ROMANTIC SUSPENSE : DEATH WHISPERED SOFTLY

by Oliver Anderson

  “Come sit next to me Carlo.”

  Seeing Carlo reminded Steve of the years he and Carlo had spent on the streets together and which had brought them close like brothers.

  It was time to share his burden with someone, Steve decided. So he opened up and told Carlo about his plans, his dreams and aspirations for his future life, as the two men sat on the beach, in the warm early autumn sun.

  When he had finished telling Carlo, Steve was glad he did. He felt a heavy burden had been lifted off his chest, and he felt lighter and more relaxed.

  Carlo had listened to everything Steve had to say with rapt attention. He didn’t utter a word until Steve was done.

  “So what do you think of all this Carlo. Do you think I am a loony to dream all this?” he asked Carlo doubtfully.

  But Carlo didn’t utter a word but stared at him for a long time and then said “Steve I can’t believe what you just told me. Here you are desperately looking for one last assignment, and here I am looking for someone to do this job for my cousin Ricardo. He called me up from New York last night. He is a big man there, runs the streets; a real tough hombre and I love him” a wide smile lit up Carlo’s face, as he said that. Ricardo was family, and family meant everything to Carlo.

  “Ricardo wants me to come to New York and do a job which he says will give me a hundred and fifty grand.”

  Steve, who was looking at the ocean while Carlo spoke, abruptly shifted his gaze to Carlo’s face, “A hundred and fifty grand? Who would pay you a hundred and fifty grand Carlo?” Steve remarked sarcastically. But Carlo was not hurt by Steve’s caustic remark—his face was dead serious, and his expression sent a chill up Steve’s spine.

  “Tell me Carlo, what does your cousin want you to do for all that money, murder someone?!” Steve asked Carlo scornfully.

  “Hey amigo, what’s biting you? As you can understand his situation, he could not give me details over the phone in case someone was listening. Although he didn’t tell me, I think it probably is about wasting someone, what else could be worth so much cash!”

  “So what did you tell your cousin Carlo?”

  “What the hell do you think I told him? I am not interested in anything like that man, its way too big for me! I ain’t no good at those things Steve!” Carlo whined as he turned around to see what Steve thought of this.

  He was surprised to see that Steve’s face had suddenly turned expressionless, and he appeared to have lapsed into deep thoughts. Then he unexpectedly spun around and asked Carlo, “What did your cousin say when you refused to do his work?”

  “He told me to find someone who could do it.”

  “And what did you tell him?” Steve snapped at Carlo.

  Carlo was startled by the rasp in Steve’s voice and his sudden interest in Ricardo. “What’s biting you bro” Carlo asked, looking suspiciously at Steve. And he suddenly understood what was going on in Steve’s mind.

  “Oh my God Steve, you want to do this job, don’t you!” a thoroughly shocked Carlo called out. “Didn’t I tell you Amigo, this job ain’t for guys like us!” Carlo cried out, with a shrill capturing his voice.

  But Steve’s face remained expressionless. He was intrigued, and wanted to know the details surrounding this job. He was now very curious to know why Carlo’s cousin was willing to pay so much money. What was the job? Could this be the one last assignment he was looking for?

  He needed the money badly – badly enough to not care about the “nature” of the job. With his present frame of mind, he would have accepted “any” job, as long as it paid enough money for him to be able to establish his restaurant, his freedom.

  His desire and obsession for establishing his restaurant – and getting out of the mess that was his life – was so great that he was past caring about how he would obtain what he desired. The cost or consequences did not matter anymore!

  A job was a job and if it afforded him what he needed, it had to be done. Could it be that the “job” Carlo’s cousin had, provided him with the all-important break he had been fervidly looking for the past several months?

  He was so desperate to start a new life complete with all he dreamed of that he didn’t even bother to think that the money could come as payment for doing something implausible, something heinous. But at that moment Steve was not bothered about anything. The anticipation was consuming his thoughts. This could be it! Over and over it played in his mind, his dreams were in reach and this was all he could think about.

