Scarlett and the Feds (15 page)

Hawke waited for me at the car after work. I climbed in the back of the Escalade. Scarlett was bouncing off the walls all day like a toddler on a sugar high. She was so excited about going car shopping.

“Hi, Hawke.”

“Ma’am,” he replied.

“Where’s Victor?” I’d expected him to meet us in the parking lot.

“His last meeting ran late. We’re heading over to his office to get him.”

“Ok,” I said, realizing that I hadn’t been back to Salvatore Industries since that day I was investigating Philip Snyder’s murder.

Hawke entered the parking garage and pulled into a space. He was at my door before I’d grabbed my purse. He walked next to me his eyes constantly scanning the area. He hurried me to the elevator, the doors opened, and he slid in a card and pushed eight. The anticipation was killing me and Scarlett was on the verge of losing her mind. Neither of us had ever been in Victor’s office. Scarlett rubbed her hands together at the thought of being in the epicenter of Victor’s empire protected by snotty, well-dressed, skinny receptionists and security guards with inept social skills.

The doors to the elevator opened reveling the eighth floor. Hawke walked past the tall, attractive brunette in a navy suit and expensive necklace. She was on the phone and glanced up as we walked past, but continued typing into her computer. The floors were hardwood and the décor screamed expensive. The art works that hung in the hall were Italian landscapes. Victor’s office was at the end of a long hallway. His assistant’s desk was empty as I passed. Scarlett started pilfering through her desk and held up a picture of an average looking woman in her late forties with two teenage kids and a husband. Scarlett sighed, she was hoping she might have to employ some of her ass kicking skills in case she had cooked up a plan to steal Victor from me.

Hawke knocked on Victor’s door.

“Come on in,” he answered.

Hawke pushed open the door.

A big grin flashed on Victor’s face.

“Hi gorgeous,” he said, giving me a big kiss. Scarlett was sprawled out of the leather couch in the corner under the painting that resembled the one hanging in the vineyard house.

“Wow your office is impressive. That view is breathtaking,” I said looking out of the floor to ceiling windows. The sun was starting to set and the city was coming alive as lights radiated across the landscape.

“It works,” Victor said. “Ready to go?” His eyes were dancing with excitement.

“Absolutely.” Scarlett had been ready since the day my car was murdered by Vivian.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“Really?” Victor said, amused and I suspected turned on. I heard the door close as Hawke assumed that was his cue to leave.

Victor grabbed me and began kissing my neck. My sweet spot threw down her smut novel and paid attention. His lips found their favorite spot on mine and began making up for lost time. After catching my breath and my sweet spot peeling off her clothes, Victor stopped. As turned on as I was at that moment, we had an appointment in twenty minutes.

“Plenty of time,” I said eyeing the leather couch in the corner. My sweet spot flipped Victor the double bird.

“I’ll make it up to you later tonight. I promise.”

Scarlett planted a big ole wet kiss smack dab on Victor’s lips. She had waited all day to go car shopping and her patience was long gone. She started pushing me from behind out the door. The eighth floor had grown quiet as we headed for the elevator. Hawke was standing at the edge of the reception desk and pushed the button to the elevator. The doors opened just as we arrived.

“As I said before, I have a proposition.” Scarlett rolled her eyes.
Not again, didn’t I just divert us once already?
“Or maybe a better word is compromise,” I said trying to chill Scarlett out. The elevator door sprang open and we made our way to the Escalade.

“All right. I’m listening.”

Victor opened my door and I climbed in.

“I’m paying for the car, but if it’s more than the money my mom left for me, you can pay the difference.”

“I’ll think about it,” he said.

“We talked about this and it’s the only way I will agree to let you help me or I will just buy a used car on my own.” Scarlett slapped me hard across the face, twice, hoping to rid my mind of such crazy thoughts.

“Fine, but no small little death traps.”

Scarlett was jumping up and down with excitement. She crossed her fingers on both hands and her toes that I would chose the tank or the hummer.

Hawke pulled into the dealership and a salesman greeted us as we climbed out of the Escalade.

“Mr. Salvatore, it’s an honor to meet you, sir.” The salesman, in his early thirties, had wavy black hair and a thousand megawatt smile. He extended his hand to Victor. “My name is Dave Desmond.”

“Mr. Desmond. This is my girlfriend Angelina Ellington.”

“My pleasure, Miss Ellington,” he said clasping both my hands in his.

“Let the groveling begin,” I mumbled.

“Sorry? I didn’t catch that,” Dave replied.

“Nothing,” I said. Scarlett slapped me upside the head.
Be nice
, she growled, and made a mad dash for the shiny red SUV in the show room.

“What are we in the market for?”

“Angelina is looking for a full size sedan or mid-size SUV all-wheel drive and as many safety features as possible.”

