Use of Force

CHAPTER 74

Dressed in her pantsuit, meeting their plane on the tarmac at Sigonella, Lovett had been stunning. But now, totally dressed to the nines, she was unbelievably gorgeous.

“What do you think?” she asked as she turned in a circle for Harvath.

“I don’t like your hair.”

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was joking. Then, realizing that he was, she shot him a look.

Laughing, he admitted, “You look fantastic.”

“There were a lot of pretty, twenty-something Italians running around in that club last night. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied. “You’re going to be a huge hit.”

Lovett smiled. “Thank you.”

“Do you want to go over it again?”

“Only if you want to. I’ve got it nailed down.”

“I’m good too,” he stated, glancing at his watch. “At this point, it’s up to Argento.”

At that moment, the front door opened and the Italian and two of his men walked in.

“Sei bellissima,” he exclaimed as he took in Lovett all made up, ready to hit the club. You’re beautiful.

Her hair and makeup were perfect, but it was the very short black dress she had purchased that was the real showstopper.

“Grazie,” she said with another smile.

“Have you got something for me?” Harvath asked.

“Let’s go in the back,” Argento replied.

They walked down the hall to Harvath’s room and closed the door. The Italian didn’t want the rest of his team to see what he was giving him. Two of his guys had just gone out with him to get it, and everyone else knew what the plan entailed, but Argento was a good cop and hated drugs.

“Here,” he said, handing an envelope filled with pills to Harvath.

“Jesus, Paolo,” he responded, laughing as he felt how many were inside. “We’re not taking out a soccer team.”

The Italian wasn’t laughing. “Whatever you don’t use, just flush down the toilet.”

Harvath opened the envelope and studied the tablets. “Did you have one of your guys pop one to make sure they work?”

“Of course not,” Argento replied.

Harvath smiled. “I’m just kidding.”

The Italian didn’t find it funny. “The dealer knows what will happen if these don’t work. That’s all the certification I need.”

“You have a history with this guy?”

“He’s an informant. He lets us know when the Cosa Nostra moves drugs on the car ferry from Messina. The only reason he’s still in business is that we allow him to be.”

Folding the envelope and putting it in his pocket, Harvath replied, “That’s the kind of informant I like.”

Argento was nervous. “Have you ever used Rohypnol on a subject before?”

“Never needed it. I usually rely on debutante heroin.”

“Debutante heroin?” the Italian asked.

Harvath winked at him. “Chardonnay.”

Argento cracked a smile.

He was glad to see him loosen up. “This is all going to work out. Trust me.”

“I am trusting you,” the Italian stated. “All of my men are trusting you too. If things go bad, we’re in big trouble. All of us.”