Buying Brazil (Buying Brazil Trilogy Book 1)

by Arthur Rawl

“That’s not what we’re talking about here. Our clients face much greater risks if what we’re doing gets out than we do. We owe them cooperation in every reasonable way and our best efforts to protect them and their interests even if it requires our cooperation in their protecting us and what we know. It’s just that simple.”

  “I hear you. Now I have to think about it. Don’t worry I assure you I’ll be fine on Monday. I understand it’s in my own interest … the interests of everyone who matters.”

  “Thank you. Now let’s get off the sidewalk, get into the car and get out of here.”

  José Carlos pulled away from the curb and the chase car came up behind us leaving half a car length between their car and ours. We speeded up or slowed down, turned a corner or stopped for a traffic light and the half car length remained unchanged. When we pulled into the Maksoud the chase car parked just far enough away to avoid the confusion caused by the normal coming and going marking any of Brazil’s five-star hotels. Once parked the security agent in the passenger seat got out and walked over to our car stopping fifteen feet away so he could watch was going on around our car and be close enough to intervene if he saw a threat.

  Our door was opened but not by the hotel doorman, it was done by the unusually large man who was customarily part of Juan’s security team, “Sr. Carl, Sra. Robin favor.”

  We got out of the car and a second man of average height and appearance stepped forward and in smooth unaccented English said, “Sra. Robin my name is not important but my face is. Please try to remember it even though by plan I have little to distinguish me from most Brasilieros. I have been assigned as your security escort.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a small pager, “Please take this and keep it with you. I or one of my colleagues will always be close by you even though we will not always be obvious. If anything or anyone makes you feel uncomfortable simply push the red button and we will become very obvious in meeting your needs. I have been doing this for many years for the Company and there have been only a few times the red button has been pushed and those, shall we say, they all represented an excess of caution by the guest. Please understand that we prefer an excess of caution so do not wait or worry if something troubles you. I should also say Brasil is a very safe country compared to most of the world and our city is one of the safest big cities among the world’s big cities. Enjoy your time in Brasil and try to forget we are close by until you feel the need for us and then remember the red button.”

  Finished he nodded to the hulk standing beside me then stepped back among the people waiting for cabs or their cars to be brought up from the garage. Robin looked down at the small device in the palm of her hand and then at me, “His English is certainly good, now I’ll have a translator when and if I need one.”

  “I’ll see you at the office Monday morning Robin. Enjoy your Sunday.”

  “Thanks boss, thanks for everything including putting up with my imagination.”

  “Don’t be silly, we’ve worked together too many years not to understand each other.”

  I got back into the car and we slowly picked our way through the tangle of cars, taxis and airport buses choking the hotel’s driveway. Somehow I wasn’t surprised to see the black sedan with its two oversized occupants half a car length behind as we drove away from the hotel.

  “Did you deliver the package for me José?”

  “Yes and I was told to wait to see if there was an answer.” Then not waiting for me to ask he held up an envelope, “I did not think it discrete to mention this when we were not alone.”

  I took the note expecting to find the heavy hand of the general scrawled across the reply but was overjoyed to find a short note in what had to be Alana’s writing, “Sunday at eight – Café Antique. A”, written on a heavy cream colored correspondence card with small engraved arms printed in gold at the top. It was the arms that started me worrying. Alana had told me of her simple beginning in a remote country village. Was the note really from her? I’d know tomorrow night. Then I began to wonder whether I could really rely on BrasTel’s security because of Juan’s relationship with his stakeholders.

  “I don’t want to go home. Leave me at the newspaper shop down the street from the apartment. I’ll go around the corner and have some coffee and let my new tail follow after me home.”

  “… tail?”

  “American slang José. It’s from old black and white detective movies with actors like Humphry Bogart. Someone following you is a ‘tail’.”

  “Ah … I didn’t think you had a dog.”

  Twenty minutes later with the Weekend Herald Tribune under my arm I walked around the corner to the café. When I went inside the first thing I noticed was the fresh paint covering new plaster filling what used to be a bullet hole above the first table near the entrance. I kept walking toward the back feeling it safer to let my tree sleep and I took a rear corner table with a clear view of the door. As I sat down I recognized Juan’s man sitting down at ‘The’ table where anyone coming in would have to pass by him.

  “Good evening Senhor. What may I get for you?

  “Good evening, your English is really good. It’s much better than the staff at breakfast time.”

  “Thank you. The owner says we serve more foreign visitors at lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner are when I am told to work because I speak Spanish and English and a little French. It’s good for me because visitors tip better.

  “Where did you learn the languages?”

  “At university, I was majoring in European languages so I could get work in one of the new multi-national companies when I matriculated.”

  “When will that be?”

  Her smile disappeared replaced by a dark downcast look, “Probably never.”

  “Why not, you sound like you’re doing very well in your studies.”

  “It’s my father …”

  “… is he ill?”

  “No Senhor, it’s just … just one night … he never came home. It was a year ago and no one has been able to find him since that night. Now I have to help my mother take care of our family. What would you like to eat? Please.”