“Great. Follow me I think I have the winner, winner, chicken dinner. Right over here,” he said.

His car salesman persona was off the charts. He made me nauseated at how much he was kissing Victor’s ass. We had appointments with two more dealerships tonight and this dude was over the top. He brought me over to this forty-five thousand dollar SUV. Hastily he opened the driver’s door while non-stop selling me on the features. Scarlett was enthralled with the all the buttons on the dash and pushed every single one. She didn’t care about the price, but I did. I was done. When I’d said Victor could pay the difference I meant under ten grand. Both Victor and Hawke walked around the SUV giving it a good once over.

“What do think, babe?” Victor asked.”

“Too expensive,” I said.

The Salesman was steps from having a full-blown coronary at the thought of losing the sale. He ramped his sales pitched to cataclysmic levels talking about throwing in a life warranty and a super charged engine.
If he throws in a rocket launcher Scarlett is ready to sign.
I was ready to leave. I was inching my way toward the door, worried the salesman would grab my leg, hold on for dear life, and not let me leave unless I bought something.

“What price range are we looking in Mr. Salvatore?”

“I’m purchasing the vehicle. Not Mr. Salvatore and I want to stay under twenty five thousand,” I said.

“Oh. Well then,” He replied not hiding the contempt in his voice.

“Thank you for your time, sir, but I don’t think you have what I’m looking for.”

“Now hold on. I’m sure we can find something that would work for you, Miss Ellington.”

I walked out the door with Hawke right behind me unlocking the Cadillac I made my getaway to the safety of the Escalade and waited for Victor.

The door flung open and he climbed in. I snuggled up next to him.

“Well that was frickin’ painful. I really despised him,” I said, shuddering.

Victor chuckled. “Me too.”

“Let’s hope they’re not all like that or I’m going to be hitch hiking to work.”

“That will never happen,” Victor quipped, not as amused as I was at the thought.

Scarlett was over the chit chat, she wanted to move on to the next dealership. Scar looked back at the salesman standing in the lot of the dealership and swore he was sobbing as we drove away.

It was close to eight when we pulled into the next place. I prayed this encounter would be better than the last. I really missed having a car, but I was standing firm on how much I would let Victor contribute.

We pulled up in front of the dealership and no salesman descended on the Escalade like a pack of rabid wolves.

Hawke held the door as Victor and I walked in. A heavy set older gentleman with salt and pepper hair shook hands with Victor. He looked vaguely familiar.

“Good to see you, Victor. Everything well?”

“Yes Charles, thanks. This is my girlfriend Angelina.”

“Nice to see you again,” he said.

Charles noticed my confused expression. “We met at Senator Matthew’s fundraiser. Nelson introduced you to myself and my wife Nina?”

“Oh yes, now I remember. Nice to see you again.”

“What can I help you with?” he asked, looking directly at me.

“I want a small to mid-size SUV with all-wheel drive that gets good mileage, and is dependable for under twenty five grand,” I said waiting for him to instantly combust.

“Easy enough. I think we have a couple of options that should work. Follow me.”

Victor and Hawke kept their distance, but close enough to hear the conversation. Charles walked me toward a mid-size SUV and before he launched into his spiel about how great this SUV was he showed me the sticker price which was twenty- two thousand.

“Should we continue?”

“Absolutely.”

Charles walked me around the outside explaining all the features of the SUV and then opened the driver door for me to slide behind the wheel. Scarlett had already opened the sun roof and I stopped her just before she flashed her boobs. She whipped out the owner’s manual and was trying to figure out where to mount her weapons. Victor walked over to the SUV.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“It’s not a tank or a hummer, but it will work. Do you like it?”

“Yes it’s perfect,” I said, “and my favorite color, red.”

“Extra bonus.”

“Can we test drive it?” I asked.

“Sure. Let me grab the keys.” Charles disappeared into his office.

“Here you go,” he said handing me the keys.

Victor hopped in the passenger seat and I climbed behind the wheel. I started the engine, but before I shifted into gear. I turned to Victor.

“This is the first time I’ve ever driven with you as my co-pilot. No back seat driving, Mr. Salvatore.” I smirked swatting his leg.

“No promises on that.”

I pulled out onto the two lane highway and Victor grabbed the ‘oh shit’ handle as I punched the accelerator and the speedometer hit sixty-five with ease. Scarlett had the sun roof wide open and was blasting rap music.

“Is this the one?”

“Yup! Thank you for paying the extra four thousand.”

“My pleasure. I wish you’d let me pay all of it.”

“I thought we talked about this?” I scolded him.

“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it one last try.”

“So what’s the deal with Charles? Is he the official Mob car dealer?”

