by Baker, S. L.
“Where did you obtain this list?” Agent Parker asked.
“An informant?”
“What informant?”
‘That’s all I can tell you.”
“Do you have the flash-drive with you?”
“No. It’s in a safe place.”
“So how do we know it even exists?” Agent Parker snapped.
I grabbed my cellphone and pulled up my photos. I had snapped two before I left the station.
“I could charge you with obstruction of justice for not turning over that list and even accessory after the fact Miss Ellington,” Agent Davis snapped.
The flash drive was my ace in the hole with the Feds and I wasn’t going to be bullied by his threats. I knew they were salivating to get their hands on that list and needed me.
I slid my phone across the table to Agent Parker. I was trying my best to be intimidating. Scarlett was standing on the table between Agent Parker and me shaking her fist at him.
Agent Parker showed the photos to Agent Davis. Both agents exchanged looks. I thought for a nanosecond that maybe I saw Agent Parker grin slightly. Scarlett’s money said it was just gas.
Agent Parker slid my phone back to me across the table.
“My source has intimate knowledge of the people involved or who have a connection to Joe Salvatore.”
Both agents exchanged glances, but exhibited no emotion. Scarlett grabbed both agents by the wrist to see if she could find a pulse.
“I have met Senator Matthews on two previous occasions and let’s just say my last encounter was not amicable.”
“What was the nature of your contact with the Senator?” Agent Parker asked.
“I was following up on the information from my source and the research I had gathered.”
Scarlett gave me the thumbs up as she did detect a small pulse. She got distracted by the hand cuff on Agent Davis hip. She was devising a plan to snatch them without his knowledge, she had lost the key to hers and needed a new pair.
“Set up an interview with the Senator. You’ll be wearing a wire and ask questions we provide to you.”
“And if I get caught?”
Both Agents shrugged in indifference. “You agreed to the risks as a condition of us dropping all the charges against you.”
Both agents pushed their chairs back from the table and were on their feet. I was escorted back down the hallway and out the back door and back into the black sedan. You could hear crickets chirping in the car, in fact Scarlett swore she heard a couple. The agents pulled up behind my car.
Agent Parker turned and said, “Set it up and then be in touch when you do.”
“Fine,” I snapped.
I got out of the black sedan and headed back to my car, praying my legs wouldn’t give out. I had made a deal with the devil twice today, first Nelson and then the Feds.
Chapter 8
Scarlett was in full fledge CIA mode as we drove back to the Station. She was trying to find out anything we could use to corner the Senator to get a few minutes with him without his body guards hovering. Who cut his hair, where he worked out, where his kids went to school.
Jeff was annoyed that I was later than I thought I’d be, as the car had been promised to one of the anchors for the evening news.
“Sorry. Traffic was nuts,” I said smiling and batting my lashes.
“Ok,” he snapped and walked back to his little hole of an office.
I was deep in thought as I got in the elevator. I didn’t notice that my old boss Ashley was next to me.
“Angelina, how are you?” she said, sweet as always. She had no idea why I wanted to go back that asshole Nelson Stone, but she wasn’t bitter.
“Hi, Ashley, how are you?”
“Good. Still haven’t replace you yet. Any chance you’d reconsider and come back? I have a high profile wedding this weekend and no one competent enough to cover it.”
“Who is it?”
“A Senator’s niece.”
“Which one?”
“Matthews.”
“I’m sorry, did you just say Senator Matthews?”
“Yes. Why, do you know him?”
“I do. I’ve interview him twice before. I’d be happy to help you out, if you’re in a pinch.”
Ashley Squealed and hugged me. “You’re the best. I’ll email you all the details.”
“Let’s not tell Nelson about this though, ok?”
She crossed her heart and flashed that million dollar smile as the elevator doors opened. Scarlett really wanted whatever it is that she takes to be so happy all the time.
I called Agent Parker with my Intel about the wedding and set up our rendezvous. I had to swing by the Feds’ central command, which was usually some covert location. The huge challenge for me was losing my goon squad lurking in the shadows. Victor had no clue that I was in bed with the Feds and I had to keep it that way. So I made Agent Parker meet me at the station outside the garage. There was a small alley way, I knew my goons lurked in their covert locations outside the station, but inside the gates it was easier. Agent Parker and Davis were suspicious of why I made them come to me and I never elaborated. This was on my terms— my rules. I had to keep the goon squad secret, especially Hawke, I suspected and knew deep down he was Victor’s trigger man. I saw Victor kill two people in cold blood, but it was to protect me and Luke. That was the only way I could wrap my head around it. But in the heat of that situation if I’d had a gun, I might have done the same thing and that scared me. Scarlett on the other hand would have been right next to Victor with her missile launcher— always over the top, but that’s Scarlett.
“Are you ready, Angelina?” Ed, my cameraman, asked.
“Meet me in the parking lot in fifteen,” I said.
“Umm, okay, but hurry,” he said looking annoyed.
