“Isn’t the school known for its hockey team?” I ask.
“That they are.”
“They might notice money missing.”
“They likely would.”
“But then, why not call the police?”
Vince laughs. “There is a lot of money in the hockey program, and with money comes privilege. With privilege comes a group that doesn’t always like to follow the rules.”
I watch for any signs that he’s lying; I see none.
“Tell me, Vince, how are you so knowledgeable on the university’s funding?”
He grins. “Joseph, of course. He wanted to borrow money, and I wanted collateral. He educated me in how the funding works.”
I clasp my hands as I stare at Vince. “You admit you’re his bookie?”
He shifts uncomfortably. “No. I simply loaned my niece’s ex-husband some money.”
“And why would you care how the university funding works?”
Vince leans back and lights a second cigarette. “I didn’t. You know Joseph, he likes to talk about himself. The guy doesn’t know when to shut up.”
He stares at me as he sucks down his cigarette.
“Well, then tell me why you punched Joseph and told him to get the money from Lucy.”
Vince smiles, his teeth yellow from the nicotine. “I had my reasons.”
I stand and lean over the desk. “She’s your niece, and you’re trying to extort money from her? Do you know that Joseph took you seriously? He wiped out her bank account and credit cards and even ransacked her apartment,” I shout.
Vince stood up. “Hewhat?”
“You heard me.”
“Fucking Joseph. No, I wasn’t trying to extort money from her. I was trying to mend her relationship with her father.”
I sit back down and cross my arms. “Explain.”
Vince also resumes his seat. “I thought if she saw Joseph in real danger, she’d feel sympathetic and go to her dad for money. If she goes to her dad for help, then they might get back to where they were.”
“You mean when he controlled her?”
Vince puts the cigarette out in a bright red ashtray sitting on his desk. He clasps his hands and leans forward. “Lawrence isn’t a bad guy. He’s just misguided sometimes.”
“We can agree to disagree. Now, why did you try to kill Joseph?”
The surprise on his face can’t be faked.
Damn.
He’s my only lead.
“No, he still owes me money. I need him alive. Is he okay?”
“He’s in the hospital.”
