Chapter 30

“That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s throwing a party tonight,” Kyle said.

“Can you think of any other reason for a list that’s titled with today’s date and a time? Seven-thirty.”

“Not really. So do your thing. What reason have you come up with for cancelling it?”

“The truth, more or less. He’s discovered Connoisseurs is going to be targeted by federal investigators, and he doesn’t want to involve his ‘good friends’ even though he knows the investigation will go nowhere—or words to that effect.”

“I’m betting he doesn’t know that, yet. The Feds move slowly when they’re making a case. But it works as an excuse.”

Between them, Brax and Kyle came up with a well-worded letter, vaguely suggesting exactly what the Feds were looking for. Then Brax emailed a copy to every man on the list, sending it through Connoisseurs’ email server.

“You know some of them will contact Russo to find out exactly what’s going on and ask if they should be worried that they’ll be involved.”