Chapter 17 The Kline Wedding #3
“For your voice!” Alice declared. “I need a voice as beautiful as my son’s bride.”
“Aww, thanks,” Veronica said with a slight blush. “I’m overwhelmed.”
“Her voice is almost as beautiful as she herself is,” Greg jumped into the conversation.
He confirmed everyone was buckled up then gave the two finger double wave to Harry.
The Limo gently pulled away from the terminal and began the journey to the hotel.
“It took some negotiating, but Veronica was very happy to get the opportunity to perform for both the wedding and the reception.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Greg. I accepted this concept to put you and Pimico to the test. I’m very impressed with the results, just like that Mid-Pacific Project. That Noboko Tashugi has his dad’s formula figured out pretty good now. I hear he’s planning another new location?”
“That’s right. He’s going to the Kurile Island chain next. He’s planning to launch an investment opportunity for it in a couple of weeks.”
“We just might have to be early adopters on this,” Alice said with a bright smile. “How much is he looking to raise?”
“The exploration and wells he’s planning initially will cost close to one billion dollars, and he’s got half of that now from the Mid-Pacific project. He just wants to speed up the timeline to beat the winter weather for that region, so he needs an infusion of new money.”
“He’s a smart cookie,” Bill observed. “Why don’t you have Kelly shoot us the numbers on that so we can review that.”
“Certainly,” Greg said as he reached for his phone, but Alice intervened, holding his arm.
“Later, Greg. We’d like to have lunch with you two to review the final details before the wedding tomorrow. Gail is going to be ecstatic to know that you really are able to be here.”
“Alice, we’d be honored to join you and Bill for lunch. Would you mind dining at the Black Angus?”
“That’s perfect,” Bill said. “You always wanted to try that place.”
“I did. Let’s do that instead of the Golden Ox.”
“I’ll just have Ron arrange a private dining experience for us,” he said, pulling his phone on out.
“Give me a moment, please.” Greg placed the call.
“Ron, it’s Greg. I need a favor. Do you have a private dining room available.
” There was a short pause before Greg continued.
“Perfect. I need seating for four, Bill and Alice Kline will be joining myself and Veronica. Thanks Ron. We’ll see you then.
” He put his phone back. “He’s got an opening at one. ”
“That sounds good to me,” Bill said, looking at Alice. “I can’t wait.” They reached the downtown Marriott quickly, and got Bill and Alice checked in, then returned to the Limo to head to the Black Angus for lunch. “I hope they have a good sirloin.”
“Oh, just wait until you see their daily specials,” Veronica bragged. “I love the lemon crusted salmon with seasoned vegetables and fries.”
“Sounds like you are quite familiar with the place.”
“Greg takes me there every chance we get. It’s nice to be home for a weekend.”
“Honey, I like the sounds of that myself,” Alice said.
“Order what you want dear,” Bill replied.
“That’s right, Alice. This meal is on me,” Greg advised her. “I’m treating you and Veronica to the best meal in Kansas City.” He smiled brightly, “You’ll love it.” The limo continued to the hotel entrance where Harry pulled up to a gentle stop.
“I know this has been a lot to take in, so I have to ask you right now; are you okay?” Cassie looked long and hard at Carry sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m so scared about what we’re being asked to do.”
“Tell me about it,” Cassie breathed out heavily. “With all of this going on, how are things with you and Greg?”
“I don’t have time to even think about Greg right now. Millard is the issue, and Danny’s plan is the chance to change everything.” Carry shut the engine off, then looked intently at Cassie. “We’re being asked to risk our lives over this.”
“We’ve been risking our lives for a while now.
You told me about going into hiding in Witness Protection for the Grand Jury.
That was risking your life. It cost you your Grandma Grace in the end at the hands of Millard ‘The Enforcer’ Calput.
We’ve got to take him out or he’s going to eliminate us with extreme prejudice.
” The panic flushed Cassie’s face and her breathing went shallow and rapid.
“Calm down, Cassie. Take a breath,” Carry tried to calm her.
“Look, there’s Keith’s Jeep pulling in.” Cassie tried to take a deep breath as Carry placed a hand on her back.
“It’s okay, cousin. They’ve got our backs.
We do this right, and Millard won’t be a problem for anyone except your mom and the family. ”
“Why is she like that, Carry? What is it that drives my mother to destroy everything to gain and maintain her control over the Pendergast family?”
“I don’t have any idea what motivates her. All I know is that we have to remove her muscle, or she’s going to use that muscle on us.” Carry took a breath. “They are heading in, so should we.”
