Today’s
excerpt is from Baghdad Butcher, Book #1 of the nine-book Janitors Series. Jim takes the first step toward getting the
drug transportation charges against Tom Wilson dropped. Enjoy and have a great day.
m.j.
Nearly
thirty-five minutes later they reached the building that housed the office of
Mike Vitro. After he parked, Hector
noted that it was nearly six, so he woke Jim and Holly.
As he got out of
the car and held the door for Holly, Jim groaned, “Well, so much for power
naps. I feel like crap.”
As they walked
away, Holly joked, “You don’t look so hot either.”
“Thanks.”
After
introductions had been completed—with Jim posing as an FBI agent, with a real
but forged identification card and shield—he and Holly were seated. Jim said, “Mr. Vitro…”
“Mike, please.”
“…okay,
Mike. Let’s get right down to brass
tacks. I think all concerned agree that
Tom Wilson is mixed up in a bad deal.”
“I would put it
a bit stronger than that, but go ahead.”
“I would like
your permission to talk to Wilson without you being present. If you agree, and he agrees with what I’m
going to offer him, he walks.”
“Get off? Scot free?”
Jim chuckled to
himself at the inadvertent double meaning in the use of his real name, which
Vitro didn’t know, but nodded. “Yes. Of course he may have to testify, up to and
after which his life will be in great jeopardy.
However, if he agrees, I will make his safety my responsibility, and
will get him far from harm’s way. I
think there is a reasonable chance that at some not-too-distant time, his
expectations of a safe life will be greatly enhanced. Part of this deal will be absolute
silence about this matter from you. If
he goes along, I plan on no one being aware that he is even gone from his
present location.”
“How in the
world would you arrange that?”
“With a great
deal of difficulty, and I’m sure much screaming from more than one source.”
“Like John
Engle?”
“For one, but
not limited to him. However, that’s my
problem, not yours. It may require some
fancy footwork on your part to avoid the attorney of his friends.”
“Wallace
Greenberg?”
“Yes, or
whomever. If you agree to all of this, I
would like to meet you in the morning, about eight. We’ll have John Engle with us, so if Wilson
is agreeable, we can get the show on the road.”
“A show I
wouldn’t miss for anything in the world.
Though from what I’ve heard about Engle, he’s a pretty straight
shooter…”
“He is,” put in
Holly.
“…and I don’t
think he’ll be too happy about a flat-out walk for Tom. But, as you said, ‘your problem’.”
Without
bothering to reply to Mike’s concerns, Jim stood up. “In the morning, then.”
“I’ll be there.”
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