Sotello put a hand out to stop her. “May, I never confirmed anything last night. We proceed with our clients in the manner previously agreed to, unless they call us to change their plans.”
“We will need to have the phone records for your Father’s calls,” Janowitz said. He stood up. “Well, we have more than I would have figured. I need to get a forensics team up here to get busy on this room. You may take Ms. Lin with you and Craig, Jim. Give us about five hours. If we have not completed our preliminaries by then, I will call you on your cell phone. We’ll meet back here at about one o’clock. If you want, I can send some people with you, or put you all into protective custody.”
“What about Craig’s statement?”
“Already taking place outside as we speak,” Janowitz replied, smiling.
Sotello turned to May Lin. “I am sorry for all of this May. Would you care to come out with us, or would you rather stay in protective custody until they finish here?”
“I would like to go out with you and Craig, and get a Zombie,” May answered.
Sotello chuckled. “You mean the drink? How do you come to know what a Zombie is?”
“Never mind, Mr. Sotello,” May said. “Can we do that before dinner?”
“You bet,” Sotello answered. “You must have deduced I am not the safest person to be around. Are you sure you would not like to alter your plans. I will set you up with another escort service, and for tonight you…”
“I wish to go with you and your son,” May interrupted. “I would like to know more about you both, and I am, how do you say, fired up.”
“Very well then,” Sotello replied. He turned to Janowitz. “We will see you in about five hours Hank.”
“I really should pop you all into protective custody,” Janowitz said. “I hate using you, even inadvertently, as bait for whatever takes a bite. This is serious. You have touched a nerve somewhere, and we want to know what would interest guys, as heavy duty as the one on the sidewalk downstairs.”
“I believe you Hank,” Sotello said. “It most definitely has to do with the Governorship, and the plans I have for tightening this state up.”
“I saw your press conference,” Janowitz noted. “We will be working those angles when we interrogate this new guy. Someone has to be getting their hands on your phone records, or how would they even know about Ms. Lin? It opens a whole new avenue to check at your local phone company. I will send a man over to your office to sweep it for bugs too.”
“I will call my daughter, and have her fax you a list of the clients we contacted since my campaign started,” Sotello said. “I hope you can get more out of the guy on the sidewalk than what his buddies gave up.”
“Maybe we’ll tell him we will be shipping him to Israel for questioning,” Janowitz mused.
“Maybe the trail he left will get you where you want to go without any verbal help,” Sotello offered. “In any case, he may be pretty disoriented when he wakes up. I zapped the shit out of him. If he has only an agent who speaks his language in the room when he wakes up, he might give something up.”
“Not bad Jim,” Janowitz said, as he hit a button on his cell phone. “Deke,” he said into the phone, “get Hisham up here right away.”
He looked back over at Sotello. “I have an agent named Hisham Mahmood, who works on my team. He speaks about seven Middle Eastern dialects, and he is one scary looking guy; not as scary as you Scarface, but still, all in all, pretty scary.”
“How long have you been saving that one, you prick?”
“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity,” Janowitz admitted, laughing.
“See you in five,” Sotello said, escorting May Lin out of the room. Craig joined them, after shaking hands with the agent he had been questioned by.
“So, how did it go?” Craig asked, as they entered the elevator.
“As well as it could,” Sotello answered. “Someone confirmed our itinerary with May before she left Taiwan.”
“Jesus,” Craig exclaimed, rubbing his chin. “That means someone had to find out we even had May for a client. They could not get that off of our website, so how… you mean our office is bugged?”
“Maybe, or someone at the phone company sold our contacts out to someone,” Sotello answered. “Either way, Hank will find out how it all came about, and hopefully where this all was initiated. May wants dinner, but first, she wants a Zombie.”
“A Zombie,” Craig said, looking at May in some confusion. “What… oh, that rum drink. Wow May, you are upset.”
“I spent many hours on a plane, and then came customs, then the airport with armed men all around. I have a gun shoved into my chin by a man with enough explosives to blow up the entire block. I believe I have every right to be upset,” May concluded.
“Well,” Craig said with a smile, “if you put it that way, I guess we have no choice, as your hosts, but to bring your wishes to reality. Where would you like to go?”
“I will not choose any place,” May stated with determination. “You or your Father must pick somewhere to go, with the best chance of our survival.”
“May, have you ever been to Jack London Square, across the Bay?” Sotello asked solemnly.
“No, I have always visited within San Francisco on my previous two visits. Except for the business meetings, they were excursions into complete boredom,” May explained, looking over at Sotello, with a smile spreading slyly. “I had hoped by contracting your services to experience new vistas. You have certainly lived up to my expectations, so I would love to visit this Jack London Square.”
Craig had begun laughing half way through May’s statement, and took her arm as the elevator door opened into the lobby. He guided her out of the elevator, as Sotello followed, meekly shaking his head. Sotello dialed Darren Sanders’ private number. When Sanders answered, Sotello gave him a brief description of what had happened.
“Jim,” Sanders said at the end of Sotello’s story. “We need to find you a bunker to live in until after the election.”
