Chapter 114
114
Iwalked into a parlor that reeked of money. The walls were made of dark wood paneling, black leather chairs sat in a circle around a central coffee table, and large windows had dark red curtains drawn back to let in the sunlight.
At the far end of the room was a massive wooden desk. Behind it sat a man in an exquisitely tailored suit jacket and an open-necked shirt. He looked very similar to Dario, except his hair and mustache were iron grey, and his wrinkled face suggested a life of stress.
Beside him stood another man, a few years younger and less worn down by time. He was solidly built but had a small gut beneath his three-piece suit. His hair was streaked grey at the temples, although some flecked his mustache and goatee. The eyes beneath his heavy brows were sharp and piercing, and they were always roving, always searching.
As I walked into the room, the older man stood, and a look of sublime happiness came over his face.
“You’re Lars?” he asked in a gravelly voice.
“Yes, sir p>
He walked around the desk, arms open wide, and clasped my face tenderly like Dario had on many occasions back in San Vittore.
“You saved my son’s life,” he said with a huge smile and misty eyes. “I owe you a debt I can never repay p>
And he embraced me warmly.
I was surprised at the show of affection, but I hugged him back until he released me.
“I am Leonardo Rosolini,” he said, then gestured to the man in the three-piece suit. “This is my brother Fausto p>
“A pleasure to meet you both,” I said.
“Your Italian is quite good,” Leonardo complimented me. “You sound almost like you were born in Tuscany p>
“Your son is a good teacher. And he had three and a half years to teach me p>
Leonardo laughed. “An Italian teacher… now there’s something I never thought Dario would go on to do. Niccolo, pour us a drink.” The older man turned to me. “What’ll you have p>
“Scotch, please p>
“Excellent – we have a very nice Macallan. Niccolo, I’ll have grappa p>
I knew grappa was an old-country Italian liquor. Leonardo was apparently a traditionalist.
“Uncle?” Niccolo said as he walked over to a sideboard filled with crystal glasses and expensive bottles.
“Nothing for me,” Fausto replied.
“There’s a lesson for you, Niccolo,” Leonardo said. “A good consigliere always stays sharp so he can see what his don might miss.” The older man turned back to me. “You’re familiar with the term consigliere p>
“Dario explained the concept to me p>
“Niccolo’s a born consigliere, but he has much to learn, so we let him sit in and listen. He picks up little bits of wisdom here and there. Sit, sit, please p>
I sat in a leather chair as the two older men lowered themselves into seats opposite me.
“I know it’s been several days since you’ve seen him, but Dario’s doing well?” Leonardo asked, a hint of worry in his voice. “We’ve talked to him on the phone since then, but that’s not the same as seeing him p>
“He’s doing quite well p>
“He’s in good health and good spirits p>
“Very much so p>
Niccolo brought us our drinks. I sipped mine and was astounded – it was the smoothest scotch I’d ever tasted. I immediately wondered how old that ‘nice Macallan’ was – 30 years, maybe? Which would make it at least $5000 a bottle.
I looked over at Niccolo, who was sitting in a chair to my side without a drink of his own. He saw my expression and grinned like he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“I talk to my son every other day, sometimes every third day,” Leonardo said. I knew that to be accurate from being Dario’s cellmate for years. “I’d like to go see him in person, but my consigliere here won’t let me p>
“Probably prudent,” I said diplomatically.
God only knows what the Camorra might do if they knew Leonardo would be inside San Vittore.
Leonardo sighed. “Probably so. Dario says he’s well, but I wonder sometimes if he’s just telling his old man what he wants to hear so I won’t worry p>
“He’s doing well,” I said. “I promise you p>
“I’m sure that was because he had such a good friend to be there for him,” Leonardo said with a smile.
“I was sorry I had to leave him p>
“Really,” Fausto said in a tone that indicated he didn’t believe me at all.
