Kareem sat on the opposite side of the limo and wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead.
“Is it safe to put the gun down?” the woman asked very matter-of-factly.
“That depends.”
“On how fast you’d be able to get it back out.”
“You have a very neat sense of humor. But let’s get down to business,” the woman reached in her bra and pulled out a badge. She introduced herself as “Secret Service Agent Kathy Snow.”
“Interesting.”
“Very. Apparently, you know that I have been following you over a year now, and I must say your little costume that you flew out of New York in was interesting. I mean an elderly man. Who would have questioned you? And your use of the cane was classic. But your problem is that I am not easily fooled.”
“Okay, what do you want?”
“Money.”
“For what?”
“Allowing this charade. The minute I observed that you had boarded a flight to Las Vegas, I presumed that you were headed here to get married. I was right. See, you’re married because I let you get married. You being married is responsible for protecting your wife from being compelled to testify against you. That will severely cripple the prosecution’s case.”
“Okay, how much do you want?”
“Five-million. Non-negotiable.”
“Not persuaded to give you that. I am married now and I am not pressed about you telling the prosecutor because they’ll learn that when they request Toi to take the witness stand.”
“See, that’s what I admire about you. You seem to always have an answer for the prosecutor’s office. I assure you that I am not employed by the United States Attorney’s Office. See, I dusted this limo for prints. I am sure that one of unknown persons that are listed as your co-defendants on your indictment was with you today at the Bellagio and in this limo. I am sure the prints will tell all, and I have the surveillance from the airport being prepared. The Bellagio made theirs available without question. So it seems that I am a step ahead of you. Now get me 5-million-dollars by the close of business today or your pal will never make it out of Vegas! At least not without an extradition motion. So unless you want your pal to go to jail. Please get my money right.”