Olivetti: Illumination

by Tamilore Odimayo

  “What!? I didn’t sign up for this,” Don Cruccifixo said. Her heart skipped a bit.

  “What did you think I meant when I said I could stop him?” Frederick asked Don Cruccifixo. Their deal was to stop the Kennedys from ruling again.

  “Uh well, maybe make sure he doesn’t win the next election? For fuck sakes, we are talking about a Kennedy – America’s royal family!” Don Cruccifixo replied.

  “He needs to go! If he doesn’t, everything goes to shambles,” Senator William replied.

  “I’m out! I have too much to lose. There are better ways to tackle this issue without fucking murdering the president of the United States, in cold blood,” Don Cruccifixo said, about to walk away.

  “Don’t be a coward!” Senator William yelled. Suddenly, Don Cruccifixo turned back, charging towards Senator William with a gun.

  “You’re going to disrespect me?” Don Cruccifixo yelled.

  “What are you going to do? Kill a United States Senator? If you can kill me, you might as well kill the President!” Senator William replied. Don Cruccifixo grunted in frustration.

  “Call me a coward one more time and I’ll bury you in the Capitol Hill!” Don Cruccifixo yelled.

  “That’s the spirit!” Senator William replied. Don Cruccifixo slowly put down his gun.

  “How’s this going to benefit me?” Don Cruccifixo replied.

  “Well for one, you get to run your small businesses, pay less taxes and still have the Feds on your side…courtesy of moi!” Senator William replied.

  “If we don’t do this, it’ll be the end of the mafia. The president will rain down a hail storm on all mob bosses. It will be impossible to transcend to legitimate businesses,” Senator William added. Don Cruccifixo glanced at everyone present.

  “And why do the affairs of the mob families worry you?” Don Cruccifixo asked suspiciously. He couldn’t comprehend why a United States Senator was bothered about mob affairs. Was he in on it too? Obviously. Perhaps, he was covering up for his friends who funded his campaign. Perhaps, he was planning on running for the next presidential election. Perhaps, he had a much bigger agenda.

  “They got me where I am, and they can take me where I want to go,” Senator William replied.

  “You’re okay with this?” Don Cruccifixo asked the quiet Frederick standing at the corner.

  “Of course! It’s an easy plan. We won’t get our hands dirty,” Frederick replied.

  “So why am I here?” Clara replied, curious about the need for her presence in a precarious assassination plan.

  “Well, the President has a wandering eye for beautiful young women,” Senator William replied with a smile, flirtatiously. Clara scoffed.

  “He’ll be in Dallas in a couple of months. All you need to do is peak his attention,” Frederick replied.

  “I’m not a whore!” Clara replied.

  “We know. He will not touch you, I guarantee that. You’re our only option right now because there’s no other woman we can trust,” Frederick replied.

  “Well, no one’s telling you to sleep with him. Just make him want…” Senator William replied. Clara scoffed. “And how am I supposed to get close to the President of the United States?” Clara asked.

  “There’s a private White House dinner in a couple of weeks. You can be my plus one,” Senator William replied as he walked out of the warehouse.

  “Seems like he has nothing to lose,” Don Cruccifixo said, shifting his attention to Frederick.

  “She does this for everyone and you leave her alone,” Frederick replied sternly.

  “Oh I’m not the enemy, Freddy. She has bigger problems,” Don Cruccifixo said with a smile. Clara flinched.

  “There’s a huge bounty on her head. Then again, I’m guessing you already know that…” Don Cruccifixo said to Frederick with a bigger smile as he observed Clara’s discomfort.

  10

  Present day

  “Boss, i’m heading home,” a tall male office executive said to Nina Owen. “Finished the quarterly financial reports?” Nina Owen asked.

  “Yes,”

  “Okay. Drop it on my assistant’s desk. I’ll review it tomorrow. Remember the 8am meeting we have with our senior accounts?” Nina said.

