Sotello: Detective, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “I will call our Officer Williams,” Lynn promised, “and see what he says about this news. Adrian called me last night at my house, the boob. He’s getting nervous. This may be the time to go and relieve him of his burden. I told him I would contact him soon, and try and arrange a time to fly over to see him. He sounded very receptive to it.”

  “It sounds very good. If I get a clean bill of health from Williams, I can tie up a few loose ends here, and we can be on our way to solving this, if

  Sanders calls and agrees of course.”

  “Let me call you right back after I talk to Williams.”

  “Okay.” He heard Lynn disconnect the line. Sotello began working on a course of action for the Webster girl. He created a contract making him her lawyer, and then depositions for both Trisha and her roommate Julie to sign. The phone rang in the middle of his typing. Lynn’s voice echoed a little as if she were in her car.

  “Williams’ boss told him to lay off of you,” Lynn told him. “Tying together Ellen’s mugging, Daniels’ little accident, and Daniels’ implication in sending two men to kill you, pretty much did away with the case against you. Pensley explained the part you played in the episode at your house to the Chief in Placerville, which went a long way to putting Williams out in the cold.”

  “With Daniels denying ever touching Ellen, and him sending two thugs to ace me for a beating, I would have had no reason to administer, the Chief must have thought Williams may have tipped off Daniels, which I am certain he did not do. Williams must be steamed. Thanks Lynn.”

  “You can thank me tonight.”

  “Okay,” Sotello agreed. “I’ll see you at my house around six then?”

  “Count on it. Will Ellen and Craig be there?”

  “I am planning on them coming.”

  “Good,” Lynn replied. “I will see you in a few hours.”

  Sotello called the number Julie had given him. She answered on the first ring.

  “Julie, Jim Sotello here, I need you and Trisha to sign a deposition stating what her boyfriend plans to do, and I need Trisha to sign a contract making me her lawyer, so I may act on her behalf. Would you two consider doing that?”

  “I would,” Julie agreed, “and I think Trisha saw a side of Eric she never saw before. I’ll talk to her and call you right back.”

  “If she’s there, I’ll hang on if you want, and come over with the papers if she says okay. There will be no fee. Her parents pay me to look out for her.”

  “Yea, I’ll tell her. Hold on just a second.”

  She came back on a few minutes later, and asked Sotello to come over.

  Sotello left immediately for their apartment. He left a detailed message of what he planned to do for Ellen or Craig, and that he had his cell phone on if they needed him. When he arrived, Julie let him right in. He shook hands with both girls. Trisha wondered if he had been the one who advised her parents to cut her off.

  “I explained to your parents it would be useless to make you their enemy,” Sotello explained. “I told them if you were going to proceed with going against everything they wanted for you, the only real recourse they had was to stop funding your behavior.”

  “You knew what would happen, didn’t you Mr. Sotello?” Trisha asked tiredly. “Was it really so obvious to the entire world what an idiot I am?”

  “You are not an idiot Trisha,” Sotello told her. “You are young, and sometimes when you are young, you act idiotically. I am sorry you got into the video thing with Eric, because that does make things a bit more difficult. I will educate Eric on what can happen if he tries to extort you for money again.”

  “I don’t want him hurt,” Trisha said quickly. “I know what a lowlife he can be now, but I still don’t want him hurt.”

  “You misunderstand Trisha,” Sotello replied. “I am not a hit man. I will let him know extortion and blackmail will get him serious prison time. He must learn the consequences of continuing his harassment and threats.”

  “Yea Trish,” Julie put in. “He can’t extort money from you like that. She can sue him if he does put the pictures out, can’t she Mr. Sotello.”

  “Yes, and I will handle it pro bono if he does. Hopefully I can scare him into giving me the tapes. I better get moving. I will call you, and let you know how things go.”

