The Caspian Wine Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Series

by Maggie Thom

  “What about the CSIS?” August looked at Guy and Graham.

  Tarin spoke up. “We’re going to leave them out of it for now. We’ll stall them for a day. They’ll just complicate things. And it will have to be done their way. Just say we need a bit of time to regroup. We’ll give them what we find.”

  Everyone went silent but no one contradicted her.

  Finally, Tijan cleared her throat. “How do we make this work?”

  Twenty minutes later, they had hashed out a rushed plan. Granted, it had too many variables but they agreed they had to do something. They were going to contact Mr. T and say that Tarin was now in charge and the deal would go through her, not her father. They all hoped that Mr. T would buy into that. If they needed to they’d tell him her father was unable to sign because he’d been declared mentally incompetent and Tarin had been appointed his Trustee. August was quite sure that her father would sue them if he ever found out what they were planning.

  They acknowledged the easiest way to give August more clout was to make him Tijan’s fiancé. A husband was too easy to verify. Other than the pensive look on Tijan’s face, she didn’t argue and she wouldn’t look at him. It wasn’t how August would have preferred to get to know her but he honestly couldn’t say he was against posing as her partner.

  Even if only temporarily.

  Chapter 50

  “What time is he supposed to be here?”

  August watched Tijan pace. It wasn’t something he’d seen her do before and she hadn’t seemed the type, but the situation they were in was anything but normal. In fact, she’d been acting rather odd, since he’d put that ring on her finger. Even though she’d been trying to hide it, she’d often posed her hand at different angles, staring at the beautiful diamond ring that was on loan to them. Guy and Graham had some interesting contacts; that much he’d give them.

  He wasn’t sure this was a smart plan, but they had to do something. They had discussed their idea with CSIS. They’d thought it was a good idea to use Tarin as bait to catch Mr. T. Tijan had been ticked at their eagerness to use her sister. Because they weren’t sure what they were getting into and Tijan was insistent that they do what they could to protect James, they’d agreed to tell CSIS they would meet with them in a couple of days to set up the sting. August was sure that Tijan was trying to do what she could to save face for Tarin. If possible, she wanted to keep their father’s illegal activities from potentially become a headline in the media. Stuff like that always got leaked. Guy and Graham were sure they could handle it. All they needed to do was get Mr. T to have an incriminating conversation with Tijan; one that they’d catch on tape.

  That was all they needed to do. August shook his head. There were too many unknowns. He would have been quite happy to have CSIS backup, but no, they’d given him the homeless-looking guy who had taken an instant dislike to him and his long hair. By the dirty looks he kept giving August, he was sure his opinion hadn’t changed. Guy and Graham had sworn he had some amazing tactical moves and was incredibly alert. He might not be able to take on the bad guys but he’d know when and how to get them out of there. There was no question he was ex-military—the way he walked, talked and did a security check of the area—showed he knew what he was doing. It still didn’t sit right with August but he had learned to trust Guy and Graham and they insisted he was good.

  Sitting on the sofa in the office, August watched Bill, who hadn’t left his post by the window since they’d arrived an hour before. He was quite stoic and alert. He also knew how to be very still, although every now and then he’d do a subtle controlled move of his body. It would only last a few seconds but August found it rather amusing. Bailey and Tarin had taken him shopping for a new outfit and they’d returned with one that was great for a golfer—navy blue pants and a white with green and blue stripe golf shirt.

  As if on cue, Bill said, “Damn clothes. They itch.”

  August snorted but covered it with a cough when Bill glared at him. Bill hadn’t been willing to give up his khaki ball cap or his sunglasses. He looked the part he was to play; that of an overindulgent, rich man, who wore and did what he wanted. Bill definitely had the aloof attitude down pat. They had brought him in as August’s ‘father’, who was also going to be their adviser on this deal with Mr. T. Really, he was the only way they knew they could get someone else in the room that would be acceptable to Mr. T.

  “Bill, here’s the folder with the papers that we will need in the meeting.” August handed it over.

  This whole situation was scary.

  The desk phone buzzed. Tijan’s head snapped around to look at it but she didn’t make a move toward it. August crossed to where she was standing by the back hallway as if she had been deciding on whether to stay or flee. He took her hand. Absently, she lifted ocean blue eyes that drew him into their depths. It wasn’t intentional that he held her gaze for a moment but he didn’t seem to be able to pull away.

  The phone buzzed again but this time Mary’s voice came over the intercom. “Tarin? Tarin, are you there? Mr. Tesimmon is here to see you.”

  Tijan jerked back. August wanted to tell her that things were going to be okay and he wanted to reach for her again. Instead, he remained quiet but kept his attention focused on Tijan. Her eyes were darting all over the place, as though she was looking for a way to bolt. He took an exaggerated deep breath and slowly blew it out. He repeated it a few times. It was something he had done with his mom many times through her chemo treatments when she was feeling pain or weakness or overwhelmed.

  August wasn’t sure if Tijan was really aware of what he was doing but she seemed to calm down. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and with a fleeting glance at August, she stepped around him to return to the desk.

