I followed her into the living room and she offered me a seat. “Nice place,” I said and sat down.
“Thank you,” CeCe said and sat down next to me. “It would be an understatement to say that I’m surprised to see you. I didn’t know you knew where I lived. But you did say that when you wanted me, you would find me.”
“Sorry I didn’t call first, but I needed to talk to you about somethin’ and I don’t like talkin’ on telephones.”
“I heard that about you. That’s why I haven’t blown-up Kevon’s phone.”
“I appreciate that.”
“So, what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
“I need you to do something very important for me.”
“You know I’ll do anything for you. Just tell me what you need?”
“I arranged for you to meet with a reporter from the
CeCe frowned. “For what?”
“I want you to give him a story.”
CeCe looked at me for a second or two and then she sat back. “This is about your wife, ain’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I thought so.”
“What you know about my wife?”
“I know that she was murdered, and that they accused you of her murder. I know that finding her killers is the only thing that’s important to you.”
“You’ve been talkin’ to Bobby.”
CeCe smiled. “I know a lot more about her, but you don’t wanna hear all that.”
“Try me.”
“I know that you loved her very much.”
“I still do.”
“Is she what’s keeps you from letting me get close to you?”
I didn’t answer her because she was right. I won’t let anybody get close to me. I didn’t want to feel for any other woman what I felt for Cassandra. But there was something about CeCe.
“I guess that answers my question,” CeCe said and got up. She stood over me and shook her head.
I wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked standing over me like that, but I didn’t. I had to admit that her appeal to me is much more than physical. The thing was that I liked CeCe. Liked her look, liked her style, liked the way she handled herself.
CeCe stood there looking at me, and then she walked away. “I’ll do what you need me to do for you, but after I do it, there’s something I want you to do for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Do we have a deal?”
“You haven’t told me what you want.”
“Do we have a deal, Mr. Black?”
“Not until you tell me what you want.”
“Believe me, it’s nothing you can’t do.”
“Then why can’t you just tell me,” I laughed.
“Do we have a deal?” CeCe came and sat next to me again. “Look, you want me to do something for you. I want you to do something for me. Since you’re sitting here I know it’s something important to you, or you wouldn’t be here. Bottom line, you
Once again, I knew that CeCe was right. I did need her and it was something that only she could do. I accepted her hand. “Deal.”
“Good. So what can I do for you?”
I stood up and extended my hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going, handsome?”
“To meet some people.”
We left CeCe’s apartment and Kevon drove us to Monika’s. Since she already knew about Cassandra’s murder I told CeCe that Vinnelli had arranged the murder, and that he was our target. When we arrived Monika opened the door and let us in. “CeCe, this is Monika Wynn and Travis Burns.”
“Hey,” Monika said half-heartedly.
Travis got up and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, CeCe.”
“Good to meet you both,” CeCe said and looked at Monika.
“Now that we’re all here.” I went and sat down next to CeCe. “I’ll tell you why we’re here and your part in it. I intend to destroy agent Vinnelli. Over the last few weeks Monika has been compiling information on Vinnelli that you’re gonna feed to the press.”
“Why me?”
“Because your past relationship with Steven ‘Cash Money’ Blake gives the story credibility. And it’s something that he can verify with the police.”
“What about him?”
“Nothing really, but he connects to Mylo, or as you know him, the late agent Clint Harris. He connects to the late agent Masters.” Monika put a picture of Mylo and Masters in front of her. “And Masters connects to Vinnelli.”
“Okay,” CeCe said, but I knew it still wasn’t clear to her.
“You’re gonna tell the reporter about Mylo’s dealings with Cash. Then you’re gonna give him information about a meeting between Mylo and Masters discussing several murders, and taking over drug markets. Then you’ll give him the head man, Vinnelli, and information about his offshore accounts. That’s just the first part of the plan.”
I got up and stood by Travis. I looked at Monika. “How much is in those accounts?”
“Right now there’s $7, 562,753 in those accounts. It will be more allowing for interest-earned between now and when we make our move.”
“Thank you. Now, when that information becomes public, the government will freeze those accounts, but not before we take half of it.”
“Why just half?” CeCe asked.
“Because I want the government to have something to freeze. Monika, half is how much?”
“Roughly $3,781,376.”
“Which we split four ways. And that is?”
“That’s $945,345-each,” Monika added.
“Any questions?”
CeCe’s jaw dropped and we all laughed at her.
“Welcome to the big time,” Monika said to CeCe.
“You still want me to do something for you?” I asked, thinking that damn near a million dollars would be enough compensation for her part in my plan.
“Yes,” CeCe said definitely. “And a deal’s a deal. But I do have a question.”
“What’s that?”
“What if the reporter doesn’t believe me? I mean, that’s gonna be a lot to remember.”
“I’ll coach on what you need to say,” Monika assured CeCe. “And when you talk to him, you’ll be wearing a wire and an ear piece. Me and Black will be someplace close by listening and we’ll help keep you straight.”
“You in?”
“I already told you yes, and a deal’s a deals,” CeCe said.
“Travis. The money-”
“Like Black said, the money is in offshore accounts in different banks. So we can just roll in there and take it at gunpoint. In order for us to get it, I gotta access the network and get past a 128-bit encryption. Now accessing the secure cluster has to be done on a computer at a bank on the backbone of the network. I have a friend who
