Beware the Lovely Lady

By J. M. Konior

After the initial shock of her husband's death, ML puts together an unlikely group of investigators, most of whom are her friends and loyal corporate associates. To all outward appearances, the group seems dysfunctional. On the contrary, the team works like a well-oiled machine. Filled with characters from the FBI, the NYPD, the CIA along with a Navy pilot and a dishonest mob boss, just to mention a few, this book is thrilling and filled with suspense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543988550

Book preview

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1

ML and Brad

As Hernandez drives the limo up to the marina in Albany, Brad and Maria Louisa (ML for short) savor the elegance of the blue skies and calm waters below. From the outdoor decks of the club, they can see the puffy white marshmallow-like clouds rolling slowly across the sky; commercial ships off in the distance; small water craft scurrying to and fro; jet skis racing up and down with the horizon behind them; sail boats lazily traversing the harbor; and ultimately, the Louisa, the Militano yacht. The yacht is all set for another wonderful day on the Hudson River. As they step into the waiting launch, they can see the beautiful Louisa. She is the yacht that they conceived of and built several years before. She is the nicest yacht in the harbor, and ML and Brad love to sail her. Captain Jack waits for them at the gangway. His familiar kind and soft voice offers his good morning and a helping hand.

Captain, we’ll have lunch on the boat, and then we’ll sail downriver for awhile. We’ll make the most of the day. Have the cook serve lunch in about l/2 hour, says Brad.

Yes sir, was the captain’s simple reply.

ML and Brad make their way to the stern of the boat where there sits a table with a bottle of chilled wine and two long stem glasses. As they sit down, Brad just looks at ML but says nothing. His sweet smile says it all. He is still madly in love with his bride of six years. Whenever he thinks of her or looks into her eyes, his breast swells with love and pride. Very often he wants to hold and caress her even though she is busy doing something else. When he hugs her, he reminds himself that he cannot squeeze too tightly. Brad knows that he is much stronger than she is. He’s afraid he’ll inadvertently hurt her. So, he always holds her softly and tenderly. Now is one of those moments. As he holds her, ML looks into his eyes and sees his love and her love reflected back to her from his deep soulful orbs. She’s incredibly in love with him even after so many years. She can’t imagine her life without him. He is her knight in shining armor ─ her soul mate ─ the love of her life. She loves to be held by Brad and never pulls away. The longer the hug, the better it is. Even now her heart sings with joy and happiness as she gazes into his eyes with an inquiring stare.

What?

Oh, I was just looking at you and seeing what a beautiful and intelligent woman you really are. I’m so lucky to have found you. You are my silent business partner. You are resourceful, imaginative, and courageous in business. I’m confident that you can handle any problem that comes up with the business should I not be available. Oh, did I remember to tell you that I love today?

Yes Brad. You tell me all the time. I love to hear you say those words. Sometimes I feel that I want to shout ‘I love you too’ from the highest mountain. You are my whole world. I don’t know what I would do without you. You are my comfort and my strength. I’m so happy with you.

They stare into each others soulful eyes with a silent pledge of a mutual undying love and affection. Just then the cook arrives with the lunch and the spell is broken. As the cook places the plates on the table, they begin a more matter of fact conversation.

OK, Brad, now why don’t you tell me what is on your mind. You seem to be preoccupied.

Unfortunately, there are some real problems with the business that I simply cannot get a handle on.

What kind of problems, Brad?

"Something is wrong. My personal ledger does not correlate with the corporate books. We should have a lot more money in the corporate accounts than we do. I’m worried. Before there is a widespread investigation of Militano Industries, I want to find out what is happening. I’ve been asking a lot of questions. I think that the general managers of each division are getting tired of me visiting unannounced and quizzing them on what is going on in each plant. Not only that, I get the feeling that I am being watched closely and even followed at times.

You’re being watched and followed?

Yes, I think so. It’s very distressing. I’m used to having my enemies in plain sight where I can see them and engage them. This covert stuff is new for me.

I can appreciate your concern, honey, but let’s just enjoy the day. We can’t do anything about it right now. Just remember, I’m on your side. You have an ally in me forever.

Thanks ML. I know that. We should have our lunch now before it gets cold.