“Will do,” I yelled over my shoulder as the door to the stairs slammed shut behind me. The stairs were faster, and there was a side door to the parking lot at the bottom.
“I hope they’re not late,” I mumbled under my breath.
Scarlett glanced at her watch. I slipped into the side alley and Scarlett stood guard in case anyone was coming. There was a chain link fence to keep people out and a small gate that could be unlocked from my end, but I didn’t have a key. It was up to the agents to figure that out. Hell they were the FBI, I was sure they could handle it. I wanted to make it difficult for them when I could. They needed me as much as I needed them and they knew it. With that list, both agents would be heroes at the FBI and it would be their ticket to whatever they wanted to do. They knew that and so did I.
“Make this quick. My cameraman will be looking for me in twelve minutes.” I said looking at my watch. Scarlett gave me the thumbs up. The coast was clear still.
Agents Parker bent down and strapped a mic to my thigh and then threaded the mic up in between my breasts where he secured it with tape, it took every ounce of self-control not to slap him across the face, and Scarlett was in a full run, ready to do more than that to the agent. I gave her the evil eye and she threw her hands in the air and went back to her post.
“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” I snapped.
“Just doing my job,” he replied putting a small piece of white tape on my skin to secure the wire in place.
“The device should be undetectable if you get patted down by the Senator’s security.”
“Even if they do find it, I’m a reporter it’s easy to say it’s just a wire so I can communicate with my camera man. The only downside is that you can’t spy.” I batted my eyelashes like I was actually sad about that.
Agent Parker wasn’t amused.
“We have an agreement. If you don’t want to honor it, then I can have a dozen agents swarming Salvatore Industries within the hour and have Victor Salvatore hauled out in handcuffs in a big spectacle,” he said. The corners of his mouth turned down and his eyebrows slanted in.
“I said, I would help. What else do you need? Jesus H, do
you want all three of us to cut our finger and become bound by blood?” I snapped.
He shot me an annoyed look.
“Don’t fuck with me, Miss Ellington. We’re in control here, not you.”
Scarlett was barreling down the alley in full Ninja mode twirling her machetes. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stop her in time. Just as she was inches from Agent Parker’s throat, she heard someone coming and bolted down the alley and started waving her arms sounding the alarm.
“Miss Ellington, we will be parked down the street in a catering van, listening to everything. Here is a list of questions we want you to ask him.” Agent Davis handed me a list.
“Don’t screw this up,” he warned.
“I can’t guarantee he will be willing to talk to me. Our last meeting was intense to say the least. Got to go.” I turned and looked over my shoulder as I headed to the parking lot and both agents had vanished.
I rounded the corner from the alley just as Ed walked out of the door from the garage.
“You ready?” he said.
“Yup.” I had an alibi ready in case he asked why I was in the alley, but he didn’t.
I was nervous about showing up at this wedding. The press was invited, because it was good for the Senator’s poll numbers, but I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome, and what if the wire was found, then what?
I heard Scarlett cock her shotgun in the back of the van. No worries she’s got this.
Ed was not the talkative type and never asked many questions, and I loved that about him. He just did his job. Though I did get the sense he didn’t like Nelson.
Stand in line, Scar mumbled.
We pulled up in front of an enormous gaudy mansion, belonging to the Senator’s brother who owned an oil company and used money for wallpaper. The valet stopped us.
Ed rolled the window down.
“Were from Channel Six News,” Ed said.
The tux clad valet motioned for us to head up the small driveway behind the house. The sign said delivery and press.
Ed pulled up behind the other two news vans and vendors.
We hopped out and were met by two large security men in black suits, white shirts and gray ties. Scarlett tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if there was some clothing store named Goons R Us where they all shopped. Good question. It did seem it was the uniform of choice.
“Do you have I.D.?” the bald goon that looked like a defensive end from a pro football team asked holding out his meaty hand.
Both Ed and I produced our press I.D.’s and handed it to the goon.
He studied it for a few seconds, scanning his gaze between the badges and us.
The other goon resembling a coke machine with legs began searching our gear and then asked us both to turn and put our hands against the van as he patted us down.
“Turn around, hands above your head,” he ordered. He patted Ed down first and then me. He stopped below my bra and took two fingers and stopped on the wire. My heart leapt into my throat and my palms starting sweating.
“What is that?” he asked.
“The wire for my mic, so I can I communicate with my cameraman,” I said trying to keep my voice calm.
“Unbutton your dress, let me see,” he ordered.
“No way. Not in front of three men. You’ll have to take my word for it,” I snapped staring right at him.
Scarlett was standing in between me and the goon. Her brass knuckles firmly in place.
The two goons exchanged glances.
Ed shot a confused glance in my direction, but kept his cool except for the bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
“Then get back in your van and leave. I have my protocol. By you refusing it makes us both suspicious.”
I could just envision Agents Parker and Davis pacing in the van screaming, Just unbutton the fucking dress.
“Fine,” I snapped, unbuttoning my dress to my belly button. “Satisfied!”
“Very.” He smirked looking at me up and down.
