Three and a Half Weeks (40 page)

“I’d expect the same sage counsel from you if the situation were reversed. I hope I can depend on it if the occasion ever arises.”

Taking a deep breath, Ian
manages a small smile for his friend. “You can.”

When they reach Broadway, Daniel hails a cab, tersely gives the driver his address and in eight minutes the taxi pulls in front of the stately brownstone.

As soon as they’re seated in the ground floor office, they begin to confer in hushed tones. “I think I have an idea as to how this thing can go with no blood on our side,” Daniel says.

“That would be good.” Ian pinches the bridge of his nose; he’s really tired of dealing with this crap. Leaving Ella alone and vulnerable is weighing heavily on him, and after reading her book, he wants to play with her more than ever, maybe even again venture into his little dungeon. Instead he’s sitting in a room in New York planning the annihilation of his enemies—enemies he’d done nothing, absolutely nothing to cultivate. What a ridiculous clusterfuck.

Daniel runs his hand through his hair, a sign of his own agitation, and begins to explain. “You need to see this out and get back to your life—you have a wedding to plan and business matters to see to. You don’t need this BS… and don’t deserve it. I imagine you also want to protect your grandfather from further harm, assuming Natasha and company were responsible for his car accident.”

Ian snorts in derision at the circumstances. “And I imagine you’d like to focus on your own upcoming nuptials and not my travails with Russian criminals.”

Making a dismissive gesture, Daniel smiles wanly. “My in-laws are taking care of everything for us.”

“You mean your future in-laws. Don’t claim them until you absolutely have to.”

“No,” a weighty sigh escapes Daniel’s lips as he rolls his eyes in mock despair and holds up his left hand to display the wedding band, “I’m afraid they’re already very much mine. Olivia and I were married at City Hall two weeks ago.”

Hesitant to elaborate, Daniel nonetheless continues in answer to Ian’s wordless query. “We were feeling insecure about each other’s level of commitment so we decided the only fix was to swear to a lifetime of one—no biggie.” He smiles broadly, thinking of how he’s understating the situation. “It’s made a surprising difference, a highly positive one. Plus, my father-in-law is making a huge effort to put our checkered past behind us, and bond with me, as well. That, of course, followed on the heels of a horrific confrontation between he and I, but we’ll skip the gory details of that unfortunate incident.” He looks Ian in the eye. “So you see, I’ve been busy, too.”

Chuckling in response, Ian reaches over to pat Daniel on the back. “I’m happy for you. Congratulations on your marriage. By the way, you do know it’s almost impossible to put one’s hands on a Girardi sculpture? The man’s work is untouchable.”

“Yes, I’m aware of his popularity. I’ll introduce you to him at my wedding celebration—if you’re able to make it—and you might bring it up then. He holds back some of his pieces to rework, so I know he has a few smaller ones in his UK studio.”

Ian leans back in the padded swivel chair and tries to unwind from the tension of the day. “Okay, so let’s have it. Your idea?”

Daniel makes the suggestion unemotionally—he might as well be discussing the weather. “You don’t want their blood on your hands—”

Ian interrupts, “Nor to break the law…”

Daniel shakes his head. “Provoking them to attack by merely standing up to them and then defending ourselves with mortal force is not against the law. Still, we don’t walk away with our hands clean. Here’s a better way: you mentioned the grandfather had both the Colombian and Mexican cartels after him. He had to be moving a great deal of product to get in their crosshairs. Let’s get in touch with both of those groups if we can and give them a few names of Grandpa’s friends eager to take over his business. They’ll take them all out—even the woman.” He holds up his finger to make his next point. “We must ensure, however, that Lucien is protected: annoyance that he is, he’s an innocent in this whole scenario. I wouldn’t want him injured or worse.”

Fingers pulling at his bottom lip, Ian contemplates the suggestion. “Go on. How do you propose contacting the appropriate people? I assume you don’t travel in the same circles as drug kingpins nor do I.”

