Jackie's Week by M.M. Wilshire Page B

one thing, he
was the largest man she had ever seen. His refrigerator sized frame
was draped with a cheap baggy tan suit. There was some sort of a
satchel slung over his shoulder by a wide strap. Behind him, to her
surprise, she spotted Bobby right behind him, the long braid over
one shoulder. Bobby wore a short Dodger jacket. On his belt was a
large hunting knife.
    "Yes?" she said, her voice squeaking.
    "My name is Nasturtium," he said. "I just met
your man, Bobby. The both of us will be keeping an eye on you. As
per my arrangement with Mr. Bienenfeld."
    "I have the police already doing that," she
said.
    "As I said, we will be keeping an eye out, as
per our arrangement with Mr. B." With a half smirk, he
disappeared.
    "Oh my God," Jackie said. "He startled me
when he popped through the door like that."
    "I’ve seen him around before," Marsha said.
"He’s some kind of ex Navy Seal or something who got thrown in
prison for war crimes. Now he works for my uncle Ernie." She opened
the folder as though nothing had happened and reviewed the
paperwork, extracted a single sheet, and pushed it towards Jackie
while extending a gold ball-point pen. "Sign at the bottom and
you’re all set."
    Jackie scrawled her signature across the
bottom of the note. "You make it so easy."
    "We’re treating it as a commercial note to
avoid bothersome disclosures and red tape. When Bienenfeld writes
the loan summary, he’ll probably make up some B.S. about how the
money’s being used for the option rights to a book you're writing
or something." She placed the note in the folder and handed Jackie
a supply of temporary checks. "Use these for now."
    "Do I get a receipt or anything?"
    "No es necesario."
    "I can’t believe I just got this loan. Are
these funds from the government bailout?"
    Marsha smiled. "This is not the type of
banking enterprise that needs a government bailout. We do very
nicely in rain or shine. It’s all about relationships around
here."
    "Thank you Marsha."
    "De nada. And I mean you are very welcome.
Why don’t you give me a call sometime and we’ll have a drink
together? Maybe we can explore that area of you which needs to
function in a blackout."
    "I don’t get out much. I—oh hell, I might
call you. I don’t know."
    "It’s just a drink. I’m not going to eat you
alive. And not to change the subject, but I’m curious—what happened
to the guy who did that to you?"
    "The cops grabbed him yesterday. But he’s
getting out again if I don’t step forward and finger him. Now he is
sending his friends after me."
    "There are other ways."
    "Like what?" Jackie asked.
    "Like other ways besides involving the
police. Nasturtium and Bobby for example."
    "I’ll admit I’ve thought about it. But deep
down I know I don’t have the guts. It’s really a police
matter."
    "Of course," Marsha said. "A police matter.
Now I want you to have a very nice day. And give Donna my best.
Adios."
     
    Chapter 14
     
    Donna was waiting for Jackie in the limo with
the sun roof slid back. Jackie climbed in and felt the welcome rush
of cool morning air as the huge vehicle glided away from the
curb.
    "I still don’t see our police escort," Donna
said. "I bet he got lost in some sort of bureaucratic shuffle."
    "It doesn’t matter," Jackie said.
"Bienenfeld’s cavalry just rode in. The guy is huge."
    "Well I am sorry it had to come to this,"
Donna replied. "So what did you think of Marsha?"
    "Meeting her was rather strange," Jackie
said. "For one thing, I think she offered to help me nail Viktor
Bout."
    "Bienenfeld’s having an affair with her."
    Jackie's brain came to full stop and then
chugged forward cautiously at this new revelation. "Say again?
Donna?" But there was no need to question the statement. The pain
was written all over her sister’s face. "Donna, are you kidding
me?"
    "Sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt that out."
    "Why didn’t you tell me before?"
    "Jackie, you have enough troubles without
listening to mine. Young, isn’t she? And