“You’ve got that right, Scarface,” Sanders grinned.
“You know,” May broke in. “This drink tastes better with every sip.” She looked perplexed at first, as everyone laughed.
Later, after an enjoyable, yet quiet meal, Craig took May out to look at the boats in the harbor, with two of Sanders’ men accompanying them. Sotello and Sanders sat sipping coffee.
“I guess I owe you an apology Jim, for all of this mess,” Sanders offered.
“Never mind,” Sotello replied smiling. “Besides, where else could I ever have gotten the chance to pick up a neat nickname like Scarface?”
“Yea,” Sanders allowed, “there is that. You need your own Secret Service detachment, my friend. I thought the worst you could expect in this campaign, would be some old fruit thrown at you, and a few verbal slings and arrows. Man, was I wrong.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. The people in the blast radius were the worst part about the danger. When I saw what that idiot had tied around his waist, I almost lost it. Craig was calmer than me at the time,” Sotello told Sanders. “The casualty list could have been in the hundreds, and all because I’m running for public office? There are banana republics with less violence in their elections.”
“When you consider how they have managed to fix the local elections up here in the Bay Area, we are a banana republic in Northern California,” Sanders reminded him. “Remember down in some of those elections in Southern California when they actually bused in fraudulent voters?”
“Yea,” Sotello admitted, “but they weren’t blowing any of the candidates up.”
“True,” Sanders replied. “So, what would you like to do?”
“Win,” Sotello said emphatically, “and then make whoever I find behind this stuff pay big time.”
“Or end up to be the only assassinated Governor in California history,” Sanders added.
“You know Darren,” Sotello sighed. “That’s what I like about you. You see the up side to everything.”
“I’d sure miss your company though, Scarface.”
“That’s reassuring.”
__
Sotello and Craig waited together outside of the conference room at the Mark Hopkins hotel. They were each dressed in suits, trench coats, and hats. Sotello kept his pulled down low in the front, while Craig wore his at a jaunty angle. The foot traffic past the room kept the two men on a heightened level of awareness, after the attempted kidnapping the night before.
“You look great Dad,” Craig allowed.
“Oh, you like my Secret Squirrel outfit?” Sotello asked, without letting his eyes waver from the people within sight.
“It’s a little dark for my taste,” Craig said, indicating the light gray of his attire, compared to Sotello’s charcoal gray ensemble. “But, on a whole, you cut an effective figure as a private detective.”
“Actually, if I could have kept from being recognized, I would have dressed in a tee shirt and jeans. I’m sure glad the press missed us last night. The news didn’t break on my involvement until well after we dropped May back here at the Hotel.”
“Too bad they didn’t have any more information for us, other than a couple of more leads your friend was given by May’s Father. Did Mr. Janowitz call you today at all?” Craig asked. “And would you tell me if he did?”
“No, Hank hasn’t called me yet,” Sotello said, looking at his watch, which read three thirty in the afternoon. “He said he would call before five.”
“Boy, was May sauced,” Craig said, changing the subject.
“At least we talked her into only having one Zombie,” Sotello replied. “She seemed okay after the meal, and the walk around the harbor.”
“She likes me,” Craig stated.
“What’s not to like,” Sotello returned. “Tall, good looking kid, with a college education, and an air of danger around him.”
“I mean I think she likes me in a more intimate way,” Craig continued.
“I guess I do not have to remind you of my firm’s feelings on client/operative relationships,” Sotello said, trying to look authoritarian.
“No, you were an inspiration in professional relationships with Lynn,” Craig replied, pointing a finger at his Father. “I learned everything from you.”
“Why you ungrateful little cur,” Sotello fired back, glancing over at his smirking son. “And to think I spent countless hours, schooling you on respect for your elders, and to what end? So, are you looking at diving into more trouble, Number One?”
“Maybe,” Craig answered, “but only after this gig ends.”
“You know,” Sotello offered. “They are not as culturally liberal in Taiwan as we are here. I am not convinced this relationship would be appreciated by May’s family.”
“I thought of that, but we could always move in with you after we married.”
“As long as I will have someone to care for me when I’m old and decrepit,” Sotello countered.
“Well Dad,” Craig said. “I thought that’s why we have bears and mountain lions.”
“Oh, I see,” Sotello replied. “I could very well outlive my usefulness.”
“Yep,” Craig said, dropping his head in remorseful acknowledgement. “In Alaska, the Eskimos had the ice flows and polar bears as their retirement plan. We have only the mountains, grizzlies, and mountain lions.”
“What about the money I’ve been slaving away to earn for my later years,” Sotello replied, settling into Craig’s topic.
“El and I figured you wouldn’t want to live so long, you would have to cut into our inheritance,” Craig pointed out.
“How dare you bring my little girl into this nefarious scheme of euthanasia,” Sotello objected.
“It was her idea Dad.”
Sotello could not hold back the laughter any longer.
Thirty minutes later, Sotello’s cell phone rang.
“Sotello.”
“Jim, Hank here, we need to talk. Where are you?”
“Outside one of the conference rooms at the Mark Hopkins,” Sotello replied. “We have the client inside right now at a meeting. Craig and I are outside.”