  “Mary? Show them into the conference room. We’ll be right there. Offer them something to drink.” Tijan looked at Bill and then August. “It appears we’re about to do a deal with the scariest man I’ve ever met. God, I hope this works. It is crazy though, isn’t it?’

  August nodded but didn’t say anything. He followed Tijan and Bill out of the office and down the hall to the meeting room. Tijan stopped outside the door, her hand on the knob. August looked at her questioningly but it only took her a moment to gather herself, take a deep breath and pin on a smile. She threw open the door.

  “Mr. T. So nice of you to make it.” She looked hard at the man who looked like chewing on steal was a natural thing for him.

  “No more games,” Mr. T said. “I didn’t like the one you played at the hospital. I have no problem killing you or anyone close to you.”

  “Bill, can I have those papers?” Tijan reached for the folder that had been given to Bill to hold while back in her office.

  “Who are these people?”

  “This is my fiancé and his father.”

  “You were with that computer guy. What happened to him?”

  Tijan cleared her throat. “The father of my child came back into my life,” she said as she smiled warmly at August, “and I felt it was important that my son get to grow up with him. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “I had plans for you.”

  The two stared at each other while the tension in the room climbed to cement-cracking pressure.

  “Should misfortune happen to any one of us, I have the Canadian Security Investigative Services on standby to arrest whoever attempts to step into the role of CEO. I have videos and documents implicating you.”

  “You bitch. I said no games.”

  “And I want to live. Sit down and we’ll get started with giving you forty-nine percent of the company.”

  “The deal is 51%.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t like that arrangement. Why should I give you the majority when you’d also be making money on the back end through money laundering, drugs...? So, you agree to forty-nine percent, and I get a cut of what you’re shoveling through here.”

  The guns snapped up, pointed directly at Tijan. August had barel
y been able to contain himself to stand behind Tijan while the two were talking but it had gone downhill fast. Before he could move, Bill grabbed her and shoved her to the floor, shielding her with the table and his body.

  The weapons swung in August’s direction. He lifted his hands up as though under arrest. “Do you think killing the fiancé is a good idea? Did you not hear her? If anything happens to any of us, you’re finished. We only agreed to this arrangement because we want to increase our capital and you appear to be able to do that. We have plans for this company. We want to expand internationally. And just think what it would do for your business. Wouldn’t that make it easier to get things across the border?”

  August turned his hands palm up in front of him, as though he was harmless. His heart felt like it was going to jackhammer its way out of his chest but he kept his focus on Mr. T, who hadn’t blinked the whole time he was talking. There was a tense moment of silence. Even though he could hear Tijan whispering to Bill to let her up, he wasn’t moving. August didn’t want to take the chance of taking his eyes off the dangerous man he was facing down to ensure Tijan was safe. He was putting his faith in Bill.

  “You want to expand and you want me to pay for it?”

  August swallowed. “Yes. With just the twelve hotels we have in Canada, you can move product across the line at several borders. But let’s be honest, it’s limited. If we go international—for starters, the US, UK and maybe Australia—then you’ll be able to expand your operations into those countries. You’ll use C-Lite Hotels as your cover.”

  Tijan finally popped up beside him with Bill close beside her. Tijan’s hair, which had been pulled into a neat bun, was now loose and had a frizzed looked to it. Her suit jacket was wrinkled and her blouse hung halfway out of her pants. She looked anything but the CEO of a company.

  “I like how you think. We’ll do this deal but there are going to be some guarantees.” Mr. T sneered with a twist of vengeance.

  “First, guarantee that nothing will happen to any one of us or any of my family.” Tijan looked almost as hard as the man she was staring at.

  August was a bit shocked by Tijan’s toughness, but he had to admit it made it much easier going into this crazy scheme.

  “Give me the papers. No one gets hurt.” Mr. T didn’t break eye contact with Tijan as he spoke. He reached for the papers that Tijan held in her hands.

  “This is a good deal for you as well, Mr. T. I understand you want respectability in your world and of course, to increase your capital. Well, I want the same. I don’t do business like my father. I’m much more forward-thinking than he is and I can see the bigger picture.”

  Mr. T inclined his head as he watched her. August could feel the sweat trickle down his neck and track down his spine. The seconds ticked by like they were hours.

  The guns finally lowered. August didn’t see anything to indicate that Mr. T was a man of his word but he wasn’t about to challenge him at this point. He was quite sure that Mr. T made up rules as he went, and if they didn’t benefit him, they got changed. And he was quite sure he was already figuring out how to make C-Lite Hotel the fall guy while he got away without a blemish. The man came across as trying to stay one step ahead.

  Tijan kept the papers just out of reach until Mr. T looked at her. She held his gaze for a time before he finally nodded. August watched a tiny shift in the four men, who eased their full attention but were no less ready to shoot those 9mm Glocks. August had been ready for one of them to take out the first person who pissed off the man. As Tijan was handing the papers to Mr. T, August had the urge to dive across the table and stop the deal. Mr. T didn’t even stop to read the document; he flipped to the last page and scribbled his signature.

  The quickness with which he signed the deal, wasn’t lost on him and he was pretty sure that by the frown creasing Tijan’s brow, she was concerned as well. They had expected he’d read it and make some additional demands. He hadn’t. It left a cold feeling in August’s belly.

