Scarlett and the Feds (10 page)

A
fter once again ditching Victor’s security detail, no easy task mind you, I rounded the corner of the station for my usual rendezvous with the Feds. I had my questions in hand for my next target and the covert little mic safely in position in between my boobs.

As I came around the corner, I was grabbed from behind. I felt the barrel of a gun pressing into my temple. I struggled and tried to scream, but a hand was firmly placed over my mouth. I regretted giving the goons the slip.

Vivian appeared from the shadows. Scarlett pulled the pin on the smoke bomb and had the red sniper bead smack dab between her eyes. For once I secretly wished the Feds would break the chain link down and surround Vivian and her thug, guns drawn, screaming,
Drop the guns, hands in the air.
Scarlett shook her head “no”, she had the situation under control. Besides, taking down gold digging bitches was her specialty. But Agent Parker’s words haunted me,
If you get caught you’re on your own, the price to pay for freedom.
I hoped that at least the Feds were listening in from some non-descript van around the corner. My eyes scanned the parking lot waiting for my goons to repel down from the roof top. Scarlett applied her favorite red lipstick just in case.

“You have no idea who you’re screwing with do you. I see how he looks at you,” she said, disdain dripping from her lips.

“Who?” I seethed garbled.

Vivian motioned for the thug to remove his hand. He complied, but tightened his grip around my chest.

“You scream and he puts a bullet in your head,” she sneered, her face inches from mine.

I nodded I understood.
Fuck, I hate her.
Scarlett was in position to grab her by the hair and slam her face into the payment. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

“My husband. You little bitch. What, isn’t his son enough? Now you need to go after his father?”

“What? No, you’re crazy! I have no interest in your husband!” I shouted, my eyes ablaze.

She slapped me across the face.

Scarlett spit in her face.

“Don’t lie to me! I know that you had something to do with Gino disappearing. I gave you a warning when I ran you and that piece of shit car off the road. I’m not playing, darling, I will take you the fuck out.”

Scarlett was in full-throttle, bitch slapping mode. She wrote the instruction manual on taking people out.

“I will make sure those responsible for Gino’s death will suffer and I will enjoy every minute.” She ran her finger down my cheek.

Scar whipped out her Taser—
that is it, the bitch is going to eat asphalt.
The metal door to the garage opened and Vivian and her thug vanished. My back was against the building, my breathing rapid, and heart rate through the roof. Before I had a chance to calm down, my cell phone was blowing up.

Rendezvous point in 5

After deleting the message, I rounded the corner of the building, headed back down the narrow alley, and slipped through the opening in the fence. Both agents were waiting, ready to pounce.

“Who the hell was that?” Agent Parker snapped.

“Mommy Dearest,” I sneered.

Both Agents exchanged glances.

“Joe Salvatore’s wife, Vivian.”

Agent Davis flipped open his phone and punched in the number. He looked over his shoulder as he walked away.

Scarlett tiptoed up behind him putting her hand to hear to eavesdrop.

“Is there something you’re withholding, Miss Ellington?” Agent Parker warned.

“No,” I said.

Agent Davis returned and whispered into Agent Parker’s ear.

“She referenced Gino.”

“Yes.”

“Gino Moranno?” Agent Davis asked.

“I just knew him as Gino.”

“Knew him?”

“Yes I only met him a couple of times. But I never held a conversation with him. He is one of Joe Salvatore’s body guards.”

“Yes, and according to Mrs. Salvatore he is missing.”

“You are the Feds. I’m sure you already have all the answers, so why pepper me with all the questions.”

Scarlett had her arms folded and was tapping her foot. She was not amused.

“You must have glossy black and white photos of her splattered all over some wall at FBI Headquarters.”

No reply from either agents.

“She’s obviously delusional.” Scar took her finger and twirled next to her head to illustrate how nuts Vivian was.

“I have no idea what she’s talking about.”

“We take her threats seriously,” Agent Parker replied. “Did she run you off the road?”

“Yes.”

“Did you report it?” Agent Davis snapped.

“Yes. My car was totaled and the State police and EMT’s were on scene, but I had no clue who was driving at the time.”

Scarlett was pulling on my sleeve, she wanted to get going.

“Are we done here?” I asked. Vivian was the least of my worries.
When I tell Victor about my encounter with her, she’s dead.
I knew he would handle it. “I have the Mayor to extort,” I seethed.

The agents were not amused by my snarky comment.

“Miss Ellington, if you don’t want to take our agreement seriously, we can end this now and take you and Mr. Salvatore into custody.”

Scarlett flipped him the double bird.

“Jesus H. I’m doing everything you force me too! My apologies if my snide comments offend you, but I’m the one being put in harm’s way.”

“It’s what you agreed too,” Agent Davis snapped.

“Then let me do it,” I said, waving the incriminating questions they gave me to ask the Mayor. Turning, I scooted through the fence and ran down the narrow alley. I was sure by that point Ed, and the goons were looking for me to head to Mayor Sanders’ office.

“Hey, there you are,” Ed said walking out of the garage, Hawke was right behind him, looking very unhappy with me. “You ready, he asked glancing toward the side of the building.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Ed climbed in between the wheel and I got in the passenger side with Hawke in the back.

“Umm is everything okay, Angelina?” Ed asked, nervously glancing at my ‘assistant’.

“Great!” I said forcing a smile. Scarlett gave him two thumbs up from the back seat. “Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, it’s just that you have been acting weird lately,” he said shaking his head.