“I have two agents at the Mark Hopkins, still going over surveillance tapes on site. I will send one of them down to take your place while I meet you for some coffee. Will that be okay?”
“Sure thing Hank,” Sotello confirmed. “Craig will still be here for our client. Will this take long?”
“No, but it will not warm your heart,” Janowitz said.
“I figured as much.”
“See you in about fifteen minutes.”
“Okay Hank,” Sotello answered. He put away his cell phone, and looked over at Craig, who had been following his Father’s conversation.
“I heard one half of it,” Craig said. “I did not take the sigh towards the end optimistically.”
“Hank’s sending an agent down to take my place for a while. He wants to fill me in on what they have managed to find out. I will only be gone a short time, I think.”
“What’s the bad news?” Craig asked.
“No clue,” Sotello replied. “Hank didn’t want to discuss it on the phone, but how could it be anything but bad?”
“The bomber last night could be the last one involved.”
“Yea,” Sotello grinned, “and we could actually get world peace for Christmas this year.”
“Anyhow,” Craig said, changing the subject, “what do you want me to tell May?”
“The truth, I’ll be back as soon as I can. She may not even be out of there by the time I get back. What was it she told you she wanted to do after the meeting?”
“She would like to go shopping at Ghiardelli Square,” Craig answered. “She would also like to get something to eat on the wharf.”
“Okay,” Sotello said, looking at his watch. “Try not to take her down there without me Craig, unless she insists, and then drag the agent along with you.”
“Just make sure you get back Dad, because
May won’t go without you.”
“If that’s the case, take her to the bar and get her another Zombie,” Sotello offered.
“I think she’s cured of the infamous Zombie,” Craig laughed. “She could have a white wine while we waited though. I guess if we’re not here, just check for us in the bar. I’ll call you if anything out of the ordinary comes up.”
“Good,” Sotello agreed. “We can concentrate on other things as soon as we get May safely on a plane back to Taiwan.”
“I was thinking of asking her to stay for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Craig offered.
“Wonderful.”
“I really like her,” Craig said, protesting the stunned look on his Father’s face.
“I’m getting that,” Sotello replied quietly, his mind racing with scenarios of what Craig’s holiday wish would entail. “Don’t you think it would be a good idea to get together with her after some of the danger passes?”
“Well, I thought of that, but decided on instant gratification instead.”
Sotello laughed. “Okay, go ahead, but don’t hold it against me if I pray for her old man to step in, and tell her to bring her butt home, or have it dragged home.”
“She’ll probably say no anyhow,” Craig admitted. “I…”
Craig stopped talking as he noticed Hank Janowitz come in through the front entrance. Sotello gave him a little wave as Hank noticed them. Janowitz’ grim expression did nothing to bolster Sotello’s confidence. The FBI agent shook hands with Sotello and Craig, a small smile forming.
“Sykes hasn’t gotten down here yet, huh?” Janowitz asked.
“Not yet,” Craig answered.
Chapter 37
Agent Sykes
“Here she comes,” Janowitz said, indicating a blonde haired woman in her early twenties, exiting the hotel elevator. She wore a conservative navy blue ensemble, her skirt fashionably below her knee. The black pumps, with small rise at the heel, elevated her height to what Sotello guessed to be about five feet eight inches tall. Her angular features, and light makeup, enhanced the serious aura she projected. Her eyes roved the hotel lobby with a professional, but unobtrusive expertise. She smiled easily, as she approached her boss.
“This is Special Agent, Janice Sykes,” Janowitz said, as Sykes shook hands with first Sotello, and then Craig. “I want you to stay here with Craig, Jan. Then accompany him and his client, if she should exit the meeting before I get back with Jim here.”
“I understand,” Sykes said. She brushed a lock of blonde hair out of her eyes, as she looked intently at first Sotello, and then more appraisingly at Craig.
Sotello started to say something to Craig, but he could see his son staring at Agent Sykes with an almost mesmerized interest. He wondered, with some humor, whether Craig were mentally preparing for another holiday invitation. Janowitz gave him an indication he wanted to get started. They walked away together.
“Why don’t we have some coffee right here in the hotel, Hank,” Sotello suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Janowitz agreed. “This will not take long.”
The two men stayed silent until after they were seated in the restaurant, and coffee had been placed before them.
“I take it you did not find out any good news,” Sotello began.
“Good news as far as new investigative roads to follow, but bad news as far as any prediction as to your continued safety,” Janowitz offered. “Our potential suicide bomber came to us from Hezbolla. His name’s Ayman al-Sibah. He’s also done some work with Hamas.”
“An Egyptian national inside a Lebanese Terrorist organization?”
“Remember Jim, these Egyptians have been surfacing in all of the loose networks around the world. Hell, two of them were in the crews flying jets into the World Trade Center and Pentagon,” Janowitz replied.
“I don’t know why I would be surprised at anything in this insanity,” Sotello said in exasperation. “With Hamas turning out suicide bombers from Islamic schools for kids, I don’t know why this would even make me blink an eye.”
“It’s a mean, insane world,” Janowitz added. “Guess how Mr. Al-Sibai made it into this country.”
