Rushed(100)

Daniel gave me a questioning look, and I shook my head. "Not going to happen, Daniel. Just . . . there's things that make it impossible."

“Hey, it’s your business, man. Speaking of your business, you asked me the other day to look into Jake Marconi. I’ve gotta be honest with you, that's some heavy shit you're asking of me. Jake's not exactly some geek off the streets."

"I know, but I trust that you can connect the dots enough to know why without my saying anything," I said. I was alone in the study, Luisa having gone to bed a bit earlier saying she was feeling a bit tired, and I was able to lock the door to the study and talk. "If I'm wrong, I'm going to need a lot of discretion on this."

"We're family, and not just in the business sense," Daniel said reassuringly. "Besides, with what I've found, I think your instincts were right. Petey checked out fine. His major flaw is that he's greedy and dumb, but he's not all that trustworthy. He's also got a severe lack of social skills. On the other hand, he's also the sort of guy you can trust to look out for himself, and he knows not to screw around on the Bertolis."

I nodded, confirming what I'd learned earlier in the night. Petey had already called my contact and was supposedly picking up my 'supplements' that evening. "I notice you didn't mention Jake."

Daniel nodded. "Remember, he and I were friends too. Not as close as you and he were, but close enough that I'd sometimes take him out on the town. Your father asked me to let him shadow me for a few nights, get the layout of Seattle again before getting socked into that job with the pizza company he's doing now. So what I found . . . it disturbs me."

"Tell me the bad news," I groaned, sitting back. "Just spit it out."

Daniel looked to the side, and I figured he was reading from another screen, or maybe a printout. "Jake did his basic training at Fort Benning, where afterward, he did Airborne school before being sent to Korea. He was an eleven bravo infantryman, and in November, he got his discharge."

"I know all that," I said, "but you wouldn't have that look on your face if that was all there was to it."

"You're right, but I wanted to cover the framework first. You mentioned in your last talk with me that the group that had claimed responsibility for the bombing was called Gaea Defense Force, and that the guy who'd tried to run Luisa Mendosa off the road was named Leonard Frakes, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Does Jake have a connection to the GDF?"

Daniel looked it over, and shrugged. "I can't prove it, but there's enough there that I would be very worried if our positions were reversed. Jake Marconi was assigned to the Second Infantry Division, which is headquartered at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. Both Leonard and Jake were known to frequent a group known as the 'Western Princesses,' a group of Korean hookers who tend to only work the servicemen. One of the most outspoken of the Princesses was a Korean woman named Sul Ham Kook, who left the hooker life to become active with the environmental movement. I wouldn’t be surprised if she'd introduced the two."

I thought about it. "Jake falling for a hooker though? I just don't see that.”

Daniel nodded. "I never would have thought you'd have come back from Alabama, except for family reunions and stuff, but you did. And I never, ever would have thought you’d the type to be taking the lead on what you're doing right now. No offense, Tomasso."

"None taken, Daniel. You're right, of course. Is there anything else you can give me to help?"

Daniel shook his head. "Not with the amount of time I've got. I'd need more time to get more information for you—to track down people who actually are at or were at Camp Red Cloud at the same time."

I shook my head. "No, you've got your own work to deal with. How's work on the legitimate side of the world?"

Daniel laughed and shrugged. "Even harder than I'd expected, but I'm doing okay. Looking forward to getting back and getting married. Tomasso, if you want the backup, I can help. You might need it."

I shook my head. "No, I need to handle this ASAP. If the relationship between the Bertolis and Mendosas is to come to completion, I can't let this just hang in the breeze."

Daniel nodded again. "Okay. Just a word of advice?"

"Sure."

"Jake's better trained than you are. He's a former soldier, and he knows how to handle himself. You're on a busted ankle, too. If you plan on taking him down, you’d better do it fast and quick, or else have help.”

I sighed and nodded. "I know. But there's nobody I can turn to for help. I'm going to have to do this myself, and then talk with my father and Pietro about it later."

Daniel sighed, then held up a finger. "Don't forget the girl. She's trained too, even though she doesn't look it."

I could feel the twist to my lips as I pondered Daniel's words, then shrugged. "I'd prefer not to involve her, and not just because she's a woman. This is family business, Daniel. She's not a Bertoli."

“Maybe, but remember that she's got reason to be involved with this as well. In any case, Adriana and I will see you soon. Take care of yourself, Tomasso."





Chapter 14