Jorge looked around the restaurant and saw that the only other diners left were a young black couple who held hands as they drank their wine. “I only speak the truth between us, Hector. You’re right, Juan has some problems here in America, but it’s no different from when you had those problems with the Mexicans fifteen years ago. Did you tell us about it? No, but we stood by you and still did business. All that I ask is that you listen to what Juan and I have to say.”
“Then why isn’t he here now? He’s the gobernador of the family and he sends you alone. This deal could make us more money than we’ve ever seen. Do I not command enough respect for his presence?”
Jorge sighed. “I told you, he has to take care of some personal problems, but he’s given me permission to make a deal with you.”
Hector leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine. “What is he proposing?”
“Sixty-five to you and thirty-five to us.”
Hector glanced at the four men across the table and shrugged. They all nodded their heads in unison.
“That’s very generous of Juan,” Hector said. “Why is he doing me this kind of favor? What have I done to make him so happy in the time we haven’t spoken?”
“He doesn’t want money to get in the way of what we could achieve. See it as his welcome bonus to you.”
Hector laughed broadly as he looked toward his men again. “It’s a good offer.”
One of the men’s cell phones rang. He answered and placed his hand over the phone after a moment. “It’s a call for you,” he said to Hector in Spanish.
Hector put his napkin on the table and stood up. “Will you excuse me for a moment?” Jorge nodded. Hector put the cell to his ear and walked toward the exit, his voice too low for Jorge to make out what he was saying.
He returned after two minutes and stood at the head of the table before signaling his men to rise. “I’ve got urgent business to take care of,” he said to Jorge.
The comisionado rose. “Now? We’re in the middle of a business meeting.”
“I’m afraid this can’t wait. Besides, your terms are acceptable.” He nodded to his men, and they walked toward the restaurant’s entrance. “Tell Juan that I will go into business with him again. Hopefully, this time we’ll completely understand each other.”
Jorge put his hands on Hector’s shoulders. “He’ll like that very much.”
“It was good seeing you, my friend. You have always been loyal to me. Until next time.” He joined his men and walked out of the restaurant.
Jorge sat back down and glanced around. He and the Rodrigo were the only customers left. “Alejandro!” he shouted.
The waiter rushed out. He was no longer wearing his apron. “Yes, Mr. Huerta?”
“We’ll be staying here for a while. Bring me your best bottle of Champagne.”
“At once, sir.” Alejandro rushed toward the back.
“Is this a good idea, boss?” Rodrigo said.
Jorge smiled as he spun an empty wine glass on the table. “We’ve done it, Rodrigo. We’ve started what will be the largest drug transaction in the history of man. We should celebrate.”
Rodrigo pulled his cell out. “I’ll call the girls.”
Jorge stopped him with the raising of his hand. “Who did you get to handle that thing?”
“One of our Italian friends. He’ll make it quick and painless.”
“No,” Jorge snapped. “I want that punk to suffer, the same way he beat Reynaldo to death. You call your guy and tell him I want pieces of him sent to me. I want to know how much that bastard begged to die.”
“Are you sure, boss? Juan—”
‘Don’t worry about Juan. He’s given me permission to do it. How I kill him is my business.’
‘I’ll get right on it.’ Rodrigo walked toward the entrance, his cell to his ear.
29. Preparation
As Pablo shook him awake, Tobias wished he could punch him in the face. He caught a glimpse of Annabel walking into the bathroom and scowled at the one-eyed man.
“It’s time to get up,” Pablo said. “We’ve got to get there by 9, remember?”
Tobias stretched and yawned. His watch said 7:30 a.m. “You’re gonna let me have a shower, right?”
Pablo looked at him with a blank expression.
Tobias shrugged. “It’s up to you, but if you want me to go in there looking professional, I’ll need that shower.”
“And so you’ll have one,” Juan said. He held the door open for Andrés and Nino to enter. “I trust you had a nice sleep?”
