Chapter Thirty-two
Valencia, Venezuela
Mendoza Estate
The first indication that anything was wrong came without warning. Luis and Stephan were finishing up their daily business brief. Still no word on Gabriella, but his investigator had assured him that she was close. Weeks had passed since there had been any sighting, but Luis refused to accept defeat. It was only a matter of time before things returned to normal and they could proceed as planned. He had worked too hard and too long on this to give up now.
Besides, Rudolph wanted this deal to work almost as badly as he did. Between the two of them, they would make this happen.
“I anticipate we’ll be hearing from Bianchi again soon. The old goat checks in at least every other day. I wish I had something substantial to tell him. This waiting is beyond irritating. I’ve put him off each time, but I’m considering taking up his offer of assistance in the search for Gabriella.”
Somewhat surprised that Stephan had no response to what Luis thought was a major concession to his enemy, he looked up from his calendar. Stephan sat across from him reading something on his iPhone. His friend’s face was even more wrinkled and harsher than normal. “What’s wrong?”
Without looking up, Stephan said, “Were you aware that Marcel Dubois had his assets frozen?”
“What do you mean? Where did you hear that?”
“The news just broke online. Apparently, the French government is investigating him. Several of his businesses have been temporarily closed until the matter is resolved.”
“That’s a surprise. Marcel used to be so careful.” Luis shook his head, feeling somewhat smug. “That’s what happens when you don’t pay attention to detail. It’s good we haven’t had any dealings with him in the last couple of years.”
Stephan’s answer was a grunt of acknowledgment. His focus was still on the screen in front of him.
“Why do you look so concerned? It’s not as if we have any—”
“Alastair Kaufmann.”
“What about him?”
“His assets in England have been seized. I saw the news yesterday, but it didn’t register as a problem to me.”
“Why does it now?”
Instead of answering, Stephan clicked several keys and then read aloud, “Donald Benson in Chicago is under investigation for smuggling narcotics and jury tampering.”
Luis’s heart beat a little faster. “How is it that three men that we’ve done business with over the last five years are all under investigation at the same time? This makes no sense.”
Without looking up, Stephan said, “Francois Balogh in France and Gunnar Reiner in Germany.”
“What about them?”
“They’re being investigated by their governments.”
Luis gave a rapid shake of his head. “No. No. This has nothing to do with me. I’m sure that—”
“You had both these men at your last gathering. This cannot be a coincidence.”
His mouth gone dry, Luis swallowed hard and asked, “But who would—”
“Gabriella,” Stephan whispered.
“What?” Luis gave a shout of hearty laughter, grateful for the comic relief. “That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said. How could she know anything of their business dealings?”
“She served as hostess at many of the dinner parties these men attended.”
“So what? She talks flowers, music, art, and current events with them. She’s never sat in on the meetings. We’ve never discussed business out in the open where she could hear anything incriminating. There’s no possible way she would know anything about them.”
“Perhaps. But we should be prepared, just in case.”
“Prepared for what? She knows nothing.” Luis nodded at the phone Stephan seemed glued to. “I admit all of these occurrences at the same time are quite unusual and even a little alarming, but coincidences happen all the time. All of these men play dangerous games with very dangerous people. This has nothing to do with us. Don’t go getting paranoid in your old age.”
Ignoring his protests, Stephan continued to read out name after name of present and past business associates who were being investigated by the authorities. Despite himself, a growing concern tingled up his spine.
The cellphone in front of him buzzed, and Luis grabbed it up, grateful for the distraction. The caller ID display ignited the concern into a blazing alarm.
“Señor Mendoza?”
“Si.”
“I’ve just received word that a criminal investigation is being opened regarding the deaths of your son and daughter-in-law.”
A hot flush of heat swept up Luis’s body. Shock momentarily numbing his brain, he gripped the desk to help focus his thoughts. “For whatever reason?”
He asked the question, puzzlement in his voice. But he knew…he knew. Damn the little bitch. Damn her to hell.
