Chapter 14: The Nature of Business
July 9th 2010 1130 Hours
Iraqi Embassy, London, United Kingdom
"You two know each other?" Koko asked.
"It was about a year ago when I was in Moscow for about four months. I hooked up with a gig that involved "liberating" about $12 million from a cash house in Belarus. My employer at the time owed a favor to someone else so he decided to rob a rival family and I take it that the cash we took he gave to her."
In reality the damn fool was desperate because his own fraud schemes were catching up to him and he needed a massive influx of money to keep his scam appear to be legit. Amalia managed to help convince the Russian Authorities to look away from him so that was the favor he owed. He didn't really plan the thing out properly and instead of deciding to rob a bank he made the worse idea of taking mob money. Which in Russia was considered a death sentence.
"Now that's not entirely true. While it's not how I wanted the favor he owed me repaid you also pulled him and his partner out of that house alive while you yourself was wounded. You also managed to cover up who really robbed that cash house so he could get away clean. Who do you think really gave him the money to get your leg fixed?"
I literally had to drag both of them out with the stolen cash because he was pissing himself and the other guy was just a lousy shot that got knocked unconscious from a falling crate. As we were about to get away I gave him an ultimatum, he pays to fix my leg and give me a bigger cut or I feed him to the guys he ripped off. Naturally he agreed and I covered up the evidence of who was there by setting the whole cash house on fire.
"She also visited me in the hospital after the surgery and offered me a job." I looked away embarrassed that time.
"And you left Russia without even giving me an answer or giving me a chance to say congratulations on a well done job. That makes me sad."
I feel like I'm talking to that Soviet broad from Hogan's Heroes.
Koko then spoke up. "Well Damien works for me now. That won't be an issue will it?"
"Of course not. We both have much to do here other than concerning ourselves on who our employees used to work for."
I couldn't believe I ran into her again. She was the only person who I got closer than arm's length in two years, not by much. But just enough to know how she operated, I didn't know for sure but I doubted that Koko hadn't come across a dealer like this before. Despite her age, knowledge of weapons, and having a brain that puts The Flash to shame there's always a first time for everything. Especially if you can be out done.
1400 Hours
Parliament Hill Park
I was all too glad to get out of that suit and back into my jeans. I wasn't paying that much attention to how business went with Koko and Amalia but it looked like the deal kind of went sour for Koko. But she had an idea, we were waiting at a bench near one of the ponds.
"This really sucks you know Damien?"
"Telling me is not gonna make it any better."
"Well I'm going to have to anyway!" She tried to pull me close to her but she had difficulty getting my large form to move.
"Anyways if it has to deal with Amalia then it's gotta be fierce."
"Honestly it feels like the deal was already made before I even got here. Like I wasn't even part of the game. That woman just lifts her finger and those old military boy's come running to her like children to ice cream."
"Personality and charm can win over damn near anyone in any kind of business. Not to praise her but Amalia is probably more of a pro at this stuff than you are. Besides being in the game longer and getting her startup money from when her husband passed being an actress involves manipulation through story telling. Tell the buyer what they want to hear and see and of course she'll get people to buy her stuff."
"Hmm. You know a little more about her than your letting on. Is there more?" She said seductively.
"Before you start playing slow jazz in your head there was never anything like that. You heard what she said. The reason I had to leave without telling anyone was that Russian FSB was picking up my scent. With them wanting to keep improving relations with the United States I didn't need to figure out that they could have used me as a bargaining chip."
"That's only half an answer Damien." She didn't let up.
"Ok big reason is that I am curious to a fault. Intelligence gathering was part of my advanced training so naturally I look into things and people for stuff I can use for or against later on. But where getting off topic, you mentioned the drones?"
Before she could speak I heard the shout of a woman that had an American accent.
"Hey! Koko! There you are! Sorry I took so long but it hot out today and the food here's terrible."
"Who the hell is that?" My eyes widened as I saw a woman probably no older than me or Koko that was blonde, blue eyed, well endowed, and from first impressions clueless.
"Uhh…you remember that Scarecrow got a new partner?"
My jaw literally dropped to the ground. I know Langley had used seduction to get information out of people but they must have been getting desperate if they were sending girls like this to train at The Farm. Naturally and with all expectations when she saw me she immediately froze.
"It's ok Schokolade he's harmless, don't be rude Damien say hello."
"Hi and one question, are you on the companies time?"
She looked at me like I was not going like the answer. "Yes. Why?"
