Death Logs In by E.J. Simon Read Free Book Online

enough to end the discussion. After some trivial pleasantries, Perkins gathered his papers, stood up to leave.
    “Michael. This is a good thing. Believe me.”
    As Perkins, with Hightower in tow, reached the door, he turned around.
    “Oh, Michael, one other thing. I’ve decided to add a new member to our board. It’ll be a good public relations move for us right now. I’d like you two to get to know each other before the next board meeting. He’ll also be able to help you with your plan to expand Gibraltar’s services in Italy, too. You’ll enjoy him; he’s a priest, a Jesuit. I’ll have John here set up a dinner for just the two of you sometime next week.”
    “Sure.” Michael said, still thinking about Cartan Holdings “Who is he?”
    “You may have heard of him. He’s highly respected and a terrific man, too. One of our people from the Vatican Bank contacted us and offered his services. In return, Gibraltar is going to make a sizeable contribution to St. Joseph’s Catholic School in the Bronx to help fund their program and build a decent auditorium for those little kids.”
    “What’s his name?
    Turning to leave, Richard said, “Bishop Kevin McCarthy.”

Chapter 12

    Chapter 12
    Westport, Connecticut

    I t was after midnight as Michael walked into their bedroom. He was sick with guilt. The word may as well have been written in neon graffiti all over the walls. So this is what it feels like to have an affair and then come home.
    After his previous evening’s activities at the St. Regis, he was relieved to see that Samantha was sound asleep. He quietly hung up his suit and slipped into his robe. For a moment, he stopped and looked around at their beautifully decorated room; it seemed distant now, slightly off, as though he was looking at it from afar. The sense of serenity that he always felt here was somehow gone. Things had changed.
    He left the bedroom and walked down the two flights of stairs to the wine cellar where, once the computer was powered on and the passwords entered, the large screen rolled down from the ceiling. After several seconds, Alex appeared, a virtual but life-size image.
    Michael watched as Alex looked around the room at the dark wood shelves, filled with wine bottles. “It’s a shame to be down here with all this expensive wine of yours and not be able to drink it. Maybe I’d acquire a taste for it now.”
    “Feel free to help yourself anytime. I can leave a corkscrew for you.”
    “By the way, what does this Bluetooth shit you mentioned last time mean?” Alex asked.
    “I can only imagine what it could allow you to do. It might mean that you can now reach out and actually call me. If that’s true, then you won’t have to wait for me to turn on the computer and log onto you. I think so anyway.”
    “I’ve been trying to figure out anything I can about this guy Frank who’s been sent to kill you, but I can’t find anything. I’ve tried all the taps and emails I can get to—but nothing. Nothing. But, you know, I’m not sure what I’m capable of either.”
    “Well, there’ve been some new developments. Remember I mentioned that Sharkey’s guys were out on bail?”
    “Yeah, and I told you that once the Vatican got behind him, things would get dicey. They can’t afford to be exposed and they need to be sure things get fixed quietly. These guys are worse than any organized crime. It’s a joke. They’ve got the best racket. I should have incorporated as a religion. I could have run my betting business and been fully protected. I wouldn’t have even had to worry about paying taxes. They make the Swiss bankers look like saints. You know, I’m not big on guys who wear robes outside.”
    “Well,” Michael said, “It gets even more interesting. Sharkey’s men were murdered the day after they were released. Supposedly some priest at a church in the Bronx fed them a big dinner the other night in the church basement. The priest claims he put them in a taxi after