“Give me a hint,” Sotello said seriously. “North or South?”
“South.”
“He bribed his way in,” Sotello said immediately.
“Yes, but it gets better,” Janowitz informed him. “He bought a counterfeit United States visa in Caracas, Venezuela. They caught him at our border, and still let him in. Of course it was before 9/11, but you see where I am going.”
“Yea, we have vast numbers of immigration laws, and even the people responsible for enforcing them don’t do it.”
“You have it in a nutshell, my friend,” Janowitz agreed. “It takes a mindset of discipline, to turn away illegal aliens from our borders, and we just do not seem to have it. We’re working on it strongly since 9/11, but it still ain’t there.”
“That’s exactly what convinced me about running this rather dangerous race for Governor. Where do we go from here Hank?” Sotello asked.
“Well, Al-Sibai belongs to the Shiite Muslim sect, and we will follow the varied strains of that along with his Hezbollah and Hamas roots. The most promising thing about this will be when we tell him we plan to let the Egyptian Secret Police interrogate him,” Janowitz said.
“That’s right,” Sotello replied with a little more optimism. “He’s no citizen, and the Egyptians, since the heat put on them from 9/11, have been unusually cooperative on occasion. He probably knows they won’t read him his Miranda rights when they get him into custody.”
“Yea,” Janowitz agreed. “Those folks only ask once politely. The Egyptians still play their own double dealing game, but with what we’ve done so far in this terror war, they have become much more accommodating.”
“I hope he tells you, with only the threat of sending him home,” Sotello said. “I’d rather not have to wait to find out what other snakes lurk out there in the tall grass.”
“Whoever’s behind this has taken some big chances. You would think attempting to blow up a more newsworthy target like a nuclear reactor should be more of a priority than some unknown candidate in a governor’s race.”
“Unknown, huh?” Sotello laughed.
Janowitz grinned. “You know what I mean. All they’ve managed to do is put you at the front of every print news wire in the country.”
“I’m guessing it would mean something for them to get me. The Terrorists have been lying low lately, with everyone wondering when the next catastrophe would happen. What if my winning the governor’s race, and stiffening up the ports and borders right away, would have messed up something big they have planned down the road a ways?”
“You ain’t buying the lone gunman theory in this, are you my friend?” Janowitz asked seriously.
“Not a bit of it,” Sotello replied. “With the groups involved so far, it would defy all logic for this to be some simple hit. They could have tried to take out the present Governor, if headlines were all they were after. This thing’s tied up to border security. I would bet my life on it.”
“You will be. I think you’re right though,” Janowitz admitted. “All the more reason to make these guys start singing. What do you figure they’re counting on, border or port?”
“Port,” Sotello answered without hesitation.
“A Chinese connection, huh?”
“You guys have been finding the Chinese in every shadowy plot since 9/11,” Sotello replied. “Never enough to accuse them outright, but enough to know they keep stirring the wasp’s nest up with a stick. I plan on searching every boat Cosco Chinese shipping owns, every time one of them hits a California port. If the Coast Guard won’t help in it, I’ll use the Port Authority to get it done, and I will make sure I have teams who will know what they’re looking for.”
“I will relay your suspicions Jim,” Janowitz said. “They sound more plausible than what we’ve come up with so far. The theory will not
make them happy back in Washington. I think because of our early successes in this war, the State Department wants to stick their heads in the sand a little again.”
“It will only hurt us all in the long run,” Sotello replied. “Hell, I don’t want to be right on this. I wish it were just some whackos out to screw up my campaign, by making me disappear in a puff of smoke, but I believe that scenario would be a bit over the top. Washington should gear up to find out what the heck they would want me out of the way to do. They’ll probably say my ego has started calling the shots for my brain, and I can’t say that would not be a legitimate theory.”
“For what it’s worth, I know you don’t want this crap down on your head,” Janowitz replied. “Believe me, Washington doesn’t want anymore terrorist surprises. Keep your vest on, and your head down buddy.”
“I will Hank. The client I have now will be my last until further notice, such as an election loss. I would have to go back to work, but they’d no longer have any interest in me.”
“No matter what happens with the election, I have orders to pursue this anywhere it goes,” Janowitz said. “Washington knows about the Hezbollah and Hamas connection to your latest attacker. They’re getting worried something mammoth is coming, and they want their butts protected, if you know what I mean.”
“Yea, they don’t want the finger pointing like happened after 9/11. What about the hushed up news about China having tentacles throughout the al-Qaida group, even before 9/11?”
“We don’t talk about that stuff,” Janowitz admitted. “It’s like the zit on someone’s face no one wants to talk about, but all eyes keep returning to it.”
“Well, I will be watching them, if I ever get into a position to do anything about it,” Sotello said.
“We haven’t forgotten about them,” Janowitz replied. “We just have to diplomatically keep it under cover for now. They have been very careful since 9/11, making all the right moves, and saying all the right things.”
“Yea, but there are too many rumors about them having known about 9/11 before it happened, and then there were those trips bin Laden made to China on numerous occasions. Did your guy Hisham get anything out of the guy on the sidewalk before he realized where he was?”
Sotello: Detective, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 1) Page 42