Not a good pick if you want someone on your pay in the CIA Koko. Not to mention they're still looking for me.
"No reason. Go ahead Koko I'll wait here."
She kept looking at me as they were walking away expecting me to leap off the bench and start breaking things. Even though it was somewhat true I often got annoyed that just because I was large meant I was a total meat head. As they went to the side of the pond I tuned out everyone else and tried to pay attention to what they were saying. Schokolade went first.
"So about the situation with the drones. The Americans aren't interested in selling them to a country that they know won't use them to the best of their abilities. The Iraqi's will probably sell them to another Middle Eastern country to get the money and you know where that will lead."
"Yes I doubt very much they'd want the technical details of their drones easily accessible to hostile groups."
"So the Iraqi's will hope to settle a better deal with Euro Groups drones. But it looks like your plan to try and reverse this won't work."
"The market for unmanned weapons are just gonna keep climbing. Any nation willing to shell out money so that they don't endanger the lives of their troops will pay top dollar for the best. Feed the fire, rather than get burned by it. Am I right?"
"I'm afraid that's all I got. I gotta get going, if you know Scarecrow he'll be shitting bricks if he finds out I'm spending too much time talking to you."
As she was about to leave Koko took her hand and placed her forehead on hers. Her knack for wanting to get close to people was gonna backfire one day.
"What's wrong?" She said blushing.
"I really find it interesting that a CIA techy would side with a moron like Scarecrow. His little crusade against me is rather pathetic. But you're doing your job and I'm not gonna stop you. And seeing on how you even managed to freak Damien out I think you and I are gonna get along just fine."
How the fuck else would I act? She looks like she should be pouring drinks at a club not working with the Agency.
As she backed away Koko placed something in her hand and she held it up to the sun. I immediately saw a sparkle from it, the damn thing had to be at least 10 carats.
"Wait is this…holy crap this things real! Is it for me?"
"I don't want the American's pulling out of this deal. Just keep an eye on them for me."
Tomorrow was the day she was gonna make the deals with buyers from the Iraqi military. It was Koko's time to shine.
July 10th 2010 1700 Hours
Outside The Grand Hazelton Hotel, Koko's 5th Turn Down
That's if that shine could somehow be better than cardboard. Today was a little rough. Amalia managed to get to all of them ahead of Koko.
"That…bitch…is…everywhere!"
This had to be the most uneventful and boring day on the job yet, except for Ugo, Lutz and me trying not to laugh at Koko's freak out.
"Once again look out world, the little lady is angry again." Lutz said in his usual sarcasm.
"Boss you're gonna have an aneurism if you keep squeezing your head like that." Ugo followed up.
True to her charm Tolokhovsky had gotten the Iraqi's to side with the Euro Groups products. Turns out she leaked some info, I doubted it was real, that the American model drones were just Italian copies to some European news group. At the risk of throwing fuel on a fire I decided to remind her.
"I did tell you she's a pro at this sort of thing Koko. Has this deal gone bust? I mean technically you're not losing anything so it's not that big of a problem."
After regaining her composure she turned to us. "No we're not done yet. She may have charm on her side but I can outwit her. She's not the only one that can pull of a good show."
I think I can see where this is going. But Amalia is pretty keen on seeing through lies. That's what acting is anyway.
July 11th 2010 1930 Hours
En Route to Greenland Docks
"Hey Lutz quick question what does "Schokolade" mean?" I said to him on the radio.
"Means chocolate, why?"
"Candy of the eye, figures. It's the code name of that woman I saw when I was with Koko."
Days of the week when you're on the job and the boss does all the work goes by a lot faster than you think. Koko had been rather busy all day today sending out a bunch of fake emails and phone calls to let Tolokhovsky know that HCLI was pulling out of the deal for the drones. She had to have been listening but Amalia was smarter than she gave her credit for. This was a very elaborate chess game and from what I've been observing they were still holding each other's ground. But she got Schokolade to make a few stops in Germany to get them to purchase the drones that were modified to fire German made weapons. Naturally the German mark compared to the Iraqi dinar was a huge difference. That had to be the signal in which Tolokhovsky wanted to discuss things with Koko face to face. I knew what to expect on what was gonna happen but I also remembered that Koko owed all of us a favor.
"Hey Koko I also remembered along with the Germany deal you managed to throw a rather strong breeze into her web of contacts as well. I need to talk to you about that."
"What is it?"
"You remembered I asked you to do all of us a favor and stop pissing off so many people?"
"Yes I did why?"
