Hide and Seek #6
Xander eased himself out and followed Simo to the elevator.
Once inside, he saw Simo insert a key into a lock and turn it.
The doors closed and it began rocketing skyward.
The ride was without stops and soon the doors slid silently open, revealing a plush waiting room.
Tall black leather armchairs adorned the area with dark ebony wood side tables.
A sideboard sat against the wall and had three silver service sets and three large Waterford crystal pitchers filled with ice and water.
The carpet was a deep camel color and plush.
The plants were real and well cared for.
On each side of the elevator door were tables that held two huge sprays of varietal and multicolor flowers.
Simo pointed to a black leather-upholstered door off to the side. Xander looked at the opposite side and saw a matching door. Simo lightly pushed on the door and it opened into a secretary's office.
“Hello, Simo,” said an absolutely stunning young woman.
Xander guessed that she must be from India.
She turned her elegant, beautiful smile on him and, with her Indian accent, greeted him.
“Hello, Mr. Kostinos. Sagar is expecting you. Please.” She gestured toward another black upholstered door behind her.
Simo smiled. “Deepa.” She nodded and pushed the door open for Xander.
Xander nodded to the beautiful young woman and followed Simo's lead.
He walked in and observed a man who also appeared to be from India.
He wore an impeccably tailored, double-breasted, dark gray pinstripe suit.
He stood about 5'10, and had three large gold rings on his hand.
When he reached out his hand to Xander, he saw a huge gold watch under the jacket sleeve.
The man had a slight Indian lilt to his voice. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kostinos. My name is Sagar Manwar.” As he shook the man's strong dark hand, he understood the nickname “Sugar Man” now.
“I’m not sure I can say it is nice to meet you, Mr. Manwar. I do not know why I am even here.”
Sagar gestured to a comfortable-looking, rolling armchair in front of his desk. Simo was already sitting in the one next to it. “Please, have a seat, Mr. Kostinos, and we’ll address why you are here.”
“Mr. Kostinos, would you care for any refreshments? We have almost anything available to you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Manwar, I am fine.”
The stately dark man gave him a slow nod. “As to why you are here…”
“Yes, Mr. Manwar?” Xander replied with the utmost politeness and then looked at Simo, who looked disinterested.
“Would it upset you if you learned I wanted to meet the gentleman who saved the life of Halo Raines and the others?”
“No, Mr. Manwar, it would not. Respectfully, I do believe that is not the only reason.”
“Yes, it must appear rather obvious at that. What if I told you that the plan you have regarding Joel Miller contradicts our own?”
“Then, Mr. Manwar, I would say we meet at an impasse,” Xander stated firmly.
“I see. What would it take to dissuade you from your current path against Joel Miller?”
“Mr. Manwar, I do not think I understand you clearly here. Are you trying to make me an offer?”
“Let us say, for argument's sake, that I am? What would you think if I offered you five hundred thousand dollars in any denomination or type of payment you desire to simply walk away?” Sagar twirled his gold-ringed hand in the air like a magician.
“Return home to Portland or wherever, except remain out of California... at least for the time being.”
“Respectfully, Mr. Manwar, I would decline.”
“Truly? Mr. Kostinos?”
“I am sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Manwar. Yes, truly.”
Sagar smiled and depressed a button on his desk. “Miss Deepa, please bring it in. Thank you.” The door opened and Deepa came in, smiling, and set a briefcase in front of Sagar.
Sagar opened the briefcase and spun it around so Xander could see. It was full of bundles of cash; bundles and bundles of one-hundred-dollar bills.
Sagar closed it and smiled wickedly at Xander. “Here is one million dollars in cash, Mr. Kostinos. Please take it with my goodwill and leave this path you are on. I implore you. You can most decidedly start a new life anywhere, but you must leave California.” He pushed the briefcase toward Xander.
Xander kept his hands in his lap and shook his head. “Mr. Manwar, your offer is beyond generous. I must respectfully decline. For one, I have done nothing to earn this money. And two? I keep my promises. Again, I apologize. If we are done here, I'd like to leave now.”
