Worth Dying For (8 page)

“Hello, Ms. Moretti. I’m Terasa Castrucci and I would like to start by saying thank you for changing our appointment on such short notice and,” she nodded at the retreating figure walking down the driveway, “please accept my apology for their behavior. Personally, I think they’re uncalled for.”

Rheyna took Terasa’s hand in hers and was pleasantly surprised by the firm grip. “You’re welcome, Mrs. Castrucci; please call me Rheyna, and there is no need to apologize.” Again, Terasa smiled warmly at her and Rheyna thought she was every bit as lovely as her photo.

She was dressed exquisitely in a lavender floral print skirt suit. A few stray tendrils of hair had escaped from the perfectly coifed hair and hung loosely down around her ears and shoulders. The pearl necklace and earrings she wore added to her beauty. Rheyna had no doubt they were the real thing and very expensive. Terasa Castrucci was regal, yet personable.

Rheyna followed her into the sunken entryway and let out a gasp. She then proceeded to trip up the stairs leading into the foyer, nearly falling on her face. Terasa reached out to steady her and chuckled. Rheyna looked up, feeling like a complete idiot. All this time, she had been so impressed by the outside of the house that she hadn’t given the inside a second thought. She hated to admit it, but she was awestruck.

Windows surrounded the entryway, covering the entire area from floor to ceiling. At the base of the entryway steps, a spiraling black wrought-iron staircase wound its way down from the second floor out into the foyer. The foyer had to be at least forty-feet wide in all directions and opened up into the upper level of the house. Italian marble covered the floor and its pattern reminded Rheyna of the color swirl one gets when mixing chocolate syrup with vanilla ice cream.

The room was naturally bright and warm, aided by numerous skylights located along the ceiling. Structural columns—made from hand-carved marble and accented with gold leaf-shaped inlays—framed oversized doorways.

Looking toward the back and upward, she could see where the room protruded outward, as in the photos. What was missing from the photos was the beautiful ornamental railing encircling a walkway, covering the entire second floor. She assumed that a series of hallways branching out from the walkway led to the upstairs bedrooms. From her position, she could see through the doors that opened to three separate balconies overlooking the pool and the ocean. She felt as if she were standing in a museum.
 

Terasa looped her arm through Rheyna’s, snapping her from her thoughts. She led Rheyna into what she described as the sitting room. She poured two glasses of wine, handed one to Rheyna, and then sat down on a couch in front of a large picture window overlooking the bay.

“I want you to know how much I appreciate you altering your schedule for me on such short notice,” Terasa said with sincerity.

“It was no trouble at all, Mrs. Castrucci. I was happy to do it.” Rheyna glanced around the room with admiration. “This has to be the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in.”

Terasa beamed at the compliment and smiled. “I’m glad you think so and thank you. I did all the decorating myself.”

Rheyna held her glass up in a mock toast. “You did a fantastic job.”

Just when she thought she couldn’t be surprised anymore, Caroline Castrucci walked into the room, causing Rheyna to choke on her wine. Standing before her was the most gorgeous two-legged creature she had ever seen. Caroline wasn’t just beautiful—she was narcotically stunning.

Rheyna tried not to stare, but failed miserably. Starting at the bottom of her white slacks, Rheyna’s eyes traveled the entire length of Caroline’s darkly tanned body before coming back to the area at the base of her throat where a bright silver chain hung just above her breasts. The clothing did little to hide her curvaceous body, and Rheyna wondered if all of her skin was that tan.
 

Rheyna felt a burning sensation in her cheeks and knew Caroline was watching her. She fought off an uncontrollable urge to shiver. She stared at Caroline’s lips and wondered what it must feel like to kiss them.

Caroline’s mouth curved into a smile, and Rheyna forced herself to meet her gaze. She found herself looking into the brightest and deepest pair of blue eyes ever created. She was overwhelmed with a physical desire so strong, that it rocked her to the core.
 

Caroline’s right eyebrow shot up, and Rheyna blushed. Caroline’s smile grew wider. She looked at Rheyna as if to say, “Do-I-meet-your-approval?” and by the look on Caroline’s face, it was obvious that she was enjoying their little exchange. Caroline was the first to break eye contact. She walked over to her mother, bending slightly, and kissed Terasa on the cheek.

Terasa wrapped her arm around Caroline’s waist and smiled. “Rheyna, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Caroline.”

Caroline met Rheyna’s gaze and held it as she walked over. She stopped directly in front of Rheyna. She was so close, Rheyna could smell the sweet fragrance of her cologne. She held her hand out and smiled. “Hello, Rheyna, I’m pleased to meet you.”

Rheyna took Caroline’s hand in hers and returned the smile. “I’m pleased to meet you, too.” What surprised Rheyna was how much she meant those words.

“Where’s your father?” Terasa asked, oblivious to the little exchange going on between the two women.

“He’s on his way,” Caroline answered, still looking Rheyna in the eyes.

“I was thinking that I would like the pictures taken in here. What do you think, Rheyna?” Terasa asked.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Rheyna answered as she
 
began setting up her equipment, grateful for the distraction, and a few much-needed minutes to get it together. She was fully aware by the rapid beating of her heart that Caroline was still watching her. Something told her that if she looked up, she would see two bright blue eyes laughing at her.

