Page 65 of Code Name: Michelangelo

When she stood, I did too. “You return to the States. Think over the things we discussed today and talk it over with Doc. If and when we’re ready to proceed, we’ll be in touch.”

She walked me from the conference room to the lift. “I’ll tell you this much. I believe you’d be an asset.”

“I appreciate you saying so.”

The lift’s door opened, and I stepped over the threshold. There was one gentleman, who was looking at his mobile, already inside.

“Your meeting with Nemesis went well?” he asked, startling me.

“My apologies. Have we met?”

“We have not. I’m Z Alexander, chief of MI6, and you are Brando Ripa aka Michelangelo. Excellent job on the code name, by the way.”

“It was, err, my girlfriend’s suggestion. She’s in the art world.”

“Ah, yes. Penelope Ramsey.”

“Do you know her?” I asked.

“Of her, yes.”

The lift door opened on the ground floor, and we both exited.

“Flying back today?” he asked.

“That’s right.”

“Perhaps next time you visit, we can have a longer chat.”

“Right, um, of course.”

“Good day to you, Michelangelo.”

“Good day, sir.”

“Hey, I was hoping I’d catch you before you left.”

I turned around and saw Cayman approaching.

“I see you met Z.”

I couldn’t help it; I shuddered. “Interesting guy.”

Cayman raised his brow. “I’ll say.”

“Is there anything he doesn’t know?”

This time, he laughed. “Unlikely. He’s eerie that way.”

“I’ll say,” I repeated.

I doubted I’d sleep much on the eight-hour flight from London to New York. Before boarding, I called Pen to tell her when my plane would land but not the details of the meeting I’d had with Nemesis. I needed to process the discussion, particularly given, at times, it had felt like a battle to read between the lines.

I had a better understanding of what my next steps would be, should this mission come to fruition.

As planned, I’d infiltrate the Calabrian Syndicate by helping them take control of the art-forgery business currently dominated by the Sicilians. It meant they’d need to believe I’d left prison only to resume my life of crime a few weeks later. The best way to convince them was to reestablish myself as a forger.

No doubt, the coalition, with help from MI6 and K19, would ensure I had undercover customers and a money trail to show I was actively moving forgeries.

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