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NICHOLAS BOOTHMAN
Chapter 23:
An Unexpected Departure
The Vegas sun hammered the back of my neck as I
stood on that fake Venetian bridge. Three o’clock hit.
Right on the nose. The black Escalade sliced through
the crowd. Smoked windows. Couldn’t see a thing
inside. Then the door opened. An old guy in white
overalls got out. Looked like he’d wandered off a
construction site. But his smile was warm and real. He
headed straight for me.
“Mister Nick?” he spoke softly with a trace of an
accent.
I nodded.
“Mannie Esposito, I’m from Julia.”
“Oh yes?” He saw the question mark on my face.
“She’s waiting for me to bring you.”
Around us the bells of the Basilica. The warbling
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