  Chapter 16

  Events Overlap

  Sotello put his head back on the Dodge seat rest. This day and age, combined with video cameras, digital cameras, and the Internet, made for an interesting time to be a parent. One young slip up, and your entire future could be in jeopardy. The thought of logging on to the Internet, and finding X-rated movies and pictures of your daughter would be enough to make a grown man think about mayhem. Sotello tried to put it out of his mind. He did not need any more negative items to consider. He drove over to see Eric Janko, running his arguments through his mind as he drove.

  Janko came to the door before Sotello could knock. “Get the fuck out of here man. I ain’t talkin’ to you.”

  “Do you know me?” Sotello asked, wondering if Trisha had called in a warning.

  “I know you own the Detective Agency Trisha’s parents hired to screw around with me. Trisha told me you were the one who cut off her money. After I found out the name of your Agency, I checked you out on the Internet. You have a picture of yourself on your website.”

  “Well then,” Sotello replied calmly, “since you know all about me, why don’t you invite me in, and I will give you a few facts you may be unaware of.”

  Janko started out the door, “I’ll give you something to…”

  “Stop right there young man, before you get hurt. I am not in the mood to play with you today.” Sotello moved aside as Janko went to shove him anyway, and stuck out his foot, causing Janko to go head over heels to the floor. Sotello pointed a warning finger at him. “When you get off the floor, you better invite me in and hear what I have to say. It will keep you out of prison. They know what to do with tough little sweetie pies like you. Now, do you listen to reason, or do I bring the police over here right now, and have you arrested for the blackmailing dirt-bag you are?”

  “You’ve got nothing on me,” Janko whined, rubbing the back of his head.

  “Get up and invite me in you pathetic little twit,” Sotello said menacingly.

  Janko stood up, and motioned for Sotello to follow him. Inside the apartment, Janko turned to Sotello. “Look, what do you want from me? Trish already moved out.”

  Sotello handed him the contract, showing he represented Trisha as her lawyer, and then handed him the depositions identifying Janko’s extortion plot. “I want every tape and picture you have of Trisha, Eric. I want them right now, or I will have you arrested. You committed a felony the moment you blackmailed Trisha. After you have given me everything, if I so much as hear a whisper of something you put on the Internet, I will be back here to have you put in prison. Now throw all the stuff in a bag, even remotely connected to Trisha.”

  Janko looked at Sotello, gauging the number of avenues he still had left open. Sotello stepped closer and poked a finger in his chest. “Listen closely, you little weasel, get what I asked together in the next couple of minutes, or I will make sure I pursue this until I have you as some wise-guy’s cellmate wife. Stay in my sight, because if I get nervous about something you reach for, I might decide I have to defend myself.”

  Janko nodded in resignation, and walked over to a video cabinet. He opened up one of the drawers, and took out three VHS videotapes. He turned and handed them to Sotello. “These are the only things I have. I just wanted to…”

  “I don’t care what you wanted Eric,” Sotello interrupted him, as he took the tapes. “I will be looking after Trisha on behalf of her parents. I can find you any time I want. Do not approach or call her again.”

  Sotello walked to the door, and paused to look back at Janko. He smiled. “I am taking these over to Trisha to look over right now. If she thinks something may be missing, I will be back.”
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  He continued out to his car, and drove to the Webster girl’s apartment. Julie answered the door, smiling when she saw the tapes. “That was quick.”

  “Mr. Janko was very cooperative, I think,” Sotello replied. “I need Trisha to look these over and verify they were the only ones. I’ll wait. If she thinks anything might be missing, I need to know.”

  Sotello stayed by the door while the Webster girl checked the tapes. Trisha came over to him after fifteen minutes, her face flushed. “Thank you Mr. Sotello, this appears to be everything. I’m sorry to have put you through this.”

  “I like your parents Trisha,” Sotello replied. “I think if you can see your way clear to stay within their guidelines, you will have a great time at college. I hope you can use this to help keep your eyes open, and watch out for what you might be walking into. If Eric comes over or begins calling you, let me know.”

  “I will, goodbye.”

  “Goodbye Trisha and good luck.” Sotello returned to his car, and drove to his office. Craig and Ellen met him at the door.