"Well here's a good opportunity to make good on that favor. I know this business is literally cut throat but it helps to not burn bridges. Amalia isn't stupid. She knows you lied."
"Don't worry Damien I didn't forget and I'll uphold that favor."
As we arrived Amalia was waiting for us under a container crane with her body guard. Valmet and I flanked Koko.
"Koko so glad you could come on short notice."
"Think nothing of it. You'll forgive me but are you armed? Should we be worried about snipers?"
"None here, my bodyguard is armed but that is all so relax. I didn't come here with the intention of causing harm over a business deal. Plus Damien's with you, we got off to such a good start when I visited him in the hospital recovering and I hate to let him see a bad side of me on one of our very few meetings."
Half a lie, I know you got eyes on us. But I got a feeling that Koko pissed off someone else on her little lie binge. It's natural for fireworks to follow her everywhere.
"Damien has been one of my most valuable members for a reason. He can sense ambushes, so naturally I can't relax and plus he doesn't work for you."
"Well I regret not paying closer attention when we first met. You and Damien have more in common than you think. Your sweet face and his sarcasm are just a mask."
Koko's face then turned serious, it was all business now. It was her turn to make the next move on the board.
"Yes it is. I take it you managed to see through my diversions and being an actress is part of that but that's the limit of your strength. Unlike me you've never really set foot on a battlefield. Arms dealers don't need to spend all of their time in warzones but you need to know what you're selling. Not just whether or not you'll make a profit on whatever you have. Weapons have only one purpose, to kill people, and if you can't realize you will never make it far in this line of work. You will never know the substance of what you sell."
"You think I'm ignorant of what my line of work is? I know what weapons do they are dangerous things. It's dangerous in where ever I go. It doesn't even need to be a battlefield."
"The boss should be smiling no matter what. It was what one of my older bodyguards said to me. Cover your face in a mask and wrap your heart in iron armor. Those are the words my father lives by. I remember their advice because they were right."
As she said that Valmet looked away slightly as if she was pondering or trying to counter what she said. But I could tell what she was thinking. From my perspective she obviously didn't agree with lying to yourself and being someone else can cause more harm than good.
"Being in the business of dangerous things as you call them tend to rot the soul."
"I do suppose that when two arms dealers meet that it won't be without conflict. I you tell me that someone so naïve would bring one bodyguard before she gets burned?"
"No but I will say one more thing."
"Wait before you say anything else I want to let you know I'm having a little bit of fun."
This is why I got away from her. She sticks around shit when is totally nerve wracking!
"When I found out that the Iraqi General I made a deal with see the drone deal go bad for him he looked like he was going to have a stroke. But back to the topic at hand, I don't do what I do because I have a cause or I have a family to support. I do it because I like the rush. It's not every day you can come across someone with a tremendous strike, especially from a woman. This is the kind of thing I live for, conversations like this."
Like I said, nerve wracking.
"But it looks like things planned out for you Koko. My group is pulling out of the UAV deal. I wanted to come and talk to you so that I could admit defeat. Yesterday's enemy, tomorrows friend. It's the way this continent has survived all these millennia."
She then approached Koko.
"You agree with me don't you?"
"Well what's the other reason you wanted to see me? Then I'll say yes."
"The Iraqi's stock hold in this. Do you think you could do something as a new friend?"
"Well lets go back to that discussion earlier." She nodded to Valmet and she went back to the car.
Here we go.
"I'm well aware of how the Europeans do things but you need to reconsider your methods. I'm thinking about donning our masks and striking our enemies. Meaning nationally privatized defense companies they are the ones that are holding the whole group back. The confidence of unsinkable battleships doesn't vanish overnight."
"Alright then 2% back."
"Sorry no good 5%."
Come on give the signal.
"Koko, now!" I heard Valmet on the radio and Koko raised her fist. Followed by two shots and two sharp screams, Lutz went for non-lethal on two separate groups of snipers. Tolokhovsky and her bodyguard shaken and wondering what the hell happened.
"Excellent shooting Lutz!"
Wiley then came on the horn. "Dumb bastards didn't even know what hit them. Bad ass"
"Ah it was 275 meters across the water with no wind it was easy."
Koko then turned back to the startled Tolokhovsky. "I do apologize for that we had a few trouble makers to take care of. Don't worry we didn't kill them."
Valmet then pulled up the car. Looked like we were done and she made one last statement to Tolokhovsky.
"I am willing to sell but only directly to you. 5% ok?"
"More than fair. Oh Damien!"
