Jingle of Coins (16 page)

“Listen, bitch. If you don’t do what I tell you, I’ll make sure you’re skinned alive and left in the desert to rot. Understood?”

Blinking away the tears, she nodded. At Mike’s signal, Stu slammed her to the floor. Kate lifted a shaky hand to the wound in her scalp and tried to stem the tide of blood, but a thin river of red escaped between her fingers and continued its downward journey. Mind numbing panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she maintained her outward calm, even though her first instinct was to run screaming from the room. She knew she had to regain control of this situation. Her life might well depend on it. “Okay. I’ll be there. You don’t have to beat me into submission.” Her voice came out a husky croak. “What time should I be at the villa?”

“Noon. You’re going to be in the limo when it leaves for the airport. Make sure you’re dressed to kill. I don’t want my guest to be disappointed.”

“Fine.”

Mike yanked her hair again. “Don’t give me that uppity attitude, bitch. This ain’t some pimp you’re talking to. You’ll do what I tell you, when I tell you, and grovel like a dog every time I speak. Get it?”

She shielded her face with one arm. “Yes. You don’t have to worry Mike, I’ll be there.”

“Bring the cigarette case when you come.” He motioned for Stu, and the two of them headed toward the door. Stu continued into the hallway, but Mike paused as he passed the new arrangement. “Where did you get this?”

She struggled to keep her voice level. “The Emerald Lagoon flower shop.”

Mike crooked his index finger and Stu reappeared. “Order two arrangements from the Emerald Lagoon’s flower shop. Tell them you want the same woman that made Kate’s arrangement to make them. Nobody else. Have them delivered before our guest arrives.” As Stu strode out the door, Mike turned to Kate. “Don’t disappoint me,” he warned in a soft, deadly voice. “If you do, you won’t live to regret it.”

Kate waited until she was sure they were gone before moving. The moment she did, her head swam, and she lifted a hand to her aching scalp. She wasn’t overly worried about the blood; head wounds always bled profusely. Besides, she reasoned, Mike wouldn’t have made a big cut; she was far too valuable a commodity to mar permanently, especially since he wanted her to entertain his guest. Taking a deep breath, she held on to the end table until she felt strong enough to force her legs to propel her to the bathroom.

A terrible anger rose within her when she glimpsed her reflection in the mirror. She flung open the medicine cabinet, then gathered the vestiges of her courage before applying alcohol to the scalp laceration. Tears of self-pity rolled down her cheeks while she waited for the agonizing stinging to subside.

Damn Mike and that vicious temper of his. He’d pay for doing this. Any lingering doubts about helping the Feds nail Mike and his henchmen faded as she peeled off her bloody shirt and stepped into the shower.

Kate glanced at the clock as she slipped into clean clothes and was relieved to learn that she still had thirty minutes before her next client. She reached for the phone, but stayed her hand when it occurred to her that Mike might have put a tap on her telephone. The pay phone in the lobby would be a safer choice. She grabbed some change out of her purse and headed for the elevator.

Kate cupped her hand over the receiver and lowered her voice. “Shut up and listen. We have to move quickly. Mike wants me at his villa the day after tomorrow to entertain some important client he’s flying in. We’ll have to meet in the morning so I can get the recording device.”

“Nothing that won’t heal. I’m okay for now, but if I stick around much longer, I may not stay that way. Once I start the recorder, I’m leaving the villa and going straight to the airport. Your boys can pick up the car in the airport parking lot.” She waited for him to speak, but all she heard was silence. “You there?”

“Yeah. I was trying to figure out how we can install the receiving unit. Take your car to Zeb’s Mercedes Corral around eight tomorrow morning. I have a guy working there who can install the bugging system. Do you know where it is?”

“Yeah. How do we meet up?”

“I’ll have a limo waiting to take you to a hotel. I’ll book a room so you can keep your cover intact while we show you how to activate the microphone. You’ll have to practice before you take it to the villa. Is there a particular hotel you like to use?”

“Yes. My first-time clients always book a VIP suite at the Silver Palace. Ask for Micheal Gallazebo, and tell him that I referred you. He’ll know what to do. You should be able to check in with no problem.”

“Will he be suspicious if there’s three of us?”

She laughed. “No. Micheal understands that my clients expect total privacy, and I know I can count on him to make sure we remain undisturbed. One more thing. He’ll expect you to pay cash, up front.”

“We’re ready to get our bug inside Mike Dragonisi’s villa and start recording. I’m positive that he’s responsible for our agents’ disappearance, and now I’m finally going to get the chance to nail that bastard.”

“If you get something on the tape we can use in court,” Patrick replied skeptically. “At least you’re moving in the right direction. I’m forwarding an alert I got from Homeland Security about a couple of terrorists they’re looking for. It’s high level, so be sure and discuss it with your men.”

“Done. I’ll let you know as soon as something breaks.”

“Do that.”

Dozer switched off his cell phone and walked to the secured lab in the center of the Secret Service building. After passing through two security checkpoints, he walked over to the table where several agents were working on the miniaturized recording device. “Okay, guys,” he said. “Everything we’ve got is riding on Kate being able to tape Mike’s conversations.” He pointed to the microphone on the table. “Our timetable’s just been moved up several days. I need that recorder working by tomorrow.”

Chapter Seventeen

Sara stuck her head through the doorway. “Can you please grab a customer for me? I’m in the middle of something. He wants to talk about an order.”