  Despite his zealous excitement Steve succeeded in keeping his face deadpan.

  He knew Carlo was staring at him wildly, while he was thinking. For a minute he pondered and then looked straight into Carlo’s eyes and said quietly “Carlo, can you do me a favor; can you call your cousin and tell him that your friend is prepared to do the job and he wants the details of what he would need to do.”

  Carlo looked at Steve as if he had gone insane. He hoped that it was the strong July sun which had affected Steve’s ability to think.

  “You can’t do this Steve its crazy! Don’t you know it’s too darned big for small guys like us!? ” Carlo cried out in anguish, deeply regretting telling Steve anything about what Ricardo had told him. He liked Steve and didn’t want him to get into something serious. Although he loved his cousin Ricardo, he was scared of him; he knew Ricardo was evil when it came to money. He would go to any lengths to lay his paws on the green stuff. Murder to Ricardo was like having a cup of piping hot soup on a wet and cold New York evening, somewhat comforting and fulfilling.

  Steve guessed what was going on in the mind of Carlo. “For you it may be big my friend, but not for me” Steve said quietly. The calm in his voice sent a chill up Carlo’s spine. He wanted to say something but stopped, when he saw the cold expressionless face of Steve. “Ok bro, I’m against it but I will tell Ricardo to talk to you. It’s your funeral, but don’t tell me later I didn’t warn you” Carlo said in a hurt and anxious voice. He cared a lot for Steve and felt guilty that he was getting him mixed up with someone as dangerous as Ricardo!

  But he knew Steve. Once this dude had made up his mind, nothing could prevail over him to change his mind, and Carlo was smart enough not to endeavor. He had a tight bond with Steve but was also fearful of him.

  CHAPTER IX

  In less than three days after this conversation, Steve was on a flight to New York. Carlo‘s cousin Ricardo Lopez was at JFK to meet him.

  Ricardo was a fierce felon, and a hardened killer. He was a short and stocky man with close cropped hair, coarse features, scarred face, and eyes of a snake, could kill anyone he had to without the slightest hesitation or remorse. He was often hired by the Crime organizations of New York to carry out their ‘hits’. He had risen from performing petty crimes on the streets of New York, to becoming a hired killer for top New York crime organizations. Although he had risen from performing petty crimes to becoming a top-notch killer, his street heroics had left his face brutally scarred and disfigured.

  He was fifty-five now and had lost count of the number of persons he had slain. He was a cold hearted, ruthless killer-- professional and proficient to the core. But if ruthlessness and professionalism were his strong-points, women and whiskey were his weak ones. In the past twenty years he had blown almost all his money earned – and he had earned lots– mostly with blood on his hands. He was getting older and was not as swift on his feet or with his gun as he once was.

  He had decided that the latest assignment he had, would be his last, and he would retire from ‘active service’. It was paying him more than any other ‘job’ he had done before. If he pulled this off successfully he would not need to do any other job for a long, long time. He was fortunate that an assignment, as big as this, had come his way after a long break. Ricardo knew that the organizations he had worked for in the past, didn’t want him anymore. They wanted younger, stronger and quicker men. They knew Ricardo was past his prime and they didn’t want to take the risk that could arise from someone who was no
t at the top of their game, Ricardo thought sardonically. He also knew that the present assignment would fetch him sufficient money to retire comfortably without having to do any other job in his life. The payoff was huge—two million dollars. And the reason he was getting this job was that the man who had hired him happened to be his best friend, someone who trusted Ricardo implicitly.

  Ricardo had personally carried out all killings previously assigned to him; and this would be the first time he would be ‘delegating’ his assignment. The ‘job’ required a nimble-footed quick-draw, who could kill quickly, and disappear from the scene with stealth like manor. Ricardo knew a much younger person would be needed for the job. He was no longer the person to do this kind of job anymore.

  Ricardo did not want a ‘local’ man to do the job for him. He wanted someone who would disappear from NYC as soon as the work was done, and for this reason he had called up his cousin Carlo in Los Angeles. Ricardo was prepared to give 200,000 dollars for the assignment.

