The Scorpion's Tale (27 page)

“Find out exactly what the deal was with the
Columbians. Before I act, I have to know if the Italian side was
more lucrative than my side. I want to know what Nick’s
relationship was with these people. So far nothing makes
sense.”

“One last bit of information that I have been
unable to verify, but I should have confirmation in the next few
hours,” said the elder statesmen.

“What?” Alberto asked.

“A contract has been put out on Nick, and I
think the Scorpion has been hired to do the job. I’ve been advised
he’s on his way to Rio.”

“Who the hell would put out such a contract?”
Alberto demanded.

“I don’t know.”

“Please, Don Gregorio, find out for sure and
let me know as soon as possible.”

“Are you going to warn Nick?” the Don
asked.

“Not yet. Please verify and call me
immediately.”

“You’ll hear from me soon.”

Steven reached the Roatan airport overwhelmed
by an utter sense of dread. Alone and beyond the safety of Pablo’s
compound he was paranoid, feeling his every move was being watched.
He looked at people in detail, focusing on how they spoke, trying
to detect a unique phrase here or there. He was looking for unusual
tan lines and made mental notes of anyone fitting the Scorpion’s
physical description. Steven knew he would have to rely on all his
senses if he was going to succeed in killing the Scorpion.

A blond-haired American man walked by and
casually glanced at Steven. Steven’s pulse quickened and he briefly
shadowed him, but the American never gave him a second look. Was
this the way his life was going to be? Steven decided that the best
way to deal with his paranoia was to embrace it.

Pablo had thrown Steven a curve ball with his
revelations about Nick. Steven was certain of one thing: the past
was connecting with the present. Steven found a secluded spot and
called Nick.

“Nick, it’s Steven.”

“Well, well. Look who’s calling, the mystery
man extraordinaire. Where are you?”

Steven hesitated. He had spent the last few
hours considering how much information he would divulge to Nick. He
was reluctant to lie, only because Nick had a sixth sense for
bullshit.

“I’m vacationing in Honduras. How about
you?”

“I’m in New York.”

Steven tensed.
Strike One
, he thought.
“How’s the Big Apple?”

“Nothing exciting–same old crap. But I want
to hear all about Honduras. What the hell are you doing there?”

“I’ve been spending a few days with an
interesting character named Pablo Munoz. Do you know him?” Steven
listened intently for a reaction.

“Pablo Munoz?” Nick repeated, trying to buy a
few seconds to overcome the shock of hearing that name after so
many years. “Yeah, I know him. He’s a pathological liar. I wouldn’t
believe anything he tells you.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right about him. He’s
got some wild stories. He said he knew your father, but not
you.”

Nick seemed relieved. “Yeah, that’s right. He
knew my dad and Alberto.”

“He said something about having a price on
his head, but he didn’t really get into it.”

“I didn’t know that. If there was a contract
on Pablo, I‘d know about it. As I said, Steven, the guy’s a
lunatic. He was a big shot in the old days, but now he’s a
has-been. Are you getting any closer to finding your man?” Nick
asked, blatantly changing the subject.

“My leads are exhausted and the trail is
cold. I expect to be back in New York tomorrow. Can we meet
tomorrow or the next day?” Steven asked, waiting to hear the excuse
Nick would invent.

“No can do. I’ll be in Atlantic City for the
next few days. Maybe we can meet early next week.”

“I’ll come to Atlantic City,” Steven
pressed.

“No. I’m taking care of some serious
business. I’ll call you in a few days and we’ll get together. I
know Alberto will be very excited that I heard from you. I gotta go
now, but I’ll catch up with you in a few days.”

“Okay, Nick. We’ll speak soon.” Steven sat
back in the chair and looked at the ceiling. Nick had just lied his
ass off. He considered calling Nick back, but changed his mind. He
wanted to mull things over before deciding the best way to deal
with his old friend the fraud.

-------------------

Nick waited outside of the hotel, nervously
smoking a Brazilian cigarette. Giovanna had returned to the room
complaining of a headache. Nick had become increasingly obsessed
with Giovanna’s encounter with Giorgio. Adding to his tribulations,
Steven was cavorting in Honduras with Pablo Munoz. How the hell did
Steven ever get to Pablo Munoz? The last thing Nick needed was
Steven snooping into the past. It was becoming increasingly
difficult for Nick to monitor the actions of all these players:
Steven, Giorgio, Giovanna, and Alberto. He felt his control was
slipping away. He needed to eliminate some of the variables.