“Okay,” Cassie said with a deep breath. She let it out slowly. “Let’s go.” They opened the car doors and stepped out of the car. Carry locked it with the remote, and they walked into Tavern 24. Keith, Danny and Brick had taken a table in a corner out of normal sight, so they moved to join them.
“Glad you girls could make it here. What excuse did you use?” Keith asked.
“I told them I was taking Cassie with me to check out a potential vendor for Veronique,” Carry said matter of fact like.
“That’s a plausible story,” Danny observed. “Have a seat. We’re ordering.”
“Did anyone follow you?” Keith asked cautiously.
“We did like you taught us, and made sure nobody was following us,” Carry replied softly as she sat down. “Cassie kept an eye out.”
“That’s right, we weren’t followed. I ensured that,” Cassie said. “I asked Wendy to go make the report to the Matriarch since I had to come with Carry for this vendor meeting.” Cassie took the seat beside Danny. “Are you sure D-54 is the plan you want to go forward with?”
“After what Eddie reported back from Dallas,” Danny paused as he looked softly at Cassie, then Carry and back to Cassie. “Yes. You told us you saw him there.”
“I did see him, and so did Billy,” Cassie said. “He just didn’t know who he was. In fact, it was Billy who wondered what this stranger was doing backstage and I had to ask him to point him out.”
“You didn’t tell me he was backstage,” Carry protested quietly, a scowl on her face. “Maybe he was just there checking on Wendy.”
“No!” Brick insisted in a strong whisper. “He’s under orders to track you both.”
“How do you know that?” Cassie asked insistently.
“Our inside man. He’s the one passing us the information we need to take the whole family down,” Brick confirmed, then quickly looked up with a smile. “Why, hello there cutie!”
“I’m too young for the likes of you,” Kara said as she stepped close to the table. “I’ve brought you some menus. What would you like to drink?”
“Can we just do sprite all around?” Danny asked. Everyone nodded in agreement. “Five sprites.” He looked at Kara. “What color is your hair? Is that…”
“Pink with some light purples in it,” Kara confirmed.
“I was going to say, magenta,” Danny finished. “I like it.”
“Thanks. I’ll be right back with your sprites,” Kara said. “My name is Kara, and I’ll be your server today.”
“Kara, we’ll have the Tavern Burger with everything all around,” Brick advised.
“Alright, that will save me a trip,” she replied picking up the menus. “Glad you know what you want.”
“Thanks, darling,” Brick replied. “We’ve got some business to discuss.”
“I’ll get your orders in, and your drinks back out here.” She smiled. “It’s making my job easier.”
“Thanks, cutie. We’ll leave you a good tip,” Keith said and watched as Kara left. “Okay, so we know you are safe. We also know that Millard was there on a twofold mission. One, to keep an eye on you two, and two to visit his daughter.”
“He’s still a monster!” Cassie insisted. “I don’t care that he’s Wendy’s dad.”
“Quiet!” Keith insisted in a loud whisper. “I understand what he means to you, and I don’t blame you. Honestly, I’m surprised that Carry isn’t the one calling him a monster. Millard assassinated her entire family when she was a baby, except for Grace.”
“Yeah, and then that asshole killed her when she came back for the Grand Jury!” Cassie insisted back.
Carry quickly put her left hand on Cassie’s right arm and looked at her, then Keith who nodded, then back to Cassie.
Cassie’s eyes went wide as she realized the silent communication that had just happened.
“Don’t you tell me that you faked her death for the second time. ”
“Not quite faking,” Carry said softly. “She was shot, but the surgeons at Stamson Medical Center were able to save her. She’s been hiding in witness protection.”
“She’s not dead?!” Cassie insisted in confusion. “But, I saw that car. It was shredded like Swiss cheese.”
“And if it wasn’t for these guys, she’d have been goo,” Carry replied. “Their body armor was shredded, rather than her body.”
“So, that’s why you are okay with taking Millard out?”
“Yes, cousin. I want to save Grandma Grace, and taking Millard out is the only option. We have to follow Danny’s plan.”
“Danny!” Cassie insisted a little louder and Carry again pulled on her arm to calm her down. “What makes you think this is going to work?”
“We have to lure him into an open spot,” Danny replied. “I know asking you two to be bait for a prize is risky, but we’ll all be there to take him into custody so we can flip him on the Matriarch.”
“Cousin?” Cassie said, her eyes searching Carry’s. “Do you think they can flip him on the Matriarch?”
“I hope they can,” Carry said, with a slight hint of doubt in her voice.
“We’ll interview him like Roberto Manuel,” Keith explained. “He’ll be strongly encouraged to provide us the information we need to go after your mom finally.”