“Very funny. He’s a friend of my mother’s. I’ve bought several cars through him over the years.”

“Why didn’t we come here first instead of enduring the Salesman from Hell?” I said wondering if he had stopped sobbing yet.

“Because I wanted you to have options so you didn’t think I was steering you toward one dealership.”

“I appreciate that. Thanks.” I turned left back into the dealership. Charles was sitting talking to Hawke as we walked back in.

“What do you think, Miss Ellington?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

“Fantastic, I will get the paperwork started.”

“It will be a day or so before I can get the cash from my bank,” I replied.

“Not a problem.”

“Great.” I was so excited.

This was the first new car I had ever owned. Scarlett had forgiven me for not getting the tank or tricked out Escalade. She could work with this. It had potential and she had ideas on how to include her arsenal of weapons. Scarlett ran after Charles, she wanted me to make sure he included the bullet proof glass.

Chapter 16

N
icole was already home from work. I was looking forward to a long over-due girl’s night. Victor was out of town for the night, meeting with clients from overseas.

Hawke put the Escalade in park, but left the engine running.

“You coming in?”

“No, not now.”

“Okay then.” I smiled. Nic kept Hawke on an even shorter leash than Victor did, but he was in deep with Nicole and he knew it. She was totally smitten with Hawke. It was sweet, the beauty and the goon.

“Hey sugar, I’m home.”

“Be out in a sec, getting comfy,” she yelled from her bedroom.

Nicole’s version of comfy was a pair of yoga pants, a tight t-shirt, and minimal make up. She still looked gorgeous. I was dying to hear the details of her relationship with Hawke. I realized I didn’t really know much about him. I’d just found out his first name was Sam and he was originally from Texas. I was sure Nicole thought she knew everything about Hawke. Though her unmatched ability of pulling out ones deepest inner secrets was close to expert, I was sure she had no idea of who Hawke really was. The secrets he buried deep within were never ever to be dredged to the surface, not even at the skilled hands of Nicole Anderson.

My cell phone rang, interrupting me pouring two glasses of wine.

“Hello?”

“Angelina, its Aunt Ella.” Her voice was shaking and barley hanging on for dear life. “The house has been broken into and the shed is on fire. I can’t find Luke and he’s not answering his phone. Have you heard from him?”

“No, I haven’t. Are you okay?”

“I’m not hurt, but I’m not okay. All my memories were in that shed.” She began sobbing.

“I’m on the way. I will be there as soon as I can.”

Nicole came out of her room, pulling her hair into a pony tail and she saw the look on my face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ella, someone broke into her house, they set the shed out back on fire.”

“Holy shit! Why?”

“I don’t know,” I lied. I knew who it was and what they wanted. It was a message to me, a warning that no-one I loved was safe. I was just grateful Aunt Ella wasn’t home.

“I need to go to Rhode Island.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

“Yes I do, I love that woman like my own mother. I’m coming,” she said, disappearing to throw a few things in a bag.

I called Victor. “Hey, Victor.” My tone was stressed.

“Hi babe, what’s wrong?”

“Ella called. Someone trashed her house and burned down the shed. Luke is MIA. I’m going to Rhode Island.”

“Not alone you’re not. This wasn’t random.”

“I know that. It’s a warning. A calling card from your father.”

“They were looking for that book. I will cut this meeting short and meet you there.”

“Ok, and Nicole is coming.”

“Fine. I’ll have Hawke there in five minutes and take you to the landing strip. You’ll be in Rhode Island in less than an hour and I will have a car waiting. I Love you.”

“I love you too.” I slammed the phone shut and ran to throw some clothes in a bag. Scarlett had packed every weapon of mass destruction she owned and had a separate bag of valium, tequila, and smelling salts, there was a good chance she’d be needing them.

The doorbell rang and both Nicole and I headed to the waiting Escalade. Hawke grabbed the overnight bags from us both and Nicole pulled her roller bag behind her. Packing light was never an option for her.

Hawke opened the door for both of us and I climbed in first. He helped Nicole get in, his hand rested on the small of her back. She smiled and gave him a quick kiss. He shut the door and climbed in.

“You can sit up front with him if you want, Nic.”

“No he’s a big boy. He’ll live without me for a while.”

“We’ll be at Ella’s in an hour. We’re taking Victor corporate jet. You two can snuggle on the plane,” I teased.

“He’s not the snuggling type, Ang,” she said.

“That doesn’t’ surprise me in the least.”

“But he is one smoking hot specimen of a man though. Damn,” she said licking her lips.

I swatted her leg. “You’re bad, Nicole.”

“Hell yeah I am and he loves every minute of it.”

“I bet he does.” I giggled.

“He is a stallion in bed. Damn he can fuck all night long.”