  Ricardo had sent Steve a ticket to come to New York to meet him, after Carlo had called up Ricardo and recommended that Steve was the man Ricardo was looking for. When Ricardo saw a ruggedly handsome man with his deep-set blue eyes and a look of steadfast determination, walk out of JFK and towards him, he knew he had the right man. Even before they had shaken hands, Ricardo Lopez gauged this man would do precisely what was expected of him; and a twisted smile lit up his scarred face.

  The moment he saw Ricardo, Steve knew he was much different from his cousin Carlo, who was a small time thug. He was far more dangerous and in a way bigger league than his Californian cousin. This short and stocky man with close cropped hair, coarse features, scarred face, and eyes of a snake, could kill anyone he had to without the slightest hesitation or remorse. The sight of this hardened killer made Steve feel uneasy. But he made sure Ricardo did not notice his disquiet—he kept his face as deadpan as he could.

  Ricardo took Steve out that evening to a suburban bar, inexpensive but cozy, and over a few drinks, in the comfort and privacy of a booth in the isolated bar, Ricardo told Steve about the job.

  Looking straight into the eyes of Steve, Ricardo said quietly “You must have guessed by now why I have called you here Steve.”

  Steve nodded.

  “But before I give details of my plan, I must warn you that there is no way you can back off after hearing it.” Steve detected a threat in Ricardo’s guttural voice.

  “It’s either all the way in or you don’t get to hear the plan. Make your choice now!

  Ricardo’s voice was like whiplash! Steve instantly knew this man was not bluffing- he meant it! He knew if he accepted to hear Ricardo’s plan there was no way he could get out without doing the job Ricardo was going to tell him about.

  Steve also knew if he didn’t want to go ahead with his plan, now was the moment to withdraw —for he wouldn’t have any further chances later. This man was a killer!

  But since he was desperate to get money to establish his business, he accepted to be in ‘all the way’ without much hesitation.

  Steve’s prompt and unreserved acceptance impressed Ricardo.

  “This man’s passion attests to what he is saying and he surely looks capable”—Ricardo thought to himself and gave Steve a nod of approval.

  “Let’s go to my office amigo. I will tell you the rest there. Ok?”

  Steve wanted to hear what he got himself into, so he nodded. Ricardo paid the check and the two men got up, went out of the bar and walked to Ricardo’s dark blue Cadillac, looking ominous against the dark of night. Ricardo drove the car skillfully to a shady part of the city, which carried a reputation and many were cautious upon entering.

  He parked the car in front of a small grayish building which was surrounded with plenty of trees. “Well this is my office” Ricardo smiled crookedly as he led Steve inside the building. Ricardo’s office looked straight out of a B grade Hollywood gangster movie. It was dark and dingy. There was a large desk at the end of the sparsely furnished room, with a large executive chair behind the desk and two smaller chairs in the front. There was a carpet which had outlived its good years and looked as if it was craving for a cleaning. There was a large bookshelf right behind what was obviously Ricardo’s chair. One look at the bookshelf told Steve that the books that sat there had never been touched. The furniture in the room was not cheap, but it badly needed to be cleaned and dusted. The room had the aroma of sweat and dust infused with the odor of stale food. The smell in the room made Steve want to wrinkle his nose in disgust. But he didn’t – he was mindful that Ricardo was watching him closely.

  The room was cool, but Steve felt suffocated there. He wanted to open a window to get some fresh air, but was surprised to see there was no window! This man was surely wary of many people and mindful of his surroundings!

  Although feeling slightly uneasy, as in being dealt a bad hand, Steve managed to keep his poker face on but Ricardo Lopez could gauge what was going on in his mind, and he chuckled evilly. “Sit down Amigo”, he said, his words piercing the silence in the room.

  Steve sat down, his face completely inexpressive.

