Page 41 of Stranger Gifts

“What the fuck now?” muttered Ian.

“We have a huge problem. Two in fact. Late yesterday afternoon Rijo Ferdinand arrived in the port of New Orleans to inspect a few of his cargo ships. Or at least that’s what he told everyone. He’s staying at the Ritz downtown.”

“Alright, get a few guys to watch him,” said Gaspar.

“Already done. Antoine, Vince and Otto are there now. He’s got seven men with him. That doesn’t sound like a ship inspection to me.”

“No. It damn sure doesn’t,” said Nine. “You said you had two things. What’s the other one?”

“A little after midnight last night the fire alarms went off at the convent. The dormitory was evacuated but when the fire department got there, everyone was gone.”

“What? What the hell are you talking about?” asked Ghost.

“The novices, Sister Frances, they’re all gone. The Mother Superior was visiting another convent, so she wasn’t there. There’s a scrap yard behind the church and ironically they have the best cameras of every business around them.

“You can see the footage, everyone walking calmly out of the buildings in their nightgowns, most with shawls or sweaters around their shoulders. Sister Frances is guiding them toward the gate. Then we see this,” he said pointing to the footage. “A large moving truck pulls up, the doors open and there’s our friend Killer with a rifle pointed at the women. He orders them inside the back of the truck, closes it, locks it and puts Frances up front with him.”

“Fuck me. He’s going to sell those women to Ferdinand,” said Ian.

“It looks that way.”

“No,” said Jenna standing in the doorway.

“Does no one close a fucking door around here,” frowned Gaspar. She only stared at him and he had to admit he was embarrassed by his comment.

“I won’t let those poor young women become his victims. Let me call her. Let me find out what she wants, what he wants.”

“Honey, we know what they want. They want you dead so that you don’t testify against him and the rest of the club,” said Ghost.

“Then, then I’ll promise I won’t do that. I won’t testify but I won’t let those young women die because of me.” Code poked his head around the corner looking at the group.

“You might have another option.”

“I must admit that I was intrigued when I received your call,” smiled the devilishly handsome man. “I’m here on business. Not to cause trouble.”

“Bullshit,” said Ghost. “You’re here to get women and motorcycles from the Flaming Skulls. Who, by the way, are no longer in business. Only their leader is still working off fumes and delusions.”

Ferdinand’s face showed his disappointment and displeasure.

“I see. I wondered why all the delays for our business meeting. Nevertheless, he has some inventory that he owes me and I will be leaving with that.”

Ghost chuckled, shaking his head as the seven men with him casually showed their weapons at their sides.

“You find this funny?” asked Ferdinand.

“I find those seven idiots funny. Look around you, Ferdinand. I’ve got twenty men in this restaurant. The waiters, the chefs, the busboys, they’re all my men. Did you really think I’d walk in here without back-up? Anything happens to me, your cargo ship will find that the Mississippi is much deeper than you think. She will be sunk, albeit tragically, due to a massive amount of explosives that she was hiding in her hull. Terrible scene. Terrible.”

Now Ferdinand was listening, chewing on his bottom lip as his own men were smart enough to step back.

“My beef isn’t with you. I’m here to give a bit of information and a bit of warning both. For free,” smirked Ghost. “See how nice I am?”

“Yes, you’re a true gentlemen. Very well. What do you want me to know?”

Ghost leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he began to tell the story of what happened to Jenna. He began by telling the story of Killer and Sister Frances and how the poor woman’s mental state was fragile and delusional. He then followed it up with what had occurred last night.

“I see. So what is it you want from me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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