  “Now Ellen, tell the truth,” Craig spoke, as Sotello cleared the doorway. “Does this look like the same man who told us this morning he would be cutting back, and getting a handle on things?”

  “Why, I think so Craig,” Ellen replied, rubbing her chin as if in deep thought about the matter, while squinting a little at Sotello, who had stopped dead in his tracks. His shoulders slumped forward comically, as if under a heavy load.

  “Well, if you say so, but after looking at the notes left for future cases, I have my doubts,” Craig offered.

  “Maybe he could throw in curing cancer in the next few weeks too,” Ellen continued. “Maybe if…”

  “Alright, alright,” Sotello said, waving both hands up in surrender. “Let’s stop flogging this dead animal. As happens in just about any service type business, we sometimes find ourselves making sacrifices, or going against our best judgment. Come on in the kitchen while I have a cup of coffee. You can beat me up some more there. I deserve it.”

  Sotello led the way into the back, with Craig mimicking his every step, while Ellen tried to hold back the explosion of laughter building quickly. Sotello spun around just in time to catch Craig trying to pull back his last moment of mimicry. Ellen lost control, holding her damaged ribs, while laughing and crying out in pain at the same time.

  “I see getting this Genie back in the bottle will be more work than any one person can handle. Why don’t you just take over as me for a few days, you arrogant little mime,” Sotello said sternly, with his arms folded.

  Craig immediately turned, and walked to the front desk, in perfect imitation of Sotello. He snatched up the phone. “Oakland Investigation Agency, Jim Sotello speaking, how may I help you?”

  The uncanny way Craig imitated his Father’s facial looks, and the nearly perfect speech pattern imitation, gave Sotello the shivers. He just shook his head in awe. Ellen had turned away, trying not to look, as the pain in her ribs caused her to try and choke back her laughter.

  “Does he have an on-off switch somewhere Ellen?” Sotello asked, walking over and grabbing Craig, turning him one way and another, pretending to look for one.

  “When you find it Dad,” Ellen said, still with her back turned, fearing another painful bout of humor, “let me know. Anymore of this, and I will be in the hospital.”

  Sotello took the phone off of Craig. “Give me that.” He pushed Craig towards the backroom doorway. “You lead.”

  It did not help. Craig walked the rest of the way as his Father’s doppelganger. Ellen refused to turn around until Sotello put an arm around her. “The bad old mimes gone now honey. You can turn around.”

  Ellen relented, and taking a deep breath, she accompanied her Father to the kitchen, where Craig had set out three cups of coffee. Sotello explained the Webster mess to them, and where the case stood. He also took them through his history with Lionel Simmons, and the most probable place in Reno he would be.

  “That one sounds dangerous,” Ellen said.

  “Yea, the Wilkens’ case sounds like exactly the kind you did not want to get into at this time,” Craig added.

  “I know it,” Sotello admitted. “The thought of that punk skating out and leaving his parents to lose their house really pisses me off.”

  “They made the bail,” Ellen put in. “You’ve always said when you have a bad kid, you sometimes have to kick free of them.”

  “I don’t think old Lionel gave them that option,” Sotello explained. “He probably threatened to kill them, or have one of his buds do it. In any case, I thought I would drive there on the weekend and see what could be done. If you’re free Craig, I’d like to take you along and let you see how smooth something like this can go, or how rough. It pays $5,000 plus expenses. We’ll cut Ellen in for a third because she will act as our contact. You want to do it?”

  “Count on it,” Craig replied. “That will be the most money I’ve ever made on a trip to Reno.”

  “You’ve been to Reno gambling?” Sotello asked.

  “Uh oh,” Craig replied, realizing what he had said. “Listen Dad; I was just trying my hand. I didn’t lose much.”

  “What exactly represents much?” Sotello asked, frowning.

  “I don’t remember, maybe three hundred.”

  “Three hundred?” Sotello said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Fifty bucks should be the most you ever lose on trying your hand, you nimrod. In any case you will not be gambling this trip.”

