Chromosome 6
Vinnie.
"I wouldn't turn down an expresso if it's not too much trouble," Vinnie said. Franco and Angelo said they'd have the same.
Raymond used his desk phone to place the order. Raymond's worst fears had materialized the moment he'd caught sight of his uninvited guests. From his perspective they appeared like stereotypes from a grade-B movie. Vinnie was about five-ten, darkly complected and handsome, with full features and slicked-back hair. He was obviously the boss. The other two men were both over six feet and gaunt. Their noses and lips were thin and their eyes were beady and deeply set. They could have been brothers. The main difference in their appearance was the condition of Angelo's skin. Raymond thought it looked like the far side of the moon. "Can I take your coats?" Raymond asked. "We don't intend on staying too long," Vinnie said. "At least sit down," Raymond said.
Vinnie relaxed into a leather armchair. Franco and Angelo sat stiffly on a velvet-covered settee. Raymond sat behind his desk.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" Raymond said, trying to assume a confident air. "The favor we did for you last night was not easy to pull off," Vinnie said. "We thought you'd like to know how it was arranged."

Raymond let out a little, mirthless laugh through a weak smile. He held up his hands as if to ward off
something coming his way. "That's not necessary. I'm certain you..." "We insist," Vinnie interrupted. "It makes good business sense. You see, we wouldn't like you to think that we didn't make a significant effort on your behalf." "I wouldn't think that for a moment," Raymond said. "Well, just to be sure," Vinnie said. "You see, getting a body out of the morgue is no easy task, since they are open for business twenty-four hours a day, and they have a uniformed security man on duty at all times."
"This isn't necessary," Raymond said. "I'd rather not be privy to the details, but I'm very appreciative of your efforts."
"Be quiet, Dr. Lyons, and listen!" Vinnie said. He paused for a moment to organize his thoughts. "We were lucky because Angelo here knows a kid named Vinnie Amendola, who works in the morgue. This kid was beholden to Pauli Cerino, a guy Angelo used to work for but who is currently in jail. Angelo now works for me, and knowing what he knows, he was able to convince the kid to tell us exactly where Mr. Franconi's remains were stored. The kid was also able to tell us some other information so we'd have some reason to be there in the middle of the night." At that moment the expresses arrived. They were brought in by Darlene Poison, whom Raymond introduced as his assistant. As soon as the coffees were distributed, Darlene left. "Good-looking assistant," Vinnie said.
"She's very efficient," Raymond commented. Unconsciously, he wiped his brow. "I hope we're not making you feel uncomfortable," Vinnie said. "No, not at all," Raymond said a bit too quickly. "So we got the body out okay," Vinnie said. "And we disposed of it so it is gone. But as you can understand, it was not a walk in the park. In fact it was one big pain in the ass since we had so little time to plan it."
"Well, if there is ever some favor I can do for you," Raymond commented after an uncomfortable pause in the conversation.
"Thank you, Doctor," Vinnie said. He polished off his expresso like he was drinking a shot. He put the cup and saucer on the corner of the desk. "You've said exactly what I was hoping you'd say, which brings me to why I'm here. Now, you probably know I'm a client just like Franconi was. More important, my eleven-year-old son, Vinnie Junior, is also a client. In fact, he's more apt to need your services than I am. So we're facing two tuitions, as you people call it. What I'd like to propose is that I don't pay anything this year. What do you say?" Raymond's eyes dropped to his desk surface. "What we're talking about is a favor for a favor," Vinnie said. "It's only fair."

Raymond cleared his throat. "I'll have to talk to the

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