by Baker, S. L.
Victor was right. As long as I had that book, we were safe. I knew that Victor’s father didn’t care who he had to torture or kill to get what he wanted. He would protect the scandals and corruption in that book, even if it meant killing his own son in the process.
I stopped at the thought of that and put my hands on my knees, catching my breath and to rid my mind of such an unfathomable thoughts. I glanced at my cell phone to see I had been gone for forty minutes. I turned and headed back to the house. Scarlett gave me the double bird and stuck her tongue out. She had put on her favorite lipstick for the Navy Seals.
Those names beckoned me. I couldn’t shake the curiosity to know, to unlock the secrets. But was it worth the risk of unveiling the hiding place of the book just to know? I had no doubt that I was followed every time I left Salvatore Disney Land, by not only the goon squad, but the Mob, my own version of the Paparazzi, but they didn’t want pictures of me shopping, they wanted to protect me or kill me at any given moment.
Chapter 4
A few days later, I eased the Honda out of the station’s parking garage into traffic. At the first traffic light, the Honda started to buck and lurch forward.
“Shit!” I snapped. I looked at the gas gauge and it was empty. “What the fuck!” I had just filled it up yesterday. I looked for a safe place to pull over. Scarlett was in the middle of the road directing traffic around the Honda. I crawled on what fumes I had left down a side, one way street and eased into the first parking place I could find.
Scarlett was standing at the edge of the street looking toward the main road. We both wondered where the goon squad was. Out of my rear view mirror I caught glimpse of a black SUV as I began dialing Victor to tell him I was out of gas. I snapped the phone shut as the black SUV turned down the street. My goon squad had arrived, but the look in Scarlett’s eyes sent a chill down my spine and made every hair on my arms stand to attention. She was banging on the window of the car for me to let her in. Before I had the time to hit re-dial on my cell, my car was surrounded by black suits with thin ties, guns drawn. FBI.
“Miss Ellington. Unlock the vehicle and exit slowly, your hands in clear view.”
I did what I was told.
“Turn and face your vehicle, hands behind your head.”
My heart was pounding out of my chest and I was shaking. Scarlett was standing in front of the Honda, her arms folded, tapping her foot. She was so over this already. The two agents that visited my office and dropped the bomb about Victor’s true identity with their glossy black and white 5 x 7’s of Victor and I on all of our outings, flanked my side.
“Miss Ellington, you need to come with us,” Agent Parker ordered, grabbing my left arm.
The other agent grabbed my right. They put me in the back of the SUV and both men climbed in the front. The remaining two agents stayed behind. They were searching the Honda. Scarlett was relieved she’d left her other purse with the grenades and hand guns at home.
“What is going on?” I asked my tone guarded.
“You’ll be briefed shortly, Miss. Ellington,” Agent Parker replied.
“You know I have a security detail, they will be here any minute,” I said, looking for the goons.
Agent Parker smirked. “Don’t worry about them, they’ve been handled.”
With a frown I climbed in their SUV, worried about what I was going to tell Victor.
Sighing, I looked out the window. Scarlett was fiddling with the controls, but nothing worked. She started smashing on them like a soda machine that just ate her money. She wanted out of the SUV and so did I. It seemed like forever before we stopped at a non-descript, brick building surrounded by a barb wire fence. I gulped and my palms started sweating. It resembled a minimum security prison. Scarlett’s eyes got wide and the corner of her lips turned down. I sensed she was as freaked out as I was.
The SUV stopped, Agent Parker got out, and escorted me inside a gray metal side door. We walked down a narrow hallway to the end, and upon opening the door, he motioned for me to enter. It’s was very similar to those rooms you see in the crime flicks where they interrogate the bad guys.
Scarlett was scanning the room for torture devices— this was the Feds, so anything goes. I reminded her that the CIA were the ones that water boarded terrorists, not the Feds. They just put you in prison and throw away the key. She gasped, orange was not in her color wheel at all. She never wears it and ain’t starting now.
He pulled out the small metal chair and I sat down. Without a word, he turned and left. I was alone with Scarlett and my thoughts, neither were helpful. Scar was Googling how to make a small bomb to blow a hole in the brick wall to escape. My thoughts were flashing at a rapid fire pace, Victor, Nicole, Aunt Ella, Luke, Hawke and even Nelson. Would I see any of them again?
I was fiercely fighting off tears. I had to hold it together for as long as possible. Hell I had the mark of the mob placed smack dab on my back and I was still alive so far. Maybe prison would be safe? Fuck who I am kidding? I’d be dead in less than five minutes. Joe Salvatore would make damn sure of that. Scarlett was still struggling with the orange jump suits, fuck she hated the color. It washed out her complexion and clashed with her red lip stick. Prison would shatter my life and destroy everything I had worked for. I would never get a job except for the fast food industry with a prison record. The tears were waging their assault and creeping into my eyes when the heavy metal door flung open and both agents walked through. Agent Parker carrying a diet coke, he placed it in front of me.
“Thought you might be thirsty.”
Scarlett snatched it and started sniffing to see if she could catch the scent of vodka…she’d even settled for cheap gin at this point. She was disgusted to find out the diet coke was a virgin.
