“No problem. My men will be ready to leave when you are.”
“They probably won’t be needed. I got word from one of my informants that Madaris recently got married, and I’m sure he wouldn’t want anything to happen to his wife. But still, I like covering all my bases.”
A half hour later, when Nash was on his way to his car, one of his men, by the name of Grassley, approached. “I got a match for that woman’s voice.”
Nash lifted a brow. “How?”
“I talked to a waitress who works at that restaurant in Miami. Convinced her I was an undercover cop. Let her listen to the tape and she recognized the voice. She said the woman was working as a chef in the kitchen, even verified she was working the same night you took Harrison out.”
Nash frowned. “Was working?”
“Yeah, she quit a few months back and moved to Vegas.”
“Vegas? I’m sure it’s just a coincidence but we’re leaving for Vegas in a few days with the big man. You got the woman’s name, right?”
“Yes, I have her name.”
“Good. While we’re in Vegas I intend to take care of her. We can’t have any loose ends.”
He opened his car door and got in. Before starting his car, Nash rolled down the window. “And Grassley?”
“Yes?”
“That waitress who identified the woman’s voice on the tape? Make sure we take care of her as well.”
Grassley smiled. “She’s already been taken care of.”
Nash nodded, rolled up the window and drove off. He wasn’t surprised. Grassley loved to kill...especially women.
Chapter 19
“Welcome back, Mr. Madaris.”
“Thanks, Phyllis,” Lee said, strolling through the hotel lobby headed for his office. He wouldn’t lie and say he was glad to be back, because he wasn’t. He had totally enjoyed his week in Dubai with Carly and could have extended their stay for another week or two with very little effort. But there was work to do and a sting operation to begin. The latter of which he wished he had no part in.
He looked down at his hand. Already he missed the wedding band Carly had placed there on their wedding day. In just a week, it had become a part of him. It had done something to him when he’d taken it off. He wondered if she would feel the same way about removing the ring he’d given her. He couldn’t wait until they could make their marriage known to everyone, especially to his family.
They had arrived back in Vegas yesterday and he’d spent most of the day at her place. He’d even spent the night, leaving before daybreak. He tried talking her into taking a couple more days off to just rest and relax but she was determined to go in to work this evening. He glanced at his watch. It was time to start his day.
A couple of hours later, after several meetings with his department heads and junior executives, he was going over various reports when the buzzer on his desk sounded. “Yes, Phyllis?”
“Mr. Driskell is on line two, sir.”
Lee inhaled deeply. “Thanks. Put him on in a few. I need to finish up something.”
After disconnecting the call with Phyllis, Lee entered the designated code so the call could be recorded by the FBI. He drew in another breath when Phyllis connected the call. More than anything, he wished Carly was still in Dubai, but she had returned with him and hadn’t yet decided if she would go back.
“This is Lee Madaris.”
“Mr. Madaris, this is Colin Driskell. I spoke with you a couple of weeks ago, before your trip to Dubai. I hope you enjoyed yourself.”
Lee frowned. He was certain he hadn’t mentioned where he’d been going, which meant the man had checked out his story about leaving the country. “What can I do for you, Driskell?”
“It’s what I can do for you, Mr. Madaris. I mentioned having a way to maximize your profits.”
“So I recall. Maximizing my profits in what way?”
“As I explained the last time we talked, we need to hold a private conversation for me to share any details. You indicated you would have some free time when you returned.”
“Well, I was mistaken about that. I’m swamped with paper work. Maybe some other time,” Lee said. The FBI had suggested that Lee continue to push Driskell, to see if he would get annoyed enough to say something to incriminate himself.
“Mr. Madaris, you are trying my patience.”
Lee leaned back in his chair. “And who the hell are you supposed to be?”
“Someone you wouldn’t want to toy with,” Driskell warned. Then he paused. “I understand congratulations are in order.”
The hairs on the back of Lee’s neck stood up at the same time a cold knot formed in his stomach. “Are they? I wasn’t aware.”
“Sorry, I must be mistaken.”
“Undoubtedly, you are” was Lee’s comeback.
“If you determine that I’m not mistaken after all, you know how to reach me.”
Lee drew in a deep breath. As far as he was concerned, he had played this cat-and-mouse game long enough. Driskell was hinting about his marriage; Lee was sure of it. Was this the man’s way of letting Lee know he knew about Carly and would use her as leverage to get what he wanted? Lee would not risk anything happening to his wife.
“Wait, Driskell. I’ll work you into my schedule this week. What about Friday?”
“We meet today, Madaris. At your hotel, in a public place. I’ll decide where when I get there. I’m already in Vegas, so I’ll see you in a few hours.” Driskell then clicked off the phone.
Lee hung up. He was so mad he actually felt the muscles of his forearms harden into stone beneath his sleeves. He recognized the three short rings and picked up the phone immediately. “Yeah, Gause?”
“What the hell was that about?”
Lee’s chest actually felt as if it would burst. “I got married last weekend. It was a private affair that was supposed to be a secret. Evidently Driskell found out about it.”
“And he wanted to let you know he knew. That means he plans to use your wife’s safety as leverage to make sure you do what he wants you to. Since you have every intention of working with him, she shouldn’t be in any danger.”
