The Cain Casey Series

Chapter Ten

“Tell me, Simon, why are women so complicated? You’d think I’d know since I’m a woman, but I’ve never been able to find an answer.”

“That question has no right answer, since all women are different. The best solution I’ve found, instead of wasting my time trying, has been to give diamonds for every occasion and in any circumstance.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Remi said as she walked through the Quarter to the address her assistant Juno had given her that morning.

Juno had worked for her mother in Cuba and defected with the Jatibon family. Marianna had accepted the young girl’s relationship with the quiet Simon, who at the time was Ramon’s bodyguard, for what she saw it, love. As Remi grew and her father gave her more responsibility, he also gave her Simon. The strong woman would kill someone, if necessary, to protect one of Ramon’s beloved children. Juno came along as part of the package, and together they kept Remi’s life centered and on schedule.

“Just remember we have to be at the airport at ten,” Simon said as they stopped in front of a plain building on Bourbon Street.

“The cup of coffee I’m planning on should take ten minutes.” Remi glanced back when Simon cleared her throat. “What? You think she won’t like coffee?”

“I’m sure she loves coffee, but telling her you’re taking ten minutes out of your busy schedule isn’t going to win you any favors.”

“You should write a self-help book.” Remi smirked as she pushed the buzzer.

“Can I help you?”

Remi recognized Dallas’s voice and was surprised she’d answered the buzzer. “Good morning, Dallas, it’s Remi.”

“I’m sorry, who?”

She took her finger off the intercom and looked at Simon. “Hell, ten minutes might have been an overestimation.”

“In these situations groveling and heartfelt apologies work just as well as precious stones.”

“Remi Jatibon,” Remi said, returning to the paces Dallas was putting her through.

“Sounds familiar…hmm…have we met?”

“I have some aliases you might recognize.” Remi shook her head and took her finger off the button, then pointed it at Simon to make her stop laughing. “There’s ‘dyke,’ ‘shit for brains,’ and ‘moron.’ Did I leave any out?”

“You left out ‘pervert,’ I believe,” Dallas said, then laughed. “You have to realize Bob suffers from a chronic case of foot in the mouth.”

“Let’s not waste our time talking about Dickey. Can I come in?”

A buzzer sounded, unlocking the door, and the plain exterior gave way to a beautiful courtyard and garden sprinkled with pieces of outdoor art and wrought-iron furniture. The place felt more like home than a temporary location rental. One of the chairs under the largest shade tree had a book on it, and Remi figured that must be Dallas’s reading nook.

She stepped onto the patch of grass, curious as to what Dallas was reading, and smiled when she saw Turn Back Time, by Radclyffe, with a bookmark close to the end. “Now I’m more curious than ever,” she whispered.

Footsteps on the slate floor made her look up to find Dallas wearing worn jeans and a loose white shirt, with her hair pulled into a ponytail.

“Good morning,” Remi said.

“Yes, it is.” Dallas stopped when she reached the edge of the grass. “You’re here, we both know who we are, and no one’s wearing a tux.”

“Not much on studio parties, are we?”

“I’m more of a barefoot and jeans girl, actually.”

Remi glanced down at the sandals. “You put on shoes for me? That’s flattering.”

“I figure if you’re here to fire me, it would be more professional if I was dressed somewhat like an adult.”

The reasoning made no sense to Remi, and she glanced back at Simon. “Your ideas on women are sounding better all the time,” she said, then laughed and shook her head. “I’m not here to fire you, since at the moment you don’t actually work for me, but I am here to ask you for a favor over coffee.”

“Have a seat and I’ll go make some.”

“We can go somewhere for coffee. I didn’t mean to put you out.” She nevertheless picked up the book and sat down.

“I promise not to poison you. Drip or espresso?”

“Espresso, with lots of sugar, thank you.”

Dallas walked away but left her sandals behind. It amazed Remi that for all the foot traffic outside, Dallas’s little patch of garden was as quiet as a church. She enjoyed the stillness with her eyes closed. “Makes me want to sell the penthouse,” she told Simon.