“There are questions regarding how they died. The medical examiner is discussing the possibility of exhuming the bodies.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The bodies were cremated. They can’t be exhumed.”
“According to the medical records, your information is not correct.”
Could this be true? He had ordered the bodies cremated. The memorial service he’d held a few days after their deaths had featured two vases that contained their ashes. Most of the people involved in the cover-up were either retired or dead. Who would have had the audacity to not follow his dictates?
“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I’ll—”
“I just wanted to warn you, sir. As per our arrangement.”
Luis didn’t bother with thank-yous or any further questions. He ended the call and then looked at Stephan in bewildered fury. “You were right. Gabriella has betrayed us.”
***
Three days later…
Mendoza Estate
“So you have some information? Leads?”
Ivy nodded, noting that the man behind the massive desk wasn’t nearly as confident or arrogant as he had been when they first met. In fact, Luis Mendoza looked quite sickly. A person might assume that the stress of having his darling granddaughter still missing might have taken a toll on a grieving grandfather. But Ivy knew things…far more than anyone would have guessed. This was no worried grandpapa anxious to have his beautiful granddaughter back home because he loved her. There was evil, and then there was perverted evil. Without a doubt, Luis Mendoza belonged in the second category.
“That’s true, Señor Mendoza. I do have a few leads, and I’ll review those with you in a moment. However, you indicated you had something to show me.”
Luis turned to his computer. “I do. It isn’t much. The helicopter that was aiding in the chase of my granddaughter and her kidnapper picked up some images. I had them enhanced, but I still can’t tell much about them. The images are too blurry. Both Gabriella and her abductor were wearing hoods and kept their faces down. Perhaps you’ll see something that we didn’t.”
Ivy glanced over at the silent man sitting on the sofa. She knew his name was Stephan Conti and that he had been with the Mendozas for years. She knew he was loyal to the death to Luis, which made this part of her job that much easier.
“Whatever you have that might aid in me finding your granddaughter and her abductor would be most helpful. I’ll combine them with what I have so far.”
Luis turned the monitor around, and Ivy stared at chase photos, twelve of them, on the screen. “I see what you mean. The images are quite blurry.”
“And that’s after we had them enhanced and edited. I don’t see—”
“Wait.” She cut him off midsentence, pointing to the tenth photo. “Let me see this one.”
He clicked on the photo to enlarge the image. Ivy drew closer to the screen. The profile was still blurred, but she saw something that put her pulse into overdrive. Could it be? He had gone off the grid, disappearing from public eyes. But she’d also heard rumors, ones that she had discounted as too odd to be true. The idea that Jonah Slater was working for a secret organization geared toward gaining justice for victims was too fanciful to be true. But the profile of Gabriella’s abductor had strong similarities to the man himself.
Was it possible that Jonah Slater was actually responsible for the abduction of Gabriella Mendoza?
The girl had ties to Dallas, weak though they were. For the past three years, Gabriella had attended the McGruder Art Show there. What if during one of those times she had encountered one of the Slaters? It likely hadn’t been Jonah, since he’d been in prison, but what if someone associated with a Slater had made contact? The abduction of Carlos Mendoza was an obvious attempt to bring him to justice. Had Gabriella Mendoza arranged a trade? Her freedom for Carlos’s incarceration?
What an intriguing and delightful idea. And if Jonah Slater was involved, then things just got so much more interesting and a million times better.
“Do you see something, Ms. Roane?”
The question came from Stephan. She already knew the man had a less-favorable view of her than his employer. Stephan didn’t trust her. If this had been a different kind of job, that might have concerned her at some point. With this particular job, his distrust made no matter.
Encompassing both men with her smile, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I thought I saw a shadow…as if someone else other than those two on the snowmobile was there. I was wrong, it was nothing.” She straightened. “You’re right. This wasn’t helpful at all.”
“That was my belief, too,” Mendoza said.
The man sounded tired, a bit forlorn. She had a cure for that.
“I do appreciate you showing me, though.” He would never know how very much she appreciated it. “Even if it didn’t give me any additional information, every stone needs to be turned and examined if I’m to find Gabriella and bring her home safely.”