Lee stood and moved away from his desk. “I’m not taking any chances. I’m sending her away until this is over.”
“To where?”
“Back to Dubai.” Or to Uncle Jake, he thought, rubbing the top of his head in frustration. His uncle’s ranch, Whispering Pines, was like a fortress. No one got in without Jake or his men knowing about it. And the men working for Jake were loyal to a fault.
“Let us know what you plan to do. In the meantime, Driskell wants to meet you in a public place at the hotel. And it seems he’s not giving the location until the last minute. He’s playing it safe just in case you’re not on the up-and-up. He doesn’t feel he can fully trust you yet. He’s not giving you time to notify anyone so the place can be bugged.”
“Will I be wired?”
“Yes. One of my men will arrive in a few to take care of that. You’re being watched, so we need to be cautious.”
“What about the men he’s working for? Those businessmen and politicians? How are you going to expose them?” Lee asked.
He recalled the investigative work his cousin Christy had done a few years ago regarding international human trafficking of teenagers. The whole organization had been orchestrated by CEOs of prominent companies and a United States senator.
“We’ve had people working on the inside for a while, so we can already identify some of them. Most will be represented by sleazy attorneys, and we want to make the charges stick. So far there hasn’t been an eyewitness to any of the crimes.”
Gause paused before continuing, “Driskell has a diary of names and accounts. That’s why he’s untouchable. No one messes with him for fear they will be exposed, and he uses that as leverage. Over the years he’s increased his power. Our goal is to find the information Driskell is hiding.”
Moments later, Lee hung up the phone. This sting had on
ly just begun, and he was already wishing it was over.
* * *
“So, where did you go last week?” Jodie asked. She and Carly were putting icing on a cake they would serve later that night in honor of a couple’s fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Carly glanced over at Jodie. “What makes you think I went somewhere?”
Jodie smiled as she shrugged. “I figured you did. You were gone for a week.”
Carly smiled as she wiped her hands on a towel. She wished she could share with Jodie where she had been. Telling Heather hadn’t been enough. She wanted to share her newlywed joy with everyone. She would never forget the day when Lee had taken her up to the sky tower of the Grand MD Dubai to see the sun rise over Palm Island.
The island was justly named because its shape was that of a palm tree. According to Lee, the island was considered one of the wonders of the world. Man-made, the island stretched out across the Persian Gulf and contained a number of private villas belonging to the rich and famous. It had marinas that were home to some of the biggest yachts she’d ever seen and a number of luxury seven-star hotels, of which the Grand MD was one.
On their first day in Dubai, Lee had taken her on a tour of the hotel. She’d thought the hotel in Las Vegas was simply gorgeous but the one in Dubai really stood out. One of the hotel’s biggest draws was the below-sea-level hotel rooms that were enclosed in glass. From anywhere in the room, it appeared as if one were beneath the water of the Persian Gulf.
They had stayed in one of those rooms their first night, and making love seemingly underwater with all kinds of sea animals floating around was totally a unique experience.
“Carly?”
She blinked upon realizing Jodie had been trying to get her attention. “Yes?”
Jodie looked around and then leaned in closer to Carly to whisper, “I missed having you around last week because I wanted to share my good news.”
Carly tilted her head. “And what good news is that?”
Jodie’s face broke into a wide smile. “Jerome asked me to marry him.”
Carly’s mouth curved in its own smile. “Oh, Jodie, that’s wonderful. Have the two of you set a date?”
The smile on Jodie’s face diminished somewhat. “No. He needs to break the news to his parents. We don’t know how they’re going to take it, but frankly we don’t care. We’re getting married and that’s that.”
“Good for you.” Carly went to the sink to wash her cooking utensils while Jodie put the finishing decorations on the cake. She tried not to think about how much she wanted to share her own excitement. Having to take off her rings and tuck them in a drawer certainly didn’t make her feel like a new bride.
She had talked to Shundra that morning and her sister was doing fine. Shelton’s family had welcomed her with open arms, and she felt she had not only married a good man but had gained a wonderful family. Carly knew she would feel the same way after meeting the Madarises.
Her phone vibrated in her jacket and a warm glow flowed through her. Was Lee trying to reach her? Did he want her to meet him in his suite for a quickie? The thought sent passionate shivers all through her. In Dubai they’d practically made quickies an art form.
“I’m going to take my lunch break now, Jodie. I’ll be back shortly,” she said, heading out of the kitchen.
“Okay.”
Carly rounded the corner and quickly pulled the phone out of her jacket and saw the missed call had been from Heather and not Lee. A twinge of disappointment went through her. She hadn’t been able to reach Lee earlier to thank him for the flowers he had sent to her today—a beautiful arrangement of birds of paradise.
He hadn’t answered his cell phone when she called, and because that was so unlike him, she figured he was in a lot of meetings. This was his first day back to work and he probably had a lot of important matters to catch up on.
She lifted a brow when a text came in from Heather. Call me ASAP.
Curious as to what could be so important, she punched in Heather’s number and her best friend answered on the first ring. “Heather, what’s up?”
“Are you someplace where you can talk privately?”