“Thanks,” I said. Not touching the soda. My eyes darted back and forth between both agents. Fuck they’re good at concealing emotions, one of them could have just won the lottery and I’d never know. Scar had one of those little lights doctor shine in your pupils to see if they dilate. She was going to figure out how they did that, the bastards.
“Miss Ellington. You’re here because of your relationship with Victor Salvatore and connections to organized crime. You’re now on the FBI’s top one hundred watch list. Do you know what that means?”
“No,” I said, stealing a page from their own hand book and not giving any emotions in my answers.
“It means that from this point forward, when you try to fly, TSA will detain you, it means the FBI will watch you every second of the day, and if you even hiccup we’ll be all over you. Understand?”
Scarlett jumped up, her chair crashing to the ground behind her, she was in Agent Parker’s face shaking her fist. Shit, she had balls of steel.
“It means that we can arrest Victor Salvatore on charges ranging from extortion, bribery, money laundering, murder…shall I continue? Victor Salvatore will spend the rest of his life on this Earth in prison, and maybe some of his after-life too.”
Scarlett took the soda and poured it over Agent Parker’s head and smirked as it ran down his face.
“Then why haven’t you arrested him?” I snapped.
“Because we have been building our case, so when he is at trial, no amount of money will save his Italian ass from rotting in jail.” His eyes were still cold and not giving anything away.
Prick! I hate him. Scarlett was scowling at him, deviously planning on how to seek revenge.
I scoffed louder than I should have. “Victor will walk away from every one of those charges because they are bullshit and you both know that.” Except for the murder one, I thought. I had a brief flashback of my attacker in the alley, but Victor was smart. He never pulled the trigger himself, he insulated himself by having someone else do it. I knew the Feds were trying to bully me to rat out Victor. That would never happen, even if I went to jail. Then I would know in my heart it was for love.
Scarlett was scanning the web for attorneys in case prison was in my future an
d of course she’d pull the Bedazzler out of storage. If I had to wear that gaudy orange, at least she could bling it up.
“Am I being charged with a crime?”
Both agents exchanged glances and Agent Parker leaned closer toward me.
“Were building a case, but for the moment no.”
“You can build whatever case you want. I know this is just your way of scaring me to rat out Victor, and that will never happen,” I said, crossing my arms.
Scarlett shook her finger in Agent Parker’s face.
The other agent didn’t speak, he just jotted down notes.
Scarlett snuck up behind him and peered over his shoulder, the suspense was killing her, she had to know what he was writing.
“We’re the FBI, Miss Ellington, don’t forgot that, we can do what the hell we want and bringing down the Salvatore’s is going to be my legacy. It consumes me. It is why I wake up every day and come to work. I will not stop until every single one of those bastards is behind bars, and if you get swept up in the process that is your fault. You can cooperate with us and perhaps avoid jail time.”
“Cooperate how?” I asked skeptical.
Scarlett was sitting on the edge of her seat. This she had to hear.
“We have proof that you’ve met Joe Salvatore.”
The agent who sat silent slid a glossy black and white photos of Victor and I arriving and leaving Joe Salvatore’s estate in front of me.
“Yes. We had brunch so I could meet his father, and he came to my house once as well.”
Both agents exchanged glances.
“Why? What did he want?” Agent Davis asked.
I had to think fast, there was no way I was telling them about that book.
“He was looking for his son. Victor wasn’t home, so he assumed he was with me.”
Agent Parker expression was cold and unforgiving. I sensed he knew I was lying.
“Joe Salvatore doesn’t just pop bye to say ‘Hi’. There is a purpose to everything he does.”
“Then I have no idea what he wanted. I’m not in the inner circle as you think I am.” Scarlett was trying to pick the lock to the door. She was ready to go home. She needed a drink and so did I. A fuckin’ big one.
“You’re screwing the head of the Mob’s son. That is as inner circle as you can get, Miss Ellington.”
“I think I need to contact my attorney if you’re going to continue, Agent Parker.”
Scarlett had found a pit bull lawyer and he was on speed dial.
“I’m done speaking with you both, so unless I’m being charged with a crime, I want to go home now.” My voice started to crack. I was gripping the edges of my metal chair trying to maintain my cool.
“We will be back shortly, Miss Ellington,” Agent Parker said, his chair scrapping against the concrete floor as both agents got up to leave.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Even though the agents had left the room, I knew I wasn’t alone, that someone was watching from behind the wall. I waved in their direction so they knew I was aware they existed.
I had to come up with a plan to save both Victor and myself from jail, and I knew what my get out of jail free card was. I was prepared to dangle that card in front of their noses.
Scarlett had her mouth pressed against the glass where my voyeur was watching and was leaving lipstick prints on the glass.
The door creaked back open as both agents walked back in. It was time to end this interrogation and intimidation. I had to control my fate.
“Miss Ellington, let me clearly spell this out for you. We have you connected with the Mob. You claim you’re innocent, but by association you’re guilty. We have the authority to arrest you for aiding and abetting a known criminal and accessory after the fact for any crime your boyfriend has committed. So I can hold you for as long as I see fit, unless you want to cooperate with our investigation.”