“Well… obviously I was happy to get out early… but yes, I was worried about him p>
“Worried?” Fausto asked. “You just said he was doing well p>
“San Vittore isn’t quite as… refined as your house here, Signor Rosolini p>
Fausto smiled in amusement. “I’m sure p>
“You think he’ll be all right, though?” Leonardo asked, his forehead creased with worry.
“Yes. I taught him everything I know about hand-to-hand combat over the last three and a half years. He’s the best fighter in San Vittore p>
“Now that you’ve left,” Fausto said coolly.
I looked Fausto straight in the eyes. “Yes. He’s the best fighter in San Vittore now that I’ve left p>
“Stop harassing him,” Leonardo ordered his brother. “He’s our guest p>
Niccolo addressed his uncle. “Lars was the one who requested Ianelli not make too much noise, so he obviously wasn’t trying too hard to get out of San Vittore p>
I recalled that Ianelli was the name of the expensive lawyer who’d looked into my case three years before.
“Yes – why was that, exactly?” Fausto asked me. “Why didn’t you want Ianelli to probe too deeply p>
“First,” I said, addressing Leonardo, “thank you for doing that. From what Dario said, I know Signor Ianelli wasn’t cheap p>
“It’s nothing – nothing at all,” Leonardo said, waving my comment away with his hand. “The very least we could do p>
“Still – mille grazie.” A thousand thanks. Then I looked at Fausto. “Second, the reason I asked that Signor Ianelli not probe too deeply into my case is because my last name isn’t Andersen. I was afraid that if he tripped any alarms, it might make the government look closer at my case and unearth some things I didn’t want brought to light p>
“Bene, bene,” Leonardo said. Good, good.
Neither he nor anyone else seemed particularly surprised at my revelation.
“Did Dario already tell you?” I asked, slightly perturbed. The prison telephone line was recorded and listened to by the authorities – but Dario knew that, so he shouldn’t have said anything.
“No, he was discreet,” Fausto said. “But when we checked up on you, we couldn’t find anyone matching your background with the name of Lars Andersen. What is your real last name p>
“Henriksson. With a ‘k’ and two esses.” I assumed they would check up on me, so I made sure they knew the correct spelling. “Honestly, though, I’m not sure you’ll find too much under that name, either p>
“Why p>
I sighed. If they were going to hire me for a job, it was better the truth come out now than later – and from me, not someone else.
“I was in Swedish Special Forces, which I’m pretty sure Dario told you. What he couldn’t tell you – what I asked him not to tell anybody – was that I briefly worked for British Intelligence. MI6. I was told they wiped any identifying details off my record p>
The mood in the room shifted perceptibly.
Leonardo sat up straight, Niccolo looked stunned, and Fausto went from relaxed to high alert.
“I was on a mission for them in Lake Como when I got stopped with unregistered guns and silencers in my trunk. The condition for MI6 hiring me was that if I ever got captured, I couldn’t tell my captors who I worked for. So I went to jail instead p>
Leonardo and Fausto exchanged a look.
“I’m not working with them anymore, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said. “They burned me, and I walked away p>
“You’ll understand if we’re still a little alarmed,” Fausto said.
“I understand p>
“We’re going to have to check out everything thoroughly p>
“I’ll provide you with any details I can p>
“Dario’s trust in you means a great deal to me,” Leonardo said reassuringly, “but we do have to proceed with caution p>
“Of course p>
“You really are an international man of mystery,” Niccolo said impishly. I gave him a half-hearted smile.
“Dario mentioned there was a woman,” Fausto said.
“…yes p>
“What happened p>
“I was in prison for three and a half years,” I said, stony-faced. “She moved on p>
“She wouldn’t wait for you?” Leonardo asked sympathetically.
“She didn’t know p>
“She didn’t know?” Niccolo asked in astonishment.
“I didn’t have her phone number – it changed right before I got arrested. And I didn’t have her address or an email p>
All three men looked at me like this was the most insane thing they’d ever heard.
