Chapter 11: Cloak and Dagger
Chitose's meeting with Mary went off without a hitch.
She'd transferred forty thousand gil, cash in smallish bills, into the least flamboyant tote she owned, one patterned in orange and blue swirls. Then she called one of the family bodyguards, Viktor, and gone to her meeting with Mary. She couldn't help wondering if it was just a wild chocobo chase, and once her elation at her potential score had calmed the night before, she had made sure to arrange for Viktor accompany her. Just in case Mary's story had been nothing more than a clever way to lure a foolhardy socialite into a trap. Robbery, or maybe even kidnapping. The ransom kidnappers could ask of her husband for Chitose would have been exorbitant. And there was no guarantee that Joseph wouldn't try to cut a bargain to reduce the price, either—Chitose was a realist and knew she wasn't irreplaceable. Midgar abounded with young, beautiful gold-diggers and Joseph's eye did sometimes wander.
Instead, she found a thirtyish, unremarkable woman sitting quietly on the designated park bench holding a nondescript, oversized purse. Behind her stood a tall, burly man with faded auburn hair. Mary said something to him and nodded her head in Chitose's direction. Both looked at her curiously but didn't move. On benches closer to the playground, nannies and mothers watched over young children as they shrieked and cavorted on the jungle gyms and slides.
Chitose and Mary had previously exchanged photos over their PHSs so they could recognize one another. It was another worry, as Chitose had no way of knowing if Mary had sent her own picture or merely a stock photo. Another reason to be concerned about a possible trap and to bring one of Joseph's bodyguards. But the woman on the bench matched the picture perfectly. Everything seemed on the level.
Chitose smiled and nodded back to Mary. Then she took the bodyguard's hand, pretending he was her boyfriend, and sauntered over. "Do you mind if I sit here with you? My feet are tired and they need a bit of a rest," she said to Mary. She handed her own bag to Viktor. He stayed back a few steps.
"Sure, have a seat," Mary replied. "Lovely day, isn't it?"
"For Midgar," Chitose responded, and both women dutifully laughed at the stale, old joke. Midgar was notoriously smoggy and the morning was no exception.
While Mary's male accomplice and Chitose's bodyguard eyed each other, Chitose murmured, "May I see the magazine?"
Wordlessly, Mary handed over her purse. Chitose opened it and saw, encased in a clear plastic bag, the precious treasure. She drew it out, carefully removed it from its protective plastic, and flipped directly to the centerfold.
And there he was: Angeal Hewley in all his youthful glory. Chitose barely held back a gasp. Though obviously only seventeen or eighteen, he was unmistakable. It was really real. And with one small transaction, the centerfold would be hers!
She quickly closed the magazine, resealed it, and placed it back in the purse. Children screeched in the background.
"Happy?" Mary said.
"Oh, yes," said Chitose. She gestured to her bodyguard. "Viktor?"
Still eyeing Mary's male friend, Viktor stepped close enough to hand the tote to Mary. She opened it and glanced inside. Her friend craned his neck to also get a look at all the bundles of gil notes. From the amazed looks on their faces, Chitose assumed they'd never seen so much money in cash before.
"Do you want to count it? I assure you it's all there," said Chitose. "But Viktor can stand here and block the view of any passersby if you like."
"Hand it to me," said Mary's friend. After she did so, he moved a bit behind the bench and rifled around in the tote. Chitose wondered if he was actually counting or if he was just estimating. Maybe he simply liked fondling the money.
"Seems good to me," he said, closing the tote. "I think we're done here."
"Good," said Mary. She looked relieved.
Chitose understood the feeling well, though her relief was mixed with a new surge of elation. "This has been delightfully clandestine, don't you agree?" she practically giggled, euphoric both from her acquisition and from the adventure.
Mary stood. "Of course. We'll be going now. Enjoy you purchase." She and her friend casually strolled away at an angle that allowed them to avoid the playing children and also keep an eye on Chitose and Viktor. Chitose heard the male friend mention a vacation, while Mary argued for investments for retirement.
It seemed Chitose wasn't the only person who had worried about a setup or trap. She supposed she could have ordered Viktor to simply steal the magazine, but that would have been so very distasteful. Mary and her friend had obviously worried about her doing something so dishonorable, but honestly, that would have created such a dreadful scene. Not desirable at all, especially when she wanted to keep her newest treasure a secret. Besides, she was President of the Keepers of Honor, after all, and had some standards to meet.
"Let's go, Viktor," she said, also departing at an angle that allowed her bodyguard to keep an eye on their surroundings. Really, though, the money was with Mary and her friend, so they'd be targets for any thieves. Who'd want to steal an old porn magazine? Chitose smiled. Little did any would-be thieves know.
Both parties had come away from the exchange satisfied. Mary and her friend had left the playground forty thousand gil richer, and Chitose had obtained the unobtainable. She felt she'd gotten the better deal, by far.
It had been a very gratifying morning.