She was standing right outside the door to the kitchen, close to the service elevators. The restaurant was open for business, and the waiters and waitresses would be dashing back and forth taking orders to the kitchen. But she could hear the anxiousness in Heather’s voice.
“No, wait a minute. There’s a room not far away that’s not being used tonight,” Carly said, walking in its direction. She went inside and closed the door behind her. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“You were right, Carly.”
Carly raised a brow. “Right about what?”
“About what you thought you heard that night behind the restaurant, in Miami.”
Carly gasped as a shiver of panic rushed through her. “How do you know?”
“Like you, I had stopped checking the internet and wasn’t reading the Miami Herald, but today I was chatting with Rhonda. You remember her. She works as a news reporter at WKZP in Miami. She happened to mention something about a news break.”
Carly swallowed. “What kind of news break?”
“A man’s body was discovered by workers at a construction site earlier today. It’s believed to be the body of a missing federal agent. He’d been shot in the head. Although they haven’t gotten a coroner’s report yet, they’re speculating that it happened six months ago, and that his body was buried at that site so it would never be found. Everyone thinks it’s the work of the mob since he was working undercover to expose them.”
Stark fear swept through Carly. “The mob?”
“Yes, the mob.”
* * *
“So, we finally meet, Mr. Madaris.”
Lee stared at the man who’d introduced himself as Colin Driskell and the two men who’d accompanied him whose names were given as Nash and Bracey. Although Driskell was smiling from ear to ear, both Nash and Bracey had the looks of men whose stony expressions were permanent fixtures.
He shook hands with all three men. “Yes, we finally meet, Driskell. I’ve made arrangements for us to meet in the—”
“No, Mr. Madaris,” Driskell cut in. “We’ll select the meeting place. You have a number of restaurants here in the hotel, and it has been suggested that we dine in Peyton’s Place. I hear the food is excellent, and it has a number of private rooms.”
“All right,” Lee said, leading the group to the elevator. Gause was right. Driskell was not taking any chances on a possible setup.
But Lee knew Carly was back at work tonight. Did Driskell know where she worked? Was he deliberately meeting at her restaurant? Was the man throwing out another hint that if things didn’t go to his liking tonight, he could find Lee’s wife?
Lee forced the questions from his mind, hoping he was just being paranoid now that the sting operation had begun. He wanted to believe that Driskell’s desire to dine at Peyton’s Place was just a coincidence. He didn’t have to worry about any of them seeing Carly since she had no reason to come out of the kitchen unless she was summoned.
The ride up to the restaurant was silent. Lee studied the three men, wondering what could have propelled them to choose this line of work, a life of crime. The street gangs they funded were taking innocent lives with drive-by shootings and robberies. Did they not see any injustice in that? And the one named Bracey had a scar across his cheek that looked like the result of a knife slash.
The elevator door opened and Lee stepped out. The restaurant’s manager saw him and smiled brightly. “Mr. Madaris, welcome. I wasn’t aware you had reservations this evening.”
“I don’t, Richard. I’m hoping my guests and I can use one of the smaller private dining rooms to discuss business.”
Richard smiled. “That won’t be a problem. We have several. Please follow me this way.”
The man named Nash touched the upper part of Richard’s arm. “No need to lead us. Just tell us where the
private rooms are and we’ll pick one.”
It was obvious from Richard’s expression that he found the man’s statement odd, but he said, “Certainly. The bank of rooms is to your right.”
Lee, who knew where the rooms were, led the way while the three men followed.
* * *
Carly paced.
“I knew I hadn’t dreamed that night, but when a body didn’t turn up... I can still hear the voice of the mean man, the one who pulled the trigger. It’s one of those voices you can never forget.”
“Well, it seemed that although you weren’t an eyewitness, you were an earwitness. You heard everything.”
The thought of that frightened Carly. “I called the tip line that night. You don’t think they can trace it back to me, do you?”
“No. How could they?”
Carly wasn’t sure, but she had watched enough cop shows on television to know anything was possible. Another thing she knew was that you didn’t mess with organized crime. Not only were they cold-blooded killers but she heard their network was growing by leaps and bounds as they pulled unscrupulous people into their grid.
“I’m worried, Heather. What if they find out my identity and come looking for me?”
“They wouldn’t be able to find you that easily,” Heather said, trying to calm her.
“Shundra did. She found out where I lived on the internet. Can you believe that?”
“If you’re worried, Carly, tell Lee about it. He’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t do that. Then it would involve him.”
“Then leave the country. You said Lee offered you a chance to live in Dubai for a while. No one would go looking for you there. Hopefully after a few weeks the police will have rounded up all those responsible for that agent’s death and made arrests.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Cops and federal agents take a personal interest in bringing someone to justice when the culprit was responsible for the death of one of their own.”
“I hope you are...” Carly stopped talking when she heard conversations flowing in from the hallway. She didn’t have to peep out of the door to know one of those voices belonged to Lee. No one in the kitchen had mentioned anything about him having a business meeting in Peyton’s Place this evening. She had assumed this room wouldn’t be used today. It wasn’t even set up to be serviced.
A Madaris Bride for Christmas Page 21