Veil

19

Andre meticulously studied the facts and photographs his connection supplied for the two hundred thousand. The well-paid contact, a leftover from his days in the KGB, came through as he had from the beginning, providing intimate details of each judge’s life, and information regarding security and security personnel.

“Excuse me, waiter, can you please make sure I get the vegetarian meal? I called ahead.”

“Not a problem. I’ll see to it straight away, as soon as I finish filling the water glasses.”

Andre, clean-shaven with coal black hair, latex, and make-up, sported a fifty-pound body suit, complete with beer belly. The servers at the Ritz wore the typical well-pressed, dark burgundy uniforms trimmed in gray with black bow ties, that contrasted with the rich pink linen tablecloths, white fan-folded napkins and gold-plated tableware. He looked like any other South American immigrant serving people who barely knew he existed, and didn’t get an awkward glance.

Andre spotted Robert Veil, an intriguing figure highlighted in the file.

Across the room, he eyed Nikki Thorne, Veil’s partner. Mildly impressed, he spent extra time memorizing details about the two. Not out of concern, but competition. He gave Thorne the once over. She intrigued him. The file said no romance existed between the two, something Andre found hard to believe.

Getting a spot on the hotel’s banquet crew went smoother than Andre anticipated. He registered with almost every restaurant and event staff employment agency in town.

The Ritz, short-handed, recognized his superior sense of decorum and etiquette, tricks he’d picked up dining at some of Europe’s finer bistros.

They expedited his security check; ran his driver’s license and Social Security number; both came back clean; no felonies, no criminal history.

Fifty thousand well spent.

Andre spied Judge Patrick at the dais and looked for an opening, a chance to make his move before the President arrived with a wave of extra security.

He locked in on Robert Veil, and followed his eyes to a stately old man standing twenty feet from where Andre poured ice water.

Veil walked over to the regal old man. Andre edged toward the dais.