She gave one more dazzling smile, this one specifically for Luis. “And you have absolutely nothing more? No ideas at all? Conjectures on who the culprit might be? Thoughts on why she was taken?”
“No, none at all. We are at a standstill.” His brow furrowed as angry frustration gleamed in his eyes. “There’s nothing more I can give you.”
Exactly what she had expected, but she had needed to make sure.
“Now I’d like to see what you have,” Luis said. “You’ve been quite mysterious with your findings.”
And there was a reason for that. Reaching down, she picked up the small briefcase she’d brought with her, placed it on the credenza and click opened the snaps. “I do have a couple of things I’m hoping you can shed light upon.”
She slid her Glock 19 from beneath a concealed compartment and whirled. One bullet went into Stephan’s ugly forehead, another to his chest. The man never knew what hit him.
Before Mendoza could react, she turned the gun on him. The old goat’s eyes were wide as saucers. Ivy smiled. This never got old.
“But…why?” Luis said.
“Mr. Bianchi is tired of waiting. He will take care of matters from now on.”
“But…but my treasure… Our agreement...”
“Has been canceled.” She put a bullet in his head, one in his chest, and because it had been a special request, a bullet went into each of his knees and then one to his groin. Overkill in her opinion, but unless the deviations inconvenienced her, she did her best to please her clients.
The instant Mendoza went down, she double-checked her work. Assuming both men were dead without checking was sloppy wet work. She’d learned the hard way never to be sloppy.
Assured that both men’s hearts had stopped beating, she returned the gun and silencer to her briefcase and then went to work. She downloaded the photos she’d been shown as well as a couple of other interesting-looking files onto a flash drive. There could never be too much information. She then uploaded a damaging computer virus that she kept on hand for times such as these. One could never be too careful.
Pleased with her day’s work, Ivy closed her briefcase and, skirting Luis’s body, walked out the door. Another gun was beneath her jacket, close at hand. Several guards eyed her as she went out, but that was the norm. Despite her disguise of a short blond wig and overgenerous curves, she was still a beautiful woman. Who wouldn’t gawk?
No one tried to stop her. She, like so many, had been here for a business meeting with their employer. The goings-on behind those closed doors were not their concern. Of course, once they found two dead men, their feelings might change. But for now, she freely made her way to the black BMW she’d chosen for this particular job. Opening the door, she slid inside, started the engine and then she was off. Five miles down the road, she turned into a small lot and parked beside a red Lamborghini—a present to herself a few weeks back. She got into her shiny new toy and drove away.
The BMW had been stolen from a dealership in Caracas two days ago. Cameras from the dealership would show a stout woman with frizzy red hair and an unfortunate overbite helping herself to the car. The beautiful Ivy Roane was not a suspect.
She waited until she was a comfortable hour away from Mendoza’s estate before she pulled off into a restaurant parking lot. Retrieving a phone from her briefcase, she pressed several keys.
Within seconds, a heavily Italian accented voice said in English, “It is done?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. Any witnesses?”
“None.”
“How many?”
“Just the two you hired me for.” She rolled her eyes. She didn’t go about killing people for no reason. What was the point if there was no opportunity for gain?
“Very good. Your additional funds are being transferred now. Did you get any more information?”
“No.” She knew better than to show her cards. “They had nothing else to give.”
“Then you’ll proceed as agreed?”
“Yes. I’ll be back in touch soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She clicked off the phone and replaced it in her case. Then she pulled out another phone and sent a text message: “Phase one complete.”
Immensely satisfied, she restarted the engine and pulled back onto the road. Settling back into the luxurious leather seat, she felt a small smile curve her lips as she considered what she had learned. Jonah Slater might be involved in this. If she played this right, she would get two prizes. Gabriella Mendoza would go to Bianchi for him to do God knew what with—wasn’t her concern or business. And she, Ivy Roane, would have Jonah Slater’s head on a platter.
Oh yes indeed, if everything worked out the way she wanted, this was going to be an epic win on all fronts.