“Maybe you won’t have to,” Simon said. She sat close by with her head back.

“Do you read tea leaves down in Jackson Square in your spare time?”

“That’s fun to do every so often,” Dallas answered, making Remi’s head jerk up. She put down the tray she was holding and handed Simon a cup first. “What can I do for you, Ms. Jatibon?”

“It’s Remi, and I wanted to ask you out to dinner.”

“That’s the favor?”

“If you say yes, I could apologize for not coming clean about who I was when we met, and we can talk about your upcoming project.”

“That’s a new way of going about things.”

“I thought it would be more relaxing and we could maybe get to know each other better,” Remi said, catching a hint that the ice under her boots was cracking.

“And if I say no to the offer, which I’m sure comes complete with a casting couch?” The question was venomous, but Remi detected a history behind it.

“Then you and Bob can handle it with legal.” Remi stood and put her untouched coffee back on the tray. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m sorry we disturbed you and that I’ve somehow given you the impression that your future with the studio lies solely on your back.”

They were halfway to the door when Dallas spoke up. “And if I said yes, what did you have in mind?”

“Italian chicken at Irene’s. You’ll stay fully dressed, including your shoes, then I’ll drop you off here and you can finish your book.”

Dallas pointed at the tray. “Why not forget I’m an idiot, then, and finish your coffee?”

“I have an appointment I unfortunately can’t reschedule, so I have to get going.”

“Does that mean Susan Wilkins brews a better pot than I do?”

Remi was surprised when the usually quiet Simon started laughing. “I wouldn’t know, and I don’t see any future opportunities to try anything she’s brewing,” she said, finding Dallas attractive but irritating. But she was beginning to realize all kinds of things about herself, namely that no other woman in her life had challenged her like this, much less that she’d enjoy it. With Dallas if she wanted more she’d have to work for it.

Dallas glanced down at her feet, and when she made eye contact again, Remi read her facial expression as contrite. “Sorry, that was out of line.”

“Don’t apologize for being straightforward. It’s refreshing,” Remi said, meaning every word, but she glanced at her watch and saw her fun was over. She took a card out of her pocket and handed it to Dallas. “Thanks for seeing me but I really have to get going.”

Dallas closed her fingers around it and watched Remi leave, her boots echoing along the slate. Her shoulders slumped as soon as the lock clicked closed. This had been her chance with Remi, and she’d blown it in spectacular form. Before she could get too depressed, she studied the heavy linen paper with raised ink. It showed only Remi’s name and a phone number, no company and no position. She wasn’t sure why Remi had given it to her until she flipped it over.

If you ever feel the urge to call me, I say go with it. Just promise me you won’t put Dickey on the line once you’ve dialed.

“How about tonight?” Dallas asked, when Remi answered after she dialed the listed number.

“If I’m back in time I’d love to, but I really don’t know when I’ll be through.”

“It doesn’t matter, give me a call. If it’s late I’ll fix something here to make up for acting like I have no control of my mouth.”

“That sounds like something to look forward to. I’ll see you tonight.”

*

“Ready to buy a casino?” Remi asked Cain as they boarded the plane.

“Can’t wait.” Cain paused at the door to wait for Muriel, watching her stare at the surveillance team boarding a nearby plane so they could tag along. “Want to talk about it?”

“Nothing to talk about,” Muriel said as she quickly climbed the steps. “More like loose ends that need to be tended to.”

“Rash decisions aren’t your style.”

Muriel clicked her seatbelt on and put her hand on Cain’s forearm. “I’m not making any quick decisions, just trying to make the right ones. You’ll have to trust me.”

“You have my trust, but don’t forget you have the right to ask me for help if you need it.”

“I know that, but I’d rather take care of this myself.”

For the rest of the trip the group discussed the pending deal. That morning they were sitting down with Richard Bowen to finalize the deal, but they weren’t stupid. The Jatibons and Cain knew Richard no more owned the Capri than Dwayne, Steve, and Ross would after the sale. He was Nunzio Luca’s front man in the casino and on paper.

“The fact that Nunzio Luca’s willing to sell at all still surprises me,” Ramon said.

