Lazar's Intrigue (The Jack Lazar Series) by Kevin Sterling Read Free Book Online

days.” Her stare
indicated the expectation of a totally honest answer. “I’ll bet there’s some
dirt that never made the papers…”
    “I
hate to disappoint you, Sarina, but I don't think so. Take his relationship
with my mom. I’m pretty sure he’s never cheated on her. Never wanted to. He has
this traditional Christian view of marriage and commitments. I guess he’s a
testimonial that you don’t have to cut people’s throats to make it to the top. Sure,
my parents have had their differences over the years like everybody else, but I
can tell they still love each other. It’s neat.”
    “Sounds
like it.” She sounded depressed.
    “Dessert?”
The waiter arrived so quietly he caught them both by surprise.
    “Definitely,”
Sarina announced with impulsive conviction. “Something chocolate. What do you
have?”
    The
waiter’s Italian accent was in full bloom as he began the list. “Well, we have chocolate
mousse, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cheesecake and chocolate silk pie with a
meringue shell.”
    Sarina’s
face took on a mischievous look. “Will you share something with me, Jack
darling?”
    “Certainly,
sweetheart,” he said, playing along. “Your choice.”
    She
didn’t hesitate. “We’ll take the pie.”
    “Splendid,”
the waiter replied, almost as if it was a conditioned response. “Coffee? Espresso?
Cappuccino?”
    “Cappuccino,”
the couple replied in unison.
    “ Due Cappuccino. Eccellente. ”
    They
smiled at each other before Jack seized the opportunity to change the subject,
boldly attacking the issue he had resisted all evening.
    “Sarina.
I know you aren’t supposed to discuss your case with me, but I couldn’t help but
overhear your associates mention the name Antonucci that night at the hospital.
And after a little digging on the Internet I ran across Enzo Antonucci, the
financial genius from Italy, and I realized he’s the guy they were talking
about. I feel there’s a connection with me in all this, and I just can’t place
it.” He studied her response carefully, hoping she would be forthcoming with some
information, but she seemed virtually unmoved.
    Instead,
she casually downed the last sip of her wine as if preparing for coffee and
dessert and wrinkled her brow. “Were you listening outside the door at the
hospital?”
    “Yes.”
He raised his chin.
    “Why,
you naughty thing! And that stunt you pulled to see Bob’s and Ben’s
identification? Very clever.”
    “Thanks.
But you’re avoiding the subject. So what’s the scoop with Antonucci?”
    “Jack,
I can’t tell you anything. You know that.”
    “The
guy’s a big-time drug dealer. Isn’t he?”
    She
squinted. “Distributor, actually. How did you know?”
    “Simple
deduction, my dear Watson. You’re with the DEA, and you’re doing an investigation
on Antonucci. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.”
    Sarina
nodded and pursed her lips. “I suppose not.”
    “I
think I can help you.”
    “Don’t
be ridiculous, Jack. There isn’t anything you can do that we haven’t already
done ourselves. The DEA’s resources are more in depth than you can possibly
imagine.” She apparently detected her own contempt and sweetened her tone of
voice. “I know you’re looking for a little excitement right now, perhaps even
some danger. And I totally get that. But this is serious business, not a
playful distraction for a bored rich guy like you.”
    “Bored
rich guy? Did you really just say that?” He leaned forward and lowered his
voice. “Okay, so maybe a little of what you’re saying is true, but I also want
to make a difference, and I think this is how I’m supposed to do it.”
    Sarina
sighed. “Jack, please. Just concentrate on finding a job in your industry. That’s
where you’ll get the greatest reward based on your experience, track record and
education. Take my word for it when I say that you don’t want any part of this.
Besides, I’ve tracked down a new lead on Antonucci that