Emily placed the finishing touches on the mother-of-the bride corsage, then looked up. “I’ll be out in a minute. I only have one last boutonniere, and I’m through.” She grabbed a yellow rose, added a few small leaves to the back, and then wrapped the stems with floral tape. When she finished, she let out a sigh of relief and carefully tucked the items into a delivery box. Another job well done.

The bell activated by a customer’s entrance jingled, and she heard a loud female voice ask if the Duzant flowers were ready. Carrying the finished order to the counter, Emily proudly announced, “Here they are.” Smiling, she lifted out the bride’s bouquet and held it up for inspection. “What do you think?”

The woman standing next to the counter gasped, and her eyes filled with tears.

Sara quickly stuffed a wad of tissues into the woman’s hand. “Now don’t you go crying on us,” she scolded. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”

“It’s absolutely gorgeous. I never thought it would turn out so beautiful, especially with such short notice. I still can’t believe my daughter forgot to order the flowers! How can we ever thank you?” The woman gulped, dabbing at her eyes.

Sara touched Emily’s shoulder and pointed to a man standing near the display window. “That’s him,” she whispered. “If you want to go talk to him, I’ll ring this up.”

Emily nodded and headed toward the front of the shop. She eyed the massive shoulders that flexed under the man’s tan golf shirt each time he moved, and something about him seemed familiar. He turned, and her heart caught in her throat. It was the man from Kate’s apartment. The one Kate was afraid of.

His smile turned into a frown as she approached, and she wondered how much of her dismay registered on her face. She hastily dredged up her best saleswoman smile, closed the gap between them, and extended her hand. “Hello. Sara said you wanted to speak to me?”

“Tomorrow? You can’t be serious. That’s short notice for such large arrangements.” She slid behind the counter, putting some space between them, and noted that Sara had disappeared into the workroom.

He stared at her for a few moments, then pulled out his wallet, extracted four one-hundred dollar bills, and laid them side-by-side on the glass countertop. “This should cover any inconvenience.”

Oh God, not more hundred dollar bills! Didn’t the people in this town know there were other denominations for paper money? Geezz. Emily’s hands trembled as she picked up the money and stacked the bills on the metal ledge above the register’s cash tray.

She glanced over at Stu, who had subsequently focused his attention on something wedged in the side of a large ruby ring on his right hand. Good. At least he wasn’t glaring at her with those hooded eyes that reminded her of an eagle zeroing in on its prey. Emily took a deep breath and tilted each bill until she saw the security thread and micro printing. They were all real. Thank God. She didn’t even want to think about what might happen if she had to accuse Stu of passing bogus money.

Stu pulled a card from his pocket and slapped it on the counter. “Ring the bell at the gate and wait for the guard. Nobody goes up to the house unaccompanied.”

Emily copied the name and address onto the order form, then slid the laminated business card his way. “I’ll just ring this up and give you your change.”

He stuffed the card into the initialed pocket on his golf shirt. “Keep it.”

“But the order’s only two hundred seventy-three dollars. There’s over a hundred dollars in change!”

Stu placed both hands on the counter and leaned closer, until his face was level with hers. “I said keep it. Make sure the flowers come before noon. Don’t be late.”

Wincing from the garlic breath blowing her way, Emily stepped back. Before she could think of a biting retort, Stu spun around and walked out. Her knees threatened to collapse, and she clung to the edge of the counter for support.

“Who was that?” Sara asked, emerging from the workroom. She eyed Emily cautiously. “I take it you knew that guy. What kind of people do you hang around with, anyway? That guy scared the crap out of me. I almost called security.”

“He’s not a friend,” Emily replied, trying to calm her breathing and make her heart stop pounding. “I only met him once.” She held up her hand. “Look, I don’t want to talk about it any more. The man’s a jerk. Unfortunately, I already took his order and his money, so all I can do is get these two arrangements done as soon as possible and shipped out of here. Okay?”

“Fine,” Sara announced in a hurt tone.

Emily realized that she’d unintentionally snapped at her workmate. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I really don’t know anything about him. He’s a customer. That’s it.”

“Well, I hope he doesn’t make a habit of coming into the shop.”

“Me, too.” Emily disappeared into the workroom and, after counting to a hundred, gathered the flowers that would be needed to complete the order. It took over five and a half hours, but she finished both arrangements before the girls working the night shift arrived.

“Emily, it’s time to leave. Carol and Michelle are here,” Sara announced, sticking her head into the workroom. She let out a slow whistle. “My God, those arrangements are gorgeous! You’re a genius.”

Pleased with Sara’s reaction, Emily grinned. “I’m kinda pleased with them myself.”

“Well, you can stay late if you want to, but I gotta go. Hot date tonight. See you tomorrow,” Sara flung over her shoulder.

Emily moved the two arrangements to the refrigerated case and explained to the two women manning the counter that they were for a special order and not to be sold under any circumstances. On her way to the parking lot, she tried to think of a polite way to ask Kate not to recommend any more clients. The florist shop could certainly use the business, but not if it came at the expense of her sense of well-being. Something about Stu gave her the creeps, and she wanted nothing else to do with him.

As she tried to channel her thoughts toward something more cheerful, it dawned on her that she hadn’t thought about Glen’s proposal all day. Last night, after watching the tape, she realized that she really did need his help. That is, if she wanted to stay out of jail.

He’d given her a homework assignment. She was to review the tape and come up with at least seven things she did wrong. She watched the tape several times, but only found four. She’d obviously missed several mistakes, but she was damned if she could figure out what they were.