Page 48 of Degrees of Control
If you are going to Vicenti you need to take the proof that Alfreita knew the shipment was poison last year and in a way that makes it clear Chase was protecting him. I have the tape you need. At the time, the police didn’t have enough evidence to pin it on Chase, and he had me wipe it off the system because the Larussio family was involved, but I made a copy just in case.
Jay continues to write providing Matt and Sheldon the contact numbers and instructions on where to find the communication recording.
We visit with Jay for a while longer and he insists that Matt and one of the teams with him at the hospital accompany us. The men say their goodbyes for a few more moments before Jay’s father and brother who have been breakfasting in the cafeteria return. Sheldon lowers his voice introducing us to them, but instructs Jay’s father to tell anyone inquiring that his other two sons and daughter-in-laws were visiting.
Sheldon and Matt escort Jenny and me out of the hospital and settle us into the back of the limo, taking seats across from us. Sheldon is working intently on his phone the entire drive across town.
“Vicenti has a home in Rio de Janeiro. He has agreed to meet with you later this afternoon,” Sheldon says, as the driver pulls under the front entrance of a towering contemporary sky-rise. The bellmen are in immediate attendance and I watch as our security men interact with them. They leave nothing to chance, not allowing them to come close to Jenny or me as we enter the prestigious hotel. The floors are made of crisp white marble, patterned with intertwining strands of gold. There is a magnificent floor-to-ceiling man-made waterfall, designed entirely in stone that cascades water down its length to the lush green tropical plants housed at its base.
Matt checks in with the desk attendant and we are immediately escorted to the penthouse suite. The living room window covers the expanse of the wall, allowing us a panoramic view of the city, white sands that sprawl out to the brilliant blue coast below, and mountainous ranges as far as the eye can see.
“It was a long flight and I’m starving. Is anyone besides me hungry?” Jenny asks the group.
A resounding yes is heard from the group and she begins taking orders and calling for room service, while I review the information that Jay has provided us about Vicenti.
There is a knock on the door and I stand up intending to answer it. “No Kate, the guards will take care of it,” Sheldon says as they open the door and go outside before returning with two silver carts laden with food and begin handing the plates out to the group. There are only six seats around the dining room table and most of the security men take their food and disperse into the living room to talk while Matt and Sheldon stay with Jenny and me.
“I want to go over the satellite image of Vicenti’s estate while we eat,” Sheldon says, focusing us on his iPad. He acquaints us with what to expect as we arrive and leave the estate. We review the interior of the home, reason for me being here, and discuss potential questions that Vicenti may ask. I stare down at my barely touched pancakes, eggs, and fruit willing my nerves to stay at bay.
My cell phone vibrates and I look at the incoming message. The screen displays Lloyd’s phone number.
Message:What the hell are you doing?
I frown at the message and type a response into my cell.
Reply:Making this right.
Message:Katarina, I don’t want you anywhere near Vicenti.
I turn off my cell needing to concentrate on the task at hand and excuse myself to go and get ready.
I change into a short black skirt that barely skims the top of my thighs, a silver silk camisole, and black suit jacket. I put on the four-inch black Louboutin stilt heels with straps that crisscross around my ankles and grimace, walking around the room to get acclimated to their height. I twirl the magnificent princess cut diamond ring that represents my engagement to Chase, a lie in every sense, but Vicenti cannot possibly know this. I freshen up my makeup and brush out my long auburn hair until it is glossy and shimmering.
I take a last turn in front of the mirror as Jenny walks in and whistles. “Kate you look hot. Like one of those executives you see on the cover of magazines,” she says.
“I sure hope so. This man is in charge of the entire drug empire in South America, Jenny.”
“You are going to have him eating out of your hands,” she says, nodding her head in approval.
“He could have me taken out with a snap of his fingers,” I say nervously.
She sits on my bed cross legged. “Don’t let him see even the slightest bit of fear. You are bringing him information that he needs.”
“You’re right. I hope what Chase did will be viewed as honorable,” I say, still navigating the pending conversation in my head. Jenny slides off the bed and gives me a large hug. “It’s your job to make him see that. You should have no problem since you look like a frikken billionaire’s fiancée and a mob boss’s daughter,” she says.
I hug her to me holding my best friend tightly. “This is it, I better go,” I say.
“You’ve got this, Kate,” she says.
Sheldon has had the car brought around for us and the driver is waiting under the expansive stone pillars as we exit the hotel. Sheldon opens the back door and I settle into the back seat of the limo and he and Matt slide into the seats across from me. He glances at his cell phone and scowls.
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
“Nothing, but you really should turn your phone back on,” he says, shaking his head.
“Chase?”
“Yes,” he says, typing a message into his phone.