Upstairs, Giovanna sat on the porch gazing
toward the beach. She closed her eyes and focused on Giorgio’s
accusations. She replayed Giorgio’s words in her mind and knew
something was amiss. How did Giorgio know Nick? There was no reason
that the two should ever have met. Giorgio was insanely jealous,
but he had admitted his part in the killings. He could have
remained silent and she never would have known anything about his
involvement. He knew his role was unforgivable, yet he confessed.
Part of his motivation was selfish; Giorgio needed to purge himself
of his sins. She could not accept the possibility that Giorgio was
telling the truth.

-------------------

Steven’s midnight flight was the last into
King Airport, outside Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. Steven was
relieved the flight had arrived at night. The flight path took his
breath away–a quick descent over low-lying mountains bordering the
runway.

The airport was abandoned except for a rental
car employee dutifully remaining at her post. Steven studied the
other passengers. Nobody was watching him. Only three passengers
remotely fit the Scorpion’s general description. Steven tried to
recall more details about the hiker on the trail. He could only
remember that he was athletically built.

Steven retrieved his bags and watched the
remaining stragglers leave the airport. There was no one here to
pick him up. He knew Joaquin’s name, but not where he lived. He
scouted around looking for a phone book, but could not find one. He
called information to locate Joaquin Ordonez, but found his number
was unlisted. Steven resigned himself to an overnight stay at the
airport, locating the most well-protected bench with a wide-angle
view of the terminal. He propped himself up against his carry-on.
He was about to close his eyes when, out of the corner of his eye,
he spied an elderly man entering the far side of the terminal. The
man was wearing bright yellow golf slacks and a light blue shirt.
He sported a full head of white hair and had a tanned, deeply lined
face. He stopped a few feet short of Steven and stared.

Both regarded each other for a few seconds in
silence.

“Mr. Ordonez,” Steven asked.

The man finally blinked. “Yes, Steven
Capresi, I’m Joaquin Ordonez.” Joaquin turned around and walked a
few steps toward the exit, while Steven remained seated, uncertain
whether he should follow. Joaquin abruptly stopped and turned. “Are
you coming or would you prefer to remain here?”

“I thought you’d have a driver.”

“I’m not Pablo Munoz.” He pointed to the
door. “Shall we?”

Steven retrieved his bags and followed
Joaquin out of the terminal to an old Honda Accord. What an old
fossil, he thought. This was the great Joaquin Ordonez, for whom he
had battled sharks and flown to St. Thomas just to obtain an
audience?

Joaquin turned the car out of the airport
onto Veteran’s Highway, past Frenchtown and along the harbor
through Charlotte Amalie.

“Thank you for picking me up. It’s late and
very inconvenient for you.”

“Yes, it is.”

Wow, talk about your conversation killers,
Steven thought.

“How long have you lived here?” Steven asked,
trying a different topic of conversation.

“Ten years.”

“Do you like it here?”

“Yes. Why?”

Steven was at a complete loss for words. He
had thought the question was innocuous. “I’m just curious, that’s
all.”

Beyond Charlotte Amalie, the Honda climbed
uphill, overlooking Frenchman’s Bay. The roads were narrow and
steep, complete with frequent hairpin turns. Both men sat in
silence for the duration of the drive. The car approached a fork in
the road and Joaquin proceeded up a small hill where moments later,
rows of condominiums overlooking the beach came into view. Joaquin
turned into a long driveway, pulled into a parking spot, and turned
off the car. “This is my home.”

Upon entering, Joaquin abruptly stated: “Mr.
Capresi, I’m very tired. The second bedroom is yours,” he said,
pointing inside. “Feel free to eat or drink anything you like. I’ll
see you in the morning.” Joaquin bowed slightly and disappeared
into his room, leaving Steven to wonder what he was doing on this
island with this strange man.

-------------------

Braulio and Pete were parked outside
Giorgio’s apartment, while Louie and Eddie watched a soccer game in
Louie’s suite. Eddie pulled out a joint from his wallet and lit a
match.

Louie gave him a disapproving glance. “Eddie,
what are you doing? You know Nick don’t like us getting stoned on
the job.”