“Right now, my friend,” Sotello replied, “I would settle for your gracious help in taking my charge to your favorite restaurant, and I will leave the name of it out of the conversation, for obvious reasons.”
“I will have some of my representatives meet you there, inconspicuously of course,” Sanders said. “I will send our friends from your overseas trip. They enjoyed working with you very much.”
“An excellent choice,” Sotello replied. “I am, as always, in your debt.”
“You can pay it off by allowing me to join you,” Sanders offered.
“It would be an honor, Darren,” Sotello said quickly. “Can we meet in about forty-five minutes?”
“Works for me,” Sanders replied. “See you there, Scarface.”
“Why you…” Sotello began, but he heard the click as Sanders disconnected. Sotello glared at his cell phone for a moment, and then caught up with Craig and May, waiting at the entrance. They viewed the scene outside the hotel together with some trepidation. A uniformed officer spotted them and came to the door. He opened it, and motioned them to follow him through the crowd of police, FBI, and curious onlookers. Sotello recognized him as the officer who had called him Governor earlier.
“Agent Janowitz asked for us to escort your party to where we have your driver waiting, Mr. Sotello,” the young officer told him, as he guided them a little ways down the block, through the mass of humanity filling the sidewalk. He led them to their limousine, and opened the back door for them. Sotello shook hands with him, and the officer handed him a card.
“When you get elected Governor, if you need a personal security staff, please consider me. I was in Marine Recon during the Gulf War, and have been on the police force for the last seven years. It would be an honor to be a member of your staff Sir.”
Sotello looked at the card, and then into the officer’s eyes. “Well, Officer Stallings, if they allow me a security staff, you can count on my call.”
“Thank you Sir.
Please call me Ben,” Stallings replied, smiling. “I hope the rest of your evening improves.”
“From your lips to God’s ear Ben,” Sotello agreed, getting into the limousine. Stallings closed the door after he was seated.
“Who were you talking to Dad?” Craig asked.
“I set up a dinner date with Darren Sanders at his favorite restaurant over at Jack London Square: Scott’s,” Sotello replied. “He will be sending the same team we worked with overseas to watch our backs.”
“Nice,” Craig nodded in appreciation. “Those guys were good, not in a Godfather way, just really tight.”
“I agree,” Sotello said, as he informed Danny Lau over the intercom, where they were going.
“On our way, Jim,” Lau replied. “I know where Scott’s is located. Sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Chapter 36
Complications
They reached the Bay Bridge ten minutes later, where National Guard troops still acted as bridge security. May watched the khaki-clothed soldiers carrying M16s, through the tinted limousine window.
“What could they actually do, Mr. Sotello?” May asked. “They cannot search every vehicle. It would only take an explosive device like the man had around him tonight to do serious damage to the bridge.”
“I know May,” Sotello admitted. “Mostly, they act as eye candy, to make the commuters feel better about being part of the Terrorist war, every time they commute in the morning, and go home at night.”
“Eye candy?”
“It just means something which looks good, but does very little,” Craig explained. “They think the rest of us peasants out here are so stupid, we don’t know how easily a low tech attack could damage just about anything we have.”
“Our Government believes the truth must be doled out in small or partial portions,” Sotello added. “I’ve been worried about the old Navy base at Treasure Island ever since this nightmare began. I plan on finding out all about how they have it guarded if I get elected.”
“This Treasure Island, where is it located?” May asked.
“Coming right up May,” Craig pointed to were the off ramp for Treasure Island started.
“You have much to worry about all over in your country,” May concluded.
“With all the danger of having Red China next door to you, threatening to lob missiles at you if you even look at them cross-eyed, I would say you have your own problems,” Sotello said.
“Yes,” May agreed. “We have lived with the threat for so long, we tend to keep it only in the back of our minds. They have not instigated sabotage on our soil though, and they have enough agents inside our borders to do it. They do not want us damaged though. They wish to consume us like they did Hong Kong.”
“Some in your country feel it would be best to go along with them,” Sotello offered.
“I know,” May admitted. “Far too many of our politicians think in such a way.”
Sotello looked at his watch. “It’s 8:30. That would make it about 2:30pm tomorrow in Taiwan. Would you like to call your Father, and ask him to start getting your phone records together?”
“This will take explaining what has happened so far,” May sighed. “He will be very upset.”
“I bet he will,” Sotello said. “I can talk to him if you wish.”
“No, I will call him.” May pulled what looked to be a satellite phone from her purse, and hit a button on the keypad. Moments later she began talking in Chinese. Sotello could see her stop, as if interrupted during her story. She made her request for the telephone records, as Sotello handed her Janowitz’ card. She relayed the phone number to her Father, and then told him she loved him before disconnecting.
“He said he would have everything the agent will need, and permission to find whatever else he might think of within the hour,” May said.
“In other words, he is mad as hell,” Sotello ventured.
“Indeed,” May confirmed. “He believes it to be all his fault in putting me in such danger. I told him you would have to report our attempt at access.”