  They were in it now.

  Chapter 51

  Tijan took the papers and signed them as Tarin Roth. She’d been reassured by Tarin that although it was illegal what she was doing, impersonating someone else, no one would ever find out. It felt incredibly wrong but there wasn’t much choice—not if they wanted to catch this guy.

  “We’re done doing business, Mr. T.” She stood up and offered her hand.

  The guns immediately snapped up. Mr. T looked at her with a sneer before getting to his feet.

  “It’s customary when two people sign a business deal that they shake hands.” Tijan left her hand hanging in the air, not releasing his intense gaze. They were the blackest eyes she’d ever seen. It felt like she was about to fall down a dark, endless tunnel. Suddenly he took her hand. She forced herself not to flinch at the excess pressure he applied. When he released her, she stepped back.

  “I see you’re a bit out of practice.” Tijan pasted on a smile to take the sting out of her words.

  August eyed her with a look of are you nuts but she couldn’t back down now. She almost felt lightheaded and wondered if the pull of power was literally going to her head.

  “Since we’re doing this all civilized,” Mr. T laughed like it was the best joke he’d ever spoken, “I want my copy.”

  Tijan nodded. “It’ll only take a minute.” Walking out, she was aware not only of the weapons following her every move but the massive muscle that stepped in behind her. Tempted to look over her shoulder, she decided it was best for her shaky nerves if she didn’t. It dawned on her as she made it to the lobby, she wasn’t sure how to use the massive photocopier. “Mary, could you make me two copies of this?”

  Mary rose from her desk and turned to face Tijan. She hesitated for a moment when she glanced at the man behind Tijan. It didn’t make Tijan feel any better about her escort but she wasn’t about to tell the behemoth that he really didn’t need to follow her around.

  “Sure.” Mary hustled off down the hallway.

  Not sure what to do, Tijan followed slowly behind her. She stood in the doorway, watching Mary. The room was small with a row of cupboards along one wall, the photocopier in the middle. When Tijan looked the other way, she noted there was a closed door.

  “Thank you, Mary.”

  Tijan took the papers and turned, only to find her bodyguard blocking her way. “Excuse me.”

  He stepped aside to let her pass but she could feel his lumbering presence behind her.

  Entering the conference room, she noted Bill was still standing at attention but August was lounging back in a chair with his feet on the table.

  “Comfy, are we?”

  August grinned and winked at her. “I’m just seeing if I can get used to the pampered lifestyle. All I need is for you to get me a beer and we’re set.”

  His subtle eye movements let her know this was a test. She made a grimace. “Yeah. Don’t count on that, honey.”

  August smacked her butt as she passed by. She whipped around but saw his warning look before he smiled at her. It took her a moment to remember what role she was supposed to be playing. She felt safe, knowing he was there.

  “You’ll pay for that one. Just wait until I get you home.”

  She turned to see Mr. T watching them closely. “Here is your copy. If you don’t mind I really do have a business to run. We’ll meet tonight to hash out what that will look like. I don’t want you showing your face during the day again. We want people to believe we’re legitimate, don’t we? Now more so than ever. I’ll show you out.”

  “Don’t forget who your partner is now.”

  “And don’t forget who makes you look legit.” Tijan walked as tall and straight as she ever had. Even though she never looked back, she was very conscious of her back and the fear that she just might feel a knife thrust in it at any moment. When she opened the door to the lobby, she walked through and held it. Snapping her knees back to keep them from wobbling, she kept her face neutral as Mr. T and his goons s
trolled past her.

  It wasn’t until she was back in her office that she remembered to breathe. Her hand was shaking so badly she couldn’t even pull the curtains back to look outside. She was going to have to talk to Mary about leaving them open.

  This moment ranked way above any of the craziest things she’d ever done.

  August grinned at her. “Hey, way to go. That was impressive stuff. You put him in his place. I guess you took to heart what Graham and Guy said about standing your ground.”

  “I’m used to dealing with rough or ill-mannered men but this guy has taken that to a whole new level. I have an idea. Just give me a second.” Tijan made her way back to Mary’s desk. “Mary, what is in that room just off the photocopy room?”

  “It’s old files.”

  “And that room is locked?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who has the code?”

  “Mr. Madsen and myself.”

  “I’d like the code.”

  “I can give you mine. I don’t have your father’s.”

  Tijan headed back to her office with Mary’s access code. Bill was standing attention outside her office door. “Come in, Bill.”

  “No. I can do better recon here.”

  Tijan nodded as she passed, noting he discretely closed the door after she entered her office.

  “August, there’s a filing room off the photocopy room and I have a hunch that we should look in there. I know it’s a long shot but what if we could find something on Mr. T? From the little the CSIS has told us he and Father had been acquainted for many years. Would my father keep any of that information? Probably not, right? That would be stupid.”

  As August touched her arm, she looked up at him. His amber eyes looked like beacons of honesty and safety. She felt calm just knowing she wasn’t alone.

  She had no idea what he saw in her eyes but she was thankful that he pulled her into his arms. It was one thing to be tough but it was another to know that your life and all those around you were on the line.