Tobias glared at Pablo. “How can I sleep comfortably with your guy pointing that shotgun at me?”
Juan approached Tobias and gently struck his palm against his face and held it there. “Do not misunderstand this situation. I’m letting you live for now mainly because you’re Albert’s grandson. The money is a nice amount also, and I don’t need the headache of what killing you will bring.” He leaned closer. “But make no mistake, if that money doesn’t get into my account and by any strange magic you escape from some secret underground tunnel in the bank, I’ll devote my life to hunting you down. I won’t care who your grandfather was.”
Tobias stood up in a huff and zipped his pants. “And I’ve already told you, I don’t want anyone in your family after me. I just want a fresh start.”
The bathroom door clicked open and Annabel walked out in a figure-hugging gray dress, her breasts and supple butt prominent. Juan joined the rest of the men in staring at her wide-eyed. Tobias was captivated, too.
“You’re one lucky man,” Juan said to Tobias. “Come and join us, Annabel.” He tapped the bed. “Take a seat right here.”
She looked back and forth between the gobernador and Tobias, remaining where she stood. Nino pulled out his Glock and aimed it in her direction. “Now, bitch!”
“Whoa!” Juan said. “Haven’t you got any manners? She’s dressed like a lady, so treat her like one. Put the gun away.”
Nino lowered the gun and leaned against the door. Annabel walked toward the bed in as seductive a manner as Tobias had ever seen. She could just as easily have been gliding.
Tobias headed toward the bathroom and looked back at Juan. “I won’t be long.”
The gobernador pointed to his watch. “We don’t have time to waste.”
Tobias shut the bathroom door and leaned against it. Suddenly, there seemed to be a newfound worry within Juan’s camp about what killing him would mean. He felt as if he were actually calling the shots to a degree, but in dealing with someone as dangerous as Juan, he worried that he would mistake caution for fear. The gobernador was certainly not afraid of anyone, even his grandfather’s associates, and any disrespect on his part could result in Juan’s instantly putting a bullet in his head. He still might have been the one who killed my grandfather.
He shook the thought from his head and took a shower. After drying off a few minutes later, he put on an almost crease-free white shirt that was tight across his broad chest. He sprayed Hermes after-shave on his neck and wrists and smiled at himself in the mirror. He had to admit he looked good.
He opened the door to find everyone standing by the room’s entrance, looking expectantly at him. “You clean up good, son,” Juan said. He walked forward and tugged at his collar and straightened the black Hermes tie he wore. “It’s a shame I had to meet you like this. I liked your grandfather. I would have taken care of you for him.”
Tobias walked toward the door. “Let’s just get this over with.”
***
Rico glanced at his watch. It was nearly 3 a.m. Fernando’s snoring wasn’t as loud as it had been a few hours before. He lit his second cigarette of the night and looked at the stars. The rain had stopped, and all was silent except for hints of loud music emanating from a nearby building.
Suddenly, he heard laughter and reached for the shotgun on his lap. He halted after noticing a couple in high spirits and stumbling over each other across the street. He half-smiled and took anoth
er drag on his cigarette.
His cell vibrated, and Marie’s name appeared on the caller ID. He glanced at Fernando, who lay on his reclined seat with his mouth open and his eyes closed. Rico carefully opened the door and stepped out. “Hi, Marie.”
“Where are you, baby?” She sounded tired.
“I’m just ... Rico took another drag. “I’ve just got to take care of something.”
“Is it the thing he asked you to do in the hospital?”
Rico didn’t answer.
“Please, baby, whatever it is, don’t do it. Just come—”
He hung up and stared at the sky. After two more drags on his cigarette, he stubbed it out. The phone rang again, but he ignored it. He put it in his pocket and walked back to the car.
***
Nino parked the black Range Rover on Grunstrabe, a side street close to the bank. The spot allowed them to monitor the bank’s entrance without being too visible. He looked in his rearview mirror as Pablo parked the second Range Rover behind them.