“Cooperate how?” I asked again.
“We want you to set up a meeting with Joe Salvatore and ask him some scripted questions while wearing a wire.”
Scarlett was stretching in the corner, it was time to open the can of whoop ass. She put on her favorite pair of brass knuckles that she’s been saving for a special occasion.
I shifted in my chair and didn’t answer immediately. Both agents had their eyes riveted on me.
“Fine,” I said. “But if I’m going to put my life in danger, I want in writing all the bullshit charges you claim you have against me and Victor dropped.”
“Not a chance. This will keep you out of jail for the moment, but that’s it.”
“The only way I will agree is if the charges and investigation on both myself and Victor are dropped. If throwing myself into the frying pan with Joe Salvatore isn’t a sweet enough deal for you, then how about if I provide you with a list of names of influential people with ties to the Mob, such as Senators and councilmen? I think I even saw the Mayor’s name on that list as well,” I said, my tone steady and my eyes darting between both agents.
Scarlett thought she saw a sliver of emotion from Agent Parker, but she’s hooking him up to an EKG machine to see if his heart rate fluctuated or to see if he even has a heart, the jury still out on that.
“What list?” Agent Parker leaned in closer.
I had his attention. “I’m in possession of a file that contains the names and how they’re tied to the Mob.”
“How did you come to obtain such a list?”
“That isn’t important,” I said. Not giving them my source because they would storm Chanel Six and Nelson’s office demanding the file and he would cave and hand it over. This was my insurance policy.
“So do we have a deal?” I said.
“We will be back, Miss Ellington,” Agent Parker said, again his chair scraping the concrete as he shoved back from the table.
“In writing, signed by whomever has the authority to approve this deal,” I said as both agents disappeared out the door.
Scarlett was fogging up the window where my voyeur watched and amused herself by writing ‘loser— dork —bastard’ in the mist. I got up and walk around the room. My stomach was free falling off a cliff without a parachute. I wanted the Feds to need me more than I needed them.
It seemed like hours before the two agents returned and I realized I had no clue how long I had been there and wished I had my purse, but Agent Parker confiscated it when they abducted me. Without a doubt Victor was losing his mind because I was sure he had been trying to reach me and I hadn’t responded.
Scarlett fished her bright red lipstick out of her pocket, hoping that the Navy Seals would be arriving at any minute to rescue us.
The gray metal door flung open with that familiar creak I was used to hearing and both agents retuned. Agent Parker held a folder in his left hand and slapped it on the table in front of me.
“Open it,” he ordered.
I pulled out the first piece of paper and started reading. It exonerated both myself and Victor from any wrongdoing or charges if I agreed to assist the Feds in apprehending the names on the list by wearing a wire-tap to capture those individuals that the FBI deemed as potential suspects and wear a wire with any meeting I had with Joe Salvatore as well as agree to ask him a set of questions given to me by the FBI. Forfeiture of this list to the FBI must be made within forty eight hours of signing this contract. Failure to comply or cooperate would deem this contract as void. It was signed by their boss.
Scarlett put on her reading glasses and was reading along over my shoulder referencing the book “Law for Dummies”.
“Okay, my only change is I want the timeframe that we will be exonerated as indefinitely so you don’t suddenly invent new charges after I help you.”
Both Agents exchanged glances and Agent Parker nodded to Agent Davis. They rose and headed back out the door. Scarlett was starting to bounce off the walls like a toddler on Red Bull and crack. She’d been contained way too long in this tiny room. She hated small spaces and the FBI were boring
compared to the CIA and the other government agencies. Why couldn’t one of them kidnap us?
The familiar creak filled the room as the gray metal opened again and both agents appeared. Agent Parker handed me the contract and a pen. I read it again slowly and it had the revision I requested.
I was hesitant to sign this without an attorney looking at it first, but that was not an option. This was a one-time limited deal. It was now or never, and this would keep the Feds off my back. It also meant something more, that I needed my job back with Nelson. I had the file saved on a zip drive, but I had to be close to the source in case his informant fed him more information and names.
“Where is my copy?” I asked.
Agent Parker took another copy out of the folder and handed it to me.
I signed and pushed it back across the table to him. He snatched it up and handed it to Agent Davis who got up and left.
Agent Parker got on his feet.
“We’re done, you’re free to go. I will have an agent drive you back to your vehicle.”
“Okay.”
Agent Parker walked me back down the narrow hallway and out the metal door crashing shut behind us and ushered me into a waiting black sedan. My purse was sitting in the back seat.
“We’ll be in touch very soon for that list, Miss Ellington.”
“I know.”
He slammed the door and walked away.
Scarlett flipped him the double bird and stuck her tongue out. She was relieved that it was over and so was I. I fished my cell phone out of my purse. I had fifteen missed calls and ten texts from Victor. He was in meltdown mode and I was dreading the aftermath of being out of contact. I sent a quick text that I was fine and would explain when I got home.
The agent looked in the rear-view mirror.
“No texting, Miss, until you’re back in your vehicle.”
