Shadows of Deceit (A Series of Shadows) (30 page)

Dillon’s ears perked up. “I have two extra rooms in my new place, you’re welcomed to stay with me as long as you like!”

“That’s really nice of you.” Niko noted. “I might take you up on that. I’ll need to set up your security system anyway so it will give me time to fine tune it.”

“Outstanding!” Dillon looked like that goofy kid again to Lou. It made her grin. “I’ll have extra keys made and get them to you as soon as I have them.”

“Why don’t the rest of you just stay here in the meantime?” Shevaun said, looking at Max and Abby, causing Lou to choke on her iced tea.

Max grinned and patted Lou on the back as she coughed. “I couldn’t impose on you like that, but thank you for offering.”

“Nonsense!” Shevaun looked at Joe for approval and he smiled at her. “Max, you could stay in the guest house while Frank and Abby stay in the guest rooms here. That should provide you with enough privacy. You already have all the security set up here and you’re practically here every other day anyway!”

Max leaned in towards Lou, still grinning. “Are you alright?”

Lou was beet red with embarrassment. “Yes, thank you. Went down the wrong pipe.” She explained with a croak.

“Would you have a problem with us invading your space for a week or two?” He didn’t need to ask her, he could take Shevaun’s offer whether she liked it or not.

“Not at all!” Lou tried to keep her enthusiasm to a minimum. “You might want to think hard on accepting though. I annoy you with calls daily as is. Just imagine if you are just across the yard.”

Max tossed his head back with a hearty laugh. “I better start getting used to it since I am going to be just across the meadow.”

They laughed a little while longer, joking about Marta needing to hire staff for room service and warnings of Frank’s colorful pajama collection. Soon things came back to the more serious issues and the discussion on how Max was going to proceed with confronting the African Dominor about a possible missing blood born began.

“How long does it take for the Council to do a head count?” Lou asked.

“There is an automated way to initiate a roll call.” Frank explained. “As you know, once indoctrinated, you are given a secure contact line, a phone and an email address that we communicate through for official business.”

“It’s like sending out a mass email.” Abby simplified the matter. “The request receipt on ours is a little more absolute though.”

“Right.” Frank concluded. “As in if you don’t respond within the requisite time, Niko will be at your door shortly thereafter.”

“Why am I always the one to go?” Niko wondered aloud.

Lou looked at him like he was insane. “Seriously? You don’t know why?”

“I suppose because I’m first lieutenant.” Niko assumed.

“Or it’s because you are an extremely intimidating and scary looking guy.” Lou corrected him.

Niko looked wounded. “No. I do not.” He turned and looked at the others. “Do I? Is that why?”

“Of course not.” Max stifled a chuckle. “It’s because you are my Number One.”

“Anyway...” Abby brought the conversation back to the subject at hand. “Johannesburg is nine hours ahead of us so the roll call was probably initiated first thing Monday morning.” She calculated in her head before continuing. “There are so many different time zones, I would say they would have put a seventy-two hour cut off on it. Tomorrow morning they will have a head count and be sending agents to the unanswered calls.”

“That would be my take as well.” Max concurred. “I’ll call Moshe first thing in the morning. I’ll use a rumor about role being called as an excuse to broach the subject. He’ll either fess up or bury himself.”

“Moshe?” Lou asked. “Is that the African Dominor?”

“Yes.” Max confirmed as he pushed himself away from the dinner table. “Seamus, can you be at the hotel around noon tomorrow?”

Seamus looked surprised. “Sure, I guess. What do you need me for?”

“I realize you are retired but I’m afraid I am going to need to recruit you. I will try to keep it to a part time situation but I honestly cannot guarantee that.”

“Recruit me? I don’t understand.” Seamus’ confusion continued.

Max folded his napkin and set it on the table neatly before elaborating. “As I spoke earlier, about Aegis International, I was explaining that since we relocated on the West Coast I have been stretching Lou thin with regional assistance. Now that she is Principate that is no longer feasible. We are going to need someone to act as operations liaison and I insist it be someone with existing ties to local law enforcement.” Max was setting the stage brilliantly. “I would consider it a personal favor if you would accept the position.”

Seamus blinked several times before speaking. “I’m not sure I understand what that means or if I’m really qualified.”