Xander began to stand up and Simo firmly held his arm out, stopping him. “See, Sagar, I told you. He's a boy scout…” He let out a bark of a laugh, “…a man of principle. You can't buy him.”
“Very well, Simo. What shall we ever do with him?” Sagar sighed, clasped his hands together, and set them on the briefcase.
“We can bury him in the desert.” Simo turned to Xander. “You sure you don't want to take the cash?”
Xander glared at him and, with anger, he spit out, “I asked you to get it over with. Why dress me up like a goddamn monkey only to shoot holes in this nice suit Mr. Manwar gave me? Fine, kill me! Strip this off me first so he can get his money back.” Xander shot to his feet and quickly took his suit jacket off, then flung it over Sagar's hands and the briefcase.
Sagar looked at Simo. “What if we take Halo…”
As Xander turned to sit back down, he heard Sagar mention Halo’s name.
He suddenly kicked Simo's armchair and sent it flying backwards, making Simo stumble to try to maintain his balance.
Xander leapt over the desk, then spun around a shocked and open-mouthed Sagar.
From his pocket, he quickly brought up his black pocketknife, snapped it open, and held the sharp point at Sagar's neck, hovering right above his carotid artery.
Xander was out of breath and breathing hard, his knife trembling in his hand at Sagar's throat. He felt Sagar swallow hard. “Not one word, Mr. Manwar. Simo, take my seat and keep both hands on the desk, or Mr. Manwar's ten-thousand-dollar suit will get ruined.”
Simo slowly moved his hands out in front of him and sat down, then placed his palms flat on the desk in front of him. “I told you, Sagar, not to mention Halo.” Simo was smiling. “Now what, Xander?”
“Simo, you were right about the coward and the man willing to die...” Xander felt the gentle waft of air behind and to the side of him, “No one comes in this room!” he shouted.
“My hand is already shaking and this blade is razor-sharp.
Mr. Manwar's carotid is only mere millimeters deep. Last warning!”
Simo smiled and nodded. “Your call. Let Sagar speak?”
“Say what you need to, Mr. Manwar,” Xander hissed.
“Simo, where in the hell did this knife at my throat come from?” Sagar spit out, his elegant countenance gone now.
Simo shrugged, still smiling. “Yes, where did the knife come from?” Simo looked at Xander.
“It's what I was searching for, hidden in the bottom of the metal support of my bag. I distracted you with the bloody letter and palmed it. I want that letter back, by the way.”
“Now?” Simo asked, still smiling.
“No, keep your hands where they are. Let Mr. Manwar have his say before you make your move, Simo.”
Simo looked at Sagar. “There you go. That is where the knife came from, and remember? I told you to leave Halo out of this. You better start explaining.” Simo chuckled. “And fast.”
Xander felt Sagar swallow hard again and sigh.
“Mr. Kostinos, I am not technically Simo's boss.
I am merely the figurehead of this conglomeration, if you will.
'Sugar Man' has instilled respect and, for some, fear. This helps keep our business running clean and without undesirable miscreants moving against us.”
“Explain it all, Sagar,” Simo said, still chuckling.
“Today was a test. Yes, your plans are contrary to our plans against Joel Miller.
Yes, you would have been allowed to leave with all the money.
I am told it is owed to you and more. It was an error in my judgment to mention Halo; I was going for effect.
With my life on the line here, I can promise you that at no time, now or in the future, will Halo ever come to harm; it would be impossible.
If you will allow, please let the people in the next room in.
Then the wizard's curtain will truly be thrown open.”
Xander eyed Simo and saw his eyes were full of mirth. Xander slowly moved to Sagar's side, keeping him between himself and the door; he was waiting for Joel to show his ugly mug, then he would have one split-second chance at him. “One by one and slowly,” Xander called out.
Xander watched the door slowly open and he felt the air again. His mouth fell open and he almost dropped the knife when the first person walked in.
“Hello, Love, it is a pleasure to finally meet you!”