"DEA agent, Roman Patterson is murdered in Black’s club by associates of Sal Terrico. South American associates. Does any of that relate to those papers? Are those papers about what we did in South America? Then there’s Kirk. How does he know what went on in the Bahamas?"
"I don’t know, Nick," Wanda said.
"Kirk knows, but all I get from him is voice mail."
"Maybe he’ll talk to me. Hold on Nick." Wanda put Nick on hold and tried to call Kirk.
When Wanda came back on the line quickly, Nick said, "Voice mail, huh?"
"Yeah."
"What now?"
"I know somebody that we can talk to," Wanda replied. "Meet me at my office in about an hour."
"Why? Who are we going to talk to?" But Wanda had already hung up.
Wanda flipped though her Rolodex until she came to the name she was looking for. She dialed the number. "Glynnis Presley, please."
If it involved politics or politicians, Glynnis was the person you wanted to talk to. She was a Senators aid who knew everybody, and more importantly, knew all the inside information about everybody, or she could find out. "Everybody talks to somebody that talks to me" Glynnis was famous for saying. During their long association Mike Black had been a heavy contributor to a few local political candidates. Any time that he needed to use that type of influence, it was a simple matter to call Glynnis, who called the appropriate Congressperson, who made the calls necessary for things to go the way he wanted them to without any problems. Before too long, "This is Glynnis."
"How you doing, Glynnis, this is Wanda."
"Tired and ready to go home. How about you?"
"I’m fine. I was calling to see if you had any plans for this evening?"
"Not a thing. What did you have in mind?"
"Dinner. I got some things that I wanted to run by you."
"Okay, you convinced me."
"Where do you want meet?" Wanda asked.
"I don’t know; what do you have a taste for?"
"I don’t know, Italian maybe, seafood is always good for me," Wanda said. "But let’s go some place that we haven’t been before, cause you know that I’ll go to McCormick amp; Schmick’s and order calamari like I always do. So what new and hot?"
"There’s a place called Alto on Madison and 53rd Street. They claim that they take Italian food to a new level."
"Have you eaten there?"
"Yes, a couple of weeks ago. It’s a nice place, very plush, tall-backed chairs, you’ll like it. And the Chef comes around and talks with the guests."
"What about Asian food?"
"I heard of this place called Koi, it’s on 40th and 6th Avenue. It’s in the Bryant Park Hotel. I hear that there’s a nice bar there called Cellar Bar."
"Not in the mood for bar hopping, but thanks for the tip." Wanda twirled her pen and thought about it. She always considered every decision carefully. "I think I am feeling Italian."
"Well how about Bellavitae it’s on Minetta Lane between 6th Avenue and MacDougal Street. I’ve never been there, but I hear the food is excellent."
"That’s fine, I’ll make reservations. Say seven o’clock?"
"Seven is fine with me."
"Oh and Glynnis, there’ll be someone joining us for dinner. His name is Nick Simmons, he’s an old friend of mine."
"Is he fine as hell and available?"
Knowing what a man-eater Glynnis could be at times, Wanda considered her answer. "Yes, on both counts," she told Glynnis, "But-never mind. I’ll see you at seven."
As promised, Nick picked up Wanda at her office. She explained to Nick that they were going to dinner with Glynnis Presley. "I take it that this isn’t a date either," Nick said.
"No this is a business meeting. But are you are more than welcome to pay," Wanda replied.
On the way to the restaurant Wanda explained that Glynnis would be able to fill in some of the holes before they talked to Mike. When they arrived at Bellavitae’s,Glynnis was already there and had been seated. Wanda introduced Nick to Glynnis and they exchanged pleasantries. Shortly thereafter the waiter arrived. "Good evening, my name is Kelly, I’ll be your waiter tonight. Our flexible menu allows for light bites or a multi-course feast. I’ll give you some time to look over the menu. Can I bring you something from the bar?"
"I’ll have a Mojito," Glynnis said.