ML and Brad begin to eat the sumptuous lunch that the cook has prepared. Brad always liked iced tea with his lunches. ML didn’t care for iced tea, so Brad always had the iced tea all to himself. While they lunch, they talk at length about the business. Brad suggests to ML that he take her to the board meetings from now on. He wants her to get to know the board members personally. He also expresses a particular concern about James Ratnerson. Brad never liked Ratnerson; furthermore, he never trusted him.

Ratnerson is a rebel and has challenged me hard on several occasions, he tells ML. In Ratnerson, I have a formidable foe who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Watch him closely. Andre Proteger and Alfonse Guardiano are the only two board members I can trust. There may be others, but I am not aware of them.

While having their lunch, Brad and ML continue their business discussion. Brad gives ML all the details of what he knows. He believes that several divisions are involved in the scam and that key personnel are somehow cooking the books. Brad has had the books audited, but nothing could be found. Someone or several people have been very cagey in their attempts to hide the truth from the executives in charge. At this point, Brad has hit an impasse. He tells ML that he is counting on her to help him solve the riddle and expose the culprits.

Not only is ML worried with regard to the business, she is worried with regard to Brad’s overall health. He seems to be under a lot of stress.

Brad seems so worried. I hope he’s O.K. I don’t like seeing him so out of sorts. Hopefully he’ll relax today and forget company problems at least for a little while. Stress can do terrible things to the body. Brad is strong, but he is still vulnerable. I feel helpless.

She doesn’t know what she can do to alleviate his stress and the problems at Militano. In her mind, she is Brad’s savior and the deviant board members’ worst nightmare. For once, she is Brad’s knight in shining armor. Amidst all the turmoil that is in her heart, she manages to hide it very well. She doesn’t want Brad to worry about her too.

As they finish their lunch, Brad takes his last big gulp of iced tea. A couple of minutes later, he clinches his chest and lets out a loud agonizing roar. Brad’s actions momentarily paralyze ML, but she quickly recovers her composure. ML stands up in alarm and says, Brad, what’s wrong? Brad can’t speak. He falls over in his chair and then to the floor. ML screams for Captain Jack. Her loud, blood curdling scream immediately alarms the captain. He rushes to the scene, quickly assesses the situation and performs CPR on Brad while ML calls for help. In minutes, a launch is along-side the Louisa to take Brad to a waiting ambulance. Captain Jack has given Brad a few minutes of life with his quick thinking and skillful hands, but time is of the essence. ML jumps into the ambulance with Brad as they speed away to Albany Medical Center’s emergency room.

While the ambulance races through city streets, rushes through red lights, and careens around corners at breathtaking speed, ML sits beside Brad with tears in her eyes.

Don’t worry Brad, you’ll be just fine. We have some of the finest doctors in the country right here in Albany.

Brad is unconscious and doesn’t respond. She’s afraid and frantic with worry. She must not let Brad know that she is so afraid. As she quietly cries, she turns away from him so that he will not see the tears rolling down her face just in case he opens his eyes. She knows that Brad is somehow aware of his surroundings. She doesn’t want to add any more stress to Brad’s already stressful situation.

As the ambulance pulls up to the doors of the ER, there is a doctor and a nurse waiting. The doctor quickly checks Brad’s breathing as the EMTs rush the gurney down the hall and into a private examining room. ML is ushered out of the room while the doctor and nurses try frantically to save Brad. ML doesn’t want to leave. She wants to be with Brad, but the doctor insists that she wait in the hall.

After putting him on the monitors to check for normal sinus rhyme, he is also given oxygen and put on an IV. The doctor then decides to have Brad’s blood drawn to check for cardiac enzymes. A twelve lead EKG is done along with a CT of the brain to see if there are any other symptoms. Brad is given medication, and then it’s time to wait for results.

ML sits outside Brad’s room quietly crying hysterically, and the tears roll down her face like a gentle waterfall in spring. Her makeup is all smeared, and she looks a mess. ML is now pale as a ghost, and the stress on her face shows the anguish she is feeling. Her body quivers as she waits for the doctor to pronounce his diagnosis. Captain jack sits beside her and holds her in his strong arms to comfort her, but she cannot be comforted. The nurses busily walk quickly in and out of Brad’s room, and ML follows them with her tear filled eyes. She has many questions in her mind, but she knows it would be wrong to distract the medical team. They need to concentrate on Brad and not her. She continues to watch as question after question rolls across her mind.

Has he had a heart attack? Is he strong enough to survive? Are there any other more serious problems? How long will it take him to recover, and will he recover fully?