  “Sorvete crème, uma bala com calde de chocolate, favor.”

  Her smile returned, “You speak Portuguese Senhor.”

  “No, not very much, I speak only a little menu.”

  Her smile became widener as she suppressed a chuckle, “One scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. It is correct?”

  “Yes … and add a cup of espresso please.”

  “… thank you Senhor.”

  Watching her walk to the kitchen I heard Juan’s voice saying, “He will simply join the legion of the missing.” I wondered whether her father and del Eccio’s messenger would meet wherever the legion of Brazil’s missing gathered. A disturbing picture overshadowed my thoughts, a picture of souls wandering through eternity trying to find loved ones they abandoned. Maybe one of the voodoo witchcraft shops dotting the neighborhoods of the poor and the rich alike had a potion or herb that could end their wandering if only someone would venture in to ask the shaman for that mystical something to beg the spirits’ help in finding peace for their member of the missing. Maybe I was becoming just crazy enough to also need the spirits’ help, help in putting today’s turmoil into some deep dark recess of my memory where it could become lost forever, lost so far away I would stop seeing haunting shadows lurking in everything I had heard, seen or touched since this morning.

  Half an hour later with my Guardian trailing behind I walked up the hill to my building. Tonight was my turn to sit on one of the benches lost in the garden’s shadows listening to night noises and the rustling of leaves overhead. My waiting apartment had no appeal. It offered nothing to pull my thoughts away from today while the building’s subtle creaking as it recovered from the heat of the day would conspire to keep sleep beyond reach.

  Later, hours later, daytime noises began replacing night noises and the stars started fading into the glow of early mor
ning’s sky. The garden’s air had become cool and clean during the night now carried bright bird songs that together with the sun welcomed the beginning of a new day. A day that had to be brighter than the darkness of yesterday because of what yesterday taught me about myself. Although lacking the pride and purpose of a uniform I now felt a worthy heir to generations of necessary action others would call courageous. Now I clearly understood fate puts the future in everyman’s hands but only those willing to fight to hold tight to it survive. Doubt no longer haunted my thoughts … now and forever I would allow only the illuminating certainty of understanding and strength to light my way forward.

  At eight o’clock in the evening the customary hushed conversation filling Café Antique ceased as eyes turned to the door. In a city known for its beautiful women raven-haired Alana was perfection in a simple close-fitting strapless burgundy dress. Where women never wear jewelry outside of home the fire of diamonds burned at her wrist and the cool glow of emeralds smoldered at her ears. Her smile silenced every voice with desire or envy.

  I stood holding out my hand watching every eye follow her to my table. “Good evening Querida.” Kissing her cheek, “I’m so very happy to see you.”

  Returning my kiss, “I have missed you, meu amor.”

  “You look very beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you and thank you for your presents. I love the note you sent before you went to New York. It was the best present.”

  “I’m happy you feel that way. Would you like something to drink?

  “Yes … a glass of red wine please.”

  “Imported or domestic?”

  Her eyes became serious but her lips were touched by a playful smile, “Brasilian is always the best.”

  “You’re right Querida, everything Brazilian is the best.”

  “Perhaps …” Her eyes took on an alluring sparkle, “Perhaps”.

  I signaled to the waiter, “Two glasses of Brazilian red please.”

  “You have to learn Portuguese.”

  “Yes, will you teach me?”

  Rubbing my leg with her foot, “I’m afraid we may have too many distractions.”

  “Maybe, but I’m sure you can teach me the most useful parts of the language”, which earned what had to be her most mischievous smile.

  “Are you going to feed me Querido? I missed lunch shopping for my dress. I wanted to please you tonight.”

  “Please me … you captured me completely. When you walked in the restaurant became empty, there wasn’t anyone but you. There will never be anyone else but you. My yesterdays and all that filled them are gone and there are only our tomorrows if you’ll have me. I didn’t plan this so please forgive me for not having a ring or flowers or anything, will you marry me?”

  Silence … then a smile, “Querido, I … yes, it is all I want … but we have to speak to my Guardian. We should have his blessing for our happiness.”

  I smiled but felt a cold shadow pass, “Wonderful, I would hug and kiss you here in the middle of the restaurant but the rumors would be all over São Paulo before you got home.”

  Her face became troubled, “I feel there is something we must talk about. What is it Querido?”

  “You know your Guardian and I are indirectly involved in some business. It should be done in no more than two weeks. I don’t think we should ask for his blessing until our business is done. I don’t want anything else but your happiness on his mind when we speak with him.”

  A pout touched her lips for just a moment replaced by a serious look, “Business would not confuse him. But, I know he works with many difficult people and some of them might not understand there is no more involved than we love each other. There could be unfortunate talk. Two weeks is not so long for this to be our secret as long as we have time to be happy together.” Her smile returned, “… and I need time to find the right dress.”

  Reaching across the table I took her hands in mine, “I love you. I promise I’ll do everything possible to finish quickly so that we can get your Guardian’s blessing and start our lives together.”