“I was hoping your grandfather might point us in the right direction. After all, he must have dealt with unsavory types like that all the time. Even the lowly foot soldiers could be of massive assistance. We keep ourselves anonymous, make the suggestion attractive, provide the intel, and give a little push. It’s the best way all around.” He leans in closer to make his next point. “They want to kill you; they’re not content to hurt you financially, especially after you gave their son a beating. I want you to be very clear on that point.”

“Clear as glass. Fuck.” Ian rubs his eyes, frustrated that every option available to him will keep him awake at night. “Okay, I’ll call my grandfather. Let’s put this baby in motion.”

Nodding with grave satisfaction, Daniel rises. “I need to get some work done. You can use this office—I have another one off my bedroom suite. I’ll let our staff know you’re here. Please make yourself comfortable, Ian. Olivia will be home soon so you’ll get to meet my beautiful girl.”

“Good, I’d like to finally thank her in person for her hospitality… and I miss my own, so seeing yours will help. I especially miss Ella after reading her novel on the flight here.” He winks, grinning mischievously.

“So she
is
the same Ella Strong who wrote
Three and a Half Weeks
?”

“The same. She wrote it as a joke for her friends but it went wide without her knowledge or approval and before she knew it, it was a bestseller. They’re actually making a film of it.” He tosses his head back and laughs, knowing Daniel will see the truth behind the book.

Daniel didn’t disappoint. “I assume the antagonist is modeled after you then?”

“Naturally.”

Now it’s Daniel’s turn to laugh; Ian can’t remember ever seeing Daniel really laugh spontaneously. “Well, I suppose we have even more in common then. I had a girlfriend once upon a time who used to drag me to these private parties, a club of sorts. Very interesting activities, I have to say, and I did enjoy myself.”

“Aha. We’ll have to discuss it further someday.”

“Indeed. Now we have something else to look forward to. I’ll be upstairs if you need anything.”

That night, as he lay in bed in Daniel’s guest suite, Ian reflected on the day’s events. A few hours after he and Daniel parted to work, they had dinner together, with Daniel’s wife, Olivia. All three of them were seated on one end of a vast stone table in the dining room, and Daniel had introduced Ian to his wife. They’d exchanged small talk about her father’s work, and her studies to be an architect.

Olivia was a beautiful young woman but Ian expected no less: Daniel had the looks and money—if not the winning personality—to ensnare any woman so why would he aim low? Olivia Girardi had beauty, charisma, and the smarts to keep a man like Daniel on a tight string. They seemed very well matched and happy to be with one another. Seeing them together made Ian yearn all the more for Ella.

It was just after they’d finished dinner that an awkward moment arose. Daniel reached over and grasped his wife’s hand. “Olivia, sweet… Micah told me you have Joseph’s number in Bangkok. True?”

The look on her face revealed a story: startled, embarrassed, and even a bit angry. She stuttered out a reply. “I have his new cell number, not a land line, but I haven’t spoken to him.”

Though his green eyes held fire, Daniel’s voice was as soft as melted butter. “That’s not why I’m asking, love. I need to speak with him. May I have the number?”

Seeing her hesitation, he was quick to reassure her. “I require information from him. If you prefer, you may place the call yourself. Okay?” He was still holding her hand and now he began to stroke it with his thumb.

She glanced nervously at Ian who only smiled warmly in response. “Um, okay. May I ask what this is about?”

“Nothing big. I’m just hoping he can put me in touch with people I need to contact.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, just a smooth understatement of his real purpose. “I’d like to place the call now,” he prodded, checking his watch. “It’s just about seven a.m. there and I can more than likely catch him before he becomes inaccessible. Make the call. Now.”

He left no room for argument. Olivia retrieved her phone from her bag, and in seconds, handed her husband the phone. As soon as the connection went through, Daniel stood and waved Ian into the office off the main parlor. He began to speak into the phone even before they reached the room.