“What in the hell is wrong with me?” she mumbled under her breath as she attached the camera to the tripod. “I’m acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.”

She looked up just as Anthony Castrucci appeared in the doorway. His mammoth body swallowed the doorframe. He, on the other hand, looked exactly as Rheyna had pictured. He walked into the room with his right hand man, Sonny Valachi, following closely on his heels.

Sonny nodded his head at Rheyna and took a seat just inside the door.

“Anthony, this is Rheyna Moretti. She’s the photographer I hired,” Terasa said, looking at her husband.

He smiled and nodded at her. “Ms. Moretti, I’m all yours. Where do you want me?” he asked.

In a nice jail cell, she wanted to say, but bit her tongue. Instead, she said, “Here, in front of the picture window, please.” She indicated the seat next to Terasa and then moved behind the couch. She pulled the cord to move the Venetian blind out of the way.

“Caroline, can you stand right here, behind your parents?” she asked before walking back over to her camera. As she bent down to peer through the lens, she had to admit that the three of them made a striking family. Caroline had obviously received the best of each parents’ genes.

“Caroline, can you place your right hand on your father’s shoulder? That’s good, now hold it right there. Okay, smiles, everyone.”

Rheyna snapped several photos in succession. “Okay, now, what I’d like to do is get a couple individual shots. I’ll start with you first, Mrs. Castrucci, if that’s okay with everyone.”

“Of course, dear,” Terasa answered.

As soon as Caroline and her father moved, Rheyna snapped the photos. “Okay, all done,” she said.

Terasa stood and motioned for her husband to take her spot.

“Would you like me to sit in the same spot, Ms. Moretti?” he asked.

“That would be fine, thank you,” she answered.

She bent to look through the lens and felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She quickly took the photos and stood upright.

Big Tony got up and turned to Rheyna. “If you don’t need anything more from me, Ms. Moretti, I have a business trip to prepare for.”

“Nope, that should do it. Thank you, Mr. Castrucci.”

Caroline walked over and took a seat on the couch. “I guess it’s my turn,” she said, smiling at Rheyna.
 

“Yes, it is,” Rheyna, answered. Once Caroline was settled, she snapped off more pictures than she needed. She looked up from the camera. “All done,” she said as she began taking her equipment apart.
    

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Caroline leave the room and felt a pang of disappointment. She was grateful when Terasa walked over and looped her arm through hers; otherwise, she would have stood there psychoanalyzing herself.

She smiled at the older woman. “When I get back, I’ll get the proofs made. It shouldn’t take me too long.”

“Thank you, Rheyna, I appreciate that,” she said as she walked with Rheyna to the front door.

“I’ll call you in the morning,” Rheyna said. Her thoughts turned to Caroline. “Or I can bring them over to you, if you prefer.”

Terasa laid her hand on Rheyna’s shoulder. “Are you sure it wouldn’t be a bother? I’ve already put you out as it is.”

Rheyna smiled at her. “Nonsense, I have an appointment in the morning not too far from here. I can just drop them off after I’m done.”

“All right, you win, but only if you’re positive that it’s not too much trouble.”

“I promise you, it’s not.”

“I guess I will see you sometime tomorrow then,” Terasa said, smiling at Rheyna. She stood in the doorway and watched Rheyna walk to her car.

Rheyna climbed into her Jeep and tossed the camera bag on the seat beside her. She waved goodbye to Terasa and headed down the driveway.

###

Later that night, after checking in with Laura, Rheyna sat down at the computer to download the Castrucci photos from the memory card. She loved technology, especially when it worked to her benefit. She loved the touch-up portion of the software, where she could literally erase tattoos or instantly airbrush on a ready-made tan. She opened the software and brought up the Castrucci photos. It took less than an hour to arrange the photos and print out the proofs.

She went back into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. She twisted off the cap and took a swig. Her thoughts turned to the bureau and the technology in the field of criminal investigation. She vividly remembered the day Sigh-ock opened for business.
 

Dedicated by President George Bush in 1998, the twenty-million-dollar, high-tech operations center, located on the fifth floor of the J. Edgar Hoover Building was roughly the size of a football field and measured more than 40,000 square feet. It was specifically designed to accommodate up to 450 additional staff members or agents in the event of an emergency.

The center’s main purpose was to provide crisis updates to the FBI using sophisticated computers and communication equipment. When and if a crisis began, the center sent out updates to the top people throughout the FBI, as well as other U.S. government agencies.
 

The glaring need for an updated center became evident in the summer of 1996 when bureau officials tried to manage simultaneous investigations regarding the explosions at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, TWA flight 800 over Lockerbie Scotland, and the Saudi Arabia truck bombing at Khobar Towers. It was total chaos trying to handle it all. The crises left the FBI shorthanded on personnel and severely handicapped for space. There weren’t enough rooms or telephones, and some of the bureau’s best agents were assigned to makeshift desks throughout the hallways, reading confidential documents.

On the day of the dedication, FBI Director Louis J. Freeh introduced reporters to the new facility with a one-time-only tour. At the time of the dedication, the bureau’s fastest growing sector was counter-terrorism. Between 1993 and 1998, the number of offices stationed in the U.S. and around the world had more than doubled.