章 15: Chapter 15

"Yes, Lorena, I'm just walking into the hotel now."

Jed Whitlow squeezed his cell phone so hard he wondered if it might break. The woman was driving him crazy. Too many times in the past month he'd wondered if it had been a mistake to include the Alvaros in their little group. But Elias Alvaro had been the connection to the cartels, and, without him, smuggling the high-profile terrorists they were using might have been impossible. The woman was just a control freak who was getting on everyone's nerves. That could not happen. What they had planned was only step one in their blueprint for global domination.

"So you have not met with them yet?" she asked? "Vetted them?"

"Did you just say vetted them? Lorena, this is Bernardo's brother and his wife. For all intents and purposes, they are already vetted."

Jed gritted his teeth. The woman had begun to get on his last nerve. With everything at stake and the target date so close, he had to get past that.

"Yes, that is exactly what I said. We cannot take any chances."

"I told you I just arrived. Their plane only landed two hours ago. They had to get their luggage and pick up their rental car. They texted me when they were on their way. I didn't want to be waiting at their suite with a list of questions in hand. This is not high school."

"You're right, it's not," she snapped. "The future of this country, maybe even the world, depends on how we move forward. We can't afford to include anyone at the last minute who might screw this up. You did speak with them on the phone, right?"

"With Max Ferren? Bernardo' s brother? Yes, I did. And I worked the questions we agreed on into the conversation."

"So, tell me how he sounded ?"

He wanted to tell her he'd give her a report when he had something to relate, but he knew she, like the others, was on edge because of this last-minute switch. Although he'd given them a full rundown on Max Ferren, he hadn't seen the man in several years. When he and Bernardo got together, it was usually just the two of them. Sometimes their wives joined them, but that was it. Which reminded him that he'd better bring his own wife up to date.

This interview would be the key to deciding if everything was a go or ifunfortunatelythey had to make adjustments, which would be disastrous.

"He sounded like a man trying to control his irritation at the obvious grilling." He snapped out the words. "What would you expect?"

"And the person you have monitoring the suite?" Lorena persisted. "Did anything show up there?"

"No." He snapped the word. "Either they know the suite is bugged, or they're actually who they say they are. Lorena, these are not stupid people. If they are the real deal, as we believe, they could get pissed off and pull out. Where are we going to get a supplier of the quantity of arms on order plus the other items we need on such short notice?"

"I'm just being"

"Cautious, I know." He pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Listen. I'm in the hotel now on my way to the elevator. I'm going to hang up, and I'll call you as soon as this meeting is over. Meantime, go have a drink and settle your nerves."

Without waiting for an answer, he disconnected the call. Speaking of nerves, she was certainly getting on his. He was well aware of the fact she was their connection to the cartel. Without them, this operation would be far more difficult. Maybe even impossible. But sweet Jesus the woman was a royal pain in the ass. Somehow, he and the others would have to figure out how to forge a connection with the cartel that cut the Alvaros out altogether.

As he strode through the lobby toward the elevator, he scrolled through files until he found the one he was looking at. Max and Regan Ferren had been photographed recently at a high society event in Houston, Texas, and the photo was taken at an angle that gave a good view of them. It wasn't always the face that identified the people. Body language was important, too. This picture at least gave a hint of how they stood.

Okay, then. He shoved his phone into his pocket. He hadn't needed to stop and ask which room the Ferrens were in. He'd already checked with the hotel when he was on his way. Since he owned the place, there hadn't been a problem getting the information.

He'd wanted to pick them up at the airport in Yuma. That way he'd have more control over the situation and of them. That would be especially important if they turned out to be a disaster and he had to get rid of them. At this point he was ready to cross any lines to be sure the events of the target date succeeded. The couple had insisted, however, on having their own vehicle. Jed could understand that. He'd feel the same way. He just hoped there wasn't some underlying reason that he'd yet to find out about. Like what? he asked himself as he waited for the elevator. He hoped he was just being careful and not paranoid.

He stepped into the elevator that whisked him smoothly to the top floor where the suites were located. He turned right and walked to the door at the end of the hall, the carpet so thick his steps were soundless. He paused a moment, then rang the bell embedded in the molding. That had been his own suggestion, a nice touch, he'd thought, for people paying top dollar for these accommodations.

The door was opened by a tall, lean man whose dark hair and beard were sprinkled with silver. There was. no missing the confidence he exuded or the you can kiss my ass attitude. A man who had seen and done it all. He was a little older than the pictures Jed had seen. There was no mistaking , however, that he was Bernardo's brother. He had the same aura of confidence, that of someone who has made an unseemly large fortune doing a lot of things that weren't quite legal and getting away with it.

Don't fuck with me

The man might as well have been wearing a T-shirt with the statement. For a moment Jed wondered who was the real brains behind Ferren Arms and if Max should have been the one they tapped. For the first time he felt a little uneasy about interrogating this man, no matter how politely he did it.

Max smiled, showing even, white teeth. "You must be Jed." He held out his hand. "Max Ferren. Come on in."

Jed stepped into the suite's living room and shook Max's hand. The handshake was as firm as he expected.

"A pleasure meeting you." At least Jed hoped it was.

"And this is my wife, Regan."

Jed turned to the woman who rose from the couch. He had only seen a few pictures of her but, again, as with Max, there was nothing in her appearance to set off warning bells. She obviously took excellent care of herself, her auburn hair falling in lustrous waves to her shoulders, her skin nearly flawless and perfectly made up. The dark slacks and silk blouse she wore draped nicely over a toned, mature figure. When he shook her hand, it was warm and smooth, and, he noted, skillfully extracted from his grip. If he were given to making passes at other men's wives Wait! He was! But. Not within this little group. That would be like playing with dynamite.

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