The Upward Ripple

“Francis, hi. I need five hundred thousand dollars. All in cash by the end of business tomorrow.”

“Five hundred… whoa. I hope this is not….”

“I know what you are thinking, Francis, and no. It is not a bribe, but it is vital to the deal I am about to sign.”

“Nate, I don’t know…. This brings a lot back to mind and is it a coincidence that this happened when you were out in Nevada?” Francis asked.

“No, it is not. The Outlaws tracked me down, but I will not give in….”

“You are asking for half a million dollars that is apparently not a bribe and talking of not giving in, Nate. If this is not giving in, then I am not sure I know what this means.”

Nate rubbed his temple.

“I don’t want to talk about this, right now. Just make sure the money is available by the time I come back to town. I am signing this deal, but this is the last payment AK and his gang will squeeze out of me.”

“And how, pray tell, are you going to make this happen?” Francis asked.

“The feds who reached out to me when I was with the club, you still have their contacts?” Nate asked.

“Yes, but I thought you never wanted to get into it with authorities.”

“Yeah, that was a different Nate. Call them, work with them. Make sure the money you bring me is all marked. I think it is about time I took care of this Outlaws mess once and for all.”

“Okay.”

Francis sounded surprised and impressed.

“Tell them I will meet with them once I am back in New York. I will tell them everything I know.”

He hanged up and made another call. This time to Leon.

“Missed me already?” Leon asked.

“You wish. This is more of a business matter.”

“Okay. What can Blair Publications do for you?” Leon asked.

“This is nothing to do with Blair Publications. This is a security issue. I know you know of a private security firm… I need armed security for me, my home, office and for Cynthia.”

“What happened?” Leon asked. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, but I believe The Outlaws are out to make my life difficult again,” Nate said before he went ahead to explain his meeting with AK and his demands. “I know that blackmail never really ends but I know for a fact that this deal I came to sign in Vegas has to go through. There is too much at stake.”

“Say no more. I will have a team meet you in New York as soon as you land.”

“Thanks, Blair. I knew I could count on you.”

“Of course. You are the brother I never had. Of course, I have your back,” Leon said just as the hostess walked up to him and led him to his table.

He was nervous as he sat down. Nervous but determined. He felt his heart beat so much faster as he signed the deal. The dotted line that he had been told not to sign. His signature was going to set things in motion, and he knew that by the next morning, AK would know all about it. The Utah charter was not going to waste any time before they informed AK that his warning had gone unheeded.

Nate had planned on staying overnight in Vegas and then taking a flight in the morning, but he could not stand to be in Las Vegas any longer. He headed right to the plane and flew back to New York on the same night.