CHAPTER 19

 The man in the expensive suit breezed into the suite as if he had not just masterminded a kidnapping. While his manner was easy going, it was mixed with a sense of all business. His eyes were sharp and they never stopped wandering, examining, and testing his environment. He spoke with a certain amount of grace and was definitely educated. His tone was sharp and gentle but, strangely sinister all at the same time. Then again, Cassie figured she was probably just projecting. She knew a bad guy when she saw one. This guy fit the bill. She did not bother to stand up for him. He looked as if he would sit at the table with her but he just examined the food on it instead. It did not strike her as if this man was hungry. He looked more like a guy who was making sure all of his well conceived plans were in place. He seemed to do everything with the same kind of meticulous care.  

    

All seemed to be well, to him at least, except for one little detail, “you haven’t eaten anything.”

“Could you?” Cassie replied being very short and to the point.

He cracked a short smile and somehow Cassie got the idea he did not do it so often, “things could be much worse I assure you. This is a very good room. If you look out the window you can see the lights of Vegas, all of them. I have to say it’s a much better than your former accommodations.”

“It’s not the room,” she sneered, “it’s the company.”

The man glanced to his security people. Two had followed him in.  Two more had been sitting by the door since Cassie was brought here. When the door had been opened Cassie saw at least three more in the hall. The goon count was steadily rising and it made her wonder how dangerous these guys thought she was. 

 With a wave of the guy's hand, the two by the door went outside. They were quickly followed by those who came in with him. One of the guards looked hesitant but, he got a rebuke from his boss, “what’s she going to do?” The last guard reluctantly went outside and shut the door behind him. 

“I’m Terry Benedict. Not that it really means anything to you.”

Cassie crossed her arms and pouted, “you’re right. It doesn’t.”

This Benedict seemed tireless. He was not really nervous but he never stopped moving. He gave that feeling of dammed up energy just looking for cracks to escape from. He paced around examing the room, and Cassie, “it’s better that you really don’t know that much about me.”

He stopped, probably a rare thing, and turned back to look at her.  Quizzically, “what I am really more interested in is who you are.”

Cassie laughed one of those sarcastic belches that come so natural from teenagers, “you kidnap somebody and you don’t even know?”

Benedict took no offense despite the fact that she meant it to be. He spoke as if she had not, “I get paid to do special jobs from time to time. I owe favors, I get favors in return, and I don’t ask a lot of questions. I also don’t talk a great deal.”

“Could have fooled me,” Cassie was so far unimpressed. At least that is what she portrayed. The reality of the situation was that she was scared out of her mind. She would never show it, not to him, nor anybody. Cassie had learned ages ago how to hide her feelings. It was a trait that drove Janet crazy. After all, her adopted mother was someone who was practiced at wearing her heart on her sleeve. Cassie could just never do that no matter how much she tried.

“Some very important people,” Benedict noted as he walked back up to the table, “are very interested in getting their hands on you.”

He reached down and picked up an orange. He did not eat it. Benedict tossed it around between his hands as he paced and pondered, “now I really have to ask myself what’s so important about you, little girl.”

Cassie gave him a side glance and a snide reply, “I thought you said you didn’t ask questions?”

Still flipping the orange around like it was a ball, “when it’s in my best interests. Right now,” he shrugged easily enough, “well things don’t quite add up.” He smiled again, “and I always make sure things add up.”

Cassie was not interested, “go to hell.”

“One day,” he laughed as he went back to juggling the orange, “but today I have better things to do.” As if he were speaking to god, Benedict looked up and talked into thin air, “is Nicky Santoro available?”

That caused Cassie to look around the hotel suite. Who was he talking too? Then the door opened and one of his security people came in with a cell phone, “I got him Mister Benedict.”

Yet another smile. Cassie was sure this had to be some kind of record. Benedict gave an order, “good. Tell him we require his services, usual fee.”

Still confused, Cassie started to have a very sinking feeling. She slumped down into the chair and watched Benedict leave.
 He did stop at the door and clarify, “just in case you were wondering.” Benedict gestured around the room with a wave of his hands, “camera’s, fiber optic, latest thing. So small you would never notice them.” On the way out he stopped and added as a passing thought, “I suggest you tell Mister Santoro what he wants too know Miss Frazier. He’s not as patient as I am and he has a thing for baseball bats.”

The door shut but, this did not stop Cassie from yelling, “don’t call me Miss Frazier!”