"Apple martini for me," Wanda said.
"Johnny Walker Black, straight with a water back," Nick ordered and sent the waiter on his way.
When the waiter returned, he took their orders, Wanda had Fritto Misto. "That sounds good, Wanda, what is it?" Glynnis asked.
"It’s Calamari with celery, lemon, and Caper Berries from Salina," the waiter chimed in.
"You always order calamari, Wanda," Glynnis said.
"I love it, what can I say?" Wanda replied and handed the waiter her menu. Glynnis ordered PolloallaCacciatora, which is chicken with Black LigurianOlives, while Nick had the grilled pork loin.
During the meal there was the usual amount of getting to know you small talk between Nick and Glynnis and plenty of what’s going on in the city gossip, supplied by Glynnis. After dinner, an uncomfortable silence fell over the table. "So, we’ve shared a good meal, we’ve talked a lot of this and that, had some laughs. We’ve gossiped so much I think we’ve bored poor Nick to death. And you’ve plied me with sufficient quantities of alcohol," Glynnis said as she raised her glass "And I’ve had such a good time. But you still haven’t asked me whatever it is that you invited me here to ask me," she said and signaled for a waiter.
"Maybe we just invited you out to enjoy your company, Glynnis, you know cause we’re friends," Wanda said.
"I thought that it was your pretty smile, Glynnis," Nick said and Wanda rolled her eyes.
"You keep talking, honey, I like you," Glynnis flirted. "I imagine that it’s you that has the questions."
"What makes you say that?" Nick asked.
"`Cause when Wanda wants to know something she gets to it over drinks. But you were too polite to even bring it up over dinner."
"All right then, what can you tell me about Martin Marshall?"
"The Justice Department has been investigating Martin Marshall for years."
"For what?" Wanda asked.
"To be honest with you Wanda, there’ve been rumors about Marshall and corruption for years. There’s even been some talk about him being involved in drug trafficking. Justice even had bribery a case against him three years ago, but the case was dropped."
"What happened?" Nick asked.
"Witness committed suicide."
"How?"
"Sleeping pills. After that, the evidence that they had disappeared."
"What was the case about?" she asked.
Glynnis paused and thought for a moment. "That case involved drug money."
"How so?" Wanda asked.
"The developer who was alleged," Glynnis was careful to say. "To have offered Marshall the bribe, his partners were drug dealers, from Argentina or Brazil or someplace like that."
"Or Peru, maybe?" Nick suggested.
"Could be, but I can’t be sure."
"Is there anybody at justice we can talk to about Marshall?"
"I think I know somebody that could help you," Glynnis said.
"If Justice was investigating him and it involved drugs, then the DEA would have been involved."
"That would only make sense," Glynnis said.
"That would mean that the DEA would have to have at least some knowledge of or be heavily involved in this investigation," Wanda said more to Nick than Glynnis.
"That’s a logical conclusion," Glynnis said.
"You have to be pretty powerful to make evidence disappear. Marshall have that kind of power?" Nick asked.
"Marshall has that kind of power. He has a very strong and committed organization. Ruthless, when you get right down to it."
"How does a guy like that continue to get elected?" Wanda asked.
"The thing he’s best at is playing the race card. The man is hassling me again while I’m out here doing your business, making sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, kinda crap. People buy into it."
"Have you ever heard of a reporter named Tavia Hawkins, Glynnis?"
"Sure I have, she’s a reporter for the Post. Tavia Hawkins has practically made a career out of writing articles about Marshall."
"So I noticed," Nick said. "I read at least a dozen of them and there were plenty more. What’s up with that? She got it in for this guy?"
"The gossip is that he had an affair with her, this was years ago. She got serious, wanted him to leave his wife, he dumped her, you know how you men are," Glynnis mused.
"Sounds like she would be a great person to talk to," Nick said.
"If you wanna know about Marshall she’s the one you need to talk to," Glynnis said
"I wanna go," Wanda said meekly.?