Page 32 of Bourbon Kingdom
“And that’s where you want me to come in, am I right?”
“Yes,” I said, without hesitation.
“I’m not really down with paying for sex and getting caught.”
I knew this was going to be an issue, so that was why I’d already talked to one of my friends, who was a detective in New Orleans. Ordinarily, I would have let the police handle such a call, but Rex knew everyone in town; he wouldn’t just let anyone in his club. There had to be a reason as to why Rex would allow someone on the outside to come into his club.
“I can understand that. That’s why I talked to a detective friend about giving you immunity for going into the club and gaining evidence to take down their business.”
Zane rubbed his chin and asked, “And what would I receive in return?”
Smart man, always wanting to know what was in it for him.
“If you back out of the bidding process for Lot 17 and assist me with infiltrating Rex’s club, I will guarantee you the Riverfront Expressway Tunnel.”
“How do I know you can guarantee me the tunnel?” Zane asked, looking skeptical, but hopeful.
From my jacket pocket, I pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Zane. He glanced up at me in question and then unfolded the paper carefully. He studied the paper for a few moments and then looked up at me with a little bit of shock on his face.
“This is the deed to the expressway. How do you have this?”
“I’m an influential man in New Orleans; it’s my city, Z.”
“If you’re so influential, how come you’re having such a hard time acquiring Lot 17?” he asked, sitting back in his chair.
Cocky bastard, I liked him.
“Public bidding process. I can’t do anything about that besides work behind the scenes to make things happen. What do you say? Do you want your second speedway?”
I watched as Zane quirked his lips to the side and thought about the proposal I was offering him. I knew I had him; there was no way he would give up the rights to the Expressway Tunnel, it meant too much to him. I had something he wanted, and he was going to have to work with me to get it.
“I believe I can help you, but I need to know what it entails first. How much of my time will be spent down there? What exactly is the plan for getting into his club?”
Grinning, I adjusted my seat again and leaned forward to lay it out for him.
“Like I stated before, Rex won’t let you in the club unless he trusts you, and a sure-fire way to get him to trust you is to devise a plan to take me down.”
Nodding, Zane rubbed his chin and said, “I take it you two have a history.”
“You’re correct, but I won’t bore you with such petty backstories.”
“Thank you,” he smirked.
“First course of action is for you to call Rex and set up a time to meet up with him. He will be intrigued to hear what you have to say, since you’re in the bidding process.”
“That will be easy.”
Zane and I talked for the next hour, devising a plan to find a way into Rex’s club without getting caught. I explained to him the no phone policy, so we would have my detective friend outfit Zane with a hidden camera to record the inner workings of the club.
The time spent with Zane was rather enjoyable. The man had the same attitude toward business as I did, and he was grounded. He wasn’t like every other business man I had to work with. I could foresee a friendship developing between us.
Once we finished, Zane stood and walked me to his door.
“Thank you for seeing me today,” I said politely, as I buttoned up my suit jacket and adjusted my tie.
“I appreciate the offer,” Zane said with a smirk. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to get my hands on the Expressway. Never thought my racing would be taken outside of New York City, but this is an opportunity I just can’t possibly refuse.”
“That reminds me,” I said, while holding my hand out. “I will take that deed for now,” I smirked.