Some nurses simply read his chart while others administer medication designed to save his life. ML can hear the beeping of the monitor in Brad’s room as his door opens and closes. What a frightening sound she thought. Will it continue to echo the sounds of life, or will its silence convey the sad realization that Brad is dead? She prays fervently that the continuance of that irritating and annoying beeping will not end. Finally, the doctor makes another visit, examines Brad, writes some comments on his chart, and exits the room to talk to ML. ML’s look of anticipation is evident as the doctor approaches her, and his somber look says it all.

Mrs. Militano, Brad is seriously ill. It will only be a matter of hours before he expires. We have done everything humanly possible to save him, but his heart is much too weak to sustain his life any longer. Something caused his heart to deteriorate rapidly. We truly do not know what that might be. I’m very sorry for your loss.

All ML can say is, Thank you, doctor. I know you have done everything possible. Please excuse me.

With these words she enters Brad’s room, sits down beside him, and holds his hand. She speaks softly to him and confesses her undying love. Suddenly, Brad’s eyes open slowly and he begins to whisper. ML leans over and puts her ear close to Brad’s lips.

I will love you always, ML.

I will always love you too, Brad.

ML cannot help but softly cry. She knows that Brad’s love will always be with her, but she would also like to have Brad himself at her side. Her body quivers and quakes with emotion. The tears are coming more rapidly now. She cannot hold her emotions in any longer. She holds her arms up high in frustration and loudly gives a blood curdling scream. It is so loud that one of the nurses comes running into the room to see what is wrong.

Mrs. Militano, can I do anything to help you?

Amid the sobbing, ML says, No nothing. I really need to get a hold of myself.

OK, says the nurse. But if you need anything at all, press the call button.

I will. Thank you.

Brad lapses into unconsciousness again and sleeps for a couple more hours with ML at his side praying and hoping against hope that he will recover. That irritating and annoying sound of the monitor continues for a little while longer. Suddenly, Brad’s eyes open again, and he manages to whisper something else in ML’s ear.

ML, save the business.

His words of love and petition become indelibly written on ML’s heart and in her mind as the hours pass and she continues to pray. Suddenly and without warning that irritating and annoying beep of the monitor ceases. ML wakes up from a short nap and gazes at the instrument with an awful and foreboding feeling of loss. The silence is deafening. All the lines on the monitor are straight now. No more beeping. No more annoying sounds. Just silence.

Brad? Brad? Wake up honey. Wake up. Don’t you hear me?

When ML realizes that Brad has died, she screams for the nurse who is already on her way into the room. There is no rushing now. The nurse walks slowly over to the monitor, disconnects the equipment from Brad, and gives ML a sorrowful look.

I’m so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Militano. Stay as long as you wish. We won’t do anything until you say we can.

Through tear filled eyes ML says, Thank you, nurse.

ML stays with Brad for a little while longer and then returns to Captain Jack in the hallway.

Captain, call Hernandez and tell him to bring the limo around to the front entrance. I’ll be going home now.

Do you want me to come with you?

No, says ML. I’ll be all right. Just make sure that the yacht is anchored and all set for the night.

Yes miss, was the captain’s answer.

Hernandez arrives shortly thereafter, and Captain Jack escorts ML to the limo. As Hernandez drives the limo away, he can hear ML crying; he feels helpless.

Mrs. M, I am so very sorry for your loss. If there is anything I can do, no matter what it is, just name it. I’ll be there for you.

Thank you, Hernandez. Nothing right now. Maybe later.

Hernandez knows that nothing he can say or do will console her, but he has given it his best shot. Finally they arrive at the front door of Bradford House. Captain Jack has alerted the staff of the terrible news, and all the servants wait for ML at the front door. The maids and the cook are all crying while Wellington, the butler, escorts her into the house and hands her over to Jennie, her secretary. The tears roll down Jennie’s face as she takes ML up to her bedroom, helps her get undressed, and carefully helps her into bed. ML has suffered a heartbreaking loss. What will she do now? How will she cope? Will she ever survive losing Brad? Can she save the corporation from its detractors? All these questions cloud her mind as she falls asleep – a sleep that is a welcomed escape from her unexpected and awful reality. ML sleeps all afternoon and through the night. As the clock ticks on, she tosses and turns engulfed in an uneasy sleep. From time to time, she slowly and momentarily wakes up in a stupor and reflects on some of the great times she and Brad have had. A sweet smile emerges from her distraught countenance as she remembers their wedding.

