CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“He’s American born and raised?” questioned Hex.
“Born and raised. Born in Brooklyn, attended school there. Went to NYU, then Columbia for his master’s program. Served ten years in the Foreign Service Corps, came back to the states, and went to work with the agency. Worked his way up to several director-level positions, finally being appointed deputy director.”
“That’s it?” frowned Eric.
“No. That’s not it. His grandfather was a top official for Mussolini and best friends with Hitler. He was killed at the end of the war, but his father, then a sixteen-year-old impressionable young man, emigrated to the U.S. where he took up the cause for his grandfather.”
“You couldn’t have led with that?” frowned Luke.
“The story is more exciting this way. Antonio Fiorizoni traveled around the country visiting secret meetings of fascist groups and hidden Nazi parties.”
“Wait, wait. Fiorizoni? They changed their son’s name,” said Cam.
“They legally changed his name at birth. They wanted to be sure that no one would come after him because of his father or grandfather. The problem is Enzo was as impressionable as his father. Secretly, he was meeting with the same people and groups as his father and grandfather had. On all of his documents, he was listed as born to an unwed mother.
“He was born on November 22, 1963. The day Kennedy was killed. That day, his father was not present at the hospital. Much of what his father talked about was his apparent displeasure with Kennedy and his policies, including how he treated Castro and the Cuban government.”
“Are you suggesting that his father had something to do with the assassination of Kennedy?” asked Eric.
“No. I’m not suggesting that. I’m just saying it’s a very odd coincidence that while his mother was in labor, the father was nowhere to be found. It also seems an odd coincidence that Fiorizoni died in a motel room outside of Miami with a ticket to Cuba on the nightstand, along with a letter postmarked from Russia and one postmarked from Dallas.” He let that one sink in for everyone and then continued.
“Bruloni also seemed to give excuses for certain activities or operations he didn’t want to be associated with at the agency. For instance,” said Tanner, looking at the room, “he refused to have any part in the investigations of 9-11.”
“And no one thought that was odd? The agency, the very agency that has been a part of this conversation since the second it happened, had a director who refused to be a part of the investigation into the incidents. And no one said a fucking word?” growled Hex.
“He’s like Teflon. Nothing sticks to this guy. He’s been able to make excuses for everything.”
“And travel out of the country?” asked Luke.
“The tickets that Hugo saw on his desk were for three Russian government officials, all three with ties to the Russian military. All three now back in their own country.”
“This asshole is planning something big,” said Cam. “We have to get him out of the agency right away.”
“The POTUS is doing that now,” said Georgie. “He sent a message to me after our call that our recording was insightful and enough to terminate and arrest him. If they can find him.”
“Great. So, now, he’s on the loose, and no one knows where.”
“I know where,” said Katelyn. Mav was standing behind her, his arms folded over his chest. The look of anger, mixed with sheer terror, was unnerving to those in the room.
“Katelyn, what did you do?” asked Eric.
“I told him that I had something he needed and wanted. Two million dollars and it was all his. He’s meeting me in Orlando tomorrow.”
“Katelyn, you did this without asking, without thinking,” said Luke.
“You know, I appreciate all that you have done more than you could possibly know. But I do not appreciate not being a part of all the conversations relative to my future and my safety. I’m not an idiot. I do not want to die. Neither does Chelsea or Stephanie or Victoria or any of the other kids. We want to live our lives without fear.”
“I never meant to imply that you were an idiot or not capable of managing your own life,” said Luke. “But you can’t just simply fly off to Orlando and meet this guy expecting us to be okay with it. What are you going to do when you get there and he kidnaps you or, worse, kills you?”
“He won’t do either of those things because we’re going to be in public, in a crowd, and all of you will be around me. I’ve discussed this with Chelsea and the others, and they agree this will work. Bruloni needs to present something to his partners, or buyers, or whatever they are. Whether that’s a plan of how to create the AI device that I developed or to present me, he has to have something, or he’s going to be dead.”
“He’ll be dead either way,” said Maverick, staring down at her.
“I know. I get it. You all want him dead, and so does the president. That’s good for all of us. But he won’t just walk into the White House and surrender.”
“How did you convince him that you were legit?” asked Eric.
“I told him that Maverick and I had developed a relationship and then I found out what he really is, what he really does. I told him that my pacifist, peace-loving ideals did not mesh. We had a terrible argument, and I left and was in hiding somewhere in Florida.”
“So, he believes you’re already there,” asked Hex.
“Yes. He thinks I’m somewhere in the state right now. Since all of you were speaking to him this morning, I’m sure he panicked and ran. Getting the message from me is the escape he’s looking for.”
“Mav? What do you think?” asked Luke.
“I think it’s a fucking terrible idea, and I hate it. Make her stay here, Luke. We can go and find him and get him to show himself.”
“No,” said Katelyn. “It won’t work. He wants to see me. I know that you have the stealth vests. I’ll wear one. I’ll take every safety precaution, but he wants to see me out in the open.”
“I hate the idea as well, Mav, but she’s right. He won’t show himself unless she’s there. We’ll stay out of sight until we have to show ourselves. He won’t leave with her, and he won’t hurt her.” Mav looked down at her, shaking his head as he pulled her closer.
“I’ll be alright,” she whispered. “You’ll be there.”
“Why Orlando?” asked Hex. She smiled at the men.
“Happiest place on earth.”