Stuart Woods: Blood Orchid

“Holy shit!”

“My very words when I heard about it. It appears that the mob recognized talent when they saw it, and they went to some trouble to hide little Gaetano’s light under a bushel. He graduates as Edward Shine, with honors, in June of ’forty-five, just in time to get drafted. Not surprisingly, little Eddie turns up at his physical with a perforated eardrum, making him ineligible. He applied for and was issued a passport the following year.”

“He was already a citizen?”

“Somehow, a birth certificate in his name appeared in the public records, stating that he was born in 1927 to Mr. and Mrs. Shine. I think we can attribute that to the fine Italian hand of Frank Costello, who owned many politicians. Little Eddie studies in Italy for a year, it’s not certain where, then returns to the U.S. and enters NYU, graduating in 1951 with a degree in accounting and business management. The following year, he builds his first office building.”

“What a precocious boy,” Holly said.

“From then on, he’s in the New York commercial real estate business big time, and he never seems to have any trouble getting financing.”

“Because his mob friends are laundering their cash through his projects?”

“Exactly.” Grant pulled into the parking lot of the Blood Orchid Club and parked. “And guess who he’s doing most of his business with.”

“Who?”

Then somebody opened the car door.

Ed Shine stood at the car door. “There you are,” he said, beaming. “Come inside, there are people I want you to meet.”

Holly and Grant got out of the car and followed Ed into the club. “Are you armed?” she whispered to him.

Grant shook his head.

There was one large, round table set for eight by the windows overlooking the golf course.

“I believe we’re all here,” Ed said, waving at some people at the bar. “Let’s be seated,” he called to them.

From the shadows of the bar, two men and two women approached. Holly knew two of them.

“Holly, I believe you’ve met Pio Pellegrino at his restaurant in Miami.”

“Of course,” Holly said.

“I believe you had a different name that evening,” Pio said smoothly.

“Forgive me; a single woman alone in Miami, I was being careful.”

“Of course.”

“And this is Pio’s father,” Ed said, “Ignacio. We call him Iggy.”

The old man bowed his head slightly, unsmiling.

“And this is Iggy’s daughter, Allegra, and Pio’s wife, Barbara; we call her Babs.” Babs was thin and elaborately coiffed, with big eyes and a wide mouth. Allegra Pellegrino was a tall, solidly built woman with black hair and blacker eyes. “Everybody, this is Holly’s friend, Mr. Grant Early, who may yet be a resident at Blood Orchid. Grant, I don’t believe you’ve met Willard Smith.”

Grant shook hands all around.

“Please be seated,” Ed said, waving a hand at the table. “There are place cards for everyone.”

Holly found herself seated between Ed and Pio. “What a beautiful table, Ed,” she said. “The flowers are lovely.” She glanced over at Grant, who was seated between Barbara and Allegra Pellegrino. He was chatting amiably, as if this were the most normal of dinner parties.

Holly couldn’t figure out why she was here, and she didn’t like it. Nearly everybody in the world she wanted to arrest was in this room.

“We’re starting with beluga caviar and a Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame champagne,” Ed announced to the group, as plates were set before them.

Holly figured there were at least four ounces of the black roe on her plate. Blinis, sour cream, and chopped onion were passed around. Holly ignored them, picked up a small spoon, and began to eat the caviar unaccompanied. The champagne was a perfect accompaniment.

Grant seemed to be enjoying it, too.

Holly found the atmosphere more and more oppressive. “Will you excuse me, Ed?” she said. “And could you point me to the ladies’ room?”

“Of course, Holly,” Ed replied. “Allegra, why don’t you show Holly where the ladies’ room is?”

Holly rose and walked toward the bar area. Allegra silently fell into step with her. Holly felt as if she were under armed guard, and maybe she was: Allegra was carrying a very large handbag.

Holly went into the farthest stall, while Allegra washed her hands. Holly was grateful for the noise of running water, since it covered the sound of her dialing Harry Crisp’s home number on her cellphone.

“Hi, we’re out,” Harry’s voice said. “Leave a number at the beep, and we’ll call you back.” As Holly started to speak, her phone bleeped and went dead. The battery was flat. She left the stall and washed her hands. Allegra was messing with her makeup.

“I didn’t know Pio had a sister,” Holly said, trying to find out if the girl could speak.

“Yeah,” Allegra replied, snapping shut her compact.

They went back to the table, where waiters were removing the plates from the first course. Holly sat down.

“You know,” Pio said conspiratorially, “you’re a good-looking girl. Maybe we could get together sometime?”

“Why, Pio,” Holly said, “whatever would your wife say?”

“She’d enjoy it,” Pio replied with a smile. “She likes to watch.”

Holly gulped at the thought.

“Now, our main course,” Ed announced.“Boeuf Wellington.”

A waiter appeared carrying a large platter and presented the mound of pastry to the diners. Everyone clapped lightly.

The waiter sliced the beef into thick slabs and served it.

Holly felt as though this were a last supper of sorts, but at least it was a good supper. She began trying to think of a way to get out of here. Grant was annoying her now, blithely chatting up Barbara Pellegrino, who looked as though she would like Grant for her main course, instead of the beef. He knew who these people were; he could at least have the grace to look worried, she thought.

Holly directed her attention to Ed, pointedly ignoring Pio. “So, Ed, is this a business dinner, or just pleasure?”

“A bit of both, sweetheart,” Ed said in his affable way. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself.”

“The food is wonderful,” Holly replied. “What sort of business are you in together?”

“Real estate, of course. This is really sort of a celebration of a new property we’ve just bought in South Beach, Miami. In less than a year, we’re going to have the hottest hotel on the beach.”

“Another deal like Blood Orchid?” Holly asked.

“Very much the same,” Ed replied. “Smitty, over there, is the new head of the Miami office of the General Services Administration, and this is the second property we’ve bought from them. There will be more, you may be sure.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Holly said.

“Oh, it is, believe me. Within five years we’re going to be the second largest holder of resort property in Florida, right after Disney. And by that time, gambling will be legal in Florida, and we’ll be the largest operators of casinos.”

“Gambling legal in Florida?” Holly asked. “I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“You will,” Ed replied.

Holly glanced at Grant to see if he was hearing any of this.

“We’re out shopping for state legislators right now,” Ed said.

“Ed,” Holly said, “I thought Blood Orchid was your swan song in real estate; I thought you were going to retire here.”

“I hope you’ll forgive that little fib, Holly. I didn’t want anyone to know what my plans were. Did I mention that we bought a bank in the next county?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“You can’t imagine what a convenience it is to own a bank,” Ed said, grinning.