“Which is why I am hoping tomorrow noon is a good time for you.” Max stood up and walked around the table towards Seamus. “We can go over everything and finalize all the details. I would like to get that off of my agenda since we are shifting bases here temporarily.”

“Actually, the shift would be an excellent time to show him our tech set-up.” Frank interjected.

“I should go over that with Liam too.” Connor added. “I’ll need a copy of your work schedule as well.” Liam nodded in understanding.

“So noon then?” Max looked down at Seamus who was still rather confused.

“Sure, noon.” Seamus confirmed.

“Excellent.” Max gave him a jovial pat on the back and Shevaun a discrete wink of his eye. “As much as I hate our gatherings to end, I’m afraid I must get back to the hotel.” Max walked around the table, leaned down and gave Shevaun a kiss on the top of her head “Thank you so much for a lovely afternoon and evening.”

Both Shevaun and Nora snorted. “I’m not sure where you were but that did not qualify as a lovely afternoon in my book!” Nora said with a chuckle. “Nothing like watching an Irishman throw a tantrum then get piss-faced drunk.”

“I was not drunk!” Seamus protested. “I will admit it may have been a wee bit of a tantrum though. I apologized!”

“Max grinned as he came to Nora and kissed her too on the top of her head. “He did at that.”

Coming behind Liam he placed a hand on his shoulder and the other he offered. “No harm, no foul, right?”

Liam smiled up at Max and shook his hand. “Absolutely right.”

Max walked around to Dillon who stood up immediately and saluted him. “No need for such formalities, we are family here.” Max smiled and shook his hand. “I do want some time carved out for me though. Make yourself available this weekend. Abby will settle the details with you.”

“As you wish, my Dom.” Dillon bowed his head in respect.

“Don’t forget we are dedicating the park Friday!” Max waggled his finger at everyone. “I expect all of you to be there! Lou, would you mind escorting me out?”

“Sure.” Lou tossed her napkin on the table and scooted herself away.

Max looked around at his men. “Do I finally get to drive myself?

“Oh crap!” Yuri leapt up from the table, ran around and gave Shevaun a kiss on the cheek, thanked her for her hospitality then ran ahead to get the car.

“It was worth a shot.” Max grinned and waved to everyone then headed for the door with Lou following behind him. When they reached the porch, Max turned and looked down at Lou with a serious expression. “Are you content with Mr. Cole as your partner?” He asked her.

“Dillon? Absolutely.” Lou felt a sense of relief. She expected Max had something grim to tell her. “I’m still cracking up that Abby was able to pull that off.”

“So am I, actually.” He smiled at her. “But if you are unhappy with him, I can arrange for a change to be made. You just need to tell me.”

“No!” Lou chuckled. “I liked him before I knew he was one of us. This just makes my life so much easier.”

“Very well then.” He nodded and turned just as Yuri pulled up. “I’ll call you in the morning after I talk to Moshe.”

“Good luck with that.” She snickered as she watched him get into the car.

“Sweet dreams, Detective.” He paused to look at her before he closed the door.

Lou grinned. “You too, my Dom.”

The cozy, warm
depths of slumber were ripped away and replaced by the sound of an electric guitar blaring into Lou’s right ear. As she realized it was the sound of Vince Neil screaming something about his heart, Lou knew someone had tampered with her ringtones. While the infamous Motley Crue song blared on, Lou reached for the phone and saw that it was Dillon calling.

“Did you do this?” She answered.

“Lou? Do what?” He asked her.

“Did you steal my phone and make your personal ringtone Kickstart My Heart?” As she asked she realized it really wasn’t his style and decided it had to have been either Niko or Frank. Her money was going on Niko.

Dillon laughed. “No, but I like it! I’m just calling to let you know that I have to make a stop at the bank for that cashier’s check, then I am on my way.”

“Call me back when you are leaving the bank.” Lou started to set the phone down so she could go back to sleep.

“No! Lou!” Dillon was yelling at her. “No going back to sleep! Get up and get coffee!”

Lou grumbled and put the phone back to her ear. “I can get twenty more minutes. Shush.”

“No Lou! Get up! Vinny was firm about this! I need to hear you making coffee!” Dillon muffled the phone but Lou could hear him honking at someone. She laughed. He was already turning in to a Vinny.

“Fine!” She groaned and sat up. “I am up!”

“No Lou, I need to hear the coffee pot going. Get up and out of bed now.” He insisted.

