Page 47 of Degrees of Control
“Kate and Jenny, we need to place your hair underneath these,” Sheldon says, handing me a beret and Jenny a scarf that she quickly wraps around her hair and neck.
“When we go in let me do all the talking. I don’t want to elevate suspicions,” he says.
I raise my eyebrows at him in inquiry. “Please Kate, trust me…. not a word until we get in the room. It’s amazing what raises questions here and having two American women walk into a hospital to see a gunshot victim most certainly would,” he says, as he and one of the security guards each take our hands, guiding us to the reception area.
The woman behind the desk seems friendly, greeting us in what must be the native tongue. Sheldon speaks with her in her own language, fluently, and we are soon on our way through the hospital, along corridors and elevators that lead us to Jay’s room.
As we enter, my heart catches, seeing him lay so lifeless on the bed, recalling all the times he has saved me from danger. I am filled with a pang of guilt, knowing I was at least partly responsible for the deviation of a security plan that Jay probably had worked out to the finest detail.
Matt and Dereck stand up as we enter the room, shaking hands with Sheldon as he gestures for them to remain silent. I have never met the two security guards sitting in the corner and they stand as Sheldon begins speaking.
“How is he?” Sheldon asks, referring to Jay and closing the door behind him.
“He’s better. They just moved him to this room from the intensive care unit and changed his status,” Dominick says.
“Yes, better,” Jay says, opening his eyes and taking in the surroundings.
Sheldon puts his finger to his lips alerting Jay that he should remain quiet. He tries to sit up. “Where’s Chase?” Jay asks hoarsely.
“He’s fine,” Sheldon says, putting a finger to his lips and gesturing to the ceiling.
Jay nods, and I pull my Mac out of my handbag. “This should help,” I say, turning the notebook around for their review. They peruse the list of questions and Matt takes my computer and animatedly begins responding.
Chase met with the cartel, Vicenti. Who and where do I find him?He is still in Brazil. Unable to give you a last name, but Jay knows.Jay nods his confirmation as he peers over the computer.
Where is Alfreita?On his yacht headed south. He wants to connect with Vicenti to make plans to transfer the product, but doesn’t know he’s still in Brazil.
I turn the notebook and type out one question.
What product, I thought it was all fake? Matt looks from me to Jay and Jay nods. Matt begins typing furiously:It was ALL fake, but Alfreita doesn’t know that. He thinks we confiscated the stuff he was trying to get to Vicenti last year. It’s poisonous- will break down tissues from the inside out. That’s the product your dad wants off the market and Alfreita was trying to deliver to Vicenti instead of what he ordered last year. We just need to prove it.
I turn the notebook and type out one more question.
Why do we need to prove it?Vicenti knows that it was Joey who tipped off the cops and not Chase. But, Vicenti doesn’t have a reason to want Alfreita out of the picture. Vicenti doesn’t know the entire shipment Alfreita and Joey conspired to move was toxic and the product was intended to be distributed under Vicenti’s name. They would have been responsible for killing millions of people.
I turn the computer and begin to type furiously, my mind processing through the various scenarios.
So he still believes Alfreita was just attempting to get merchandise to his buyers when my uncle blew the whistle and had it confiscated and nothing about the product’s quality? Bingo.
So when Jay leaked the information about this year’s supply, it led them to believe it was the same product that Interpol had confiscated last year? That’s why it drew them out so fast? Exactly, we counted on it.
So we need to be able to prove this to Vicenti to leverage his assistance in helping Chase? Jay takes the computer and types.
Not we, us- meaning, not you! I ignore the remark and type out my next question.
Why don’t we already have proof? It happened over a year ago. Jay turns the computer and begins to type. We had it, but Chase wouldn’t use it to clear his name because he didn’t know how the Larussio family was involved and his dad is friends with Carlos.
He knew all this time and didn’t say anything?He shrugs his shoulder at me as he types his response:Now that we know it was Joey who was responsible for the leak and that he was working against and not for the Larussio family, it’s a new ball game.Chase couldn’t be sure other members of your family weren’t involved when he met with Vicenti.
Set up a meeting with myself and Vicenti. He needs to know exactly what has happened.
“Yes, ma’am,” Matt says aloud.
Jay begins to protest from his bed and Matt begins to type showing both Jay and I.
Chase has been arrested for the transportation of the product. If I don’t go with her she will only go by herself. She’s not going alone, Jay.
Jay nods, shakes his head and begins to type.