“Well, it sounds like you have it covered,” Craig said. “Now if we can just get you through the next couple of days, without any other attempts on your life, we will be all set.”
“I wish I could say I will stay away from you until Craig sees you through your trip, but my family remains in danger too,” Sotello added. “If Craig goes out with you, I will be with him, so what would you like to do? I can still get you set up with another firm, with just as much adventure, but without the threat of dying.”
“I would prefer to remain with you,” May said sincerely. “As I said at the hotel, I did not come here to be bored. I have gotten to meet the next Governor of the most populated state in America.”
“Your Father will disown you if he finds out you insisted on continuing to put yourself in danger by staying with us,” Sotello remarked. “When in actuality, you could have completed your stay with another firm.”
“My Father wishes to meet you,” May replied.
“You’re kidding?” Sotello asked incredulously.
“No,” May laughed. “He wants you to come to Taiwan and visit us.”
“We will have to see how this all plays out with the media and my political rival,” Sotello replied. “By the time our press gets done with tonight’s events, I will be accused of being a Chinese agent, and the attempt on our lives will be played in the media as foreign espionage gone bad.”
“Dad’s right,” Craig said. “Have you ever seen Tom Brokaw, the news anchor, May?”
“Yes,” May answered. “I have seen many of your news documentary shows, and newscasts. I am familiar with your three more popular news anchors.”
“Good evening,” Craig stated, as he switched into a Tom Brokaw presentation. May and Sotello looked on, as Craig’s facial expressions took on Brokaw’s persona. He attained Brokaw’s gravelly base voice in an instant. “Tonight, San Francisco witnessed the sad downfall of yet another tragic right wing whacko. Even more tragically, Governor of California wannabe, James Sotello, dragged his own son, and a foreign national in his care, on a headlong descent into the Seventh Level of Hell.”
Craig paused, as his audience reacted in the way he had anticipated: with raucous laughter, and May clapping her hands in appreciation.
“You laugh now,” Sotello said, pointing at May, “but Craig portrays our mainstream press very well. It will not be pretty.”
“I would not miss this for the world,” May replied. “I will rely on you two to keep me safe through the rest of my trip. You will be executed if you fail in your responsibilities.”
“Oh thanks,” Sotello replied in good humor. “I see you have been around my son already too long, Ms. Lin.”
“You have obviously not read the fine print on our contract, May,” Craig admonished. “By the time the disclaimers end, you are actually responsible for our safety.”
__
Sotello watched May sip her Zombie, smiling as the grimace on her face illustrated the amount of rum incorporated in the drink. They sat at Darren Sanders’ choice of tables, off by themselves; but still with a view of the Bay, and the ships in the harbor. The security crew Sanders had used during his daughter’s extraction from Switzerland, were watching all possible entrances into their dining room. Two other men patrolled outside of the restaurant, and coordinated with their brethren inside.
“Wow,” May exclaimed, her mouth tightening, as if in rebellion to the rum intake. “I had forgotten how potent one of these tasted.”
Sanders, who sat next to May, opposite of Sotello, laughed in appreciation. “From what I have heard of your travails upon touching down on our soil Ms. Lin, you can be excused for a bit of calming refreshment.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sanders,” May said, taking another large sip. “Please call me May.”
“Very well,” Sanders nodded. “I am Darren to everyone at this table, even Scarface here.”
Sotello coughed up the sip of
coffee he had just drank, as Craig and May laughed at Sanders’ sudden verbal jibe. Sotello wiped his watering eyes; and shook a finger at Sanders, who looked on innocently, with only a warm smile on his face. “You know Darren, this insulting familiarity with my physical handicap points to a very vicious nature.”
“Sorry Governor,” Sanders replied, without the least bit of remorse in his voice. “You may as well get used to it. The people love it. The first of the news media began referring to your new nickname, with some fondness, on the evening news. For better or worse, you will have to become accustomed to it, because it is here to stay.”
“I think it’s great,” Craig put in. “By the time election day comes, no one will even remember who Davidson is. They will see James Sotello on the ballot, and think Scarface. The rest will be history.”
“It really doesn’t bother me that much,” Sotello admitted. “It seemed inevitable something like it would come up. You caught me twice tonight with it Darren. The press will be using it in a not so fond manner, after they start digging around our little event tonight.”
“After what you described of it,” Sanders replied, “I really do not see any down side to it. You’ve already called Adrian, and reported the offer made to you by May’s company. He will disclose it for you with the right people. Once your friend with the FBI finds out who the explosives’ guy represents, Adrian will make sure the press frames the news correctly. You will handle the rest of the story when you give another press conference, with what you find out about the guy.”
“Pretty dangerous way to get name recognition though,” Craig added.
“The worst may be over now,” Sotello replied. “Over at least as far as the election goes. I don’t see the notoriety of my immigration policies ending, and therefore the danger will continue. Life has changed for all of us because of the terrorists. We will deal with this as it comes. I just thought it might be possible to handle it without my new nickname, but I see that was wishful thinking.”
Sotello: Detective, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 1) Page 41