Page 20 of Degrees of Acceptance
“We currently have a full team stationed in Naples. They know your daily routines so have been trying to stay a step ahead of you, but we need to develop a plan for how we proceed. There are two options, Karissa. Stay in Naples with a security team assigned or fly back to Chicago with Katarina and me tonight. If you decide to stay here, I will introduce you to Keith, who I would assign as your security lead. He has worked for the family for years and is completely trustworthy. He will want to know exactly where you are going and when. If you fly to Chicago tonight, you can stay with us in our home outside of the city. Katarina and I will be working from home for the next couple weeks, and I assure you security is impeccable. You can think of it as a vacation. I would prefer this option, so Katarina is not worried about you. It would also give us a chance to get to know each other better and for you and Katarina to catch up.”
My mom is visibly taken aback. “You mean like tonight,” she says incredulously, glaring at me like I could have given her some warning.
I shrug. “It’s a lovely home, Mom, and you can work from there…easily. There is plenty of room, and it would be fun to catch up.”
`“I just need time to think about this. If I stay here someone will follow me to work and back every day?” she asks.
Chase intervenes. “If you decide to stay here, they will not only follow you to and from work but will guard you at your place of employment. You will notify them of every move you are going to make at least ten minutes before you do so they can clear the area. I’m not about to risk someone that Katarina cares so greatly about. Like I said, coming home with us tonight would be the preferred option, but I understand if you need to stay,” he says.
“You really have plenty of room for me for a couple of weeks?” she asks.
“Mom, we have plenty of room,” I say.
“I would need my computer for work,” she says, tentatively.
“Karissa, do you access things from the net or your hard drive? We have spare Macs at home,” Chase says.
“Well, I could, but I have a lot of documents saved on my computer.”
“Very well, do you have a key or combination? If so, Keith’s team can go get your computer while we finish dinner,” he says.
“You’re kidding,” she says, clearly taken aback.
“I seldom kid, Karissa, and am not joking now. I would prefer, given the situation and time of night, they procure it for you. Do you have any personal belongings you must have or can we buy you a couple weeks’ worth of clothes?” he asks.
“You are completely serious aren’t you?” she asks.
“I am Karissa; in fact, it would please me very much if you let Keith and his teams go get your computer while we finish our meal. We can arrange to have clothing brought to the house before we arrive.”
“I’m clearly in over my head,” she says, frowning at me.
Welcome to my world.
“She reaches into her purse and brings out a magnetic key card and another set of keys. “They will need this to enter the building and then this for the door to my office. When you get off the third floor…”
“They know their way, Karissa. Don’t worry,” he says and is on his phone texting. Shortly someone I have not met stops by the table.
“We’ll meet you on the plane,” Chase says, giving him both keys.
I think I am in shock. My mom is coming home with us. Unbelievable! I reach for my phone, and all I can think to do is text Chase Mom’s size.
Message:Mom is a size 8
Reply:They know…Her clothes will arrive before she does.
“What should we do with my car?” my mom asks.
“We’ll have someone drive it back to your home and park it in the garage,” he says.
She doesn’t ask how he knows she has a garage but gives me a, “what the hell,” type of a look.
“Karissa, they’ll let us know when they have procured your laptop. I feel much better knowing you’ll be coming back with us. There are a few things, though, we still need to discuss. I need to know about Katarina’s father. I will keep the information completely confidential, but I need to know who he is so I can put security precautions in place. Rest assured, your safety, as well as Katarina's, will be my utmost concern. I’ve taken the liberty of doing some preliminary research and based on what we already know, I think Katarina’s dad is Carlos Larussio, but I need you to confirm this, Karissa,” he says.
She audibly gasps. “I’m not sure how you found his identity with what I told Katarina, but her dad is Carlos Larussio,” she admits, looking from me to Chase in shock and disbelief.
“Thank you, Karissa. The families are based out of New York and are friends of my family,” he says.
I look up in surprise. “Oh, dear Lord,” she says, clearly distressed with his revelation.