  Alana lowered her eyes, a shadow darkened her face. “You have no family to stand by you and my mother is very old and not well. My Guardian and his family are all both of us have to stand with us in the church and ask for God’s blessing. He is a very proud man and very traditional. He will ask that our engagement be properly recorded and announced. He will also want us to be married in the Ingreja Nossa Sehnora do Brasil near his home. It is not an old or big church but his family helped build it when he was young and now it is a very important place in São Paulo. Maybe we will have to wait a little more than just two weeks.”

  “I will do whatever you ask. Perhaps you will come back to New York with me when I finish this business. There are some legal matters I have to attend to and I think we will be able to find the perfect engagement ring for you there. The trip would be for only a week or so and then we would come home to Brazil.”

  “My Guardian has said he wants me to visit other places. I am sure he will approve of my seeing New York.” She let go of my hands, “I asked if you are going to feed me. I’m so hungry I will start eating your fingers.”

  “Waiter …”

  Dinner passed almost unnoticed lost somewhere between the touching of fingertips, the meeting of our eyes and the quickening of our heartbeats. I had no memory of what we said but the words seemed to bind us together tighter than any ropes could. I paid the bill and we left not noticing those around us. Outside Alana’s car was at the curb and her armed security guard stood ready to open the door.

  “Carl, let’s walk to your place. The air will be so good.”

  Looking up the hill with its pools of light and dark separated by deep shadows I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up, “Maybe it would be better if your driver takes us around the block. You’re just too beautiful tonight for the street.”

  “We are going to walk Querido. Manuel with his big automatic gun will be a few steps behind us and I noticed there is a man watching over you. I recognize him from when he was with someone who came to see the Senator three or four months ago.”

  “Ok, all of us will walk up to my apartment but I hope they don’t have to come in with us.”

  “Querido, you have to make them invisible. They are just another part of everyday. My Guardian worries about me. I have had someone with me almost immediately after I finished school and came under his protection.”

  “Someone has been with you when you’ve come to visit me?”

  “Naturally my love but it’s not my job to worry about him. It’s his job to worry about me and to do it without making himself a pest.”

  I was happy the elevator in my building was tiny. Our minders were so damned big the elevator could only hold one of them and no one else.

  Chapter 23

  At 9:30 Monday morning José Carlos followed by our security car pulled up to the curb on Faria Lima in front of a 1900s Parisian style office building with a grand black marble, bronze and glass entry that sparkled in the morning sun. “The office is on the fourth-floor Sr. Carl. I will park the car and buy some pastries at the French bakery on the ground floor. There is a small kitchen in the office to make coffee.”

  The sidewalk looked to be a football field in width. My hand hesitated on the door handle as once again I felt the gun go off inches from my head as I had several times last night after Alana had gone to sleep. We had spent hours talking about the things we wanted to do and the places we wanted to go together when we were not kissing and cuddling together like teenagers on a first date.

  The door opened from outside startling me, “Sr. Carl, I will escort you to your office and stay with you there. I am sure there is a small place where I can wait. My colleague will be in the garage watching your car to be sure no one goes to it.”

  Getting out and taking a few steps, “Thank you for looking out for me. I appreciate it.” I did appreciate it and the new feeling of calm his hulking presence foste
red. Killing or being killed were part of an ugly world I knew existed but one I had never had any contact with. Not even when my father died far away on some forgotten army mission that must have seemed important at the time. Then there had only been a crisp telegram neatly folded and put into and equally neat and clean envelope. Until just a few hours ago death was simply neat and clean with tears interrupted by the need to carry on. Now and forever death was unclean and messy, loud and corrupt, an invasive destruction of the past’s false security that held me in its fragile cocoon-like untruth. I felt changed forever in ways I was yet to understand.

  We passed through the broad revolving door into a long cool narrow lobby capped by a vaulted ceiling high above. Soft lighting illuminated murals covering the walls and painted clouds dotting blue sky floated between the marble arches above. All noise seemed absorbed by the space leaving only hushed calm drowning out São Paulo’s energetic tumult churning just feet away. It was a lobby much the same as one I remembered from a visit with my step father to an old Paris banking building. I learned much later it was where the private bank was located he customarily used for certain confidential business he conducted on the continent for the Ministry of Defense.

  Halfway down the lobby a reception desk of deep red mahogany reached halfway across its width. Behind it a uniformed attendant stood ramrod straight waiting for me. Against the opposite wall directly across from the desk stood a large man clad in military police khaki with one hand resting on a small submachine gun held at his waist by a shoulder strap.

  “Good morning, I am Carlton Matthews.”

  “Ah, Sr. Matthews, welcome to the building”, while carefully looking over the hulking bodyguard standing behind and to the side of me. “I was informed to expect you this morning. Your colleague Sra. Robin has already arrived and is waiting for you in your offices on the fourth floor.”

  “Thank you, is there anything I should know about the building or security?”

  “One or two things sir, all the staff will know who you are on sight within the hour and will pass you and any guests with you without question. Security staff is always posted in each elevator lobby, two on the garage level and six patrolling the outside areas. We have one security code you should know. If you are in distress of any kind when approaching a security officer simply put you right hand over your heart and you will be fully protected before you can leave the property.”