Hawke glared at Ed.

“Sorry, I guess I have. I’ve got a lot of personal stuff going on and then working for Nelson is always tenuous, to say the least.” I smiled hoping he would buy my story. I pretended to scratch where the mic was. I grinned imagining the Agents swearing at the feedback in their ear.

Scarlett high fived me.

Ed and I flashed our press badges as we pulled through the secure gate to the Mayor’s office. I had an appointment to interview him about a charitable event he held to boost his poll numbers which were in the tank. He was eager to have a reporter from Channel Six highlight him in the segment the station does to honor philanthropist in the local community.

We were greeted by a petite blonde with an infectious smile and high pitched voice. I grinned thinking that every word she said made my eavesdropper wince. Scarlett put a pair of ear plugs in.

“Welcome. I’m Melanie,” she said extending her hand to me.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied shaking her hand.

“Please follow me,” she said, her voice climbing another octave.

“Stay here,” I muttered to Hawke, who gave me a slight nod and leaned against the wall pulling out his cell phone.

The Mayor’s office was crisp and bright. Floor to ceiling windows allowing for a sniper’s view of the city he governed.

“Miss Ellington. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, clasping my hand between both of his.

I caught a glimpse of Scarlett checking his browsing history for porn. I shot her the evil eye and she sighed, threw her hands up, and went looking for the break room in hopes of scoring cake.
Hell the way this day has been going, she’d settled for half a stale donut.

The Mayor had a full head of salt and pepper hair, he looked every bit the part of a politician. That gleam in his eye, the in your face white teeth, and the over the top groveling all politicians have perfected. They are were trained to spin and avoid the real issues.

Ed was setting up all his gear for the interview. Because of his earlier suspicion, I needed to get rid of him long enough to incriminate the Mayor for the Feds. I started to rub my eyes until they began tearing up.

“Crap. My allergies are killing me. My eyes won’t stop itching. Can you do me a huge favor, Ed? Run to the van to get my eye drops from my purse?” I said, smiling my best Southern belle smile, just hoping he was too intimidated by my ‘assistant’ Hawke in the receptionist’s office to ask him to go.

Scarlett batted her lashes at him.

“Sure,” Ed replied, disappearing out of the Mayor’s office.

I gently closed the door behind him. I went over and got the mic from Ed’s duffle bag.

“Mr. Mayor, let’s get you fitted with the mic,” I said unbuttoning his jacket. I could feel his breath on my neck and his breathing intensified.

“There you go, sir. Ready to go.”

The Mayor cleared his throat. “Thank you,” he said shifting in his chair.

“Let’s do a trial run while my cameraman is gone.” I sat down facing the Mayor.

“My first question is, how long have you been in politics?”

He smiled. “Twenty years.”

“Wow, that’s a long time to hold office.”

“It is.”

“But not all as Mayor?”

“No, in different roles throughout the years.”

“As you climbed the ranks in power did it get easier?”

“Did what get easier?” he asked looking confused.

“Taking bribes to award lucrative city contracts to the Mob.”

“What?” His tone was a cocktail of shock and self-preservation. “I don’t know where you got you information from, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really? So this document I have showing deposits in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars for your election runs over the last few years from Tri- Cities Construction who’s owned by Joe Salvatore, is what?”

Ed burst into the room and stopped cold as he looked at the Mayor who looked like he was ready to grab me by the throat and choke the life out of me. Scarlett told him to get in line that list was long.

“Just in time, Ed. Could you start rolling and I will ask the Mayor my question again? This time on camera.”

Ed handed me my purse and took his stance behind the camera.

My eyes fixated on the Mayor’s who looked like he was on the verge of a stroke.

“All set, Ed?”

“Yes were rolling.”

“Great. Mr. Mayor let me repeat the question I just asked you. I’m sure your constituents would be curious of your answer. Mr. Mayor could you explain the deposits of—”

“Enough. Shut that camera off and get out of my office.”

Ed froze looking at me.

“Can you give the Mayor and me a few minutes to re-group? I think his nerves are getting to him.”

Without a word Ed left.

I went over and turned the camera on.

“What the hell are you doing? This was supposed to be an interview about my charity work.”

“Right to show what a great asset to the city you are and how you help the community. Yet costing the taxpayers millions by awarding the city’s most lucrative contracts to the mob to ensure you get elected. Help me understand how that helps the community,” I said.

The Mayor sat silent. He froze when he saw the red light on the camera, showing it was recording the entire time.

“Oops I must have accidently turned the camera on when my cameraman ran to the car. I think I have plenty for my story tonight. The most riveting ones are those that leave unanswered questions and plant that seed of doubt in people’s minds, they don’t really want to believe it, but they do.”

Beads of sweat formed on the Mayor’s forehead and his eyes were launching missiles in my direction. He didn’t utter a word.

I sighed. “Okay, I’m not out to ruin your career. I just want a juicy story to help me move up the reporter ladder. But I like you, so I will make a deal. I will shut the camera off, let you delete the tape, if you answer a couple questions.”

“Why?” he asked his tone barely audible.

“Because, Mr. Mayor, you are a small piece to my puzzle. It won’t be complete without all its pieces. I will keep your name out of it.” I took a page from Nelson’s playbook looking around the room, leaning in close I whispered, “Look I’m doing research on a bigger story. It’s very secretive, but you can come out on either the winning side or losing side depending on if you help me. Your answers will just be between us. I promise. I crossed my heart with my left hand and crossed my fingers behind my back with my right.