Killerfest by Lawrence de Maria Read Free Book Online Page B

and the like. But the real
expense is the pool. I am putting one in as part of some renovation work I am
doing on my villa.”
    Her dining
companion feigned horror.
    “Italian
contractors? Are you insane? Talk about risk!”
    “The local
chief of police and I fuck occasionally. His wife looks like a carriage horse.
He will make sure things are done properly.”
    “The chief of
police?”
    Noss laughed
at his consternation.
    “Yes. And the
mayor. And the editor of the weekly paper. The pillow talk is part of my
security system. I know everything that happens in my town, almost before it happens.
I’m seriously considering adding the local priest to my stable. He hears
things, too.”
    That brought
Mendelsohn up short.
    “What about
the seal of the confessional?”
    “Oh, please,”
Noss said dismissively. “We have a saying in Germany. ‘When the cock stands up,
the brain sits down.’ Seal of the confessional, indeed.”
    Mendelsohn
laughed. She was unique. 
    “You won’t be
able to farm this contract out to some Slavic imbecile, my dear. Quimper’s
security will have been enhanced. I will get you as much information as I can,
but there is a lot of uncertainty.”
    “I will be
careful,” she said. “And I plan on the personal touch. I understand Quimper
fancies himself a ladies’ man.”
    “Three wives,
and counting. Unattached now. There is one other thing. Quite distasteful.”
    “Yes.”
    “You must
still convince everyone that the incident is related to the insult to Islam.
Whatever you do, it must be spectacular. Even more so than a skewer in the
throat.”
    “I suppose a
spear gun won’t do.”
    “You are
teasing, I think. But no. I don’t think too many Muslim fanatics have access to
spear guns. It’s not exactly the weapon of choice in the desert. Skewers,
maybe, but not spear guns.”
    “Pity. I could
use the practice.”
    “My love, it
must be something gruesome. Something that can’t be buried in the media.”
    “I will come
up with something,” Vendela Noss said.

 
    CHAPTER 7 – HARVEY CEDARS
     
    The Killerfest
conference, which would be held over four days in Manhattan’s newest hotel, the
Bascombe, was set for the last week of the month. Scarne had ample time to
prepare, but he wanted to set the parameters for working with the company
Sebastian Quimper hired to protect him. Its name was Safeguard Security Inc.,
located in Falls Church, Virginia. Its proximity to Washington, D.C., all but
ensured Government ties.
     Scarne asked
Evelyn Warr to do some research on the company.
    “Well, you
will be greatly relieved that it doesn’t use “SS” initials anywhere in its
marketing materials,” she said, handing him a folder with the information she
had gathered in just under an hour. “Let me know if you want me to dig deeper.”
    After Evelyn
went back to her desk, Scarne started reading and quickly knew he didn’t need
anything else. The Internet was a wonderful resource, but his office manager’s
ability to gather relevant information quickly was still stunning. The fact
that she was also stunning made for an even better working relationship. He
often wondered if that would change if they were ever between lovers at the
same time. He even mentioned that thought to Evelyn once when they shared a
drink at a nearby pub.
    “I’m
occasionally between relationships,” she had said. “You on the other hand are
frequently among relationships. There is a difference, and not only
grammatically.”
    Scarne began
reading the material in the folder. Safeguard’s employees appeared to be a professional
bunch, many, as he had guessed, ex-military. The company’s senior management
included a couple of retired Army and Marine Corps generals, which didn’t
impress Scarne. They could be window dressing. More impressive were some of the
middle management executives, including men and women who had extensive F.B.I.
and Secret Service experience. That bode well for the caliber of the