“Sorry to disappoint, Joseph, but it’s her husband… Yes, that’s what I said. We’re married. Just so you know, she placed the call so I’m not in possession of your number… but I don’t need to tell you that I don’t appreciate her having it. However, that’s not why I called… I need information. May I put you on speaker? I’m with a friend whose interests are at stake. Very good.”

Ian hears a deep voice resonating throughout the office as Daniel gestures for him to sit while easing himself down into a chair.

“Okay. Let’s have the details.” Terse, cold, deadly: those are the adjectives that spring to mind upon hearing the bloodless voice on the other end of the line.

Daniel launches into a succinct explanation of the events. “I need to be put in touch with both cartels in as anonymous a way as possible. I’d like to hand them some of their potential enemies on a silver platter…”

A pause follows, filling the small room with a tense silence. “Why would either cartel desire such information?”

Daniel shrugged. “Why not? These men had a predecessor who was pissing off both groups. I figure they may want to nip it in the bud before it gets off the ground.”

“Small potatoes. These kinds of nuisances aren’t worth the lead to kill them. You’ll have to come up with something better.”

“We’re trying to avoid getting the red stuff on our hands, Joseph. My friend is not comfortable with it going that way,” he looks over at Ian as he communicates this information to Joseph.

“No one ever really is, except the psychos… but sometimes it’s what has to happen. It’s going to be an uphill battle to get the cartels interested in a few two-bit drug dealers moving in on their turf. Now, if the operation gets large, then it’s another story entirely. Right now, your best bet is to give me names and I can see to it for you at fifty per. Sending them to jail holds no guarantees nor does deportation. If these individuals are that hot to get your friend, then you have no choice but to get them first. It’s self-defense, pure and simple. That’s my best advice, Daniel. Barring that option, I can put you in touch with someone who can get you face time with the Colombians—I don’t know how far up the ladder. The Mexicans are more difficult to work with.”

The room went horribly silent when Joseph stopped talking. It was almost as if the air itself was weighted down by the grim prospects confronting Ian.

Joseph’s impatient voice cut through the quiet. “Call me back when you make your decision. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

The call disconnected and Daniel leaned his weight on his knees, hanging his head down. He didn’t want to look in Ian’s eyes right now. Velvet-soft, he whispered, “How much time do you need to make your decision?”

Ian’s sigh reverberated through the room. “First, I need to speak with Lucien again. Then I’ll call it.” He pulled out his cell phone.

The small office was so quiet that Daniel could hear the phone ringing on the other end of the line, and then the terse greeting. “Yes?”

“Phillips, Blackmon.”

“What do you need? I have no additional information for you as yet.”

“Phillips, I’m going to be very candid with you and I’d appreciate your returning the courtesy. Right now I need you to answer a few questions, the first one concerns your Lithuanian friends. Are they killers?”

There is no immediate response and then Lucien begins to speak
, his voice tired. “To my knowledge, no; however, I cannot state unequivocally that that’s the case.”

“Fair enough. Second, a threat has been made against Ella. How likely is it they will carry it out even if I make it difficult?”

“Very likely.”

“You do realize the three of them have squeezed me into a tight corner?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then. They’ve been warned through you.”

“Yes. Blackmon?”

Ian waits, saying nothing.

Lucien continues. “Don’t assume they are the ones needing the warning. These men have been associated with some very tough characters and survived. Bear that in mind.”

“Duly noted. Stay safe, Lucien.”

It was not lost on the French man that Ian had addressed him by his given name for the first time since they met. Lucien realized the implication: Ian didn’t want him to get hurt in whatever was coming down. He’d return the goodwill. “Good luck, Ian.”

Ian disconnected and looked Daniel in the eye. “Call Joseph. Tell him we’re on at fifty per with a twenty percent bonus if it can be concluded within 48 hours. I’m sick to death of this shit and I’m not imperiling Ella a moment longer than absolutely necessary. So be it.”