Scarlett spit out her water all over the glass. I was grateful Hawke had put the partition up and was not privy to Nicole spilling all his talents in the sack. Scarlett had a new appreciation for Hawke. It would be hard for her to wipe that shitty ass grin off her face for a while.

Hawke turned down the remote dirt road leading to the air strip. It looked like the perfect spot to dump a body. I wondered how many Salvatore victims were buried in the woods, but shook off such thoughts. It was a narrow road wide enough for one vehicle. The road ended at a small airstrip with two hangers well-guarded and state of the art. It resembled more like a covert military airbase then a private airport, in true Victor Salvatore fashion.

The small jet was waiting for the three of us and after Hawke parked the Escalade, we hastily climbed into the jet. The plane was just as decadent as the last one, with large plush seats, and a big flat screen television mounted on the wall.

“This is like a flying mansion! I’ll never be able to fly commercial again after this. That would be like flying in a double wide trailer in the sky,” Nicole joked.

My emotions were on overdrive and hit me hard as I sank into the seats. Nicole sensed I was in urgent need of a drink, she got up and headed to the bar. Scarlett was not only awake, but had made herself a frozen drink complete with little umbrella and was eating cookies watching a movie. Nicole returned with a glass of wine. I chugged it in two swallows.

“Okay then,” she said, getting up to refill my glass, this time returning with the bottle. “Good thing it’s a short flight or I’d have to carry you off this plane, sugar," she quipped.

I nodded, forcing a smile. I was focused on knowing that next time the mob paid a visit to Ella’s, I’d be planning a funeral.

Fifty two minutes from take-off, we landed in Rhode Island on another private airstrip reserved for celebrities and politicians to stealthy come and go as un-noticed as possible.

A car was waiting for us. Hawke opened the door for the two of us and climbed in front with the driver, then gave him the address. I didn’t talk much during the short drive to Ella’s and Nic just held my hand and sat silent. The police and fire department had surrounded Aunt Ella’s house and we were stopped by a uniformed cop.

“Sorry,” he said holding up his hand to block us. “You need to stay behind the yellow tape.”

“This is my Aunt’s house, I’m family!” I shouted shriller than the officer liked.

I ducked under the yellow tape and took off running toward the house, the officer yelled,

“Hey!”

I was apprehended by another cop just before I opened the front door. He had me in a bear hold and I was kicking and trying to break free. The front door opened and a plain clothes cop emerged. Aunt Ella saw me being detained by the cop and pointed to me. The detective turned and motioned for him to let me loose.

I turned to the cop and said, “My friends, go get them now,” I ordered.

He turned and left.

I ran to Ella and hugged her. “Are you okay?” I said.

“Yes. But the shed is gone.” Tears filled her eyes.

“The shed is replaceable, you’re not,” I said.

She nodded. “All the pictures and pieces of each of your lives is not. Your uncle Sid loved that shed. It was his solace from the rest of the world.”

“I know,” I said.

“Miss?”

“Ellington,” I said.

“Miss Ellington, I’m detective Hunt, Can I ask you a few questions?” The detective was in his mid-forties with salt and pepper hair. His black slacks and tweed jacket looked like they had seen many crime scenes.

“Yes,” I replied just as Nicole and Hawke walked through the front door. The detective turned and looked at both of them. Nicole headed to Ella to hug her. “This is my best friend Nicole Anderson and her boyfriend. They came so I wouldn’t be alone.”

“Your name is, sir?” he asked but Hawke had disappeared out the back door to assess the damage.

“He had to use the rest room,” I said, deflecting any suspicion of Hawke and to avoid having the cops run his name and god forbid something came up. If Hawke was hauled off in handcuffs, the swat team would have to be called to contain Nicole, because she would lose it.

“Miss Ellington, do you have any idea who would do this?”

“No, I really don’t.”

He scribbled god knows what in his note book.

“Do you?” I asked.

“Not yet. We’re still trying to conduct our interviews. When was the last time you saw your cousin Luke?”

“A month ago. Where is he?”

“That’s what we’re trying to determine. If you hear from him or think of any other useful information please call me,” he said, handing me his card.

I nodded and walked out back to check on the shed. The fireman were spraying the few smoldering embers still left burning. Scarlett was drooling over the fireman. She had her sharpie in one hand and her calendar of Hot Fireman of 2015 in the other. She swore she spotted Mr. March. I rolled my eyes.
‘Not now’
, I muttered. I’d had a hard enough time stopping her from setting grease fires when I purchased that calendar. I threw up my hands and walked back to the living room to see Aunt Ella. I wondered where Hawke was and why Victor hadn’t arrived yet. My phone buzzed with a Text.

Gone to get Victor.

Be back soon. Advise when police have dispersed.

H

Will do.
I replied.