"Yeah?"
"Please take my advice, I think working for Koko will turn out better for you than you might think. The job I offered you last year would have gotten you some better contacts to build a web of connections but it would have been only in Europe. Being with her should benefit you more and I don't think I need to tell you how well she can adapt to any situation."
"Mmm. Thank you Amalia, we'll see you at the embassy tomorrow and we'll talk non-business. Harasho?"
"Derzhat'sya podal'she ot nepriyatnostey mal'chika."
(Stay out of trouble boy.)
I waved and we took off. Lutz and Wiley had left too. As we were driving back to our hotel I leaned forward from the backseat.
"Didn't I tell you it helps not to burn bridges? Now you just made another one and made it a little sturdier in the process."
Valmet tended to disagree. "Still doesn't explain why you were so soft on her."
"Well that and she did say it was fun talking to me."
"Then it must be a million times more fun talking to me!"
"Valmet can you please watch the road? And yes Damien you were right, and it would be better not to butt heads with her again. But now you better answer me with the truth, how well do you know Amalia? Really?"
I leaned back in the back seat and sighed, it was time I shared one of my sadder stories.
"When she visited me in the hospital she stayed longer than was necessary. For hours we just talked about anything, but it was the way we talked to each other like a parent to their child. She said that being an actress you can see through facades rather easily and while she knew my reputation before she visited me she then knew me in just a matter of hours. She didn't just see me as damaged but also alone in the world, that I had no one to fall back on. I think she saw pity in me or maybe she wanted to help me find a purpose but I couldn't answer that cause well you know the rest. But at least I found out what she wanted to do for me."
I then leaned forward and got in between the two of them.
"And admit it, I am fun to have around aren't I?"
They both smiled but it looked like Valmet wanted to get the last say in.
"You don't have me wanting to kill you every second of the day." She sneered.
July 17th 2010 1000 Hours
Aboard the Fruition, The English Channel
The deal with the UAV's went without a hitch and Koko had managed to get a new buying and trading partner out of it. The rest of the time there in England was rather uneventful and we had to wait another six days before the Fruition came to make port in England. Our next destination was the Mediterranean and since we were gonna be near Italy I figure an Italian breakfast would be good for this morning. Some espresso and a convoluted crostata. Since we had no apricots on board I had to make due with a can of peaches. As I was enjoying the last of my coffee on the roof of the bridge I saw the British mainland disappeared from view I heard footsteps behind me, Ugo.
"You gotta tell me how you made that. I wanna make that for myself one more morning before we get to where we're going."
"Sounds easy enough, I figure since you and R are gonna be passing by home I figure that be appropriate."
"Only by heritage, I'm actually from New York."
"Seriously? I thought you were full on Cosa Nostra?"
"That all ended when I intrigued Koko and she took me in an said your my new chauffer."
He said that rather uneasily. I know that she didn't really discriminate from who she hired, but when she wanted to she could be quite ruthless.
"Why do I have the feeling that your first impression of Koko was of utter fear?"
He paused and looked down to the water before answering.
"Little advice for whenever we do transactions with buyers since I don't think you know. Make sure it's either cash or weapons trade."
"Well duh but where you getting at?"
"When I was a driver for my former boss he decided to pay for a transaction with Koko in heroin. Naturally she didn't accept and they killed everyone at the meeting except for me."
I paused cause I literally couldn't think of anything. So I just asked the obvious question.
"You said you intrigued her. How?"
"I didn't tell her the real reason until much later but when I saw what my former boss was paying her with it infuriated me. Cause that shit killed my younger brother."
"Oh God man I'm sorry. Why didn't you just quit and work for someone else if your boss was into dope dealing?"
"The hell was I supposed to do I was just a driver. It's not like I could have said no."
He did raise a valid point. Mob families placed loyalty to an extreme but it all completely changed when John Gotti came into the spotlight of the Gambino Crime Family by doing everything the Cosa Nostra was not supposed to do. Lack of respect for life was one of the biggest. Then a thought occurred to me, always respect other's by their character and who they are as a person. It was only something I did with only a few of the crew in the month's I've been with them and I should have asked this question to not only him but to Lutz, Lehm, and Mao.
"Not to get off topic for a second but I never got your first name. I never found it appropriate when I was working with good people that I address them just by last names or nicknames only."
He then smiled and introduced himself. "It's Michael."