Eddie shrugged. “This place is getting on my
nerves. I haven’t been this bored in years. I need a few hits.”

Louie chuckled. “Just do me a favor–go
outside and smoke so this place don’t stink and Nick don’t
know!”

Eddie smiled. “I’ll go for a walk on the
beach. Want to join me?”

“No.”

“Okay, see you later,” Eddie said as he left
the room, never to return.

-------------------

Giovanna and Nick had concluded an
unenthusiastic love-making session. Giovanna put on her nightgown
and retreated to her side of the bed with a magazine in hand. Nick
couldn’t endure the suspense any longer. He moved close to her and
gathered her hands in his.

“Gia, what’s bothering you?”

Giovanna forced a smile. “I’m tired and I’ve
had a headache all day.”

Nick frowned. “I don’t believe you. I know
something is bothering you. You haven’t been yourself since your
walk on the beach. Did anything happen that I should know
about?”

Giovanna stared into his eyes, trying to
decide whether Nick might have learned about her meeting with
Giorgio. There was no reaction from him as he continued to tenderly
stroke her hands. She had been wondering how to broach the
subject.

“Nick, when I was in the pool this morning, I
was approached by a man.”

“What man?” Nick asked, noticeably
concerned.

Giovanna lightly touched his hand. “Let me
finish. He was my cousin Giorgio, although I hardly recognized
him.”

Nick acted confused. “Who’s Giorgio?”

“Giorgio is my cousin from San Remo. He
worked with my brother. I showed you a photograph of Giorgio in my
hotel in New York.”

Nick feigned bewilderment. “I don’t
understand. If he lives in San Remo, what’s he doing here?”

Giovanna looked closely at Nick, trying to
detect the faintest hint of treachery. There was none.

“Giorgio told me he was here because of
you.”

“Me?” Nick exclaimed.

“Giorgio told me that you were involved in
the deaths of my brother and my parents. He told me that he was
given an ultimatum to cooperate with you or that he would be
killed.”

Nick stayed calm. “And you believe him?”

“I’m not sure, Nick. Giorgio is a very
jealous man, but he has always been truthful.”

“What does that mean?” Nick said, taking the
offensive. “This man is your cousin. Why would he be jealous?”

Giovanna softened her expression with only
the faintest hint of a sad smile. “Giorgio and I were lovers.”

It took everything in Nick to maintain his
composure without betraying the outrage he felt in his heart. He
could not fathom such an incestuous relationship, and was beyond
just feeling shocked. Nick continued smiling as he held her
hand.

She detected the disgust on this face for a
split second and felt ashamed.

“I don’t know him, Giovanna, and I have no
idea what he is talking about. I don’t know why he would choose to
upset you and to invent such an outrageous story. Does he know
about our relationship?”

“Yes,” she said. “He is very upset.”

Nick nodded his head in a patronizing manner.
“That answers the question.” Nick continued stroking her hand. “I
don’t know how to respond except to say that he’s lying.”

Giovanna looked deeply into his eyes. “Nick,
I want to believe you. There was just something about his demeanor
that troubled me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Why don’t we find him and ask him, plain and
simple.”

Giovanna looked off into the distance. “I
have no idea where he is and no way of contacting him.”

“Perhaps he’ll contact you again.”

She lowered her head. “I don’t think so. I
said awful things to him.”

“I’ll do whatever is necessary to convince
you I’m telling the truth.”

“I’m fine, Nick. I’m glad we talked about it.
I feel much better.”

Nick was relieved to have temporarily cleared
this hurdle, but it meant dealing with Giorgio immediately.

-------------------

Eddie followed the path from the hotel to the
beach. As he reached the sand, he discreetly lit his joint. He
inhaled deeply and let the smoke fill his lungs. He took several
hits and made short work of the joint, snuffing out the roach and
burying it in the sand. He felt relaxed. As Eddie approached the
path back to the hotel, he noticed a man leaning against a tree,
staring out to sea. As Eddie passed by him, another man jumped out.
Before Eddie could react, the first man had reached him, wrapped
his arm around his head and plunged a knife into his back. The
second man wrapped Eddie’s lifeless body in a huge plastic bag,
hoisted him over his shoulder, and walked to a van where they
deposited his corpse and drove away.