I sighed again.
“Her contact information changed constantly because she worked for MI6, too. That’s how I met her – we worked on a mission together in Afghanistan while I was still in Special Forces p>
Fausto’s frown became even deeper. “What’s her name p>
“It won’t do you any good. I had a hacker friend of mine look for her while I was in prison so I could let her know what happened. He never found her. She’s a ghost p>
“I don’t care,” Fausto said curtly. “What’s her name p>
“Rachel Bauer. That’s B, A, U, E, R. But it’s most likely an alias p>
“But you found her when you got out, did you not p>
“Dario found her mother,” I said quietly. “I gave him what little information I had, and he sent some men and tracked her down p>
“Ahhh,” Niccolo said. “That was that business about Pescara, wasn’t it p>
I gave him a warning look, and he clammed up.
“I need to know everything you know about her,” Fausto said.
“Respectfully… no,” I replied.
Fausto’s eyes opened wide in shock. “Excuse me p>
I looked over at Leonardo. “She doesn’t know I’m here. She’s no threat to you p>
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Fausto said coldly.
I ignored him and focused on Leonardo. “I’m grateful for your hospitality and any offer of employment. I am. But if the price of a job with your family is information about her, then I’m going to have to ask that your men take me back to the airport p>
Leonardo watched me like he was weighing my soul. He reminded me very much of Dario at that moment. “And why is that? Why won’t you tell us about her p>
“Because… despite it not working out… I still love her.” Admitting that felt like a needle slowly pushing through my heart. “And… no disrespect intended… I don’t want her to be tracked down by men in the Cosa Nostra p>
The temperature in the room immediately dropped a couple of degrees.
Not from Leonardo, who continued to look at me neutrally –
But from Fausto.
The consigliere stood up. “Well, Signor Andersen – or Henriksson, whichever you prefer – thank you for coming. Niccolo, if you’ll show him to the door – ”
“No,” Leonardo said.
Fausto looked at his older brother in shock. “‘No p>
Leonardo ignored Fausto and focused on me. “You loved her deeply, didn’t you p>
“…yes, sir p>
“I can see it in your eyes.” Leonardo nodded almost absentmindedly. “I greatly admire a man who protects the woman he loves, even if she’s ended things with him. And Dario is an excellent judge of character. If he says you are to be trusted, then I don’t require any further information about this woman p>
“Leo,” Fausto growled, like Come ON!
“I am your don in this matter, not your brother. And your don has spoken, consigliere,” Leonardo said simply.
Fausto looked irritated… but he sat back down in his chair.
“Now that we’ve broached the subject,” Leonardo said as he gazed at me, “tell me what Dario said to you. About the job, I mean p>
“Well…” I said hesitantly, “I had some reservations about working for your family. No disrespect intended p>
Leonardo smiled like he was amused. “None taken p>
“I would like to be placed in a position where I’m not required to… break any of my personal rules of conduct,” I said.
“Oh?” Fausto sneered. “And what would those rules of conduct be, exactly p>
“I never hurt women or children. Never p>
Leonardo dipped his head in respect. “Good rules p>
“Thank you p>
“I’m assuming you killed men in the military, though,” Leonardo said.
“I did p>
“How many, if I might ask p>
“When I was a sniper in Afghanistan, I had 31 confirmed kills. Probably another six on top of that that couldn’t be verified p>
Niccolo glanced over at his father and uncle.
Leonardo looked at me with increased respect.
Even Fausto’s attitude changed considerably.
“Plus, there were probably another five men in San Vittore I had to kill over the last three and a half years… including two of Aristide Caproni’s men when he attacked me and Dario p>
Leonardo looked over at Fausto in amusement. “Still questioning his qualifications p>
“Well… there’s a caveat,” I said.