“Wow.” Lou opened her eyes fully. “Someone is getting a little happy with himself. Bossing me around already?”

“I’m sorry Lou, but I have to.” Dillon muffled the phone again and Lou could hear him yelling and a horn honking in the distance. “Go. Now.”

“Me or the jackhole you are honking at?” Lou grinned.

“Both!” Dillon was losing patience.

“Fine!” Lou tossed the covers off and headed for the coffee pot then set it to brew. She held the phone up to it so that Dillon could hear the water start to siphon. “There ya go.” After the coffee maker gurgled she put the phone back to her ear. “Happy now?”

“Immensely.” He chuckled. “See ya in a bit.”

“Take your time.” She suggested. “The longer you take the less likely I am to stick a pencil up your nose.” She heard him laugh just as she hung up on him.

By 8:15 a.m. Lou was ready to go and checking her email while enjoying another cup of coffee. When her cell phone started playing some burlesque type stripper song and she read that it was Max on the caller I.D., Lou vowed then and there she was going to find out who was messing with her ring tones. Someone was going to pay.

“Good morning.” She answered more jovial than usual.

“Good morning, Detective.” Max greeted her back. “I just wanted to give you an update on the situation. Have a moment?”

“Sure. Dillon isn’t due here for another ten minutes or so.” Lou shut down her email, grabbed her mug and walked out onto the terrace. “What’s going on?”

“One family failed to respond to the roll call.” He informed her. “Dunhill will be contacting you this morning but they sent a team in and found the entire family except for the son, decapitated in the middle of the living room.”

“Oh shit.” Lou shot up out of her seat.

“My sentiments exactly.” Max sighed. “I have a video conference with the Senatus in a few minutes but I wanted to get you up to speed.”

“So the blood born kid was taken by Esterhuizen and smuggled out?” Lou asked as she gathered her things.

“It would appear so.” He was clearly angry, she could hear it in his voice. “You will be coordinating with Dunhill’s team directly. Davidson is going to make it happen in a legitimate stream. The fact that the boy is blood born will be omitted and he will be dubbed as a South African Diplomat’s son for cover.”

Lou was glad Davidson was getting pulled in to help. “That makes sense.”

“Niko and the boys have headed to Cuba along with a few of Victor’s Council members.” Max informed her.

“The South American Aegis Council.” Lou deduced aloud. She was starting to get all the players straight in her head.

“Correct. As far as Africa, Moshe has already found the traitor within his Council and is dealing with him as we speak.” Max paused for a moment before continuing. “I am not sure what they are going to find in Cuba but I’m sure I won’t hear from them for at least five hours.”

“You have them traveling at warp speed no doubt.” Lou was trying to make a joke of it. “So this links back to Rojas somehow?”

“Somehow.” He muttered something under his breath but it sounded like another language to Lou. “I’ll work the Rojas side while you work the Vargas side. I’m thinking that Vargas was a pawn in a bigger scheme, at least Adrianna was. Carlos, he may be clueless but if not, he is deep in it all and probably how Arcano got involved in the first place. I need you to figure that angle out.”

“Once I get intel on Ernesto Vargas, I should know more.” Lou was optimistic.

“Ernesto Vargas has been missing for a week.” Max informed her. “You’ll be getting a call from Abby’s contact down south to confirm it through official channels. No one has seen or heard from him since last Thursday night, not even his own security detail.”

Lou was stunned. “How the hell is that possible?”

“You and I know how that is possible.” Max growled. “When Ernesto walked into his home in Bogota on Thursday night either one of his security people was paid to look the other way when he was dragged out or someone wiped them of the event. I am guessing that he was terminated when he went inside, then disposed of very carefully. People are being sent to the resort in Costa Rica to question Adrianna Vargas’ uncle but at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if we find him gone and Ernesto’s body being used as a fountain in the foyer.”

“Well that’s a lovely visual to start the day on.” Lou chuckled. “Is the team headed for Costa Rica going to contact me or you once they have something?”

“You are point for the rest of the day so keep your cell phone charged and handy.” Max sighed again. “I need to get this meeting out of the way and everything organized before your uncle arrives. On top of everything, Abby is on a tear to get us out of this hotel. I can’t argue with her, it would be a great help for us all to be in closer proximity to one another right now.”