Avoid if triggered by misplaced apostrophe's. (essayel) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2009-02-25 15:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | africa, ted |
Caluetete Towers Hotel, evening
The latest girl was blonde and beautiful and had the most grating laugh that Ted had ever heard. Therefore he made it his business to keep her mouth occupied for as much time as possible. Now, for instance, she was eating a low calorie cheesecake and Ted admired her beauty and her silence.
A touch at his shoulder made him glance up and he sighed inwardly, even though his affable smile didn't waver. "Mr Donato," he said. "What a surprise. How are you?"
Abili Donato, chairman of several important committees and now Minister of Development, looked anxiously at Ted's companion and said, "I need to speak with you about - about the matter we discussed."
"Oh, this is an - awkward time," Ted said, gritting his teeth. The man didn't move so he sighed and touched the girl's hand. "I'm sorry, will you excuse me for a moment."
"Sure, Teddy," she said and giggled like a monkey. Ted removed his napkin from his lap and got up then urged Donato towards the area set aside for smokers then out onto the viewing terrace above the swimming pool. It was a beautiful night but Ted had no eyes for tropical stars. Instead he turned on Donato with a snarl.
"What?" he said. "You were told it was a bad idea for us to be seen together!"
Donato shrugged. "I was promised," he said. "Promised that the money would be moved and that I would get a visa."
"Yes," Ted growled. "But you were told that you would have to do that yourself. You've been given the instructions. You've been given all the details. It's not safe," for me "for us to be seen together. Get that money moved and laundered and you'll be fine."
"I wondered if your bank ..." Donato began but Ted cut him off ruthlessly.
"Absolutely not," he said. "FB&P is not a party to our arrangement. That is a private matter - between gentlemen."
Donato drew himself up a little at that and Ted smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Get those emails off, using the email account that was set up for you, and as soon as you get the responses, split the money between the addresses. Much safer that way. Then destroy the computer - you REALLY don't want anyone to follow that up do you?"
"No," Donato said and patted his pocket. "I'll keep the paper safe."
"Oh for Christ's sake," Ted spat. "No - memorise it and burn it. You CAN'T keep that on you. It should be easy enough. The email addresses were chosen to be memorable."
"I'll do that," Donato promised. "Tonight."
"No, now," Ted said, all too aware that the addresses were written in his own hand. "Better still, get the paper out, memorise it and give it to me. I'll dispose of it for you."
It took a little more coaxing then a few minutes of prompting and repeating but finally the job was done and Ted scrunched the scrap of paper in his hand as he returned to the table where - whosherface with the annoying laugh was waiting for him.
As he used the scrap of paper to light a very good cigar, grunting a response to her chatter about this woman in the MOST bizarre dress, tee hee, he thought that bribing officials was one thing, but having to babysit them was another!