. Simple.“
    Maybe. “How is it you came to be trustee of the building?“
    “Limit the liability. It’s done all the time.“
    “That’s the reason for putting the building into a realty trust, Mr. Dani. What was the reason you’re the front man?“
    Dani’s Ups narrowed again. “My mother asked me to.“
    “The ‘A and T’ stands for?“
    “ ‘The Amatina and Thomas Danucci Realty Trust.’ “
    “And your mother asked you to be trustee?“
    “My father wanted to buy another building. They already owned a number of properties in the North End. My mother thought it would be a good idea to have some things in different parts of the city. So, my father bought the place on Falmouth Street .“
    “With you as trustee.“
    “Correct.“
    “How long ago was this?“
    “Six, perhaps seven years.“
    He reminded me of something Claudette Danucci had mentioned. “Just before your mother died.“
    “Yes.“
    “I thought you said before that you kind of broke away from the family by going to law school.“
    “Look, Mr. Cuddy—“
    “I’m just wondering, why did you decide to be a trustee of a family building when you’d already broken away?“
    “Not that it’s any of your business, but my mother asked me, and as a son I was happy to do it for her. She wasn’t too well.... By then, my mother had an idea she was going to die, and she thought my being a trustee of the building would bring my father and me a little closer.“
    “Did it?“
    “I’ve told you twice there are some things you shouldn’t look into, Mr. Cuddy. Let me give you an answer that might save you some pain later on. My brother and I get along fine. Despite what you think, he runs a legitimate business enterprise and I represent him legally on it. My father and I are oil and water. Have been for a long time, no hope of reconciliation. That’s family business, not yours, and if I were you, I’d stay out of it.“
    When a lawyer like Vincent Dani tells me some things aren’t my business, and especially when he tells me three times, I wonder why he explains things at all. “After your mother died, how come you stayed on?“
    “What?“
    “After your mother died, why didn’t you resign as trustee of the building?“
    “Because she’d wanted me to serve. Besides, it always seemed like a sleeping dog.“
    “Until now.“
    Dani’s lips glared at me and left the room.

- 11 -

    “This one here’s called Shadowfax.“
    The music came over the Lincoln ’s stereo system in a series of sounds, each from a different instrument until all had blended into chords I’d never heard before and couldn’t even characterize. There was something about it that made you want to merge into the upholstery. Then I thought that might be why Zuppone was playing it for me.
    I said, “How come you’re not checking to see if we’re being followed?“
    Primo turned to me, then glanced at all the mirrors to be sure he was still aware of his car’s position on the highway back to Boston . “Who’d be tailing us?“
    “The FBI?“
    That got a grunt. “The Feebs, I’ll tell you something, they signed off on us a long time ago. Oh, they still root around, accountants and tax guys mostly. But once that task force busted the Angiulos and got their citations and all, they started looking for other fish to fry. Besides, they can’t push their luck too far, asking for too many taps or warrants. Sooner or later, some judge starts adding up how many times he signed his name and starts thinking, ‘Hey-ey-ey, no more for a while, okay?’ Naw, the Feebs, they ain’t a factor anymore.“
    “What is a factor?“
    The toothpick rolled from port to starboard. “What do you mean, Cuddy?“
    “Before you picked me up this afternoon, you checked me out pretty thoroughly. In the week since Mau Tim died, you’ve been doing the same thing with the people in her life, right?“
    A sleepy smile. “Coupla guys said you was pretty smart.“
    “What did you find out?“
    Zuppone thought for a minute. “I didn’t do nothing like you’re gonna do. Go talk to everybody, I mean. I checked a few things here, a few things there. Spread the word.“
    “About the necklace.“
    “Yeah. Somebody tries to fence it, we get a call.“
    “But no calls yet.“
    “Right.“
    “Kind of a long time for a junkie to sit on a piece of