  “Yes boss! I’ll be there,” the man said as he shut the door. Engraved on her office door was “Nina Owen. Senior Partner”

  She was seated in her office, handling some paper work. Her black leather office chair cringed as she leaned back to place her legs on her black mahogany desk. On her office walls was her diploma from the University of Miami and Yale University; a Bachelor’s degree in Business and an advanced degree in Law—Magna Cum Laude. Several other certificates and achievements were displayed on her office wall. On the other side of her desk were black leather couches and a center table with neatly arranged magazines.

  Her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID. It was James Carlton, her ex-boyfriend. She frowned. She dreaded the day she met him. She wished she was warned about men living at Trump Towers Miami. Apparently, there was something off about privileged narcissistic men. Unfortunately, she had to discover the hard way. She sighed then picked up the phone.

  “Hello!” she said to the voice on the phone.

  “Hey Nina! How’s it going?” James said. No response. She rolled her eyes. “Uhm..okay…will you like to grab a cup of coffee after work?”

  “I’m working late today.” she lied.

  “No you’re not. C’mon have a cup of coffee with me and I’ll explain what happened,” James said in a persuasive tone.

  “Uhm…coffee at 5:30pm? I doubt I’ll be able to make it,” She lied in an effort to dissuade him.

  “Well, I’ll be there whenever you get there. I’ll be at the Starbucks on Biscayne Boulevard. I promise, you’ll not regret this,” he said in a persuasive tone, reluctant to take no for an answer.

  “Okay. If you choose to wait, that’s fine by me,” she said then hung up. She sighed again. She wasn’t in the mood to argue. She walked to the ladies restroom, washed her hands then gazed at herself in the mirror. She felt successful but unsatisfied. Besides her ambition, nothing seemed to matter. She was a twenty-five year old senior partner in a corporate law firm that served the top ten richest people in America. What more could she want? A family was out of the question and love…well, she couldn’t seem to find the right one after losing the only person she cared about, Tom Olivetti.

  The closest person to ever win her attention was James Carlton, a small time millionaire from old white money. His reputation with women wasn’t good, but his continuous desperate attempt to apologize for cheating on her was charming. She still wasn’t interested in him. She felt she owed him an opportunity to explain himself, but wasn’t willing to be a collection of the women he had slept with. She sighed as she walked out of the restroom then made her way to her office. She grabbed her keys and handbag then made her way to the garage through the office elevators.

  “Remember, you’ll have to be at the coffee shop at exactly 6pm. You cannot do anything or talk to anyone before then,” Julianna said to Tom. They walked out of a private air strip in Miami where their private jet just landed. She was assigned by the inner circle to be Tom’s guide—a grave conflict of interest as she had a history of intertwining business with pleasure. She was wearing black boots, Jeans, a red top and a small black leather jacket. Tom was nervous. For the first time in seven years, he was given a chance to regain his past life.

  “It’s all part of the plan,” they said, without telling him the plan. His job was to figure out his destiny on his own. Julianna held Tom’s hands. Her heart pounded fast and Tom could hear it. She was sad and she couldn’t hide it. She loved Tom from the very first time she saw him, seven years earlier at the Illuminati Headquarters in Rome.

  “I don’t understand. I can’t read your thoughts and I can’t figure out why you want me at the coffee shop at 6pm,” Tom replied.

  “Your senses wouldn’t let you see what
you don’t need to see,” Julianna replied. Tom looked confused. She handed him the keys to a Mercedes Benz.

  “You’ll know where to find me once you figure out who you are,” Julianna said. Tom nodded then kissed her on her lips.

  “I love you,” Tom replied. Julianna smiled as tears rolled down her eyes.

  “What?” Tom asked. “Why are you crying?”

  “Nothing. I hope you feel the same way after you find out who you are,” Julianna replied. Tom stepped back then paced around in his black suede shoes. He was confused. He looked at his watch then looked at Julianna.

  “I know who I am. I know my family and what my family did. That doesn’t change my feelings for you,” Tom replied, holding her gently, on her waist. Julianna smiled.

  “That’s redundant information - Knowing your family isn’t going to separate us. Gaining all your memories might. You have forty-five minutes. You better get going,” she said in a low voice as she shrugged off his grip.