I turned and buttoned up my dress. “Can we head to the venue now please?” I asked my tone strained.
“Yes,” they both said, still basking at seeing me standing in my red lace bra in the middle of a field. Bastards! They probably went back to the goon headquarters to jack off.
“Did that make you assholes’ hard too?” I snapped into the mic to the agents.
Ed shot me glance, but didn’t say a word.
We entered the back gate of the mansion. The press was off to the side in a row of fold up chairs camera’s set up.
During the reading of the vows I scanned the guests for the Senator. He was seated third row from the front. The ceremony was short and for that I was grateful. I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to get the goods on the Senator and get out. The wedding party headed off for pictures and cocktail hour began. Scarlett bolted to the caviar table grabbing two glasses of champagne as the waiter passed. I spotted the Senator laughing with an older couple as I inched my way closer. Ed started to follow me.
“Stay put for a bit. I will let you know when I need you.”
He nodded, “Yes,” and put the camera down on the chair.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Miss Bombshell from the first night I met the Senator. The one who was with Victor and shot heat seeking missiles my direction. Our eyes met and it was as if she unleashed all her wrath with one look. Scarlett was back with a huge plate of caviar in one hand and her phone in the other, ordering a Gold-digger T-shirt in size bimbo for Miss Bombshell.
“Senator, so nice to see you,” I said as he turned to face me.
“Wish I’d could say the same, Miss Ellington,” he replied, motioning for Miss Bombshell to scram for a bit. She rolled her eyes and walked away in a huff.
Scarlett stuck her tongue out at her and gave her the finger.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to come over and thank you.”
“For what?” His tone still brisk.
“I took your advice. I’m no longer work for Nelson Stone. I’m covering big social events. Like this one.”
The Senator’s stance relaxed some and so did his tone.
“I’m sorry about your wife.”
“Excuse me?” he asked eyeing me suspiciously.
“Don’t worry this is off the record. Your date. I assume she is not Mrs. Matthews.”
“No she’s not. We’re taking a break from each other to work on things. Off the record.”
“That must be bad timing with the election right around the corner.”
“What are you getting at, Miss Ellington?”
“Nothing, just still trying to figure out how you sell that your marriage is not on the rocks to your voters. Maybe by getting in bed with men like Joe Salvatore that can slide some campaign money your direction and some contracts that will bring jobs to the most depressed parts of your state. That makes you look like a hero and is a lock to get you re-elected. Am I right? Maybe put some pressure on the wife to hold off on the divorce until after the election or maybe set her up and then blackmail her or paint her as the adulterer.”
Senators Matthews looked like he was going to grab me by the throat and shake the living stuffing right out of me. I looked for Scarlett and she was first in line to get a piece of wedding cake.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Miss Ellington.”
“Yes you do.” I held my ground staring him right in the eye. I could see the two agents hanging on every word, just salivating waiting for him to incriminate himself. He was close.
“You remember what you told me that night at the Summit Inn?”
“Yes.” His eye ablaze, as he looked for an escape route.
I saw him signal a goon and I knew my time was limited. I needed him to say it.
“What did you tell me?”
“Asking the wrong questions about the wrong people will get you killed.”
“Is that a threat or a warning?”
The go
on arrived and grabbed my arm.
“Let go of my arm,” I said trying to yank out of his grip.
“Time to go, ma’am.”
“Senator, answer my question. Is that a threat and has Joe Salvatore given you money or contracts? Tell your goon to let go or I will scream and cause a huge scene at your niece’s wedding and that’s what will be plastered all over the morning paper and 6:00 o’clock news. Don’t worry I will make sure to get lots of shots of your blonde bimbo.” I threw my free hand in the air to summon Ed. He was there in a flash and set the camera up.
The senator motioned for the goon to let me go and to stand down and I did the same with Ed.
“Answer my question and I’ll leave.”
“Yes to both,” he said and turned and walked away.
“Hope you both got that,” I said into my boobs at the agents.
Ed shot me a WTF look, but didn’t ask.
I did a quick stand up report about the wedding with a clip of the bride dancing with the Senator. Scarlett was the head of the Conga line and was very unhappy with me when I dragged her off the dance floor. She spent the entire ride back to the station arms folded, pouting.
Ed unloaded the gear from the van and headed up to my office. I would rendezvous with the agents before I headed home to return their wire and get my instructions for the next target.
***
Both agents were waiting for me in the alley at five thirty.
“Miss Ellington, can you tell us again why this is your chosen meeting place?”
“No.”
“You know I can arrest you for withholding and obstruction of justice.”
“If you both are the super agents you believe you are, then you already know the answer,” I snapped.
Both agents exchanged glances. Scarlett had a notepad and was trying to spell it out for them.
“It’s because I have two of Victor’s body guards watching me. I don’t want to have to explain this to any of them. Understand?” I said hoping this would pacify them for the moment.
“Fine,” Agent Parker said with more attitude than Scarlett cared for and was close to smacking him up the side of the head. But I was pretty sure that would land me in cell and so did she.