Sitting in the back, Juan exchanged gazes with Annabel and Tobias. “Andrés will continue refreshing the bank-account information on his tablet. If the money isn’t in there in half an hour, I will drive away, but my life will be dedicated to hunting you down.”
“I don’t plan to fuck you,” Tobias said. “Your money—fifty million—will be transferred to that account.”
Juan nodded and smiled.
“What about you? How are you going to help us?”
“When you get back here, we’ll talk about that.”
Tobias laughed. “And you really think I trust you? I want to know now or I won’t do it.”
Juan extended his hand toward Andrés, who handed him a folded sheet of paper. The gobernador unfolded it and put it in Tobias’ hand. It listed an address and a phone number. “I have a guy who lives there,” Juan said. “You can go to him after you transfer the money and he’ll arrange your papers.”
“And what will you do?”
“Well, I assume you won’t be stupid enough to let the police know about me, so once I have my money, I’ll go back to America.”
“And you’ll leave us alone? Just like that?”
“I’m hardly going to need you any further, and now that you have the address, you don’t need me. Unless you’d prefer us to stick around?”
“No,” Tobias half-shouted, “that’s fine.” He straightened his collar once more and grasped the door handle. “I guess this is it then.”
Juan pulled Tobias’ head close to his. “I’ll say this again—don’t fuck me.”
Tobias nodded and opened the door, and Annabel opened hers, too. He walked around the car and joined her on the sidewalk, where she squeezed his hands. “You know they’ll shoot us once we walk out of there,” she said.
He looked at her, shock on his face. “Why do you say that?”
“Think, Tobias. They won’t need us anymore. All that talk about not wanting to kill you because of who your grandfather was is bullshit. Juan isn’t scared of anyone. He just wants you to believe you’re safe. Since you don’t have the memory stick, he’ll probably just kill us both and take his chances. Less witnesses.”
Tobias glanced at the Range Rover and saw that all three men were watching him intently. “Then go,” he said to Annabel.
“What? Without you?”
He nodded. “This isn’t where it ends for me. I still have to figure out who killed Penélope and my grandfather, but I can’t bear for anything to happen to you. I’ll transfer the money to the account in the Caymans, and once I know the whole truth, I’ll find you. We can be together.”
“But they’ll kill you.”
Tobias smiled. “You’re forgetting that this is now my country and that is my bank. I’ll give him his money, but that’s all he’s going to get. He’s not taking my life, too. But you have to go now.”
Annabel fought back tears and squeezed his hands again. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me.”
“Not now, Annabel. Let’s talk about this when we’re on a beach with more money than we know what to do with.” He glanced back at the Range Rover again and saw agitation on the men’s faces. “Go now, please, for me.”
She kissed him forcefully on the lips, a tear falling from her left eye. “I love you, Tobias. Don’t ever forget that.” She placed a cell phone in his hand. “Call me on the last dialed number after you get away.”
He looked at the phone and nodded. “I love you, too. Now go.”
She darted down the main road and out of sight. Andrés and Juan rushed out of the car. Andrés held a gun to Tobias’ back, and used his own body to shield it from pedestrians.
“What the fuck was that?” Juan said.
“You don’t need her for this. You have me and I’ll still get you your money. As long as she’s still breathing, I’ll transfer everything. If you double-cross me when I walk out of there, at least I’ll know she’s safe.”
Juan shook his head in disgust. “So all this time you’ve been more worried about saving the girl. When will you ever learn, son? Women are not what they seem.”
“Annabel is. She didn’t need to be involved, but she’s helped me ever since you guys decided to destroy my life.”
Juan placed his hand over Andrés’ gun. “I hope for your sake your trust in her is a two-way thing. I really hope so.” He eased the nine-millimeter away from Tobias’ back, and Andrés holstered it.