Leonardo looked back at me. “Oh p>
“There’s a term we use in the military: righteous kill. It’s where you don’t kill an enemy combatant unless he’s an immediate threat to you, to one of your men, or to a civilian. Usually, that means he drew a weapon with the intent to use it. I would prefer not to be put in a situation within your organization where I would have to… not make a righteous kill p>
“A killer with morals,” Fausto said sarcastically.
“Fausto,” Leonardo reproached him.
“What? He only wants to do what he’s told if a priest blesses it?” Fausto asked indignantly. Then he turned to me. “You realize your moral qualms somewhat limit your usefulness p>
“Actually, not at all,” I replied.
“Is that so,” Fausto sneered.
“When I was in Afghanistan, one of my biggest responsibilities was to train the Afghan Armed Forces to fight against the Taliban,” I explained. “I was an instructor, and a damn good one p>
“As I recall,” Fausto snarled, “the Afghanis didn’t stand up to the Taliban very well when the Americans pulled out p>
“You’re right – but not because they weren’t trained. It was because they lacked a reason to fight. They weren’t going to die for a corrupt government that didn’t give a shit about them, so they ran instead p>
Fausto and I got into a staring match, but Leonardo ended it.
“What would you train our men to do?” the mafia don asked.
“Things like better shooting, hand-to-hand combat, physical conditioning, how to clear a building occupied by enemy combatants… but frankly, first I would address security. You need to run a tighter ship around here. No disrespect intended p>
“How do you mean?” Leonardo asked.
“Adriano frisked me for weapons, which was good, but he didn’t check my legs. I could have been carrying a knife in a boot and he wouldn’t have found it. I realize you trust me, and I appreciate that – but really, you shouldn’t have trusted me. No one here verified who I was when I showed up. No one asked for my passport, and I’m assuming Dario didn’t send you a picture to confirm my identity p>
“He described you to us,” Niccolo said defensively.
“What, that I was blond with a beard?” I asked. “I got popped in Lake Como because they had a mugshot of a thief who was also blond with a beard… and looked nothing like me. No offense to you or Adriano, but there should have been more stringent verification of who I was p>
Niccolo and Fausto looked annoyed, but Leonardo gestured with his hand. “Go on p>
“I’m also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat. Without any false modesty, I’m deadly in close quarters. To be clear, I’m NOT threatening you – but if I wanted, I could kill all three of you before someone got here to stop me p>
Fausto sat up straight, as did Niccolo.
Leonardo just smiled. “Simmer down, you two. If he wanted us dead, we’d already be dead p>
I nodded at him. “Thank you. But just to be clear, from now on, any stranger who gets within 50 feet of you should be assumed to be an assassin. And they should be guarded accordingly p>
“Continue p>
“Adriano should have had a gun on me at all times while we were in the car. I saw he had a pistol under his jacket. I could have killed him, taken his weapon, and shot Massimo before either of them could have stopped me. Better yet, I should have been in the front seat with Adriano in the backseat pointing a gun at the back of my head.
“When we drove up to your house, there were only two guards. One of them looked like he was out there on a smoke break, and the other one – a young guy – was acting more like a valet. There should have been four men out there, minimum, and even if they didn’t have a gun on me, their guns should have been out so they could kill me if I made the slightest move.
“Those are just my observations. I believe your men should be trained to anticipate threats and respond accordingly, and I think your security detail could be immensely improved. I could help you with all of those things p>
Leonardo smiled and looked over at Fausto, who shrugged and made a face like, He’s got a point.
Niccolo seemed fairly impressed.
Then Leonardo looked at me and said, “Barring any issues that pop up with your past… which we’ll still have to look into… I would like to hire you to do exactly what you suggested. To train my men and turn them into a world-class operation p>
I bowed my head slightly. “It would be my honor p>
Leonardo grinned. “Good! Business is settled – now it’s time for lunch. Come, we’ve set the table on the back porch. It’s a beautiful day – and it’s time for you to meet the rest of the family p>