For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
I decided to call Mr. B and find out some things. “What do you have in mind Steve?” he asked. “Well, John knows the trade well enough,” I said, “and he knows what ‘the Major’ and Victor are like, I think he would be a good person for this job. But he needs a woman to go with him, to make it look more natural. Unfortunately, they may know all the girls on the team, except maybe Sky, but she is already here, which complicates things. But you mentioned another woman that would like to join us, what is she like, is she brave?”
“Well, let me put it this way,” he said, “is Sky brave?” I smiled. “Okay, that is good enough for me,” I said, “now, do you think John and her can work together?” “Not a problem Steve,” he answered, “I think John could work with most anyone, and I am sure that Crystal would have no problems with John, even though they have not met. John could fill her in on her role easily enough.”
“Good, they need to travel out here together,” I said, “that will give John lots of time to explain things to her, if she is quick to learn. She just has to play her role and not slip, or they will both be dead.” “No worries there Steve,” said Baldwin, “Crystal learns fast, she will be perfect for the job, you will see. And she will be a great addition for the team. Oh, and she is very pretty, which likely will be an advantage for this plan of yours.”
“Most definitely,” I said, “this Major will expect John to have a pretty girl by his side, goes with the job. Now, here is the rest of the plan.” I detail everything to Baldwin, the only part that almost gave him a heart attack was using his money to put in a bank account for Alonzo. But we need that to make this plan work, um, hopefully work. I really hate to ask John and Crystal to do this, it is very dangerous, and since I have never met Crystal, well, putting her in such danger is not what I enjoy doing. Not at all.
I wish that Sky and myself could do this instead, but that just would not work, not with Alonzo already knowing us. Later that morning I call Mr. B. “Are John and Crystal there as well?” I asked. “We are,” said John, “I know this Victor, he saved my life once and I promised I would do the same for him sometime. He just laughed, but now I can do something for him, that will get us in for a meeting with the Major.
Crystal will be perfect for the job too, the girls and her have been out shopping for appropriate clothes for her this morning. She has 3 outfits, all she will need.” “Well Crystal, it is nice to meet you, what do you think?” I asked, “can you do this alright?” “Nice to meet you too Steve,” she said, “and yes, I can do this. The hardest part is these clothes that John wants me to wear. That Major and any friends with him will spend their time looking at me.”
“Major likely will not,” added John, “but his helpers will.” “Good, that is a good thing Crystal,” I said, “use that, flirt with them in a quiet way, but do not talk to them unless they talk to you.” “Yeah, that is what John was saying too,” she answered, “I keep quiet unless given permission to talk.” “She will work out okay,” I said, “just keep pumping info into her, John.” “Yep, I will do that,” he said, “we cannot make a mistake on this, or it will be our last.” “Okay, you 2 can leave now,” I said, “Mr. B and I have some things to discuss.”
They left and Baldwin locked the library doors. Only Annelie, Rock and Benson were allowed to stay. “Will you be able to get her profile in place Annelie?” I asked. “No problem,” she replied, “it is all done now, just getting her birth certificate and driver’s license done as we speak, she will have it this afternoon. The Major is coming out Thursday evening, quite late, so John said he will not meet with Alonzo until Friday afternoon at the earliest, most likely at dinner though. So, they will try to see him right after lunch if possible.”
“Good, that gives us 3 days on this end to try and find out more about Alonzo and his plans,” I said, “I know he is using this castle for his forgery, and possibly for other things as well. We just need to find out where it is all happening.” We talk a bit more, then hang up. I turn and look at Sky. “You are worried about Crystal and John,” she said, “I can tell.” “Come here,” I said. Meow.=Ohhhh, they at it again. Meow,meow.=Yep, I like it, I like it. They both giggle.
To Be Continued.
Β©2022 Steve McLeod.