Our wedding was so beautiful. Brad had money, and it showed. I remember the ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The church was decorated lavishly with beautiful flowers, and the choir sang a Gregorian Chant as I walked down the aisle. My father was so proud. I loved the dress that I wore. Everyone said that I looked beautiful.

ML continues to smile in her sleep as she remembers the majesty and splendor of the moment as if it were yesterday. She can see herself in her romantically fashioned white beaded gown. She felt her hair as it flowed down around her shoulders, and visualized her gorgeous headpiece and veil. She saw Brad standing at the end of the aisle awed by her goddess-like demeanor. As she walked down the aisle, she could see the tears in Brad’s eyes. He could hardly control his emotions as she joined him at the altar.

The wedding ceremony, presided by ML’s Uncle Edward, was traditional and reverent in nature as the guests looked on in quiet approval. The reception at the Plaza Hotel that afternoon was legendary. The room was filled with high ranking military officers with whom Brad had formerly served, and this handsome, dashing, well-mannered gentleman had his own following of gossip columnists and news reporters all eager for a quick juicy story about the war hero of Desert Storm. Some were at the reception while others waited outside the hotel for a glimpse of the newly married couple. Their wedding announcement and pictures would be in the society pages of all the major newspapers in the country.

I remember how the reception hall looked. I made sure it was decorated in lavender and white to match the colors of the bride’s maids’ dresses. I picked the Plaza because the drapes and carpets where lavender. Oh, my wedding was beautiful.

As she traveled back in time, she could hear the polite conversations, the music, and glasses clinking. The champagne flowed freely, but no one got drunk. This was a sophisticated crowd aware that there were watchful eyes just waiting to catch someone off guard so an illustrious story could be written. Stories would be written anyway, but there would be no scandals. The high ranking government officials, ambassadors, and military attaches from a number of foreign countries wanted to put their best foot forward and be recognized as friends of the Militanos – a very influential and iconic American family.

I was the luckiest girl in the world that day. We were both so in love with each other. I remember all of the places we visited in Europe, the Orient, and of course, the United States. I have such sweet memories of all our trips.

ML wakes up with a knock at the door as her dreams silently fade away. It is Wellington.

Your guests are starting to arrive, madam.

ML quickly pulls herself together and says ,

Thank you, Wellington. I’ll be down shortly. Please show them into the library and have the cook start serving the hors d’ oeuvres and wine.

Very good madam.

2

A Company of Friends

As ML gazes down into the library from the second floor balcony, she can see her friends both present and past arriving one at a time. She is comforted by their appearance and gladly anticipates greeting them. The Militanos had not seen some of their friends in some cases for years. ML remembered how Brad had embraced her old neighborhood friends shortly after they were married and how he enjoyed hearing their stories from the South Bronx. She recollected how he especially loved to hear what she was like before he met her at college. He was a handsome, mature military officer, and she was a young impressionable girl. Brad grew up in a privileged environment and never was exposed to a more common way of life. He found the colorful recollections both amusing and enlightening. Although Brad was born into money, he was a down to earth kind of guy and valued the friendships he had cultivated through his beautiful wife. She was and still is very beautiful with long dark brown flowing hair, fair complexion, and a tall, slender stance.

ML, herself, was never ordinary. She came from a working class family, and she was always taught to maintain a more than respectable posture. She was honest, hardworking, and courageous. She never forgot her friends and where she came from. After her marriage to Brad, she never looked down on her good buddies and always kept in contact with them. They were a colorful group to say the least.

Freddie Schmautz is ML’s cousin on her mother’s side. Freddie was born in what was then West Germany. Fannie, his mother and ML’s aunt, brought him up to be very honest, trustworthy, and educated. Cousin Freddie has a calculating mind and is not afraid to take risks which makes him a really good CIA agent. He speaks, reads, and writes fluent German as well as English. Even though he came to the United States at the age of thirteen, he still speaks English with a slight accent. Tall, dark and very handsome, he likes to work out in the gym and drives a Porsche. Always in fashion, he’s a snappy dresser, a gentleman, and a ladies’ man. He and ML are close, but they don’t see each other very often. However, the saying Blood is thicker than water is very true in Freddie’s case. He loves his cousin and always defers to her if he can.

Freddie has arrived early in order to greet the other guests. His imposing stature fills the room with dignity and awe. The ladies find him extremely attractive,