“True, since from what I’m hearing he’s partnering with Rodolfo Luis,” Cain said. “After Stephano’s retirement, and considering Nunzio’s expansion plans, I would’ve thought he’d have kept the first stop in the supply chain.”

“Maybe he’s made other arrangements,” Steve said.

“Not likely, and that’s the only part of this situation I can’t work out,” Cain said, and Remi nodded.

“What’s your best guess?” Dwayne asked.

“Nunzio’s been lured by the quick buck. To rise to where he wants in the drug-lord food chain, he needs cash to build up his network.”

“Have you met this guy?” Ramon asked. “I know Rodolfo, but haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Nunzio.”

“You’re not missing much. I met him one night at my old club Emerald’s. He reminded me a lot of Giovanni in that he thinks killing enough people will solve any problem.”

Remi crossed her legs and looked from Ramon to Cain. “I’ve dealt with him on a few occasions, so I have to agree with your assessment. You really think we’re financing his expansion?”

“Like I said, I haven’t figured it all out, but we need to be vigilant. If that is Nunzio’s plan, then he’ll rely on intimidation to make us back down if we try to take his people out of the Capri. He strikes me as the have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too kind. We give him the money he needs and then bend on letting him continue business as usual.”

“We don’t intimidate easily,” Remi said.

“Wait until you have a four-year-old,” Cain said, laughing.

*

As Remi got into the waiting black limousine, followed by Cain, Muriel, and Juno, she said, “I hate these things. They always remind me of either a funeral or a wedding, which is kinda the same thing when you think about it.”

“I don’t know. According to Simon, we may have you fitted for a tux before too long,” Juno said.

“I just want to have dinner with her to discuss her upcoming project without that asshole around.”

“You’re not talking about the girl who made her completely forget her date last night, are you?” Cain asked Juno.

“If it is, I can’t blame you for wanting to spend time alone with her, Remi, but I’m partial to blondes myself.”

“Who in their right mind isn’t, but this is just business,” Remi said. “Speaking of, did you set up extra security for today, Cain?”

“Katlin left earlier this morning with Mano and a group from both families. With the guys we have with us now, we should have it covered.”

“Nunzio would have to be stupid to try anything now,” Remi said.

“True, but sometimes stupid is a way of life for these guys,” Cain said. The van that pulled up alongside them on the main drag in Biloxi made her sigh. Shelby and her friends had made the trip just fine.

“Once this is done I want to move some of our security to the casino. I want the grounds cleared of any evidence of the Bracatos and the Lucas as soon as possible. Guido’s moving on after today, but there’s something about him I don’t trust,” Remi told Cain.

“Please don’t call him Guido. His name is Richard, and he’s an American,” Juno said.

“I was just kidding. But this guy looks like he’s seen one gangster movie too many. He should know we have a much better sense of style,” Remi told her, making Cain and Muriel laugh. “It’s the bad-girl image that drives the women wild.”

The car pulled to the front of the Capri Casino, and Mano opened the car door. Remi pulled his goatee as a greeting and waited for everyone to get out.

“Did everyone make it?” he asked Remi.

“At least from our end. Is Richard up there?”

“Yes, and already in a pissy mood.” He pointed to the trucks in the far section of the front parking lot, ready to start taking the Capri signs down.

“I could give a rat’s ass about what kind of mood Richard’s in,” Cain said. “I’m sure he’ll cheer up as soon as he gets the check.”

“I left some of Muriel’s staff with him in case he had any questions,” Mano told them as he pressed the up button on the bank of elevators. “Think of how surprised Guido will be when we shut the place down for a couple of weeks once the sale goes through. There’s no way I’m putting any of our people in there until we inspect the facility and check personnel backgrounds.”

“Good, since Richard was running more smack here than dice,” Cain said. “We don’t need that kind of heat. The less often we have to go before the gaming commission, or give the feds any more ammunition to make our lives miserable, the better.”

Their group moved toward a private elevator that went to the third floor where the management offices were located. Once they boarded, three of Cain’s men stayed by the doors to deter anyone else from going up.