"Well Mike now you're with a group of people you can say no to. Little something from my earliest days at West Point. While the final decision rests with the leader, they must listen to what their subordinates have to say. More often than not, they normally have pretty good ideas. And I'm glad I'm with a team that doesn't try to out-do each other."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? What about you and Valmet?"
"Ok maybe that's still in the works."
July 20th 2010 1400 Hours
The Mediterranean Sea, Spanish Terrirotrial Waters
Poker. Normally me, Mao, Lutz, Tojo and R tended to do it on the evenings but we were a little more bored than usual so we each threw $1000 in the pot and it was gonna be winner take all. I was losing bad today but its not like I had to worry about bills or even taxes for that matter. As it was R's turn to be the card dealer Mao's phone rang.
"Hello? Sa bai di thi hak! Excuse me guys I fold I gotta take this."
Laotian wasn't a language I knew but he looked quite happy. Tojo looked at his cards and then spoke.
"It must be 2100 hours back in Laos right now must be time for bed."
"What do you mean?"
"Ask him when he comes back. Hopefully we can get him distracted so we can win some of our money back."
"Cruel. I like it."
Five minutes later he came back in and sat down. It was my turn to deal.
"Tojo mentioned bed time. You got a family?"
"Oh yeah. Going on twelve years along with a 10 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. Here look."
He pulled out his wallet and showed me the photo. His wife was rather beautiful and his children looked healthy but what itched in the back of my head was that I didn't think they knew what he really did for a living. Not to mention that the average family in Laos tended to live on the most basic necessities. Where they may have looked normal in America, they must have seen as royalty in Laos. Kind of appropriate seeing that Mao's last name was Loe, which translated as "King". It was best to not mention that as he pointed in order from his wife to his children.
"Alaula, Keowynn, and Malia. They look like me don't they, especially around the nose."
"Uhh…no they have the graceful luck of looking more like their mother."
The whole table bursted out laughing, Mao should have known better that if I see an opportunity I'd take it.
"Very funny but unless you count Lehm and his multiple divorces, I'm the only one with a family."
"Honestly that doesn't surprise me, a guy like him will always enjoy the warriors life. How many ex's he got?"
"Just one."
As I was rearranging my cards my thoughts stopped, something didn't add up.
"Uhh…you just said multiple."
"I know, it's the same woman over and over. You won't like the answer though."
"Well who is it?" I asked as I drank my soda.
"Chiquita."
It hit me with utter shock and I spewed my soda right at Tojo.
"SHIT! Could it have killed you to do that away from the table!?"
"Sorry." I wiped the pop off me with my shirt. "She's his ex!? The fuck!?"
"He's right that came as a bit of shock to me when I first came on." Lutz said.
"Originally they were Floyd Hekmatyar's guard and I think you can figure out that he wanted his kids to have the best protection." R followed up.
"Well no surprise both Koko and Kasper picked the best of the best."
"Well then this might come as a surprise to you but me and Ugo are technically the outsiders. Where he came from the mafia, I was just an average grunt, artillery."
"King of Battle, nice."
Mao then sighed deeply. "Not really. There was an accident during a training exercise one day and one of my cannon crew got killed. Not long after that I was discharged and I was drifting around trying to find work when I ran into Koko."
The mood then kinda went somber around the table. I didn't need to figure out what was gonna come next.
"Needless to say I was too ashamed and embarrassed to tell my family the truth. But Koko said to not let my conscience weight me down and to look toward my team. But I can't help but think what her grand plan is in all of this."
Better get off this topic. We're having fun and I don't wanna darken the mood.
"Well you know what I'm gonna let you guys in on a little secret so don't tell anyone else yet. When Koko needed to see Professor Amada in South Africa she mentioned to her that a theory was completed."
"A theory? About what?" Tojo asked.
"No clue, I'm afraid that's all I got."
The guys at the table gave each other ponderous looks as we put the last of our bets into the pot. It was time to show down. Lutz had three twos, R had two queens, Tojo had two sixes and sevens, Mao had a full house. I however had the winning hand, but I didn't feel like taking Mao's money today. I was gonna make sure that it went to his kids.
"Your turn Damien."
"Straight. Money's all yours Mao."
"What!?" They all said in unison.
"Guys I'm loaded enough as it is. I may have to spend my money on something but Mao, that goes to your kids for college."
As I left the table I felt Lutz, R, and Tojo burning a hole in the back of my head but I didn't care. I then mentioned to Mao.
"Also you make sure that you treat Mrs. Loe to something nice next time we have extended time off or I'll tell her you've been gambling."
"Hey I...uhh crap."