So Crystal is brand new to the company? Boy this seems like a big risk to take with so much depending on it… I hope and John can pull this off!π¬ππ€
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Yes, Crystal is new completely, we have never met her in person, but I did talk to Annelie about her and she thinks Crystal has what is needed to do this. It will be very dangerous, if she slips on one point, they are both dead. Crystal has been working for Baldwin 3 years now in one of his many companies. π€π©πΎπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Ah… I see that’s where she came to know Baldwinπ€
Okay, so what’s the plan? Are they posing as drug dealers or???π€π€
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Well, I can’t really reveal the details ahead of time. John will just be playing himself from years ago when he was in another “business”. Crystal will be “his girl”. John has the easy part, he knows how to act, what to say and not say. This is all new to Crystal, so it is up to John to teach her over the next few days. It’s a lot to learn in such a short time though. Sky would be a better one for the job, but too risky now that she is here with me. π€π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Ok, that will keep satisfied until the next chapter.ππ
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Good, this is going to be a hard week! Lots to do and, well, um, things to take care of over the next few days. And perhaps some unpleasantries to deal with too. π²π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Oooooo…..π²π²π²π²
Are we speaking g story wise or Steve’s life wise?π€
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This is the story Steve! We have to find out some things about Alonzo, hopefully before John and Crystal meet the Major, that will help them a bit, I hope. But what will happen this week? I shudder to think. π¬π©πΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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How will you get the information to them??π€
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Easy enough before they meet with the Major, just phone them. Once they get to town however, there will be no communication with them. π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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That would be wise! You never know if they are being watched already or not.π€
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Yep, we can’t take chances. Major certainly won’t be taking chances. π¬ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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Absotutely!!π
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Yep, we don’t know how many men will come along with the Major, but I’m guessing he travels well protected. π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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I think that’s a pretty good guess!!π
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Yep, he’s kind of important in the syndicate to wander around alone. I will talk to John about that a little more before they leave. π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Absolutely!! Details matter!!π€π€
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Yep, everything needs to be just right. It’s right or fright in this business! π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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Fright is definitely RIGHT!ππ
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Especially when you are on the wrong side. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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So why would Crystal and John be afraid?? They’re on the right side! Right??π€π€π€
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Well, they’re actually on the wrong side, and they are not afraid, at least not John, and even Crystal is more nervous than afraid. But her nervousness is good, it doesn’t stop her, but it will keep her from overconfidence. π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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That’s good it will keep them sharp and on their games!!
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Yep, that’s right, this could be quite interesting. The main thing is to stop Alonzo and Betty, I don’t care about the Major or Victor right now. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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As long as they don’t come back at you for ruining their deal!
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Who said we wanted to ruin their deal? That would put us in danger doing that. π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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But it’s Baldwins money!! π° π€
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What’s 30 million here or there? π€ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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I’m not really sure… I think it’s about 30 million!π€ππ
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Risky but it doesn’t look like there is another option than Crystal and John. John has much experience in the criminal world and knows what he is doing. May be a nail biter time, but hopefully it will work. Don’t want to see more of the team killed.
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Yes, no other option is right. Sky would be a better choice, but she is already here with me, so putting her in there would be hard now. The fact that Crystal is brave will definitely help her to be more calm about things. Yep, John knows what he is doing, he has the experience in knowing what to do and say, so he should have no problems. But one slip from Crystal and Major will know it’s a trap, and they are both dead. But there is more to do before that day. π€π©πΎπΎπΎπ΅οΈββοΈ
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Well , Crystal has spent three years working on Baldwinβs team , so she may be good…how old is she ? π€ ask Muffin to see whether she spots any weaknesses in using Crystal…πΌπ© Is Crystal related to anyone in the organization ? Hmmm…sounds like your plan should work…or not…π΅οΈββοΈπ©π©π©π©πΌβοΈ
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Crystal is 27 and has been a good employee for Baldwin for those 3 years. No, she is not related to anyone on our team. Unfortunately, since the cats are not with Crystal they cannot give an evaluation of her. But John and Annelie give her high marks and they were both in the criminal world for years. Still, it takes just one slip and it’s over for them. If Crystal pulls this off, she will definitely join the team! π€π©πΌπΌπΌπ΅οΈββοΈ
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