  “Did I say anything about gambling?” Craig asked innocently.

  “How come I have to stay home and play contact?” Ellen asked.

  “If I have to answer that one little girl, then you are not a quarter as smart as I thought you were.” Sotello replied. “You can hear all about it from Diamond Jim Brady here.”

  “Dad?” Craig asked seriously. “After all this crap over the last few days, what keeps you going? Where do you get the drive? After all these years and all the battles, I have trouble imagining you finding the strength to get out of bed.”

  “You know the answer already Craig,” Sotello replied. “You and your sister already live the way you must if you wish to become someone positive. We make mistakes in our youth we spend lifetimes paying for. We resurrect our lives by beginning to live for others, and I do not mean welfare. When we live our lives with thoughts of how our actions affect our children or mates, we become people others can respect and admire. Throwing off the yoke of self-indulgence might be the most difficult task we do as adults.”

  “You two already recognize depression stems from seeing the world through only your own eyes, and not through those you influence. When we strive to provide a moral example for those we love, we end up living a life of fulfillment. Both of you stopped being self-indulgent little children long ago, and I cannot tell you how proud of you I am. Some never get past childish self-indulgence.”

  “But what about when Mom died,” Ellen put in. “You just seemed to go on.”

  “I did the same thing you two did. I lost the only woman I ever loved, and you two lost the only mom you will ever have, and who you adored. I went on for you two, and you both went on for me. We thought of each other rather than ourselves. We grieved for each other’s loss and not for our own. Have you ever wondered about why people like being around you two? They instinctively know you both see beyond yourselves. This new age crapola about self-awareness and self-esteem are code words for self-indulgence. Children do not need self-esteem, they need the tools to earn the respect of others: a moral code of honor, a good education, and a belief in something besides their own self-interest. What brought this on?”

  “Craig and I have been talking since this stuff happened in Placerville,” Ellen continued. “I guess we never were old enough to realize how many things can just start going on, and going wrong, all at the same time. We wondered how you just seem to take it in stride, and know what to do. All of what you said just seems to fit right in with all
of this: the Webster girl, Lynn, and even that Daniels guy.”

  “I see your point,” Sotello said, getting up to pour them all another cup of coffee. “Trisha made a mistake she may very well pay for the rest of her life. I will try to make sure she doesn’t pay too heavily, but she will never be able to look in her parents’ eyes in quite the same way. She seemed affected by that, so I have hope for her. Lynn grew up to remain a self-indulgent child, who may yet cost someone his life. She may be changing, but after all this time, she will not be able to convince many of it for quite a while. She helped us without any thought of herself; at least that I am aware of, and I hope it will be a step to more of the same. Daniels did something, which reached out, and changed things slightly and heavily in nine lives. He will pay for it the rest of his life.”

  “You get scary sometimes,” Craig said. “You never even had a father to talk to. How did you accumulate all these axioms of life?”

  “I may not have had a father or mother to look up to,” Sotello said, “but I did have people in my life I admired and respected. I started out doing well, because I wanted them to see me in a good light. In the last few days, I have been able to pass along some very important things to you two I had never thought of before. In payment for the privilege of passing along my knowledge and experience, I had to let you see some things about me I have had to accept over the years: a dark side I control with sometime tenuous reigns. No parents ever wish for their children to see them as cold-blooded killers, nor do they wish for violence and revenge to be seen as an answer to life’s troubles. I am too old to change the black and white way I see the world, and it colors my reaction to it, and my decisions.”

  “You don’t really want me to go with you on the Simmons’ case, do you?” Craig asked.

  “Very astute of you to see right through me smartass,” Sotello admitted. “I must take into consideration the words you two said about finding this business attractive. If something happens to me, I do not want you to learn it in the school of hard knocks. I will have to live with the pulse-pounding idiocy of having you two in danger sometimes, if I am ever to help you to continue in this line of work, if such be your intent. I hope you both find easier, more lucrative methods of employment; hence the need for your continuing education.”