  “You have little faith in me,” Tom smiled. He glanced at her beautiful lips. Memories of their escapades lingered in his mind. She smiled a smile of weakness and fear. He knew she was seeing something that he wasn’t seeing. This heightened his curiosity immediately.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll find you. I promise. The Order first! Always!” Tom replied in a tone of confidence as he jumped into the Black Mercedes convertible.

  5:40pm, Nina Owen pulled over at a Barnes and Noble parking lot on Biscayne Boulevard. She was willing to give James a chance or at least hear him out. There was a small Starbucks coffee shop beside Barnes and Nobles, where James Carlton was. She briskly walked towards the coffee shop in her grey suit and heels as she clicked the remote of her Range Rover shut. Her dark hair was nicely tied into a ponytail. Her poise and walking step was very official. She ignored the men staring and drooling at her.

  “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it,” James Carlton said as he spotted her. He stood up, walked to her side of the table, and then pulled the chair backward. She sat down.

  “I was tempted,” She said in a dry tone. James assumed it was humor and laughed.

  “I ordered your regular,” James said. Everyone stared at them like local celebrities on the verge of a dramatic outbreak. James was a tall blond man; popular among women, a man with a high taste in fashion and a lack of regard for women who fell head over heels for him. The pursuit of Nina gave him a crazy high he couldn’t explain until the vulnerable moment when she said yes to his dinner offer.

  “I’m not interested in coffee. I’m just giving you a chance to explain yourself,” Nina said as she slid the cup of coffee away from the side of her table to the side of his table. James smiled.

  “Nina, I’m sorry. Shit Happens! Truth is you’re the girl I want to be with and no one else,” James replied. Nina returned a fake smile without saying a word.

  “Ok listen to me, Nina. I am sorry. I am an ass for sleeping with her. She isn’t important to me. If she was, I’ll be with her right now. You’re the only woman I want to be with. Please don’t let a simple mistake like this ruin things for us forever,” James begged.

  5:50pm. Tom was still stuck in traffic. He glanced at his GPS. He was only five minutes away. He got out, neglecting his eighty thousand dollar car in traffic and the aggravated driver behind him. He knew he could beat the traffic by running. So he started. He sprinted on the sidewalks of Biscayne Boulevard, ignoring the loud honks and angry snares people threw at him. He was fast. Really fast and his muscles never grew tired.

  5:55pm

  “James!” a short blonde woman yelled as she passed by the coffee table. James scoffed uncomfortably as he tried to ignore her.

  “Aren’t you going to say something to her?” Nina replied sarcastically. James smiled a sheepish smile.

  “Hey Angela! This is Nina. My…” James replied.

  “Ex,” Nina completed his statement for him.

  “Uh why are you having coffee with your Ex? We’re supposed to have dinner later tonight,” the short blonde woman replied. Nina scoffed. She stood up. James tried to hold her back.

  “Leave me alone!” Nina replied in disgust and anger. She walked out of the coffee shop. James ran after her. Angela was shocked.

  “Look! Look! She was just a business colleague,” James replied.

  “I don’t care, James. It’s your life. You can be with as many women as you want to be with and I will not be one of them,” Nina replied as she got into the car. She couldn’t believe she entertained the thought of giving him a second chance.

  “Please! Please!” James begged. Angela ran out.

  “I’m done James. I’m just your business colleague? Unbelievable!” Angela said in a tone of disappointment as she walked to her own car.

  “Just shut up Angela!” James yelled, trying to compose himself in front of Nina.

  He stood in front of Nina’s car in a desperate attempt to stop her from driving away.

  “Nina I love you! Please one more chance! One more chance is all I ask!” James yelled. Nina started her car. “Get away from the vehicle James or God help you, I’ll run you over!” Nina yelled. James stood there. She didn’t care anymore; she forcefully stepped on the accelerator.

  5:59pm.