Tobias nodded at them and crossed the two-lane street. He stopped at the bank’s entrance and turned around to face them. After taking a deep breath, he walked through the sliding doors.
30. Withdrawal
Tobias stood inside the entrance for a few seconds, watching people walk past without noticing him. He studied the two security guards standing nearby—both stared directly at him without any visible reaction—and realized that even if they recognized him, they couldn’t be aware of his supposed crimes in the United States.
The bank was large, with two floors. He looked through glass windows on the top floor and saw a host of suited men sitting by computers and talking to clients. The bottom floor looked similar but was far busier. In the crowd, he noticed two men and a young woman approaching him. One of the men looked to be in his mid-sixties, with a leathery face and a dark suit. Beside him was Erwin. His gray suit fit closely to his body, highlighting his large shoulders. The woman was thin and cute, Tobias thought, more the girl-next-door type than overtly sexy.
They seemed to look straight in his direction. He smiled at Erwin and walked toward them.
“Siegfried,” Erwin said in German. “It’s so good to see you.” They shook hands and Erwin leaned toward his ear. “Did everything go as planned?”
“We’ll talk after,” Tobias said.
“Please allow me to introduce you to the bank manager, Gunter Fuchs, and Gretel Hoefler, your grandfather’s attorney. They’ll help you with everything you need.”
Tobias shook Gunter’s hand and kissed Gretel on both cheeks. “It’s good to finally be home.”
Gunter stood aside and motioned for him to walk toward the left of the building. “Hopefully, everything will go smoothly. I was most pleased when Erwin told me you had changed your mind. If you don’t mind my asking, what made you?”
Tobias smiled. “I’m German and proud of it. What better way to make my country proud than to continue what my grandfather started?”
They took the stairs and entered an office on the second floor. Tobias marveled at how large it was, at least 260 square feet. Ornaments filled the shelves, many of them antiques. And there were three expensive-looking portraits, one depicting the Eiffel Tower. He sat across from Gunter and Gretel, and Erwin sat beside him.
“I’ll be with you in just a moment,” the manager said.
“Please,” Tobias said, “take your time.” His eyes returned to the magnificent portrait of the Eiffel Tower. “So, have you been?”
Gunter looked confused.
Tobias pointed to the painting. “The Eiffel Tower. Have you been?”
“Oh.” Gunter laughed. “Of course. I went there for my honeymoon and have probably been fifteen times since. Great place, Paris.”
Tobias laughed. “The Americans love it, too. They actually love most places in Europe. I guess you never appreciate home until you see others marvel at it.”
Gunter put his pen down. “So how are things in America? I trust you must be very popular, being Albert’s grandson.”
Tobias nodded awkwardly and looked away.
“He doesn’t really like talking about his grandfather,” Erwin said.
“I’m so sorry,” Gunter said.
“Don’t be.” Tobias smiled. “You couldn’t have known.”
The bank manager spent the next few minutes pressing buttons on the keyboard as Gretel looked intently at the screen, nodding occasionally. Finally, he sent a file to the printer.
“We’ll get the signatures out of the way,” Gretel said, “and after that we can discuss where you’d like your money.”
Tobias pulled out two sheets of paper and handed a heavily creased one to Gunter. “Most of it needs to go here,” he said. Then he passed him the other one. “And fifty million needs to go here.”
Gunter studied them carefully, his mouth moving at the same time. “That should not be a problem, Mr. Eichelberger. We should have everything done for you in no time at all.”
***
Juan glanced at his watch for the third time in a minute. Tobias had been inside the bank for twenty-five minutes. “Has it come through yet?” he asked Andrés.
On his tablet, the comisionado refreshed the web page for the offshore account in the Cayman Islands. “Not yet.”
Juan stretched before putting his right hand over the pocket holding his gun. “That boy better not screw with me.”
“What do you want to do?” Nino asked.
The Kiss after Midnight (The Midnight Trilogy) Page 26