  “Here is the dope Steve. Have you heard of a man by the name of Kingsbury, the guy who owns a chain of Cafes in New York?” Ricardo asked, probingly at Steve. But Steve shook his head. He had no idea who Kingsbury was, neither had he ever heard of his name before. His unfamiliarity of Kingsbury seemed to please Ricardo, who preferred the fact that Steve didn’t know Kingsbury.

  “This will be far more uncomplicated than I had expected” Ricardo thought, inwardly pleased with himself.

  “Sherman Kingsbury is a multi-millionaire, who owns more than thirty cafés in New York and other cities on the east coast. He recently died leaving his only heir, a beautiful twenty-seven year old daughter, to inherit his business and millions. The girl is smart like her father, and has a Harvard MBA, but the death of her father has impacted her greatly—she is devastated by his death. Most people in New York know that Kingsbury was a self-made man who through sheer determination and exceptional vision created and established a chain of cafés in New York—a business which generated a profit of millions of dollars for him each year. What few people know about Kingsbury is that he had a partner, a smaller partner, who owns fifteen percent of Kingsbury’s business. The guy’s name is Erik Nilsson, and he was a close friend and confidante of Sherman Kingsbury. Mr. Nilsson actively helped Kingsbury set up his chain of cafes. Although the café business was Kingsbury’s brainchild, Mr. Nilsson worked equally hard to convert Kingsbury’s dream into reality. And as a reward for his hard work and faithfulness, Kingsbury made Mr. Nilsson a junior partner in his business and gave him a fifteen percent share in his business. A significant stake in Kingsbury cafes meant a lot to Mr. Nilsson. It was both, a financial reward and recognition of his efforts in helping Kingsbury establish his empire. Mr. Nilsson acknowledged the fact he could have never lived a life of luxury that he enjoyed, had it not been for Kingsbury’s benevolence, and he was extremely grateful to Kingsbury for that. He knew that there was nothing he could have done, had Kingsbury chosen to not give him anything. Mr. Nilsson now makes a million dollars a year from his share. Plenty of reason to be eternally grateful to Kingsbury one would think, right Steve? But Nilsson’s son Gustav does not think that way. He thinks Kingsbury was not fair to his father. Gustav is just twenty-eight and recently took over the business from his father, who retired a few months before Kingsbury died.

  Although Gustav Nilsson co-operates with Grace Kingsbury and helps her run the business, he secretly despises her. He thinks it’s unfair that she got eighty-five percent of the business from her father while he gets only fifteen percent from his father, even though his father had worked equally hard in setting up this money spinning business for Sherman Kingsbury. But Gustav is smart. He has never let Grace Kingsbury have the remotest inkling about his deep resentment for her and her father. He bided his time, knowing fully well that sooner or later time
and opportunity would come his way, when he would strike the Kingsbury’s down.

  And when Sherman Kingsbury died, Gustav found the opportunity he was looking for; if he could somehow get Grace Kingsbury out of the way, he would automatically become the sole and absolute owner of the Kingsbury empire and all the cafes it possessed. With Sherman Kingsbury out of the way, Gustav considers Grace Kingsbury a “soft target”. And this is where we come in Steve.” Ricardo’s wicked grin affixed on his face.

  “She is terribly disturbed by her father’s death, and this disruption in her life has clouded her alertness to danger. Her father was her rock; with him around Grace felt secure and safe. But the huge protection she had in form of her father is gone now, leaving her weak and vulnerable. She is an easy target now Steve. Gustav feels this is the perfect time to strike Grace Kingsbury. The perfect time to murder her!”

  Once Grace Kingsbury is out of the way, Gustav Nilsson will be the only one at the helm of the Kingsbury Empire. He will become the sole owner of the company—which he feels his father created and was unjustly cheated. This transfer of power and ownership would be sweet revenge and justice, for the wrong done to his father and their family.

  With these words Ricardo concluded his story and looking directly into Steve’s eyes said “Interesting isn’t it Steve, any questions?”

  Steve’s thoughts were whirling in his head as he listened to all this information with fascinated attention. He wanted to absorb every detail Ricardo was divulging. Nodding at Ricardo he quietly said “It sure is. But how do you know all this Ricardo?”