  Tom was running faster than ever. People stuck in traffic gazed at him suspiciously. He could now see the Starbucks coffee shop as he was getting closer and closer. Nothing mattered. He was going to make it to the shop at 6pm at all cost. He knew how important getting his memory back was. His heart pumped faster. His muscles loosened up a bit. He neglected the lights and other traffic signs. Doubt began to offset his mind, but he was determined to arrive at the coffee shop at 6pm. It seemed impossible, but he wasn’t willing to disappoint members of the Order or Julianna. He could go faster, but it would expose his true abilities. There were traffic cameras around so he ran at a human pace.

  Suddenly, from nowhere, a car slammed him.

  6pm. Nina heard a loud thud. Her windshield was smashed. The front of her car was dented. She could see some blood on the windshield. Her heart rate increased. The airbags of her car deployed. Pedestrians walking around watched in terror. James came running after her car.

  “Nina! Nina! Are you okay?” he said as he forced the door open. She seemed dizzy. He tapped her face continuously to keep her from passing out. Her eyes opened.

  “Wake up!” He said as he dragged her out. “Who did I hit?” Nina said incoherently as she struggled to stand on her two feet.

  “Attend to whoever I hit first!” Nina yelled in a state of dysphoria. James left her on the side of the car then rushed to the front of the car.

  There was a man with black suede shoes, lying on the floor. James knelt down to examine the body. Blood was all over, but there seemed to be no visible or open scar. His hands were covered in sticky blood. James dialed 911. He was in panic mode. Everyone around watched, afraid to get involved. Traffic seemed to stop as people glanced out of their cars in horror.

  “Hey! Hey Man! What’s your name?” James said, trying to keep him awake.

  “Tom,” the voice replied. Despite the sound of sirens and chaos, she heard. She was weak, but his voice was peculiar and distinct. She managed to walk to the front of the car.

  “Excuse me,” she said in a low voice as she struggled through the crowd. She observed the body lying on the floor. It was a ghost—Tom’s ghost to be precise. The only difference was his beard. She dropped to her knees in astonishment. James gazed at her. She felt lightheaded. He saw her lean forward slowly.

  She fainted.

  11

  NOVEMBER 22, 1963

  Friday afternoon. Dallas, Texas. It was a bright sunny day. The crowd was ecstatic and excited beyond measure. Bystanders waived their flag at the convoy of cars driving by. The secret service anxiously glanced at everyone in the crowd. The President of the United States and the first lady waived to the Texans as their convoy of cars slowly drove by. The Secret Servi
ce was on high alert. Although there wasn’t any perceived threat, they were trained to always be cautious. Suddenly, people screamed. There was shock on the First Lady’s face as she stared at her husband. Clara had done her job. The president had found another reason to be in Dallas, besides business.

  Eduardo Sanchez dismembered his sniper rifle, put it in a small carrier case and walked briskly to the car waiting for him.

  “You did well,” Frederick said to him as they sped off.

  “I know. What next?” Eduardo asked in a straight tone.

  “We clean up,” Frederick replied. Eduardo Sanchez, a young Mexican in his twenties, dressed in a shirt and khaki pants, was a contractor for the Mexican Mafia. The Mexican and the Italian families were finally working on something together.

  “What do you mean?” Eduardo asked.

  “We have a fall guy. In the next couple of hours, he’ll be caught and kept in police custody. Two days from now, he’ll be transferred from the police headquarters to county jail – We take him out before he gets a chance to stand trial” Frederick replied.

  “And you know all this? How?” Eduardo Sanchez replied in shock. Frederick didn’t reply.

  “When do I take down the fall guy?” Eduardo asked. Frederick sighed.

  “Your job is done! We have another guy for that,” Frederick replied.

  They drove for about thirty minutes then they stopped at an open desert space on the east side of Dallas. There, standing, was Don Cruccifixo and his men, all dressed in the finest Italian suits. Francois was parked and seated in another car.

  “It’s done?” Don Cruccifixo asked as he stepped on his burning cigarettes.

  Frederick nodded and signaled to Eduardo Sanchez to remain in the car. Don Cruccifixo smiled.

  “Okay. What next?”

  “Open your trunk,” Frederick said to Don Cruccifixo as he pointed at Don Cruccifixo’s car.