Uncontrolled Spin: The Power and Danger of Spin ("Un"missable Series Book 1) (32 page)

The next morning, Bonnie awakens to the smell of fresh coffee brewing, coupled with another pleasing aroma she can’t quite distinguish. When she walks into the kitchen, she finds Wendy putting an egg concoction onto fresh baked croissants.

Bonnie watches her working feverishly for a few moments before she says, “I’ll hire you as my personal chef any day.”

Wendy turns around quickly, surprised because Bonnie jolted her back to reality. Then she smiles and says with a wink, “You could never afford me.”

Bonnie chuckles. “That’s probably true, but I’d be happy going broke and getting fat on your cooking.”

Wendy beams at the compliment, “Well, breakfast will be ready in about fifteen minutes, so enjoy your cup of coffee in the living room and I’ll finish things up here.”

As she’s cooking, Wendy hears Bonnie’s cell phone ring, and from parts of her conversation she assumes Bonnie is speaking with Sean. Wendy comes into the living room with breakfast, then notices the unsettled look on Bonnie’s face.

“What is it?” she asks, as she and Bonnie enjoy a wonderfully prepared French breakfast.

Bonnie raves about her first bite, and then explains, “Sean called because he received a call from Ricardo, apologizing for his behavior. He requested that Sean schedule a meeting between us, so Ricardo can personally apologize to me. Sean wanted to know if I would consider such a meeting, and I’m not sure.”

Wendy nods. “Well, I don’t know if meeting him in person so soon is a good idea, but I’ll tell you what. Give me Ricardo’s number and let me call him as your counselor. I’ll ask him a few questions, and if I feel comfortable in the fact that it is safe for you to meet with him, I’ll let you know. Would that be okay?”

Bonnie nods gratefully. “If you’re willing to do that for me, I certainly would appreciate it.”

Wendy replies, “Of course I will. You’re my sister-in-law and I love you.” Bonnie gives Wendy Ricardo’s number. Then the two of them finish up their breakfast and enjoy lighter conversation. Bonnie thanks Wendy for everything she has done for her, then mentions she would like to head back to San Francisco that afternoon, if Wendy will take her to the airport.

Wendy complains, “But you’ve only been here one night!”

Bonnie acknowledges. “I know, and it was far too short, but I really have to get back. I have things I have to work on with Mr. Stoddard and others. But I promise my next stay will be much longer.”

Wendy says, “I guess I understand, but I will definitely hold you to your promise, both for another visit and a longer one.”

After Bonnie leaves for San Francisco, Wendy telephones Ricardo. She introduces herself as Bonnie’s counselor and tells him, “Before I advise Bonnie on whether or not to meet with you, I would like to have dinner with you to discuss the event, in order to determine if it would be safe for her, given the physical abuse during your last meeting. Perhaps, more importantly, I will be better able to determine if it is emotionally safe for her to see you in person.”

Ricardo sighs, resigned. “Fine. When and where?”

“Not so fast,” Wendy admonishes. “I have one condition. This meeting must be confidential, due to my client’s delicate feelings on the issue. No one, especially not Bonnie, is to know that you and I are meeting. If anyone finds out about it, I’ll make sure Bonnie never speaks with either you or your cousin ever again. Understood?”

Ricardo agrees to Wendy’s condition, and they both agree to meet in three weeks in San Francisco. Wendy thanks Ricardo for his willingness to work with her and tells him she looks forward to helping him and Bonnie restore their business relationship.

Ricardo replies, “Thank you, as well, Ms. Stevens. Our meeting will certainly remain confidential. Goodbye.”

Next, Wendy calls Bonnie to tell her she would like to stop by for a visit to discuss her phone call with Ricardo.

“Really? You spoke with him already? Wonderful!” Bonnie exclaims. “When would you like my pilot to pick you up?”

“In three weeks? It gives me some time to schedule time off,” Wendy replies.

“Perfect! I can’t wait.”

Wendy replies, smiling, “I can’t either, sister dear.”

After the conversation ends, Wendy goes to the market, buys some fresh pork chops, and leaves them in the see through packaging on the kitchen counter in the sun. They develop mold rapidly. She also bakes a potato in aluminum foil and places it on the counter next to the pork chop. As the days progress, she checks on the mold’s development continuously. When either of the items is covered in the mold, she scrapes it off and places it in a jar containing a small amount of pork broth. Wendy continues this procedure over the next three weeks, then she transfers the moldy broth into three small nasal spray containers and places them in her purse.

Wendy meets Bonnie’s pilot at the airport, boards the jet, and flies to San Francisco to meet with Ricardo, then visit Bonnie. Ricardo has agreed to meet her at a small restaurant, the Bistro on Union Street, for dinner. When she arrives, she is greeted by the hostess and seated with Ricardo, as he arrived first. Wendy is struck by his good looks and charming personality, and she thinks of what a shame it is that he is such an evil bastard.

Their conversation is cordial as Wendy questions him about the incident, but she is completely unimpressed with the way he displays his so-called remorse for his actions and demeaning behavior. The server comes to take their orders and Ricardo orders pork chops in a port sauce and a good glass of cabernet sauvignon. Wendy enjoys a private smile at how fortunate his dinner selection will prove to her, and then orders fresh grilled salmon with a salad bar combination and a glass of chardonnay.

“Excuse me, Ricardo. I need to get my salad,” she says.

She surveys the bistro, and seeing to it that no one is watching, she removes the first nasal sprayer from her jacket pocket, squirting a small amount onto the salad bar after retrieving her salad. She places the sprayer back into her pocket, then returns to the table to have a pleasant conversation with Ricardo. Fairly soon, the server brings their dinners, but just as he arrives Ricardo excuses himself to go to the restroom. Wendy is extremely pleased with the timing and retrieves the two remaining sprayers from her purse, again surveying the bistro for observers. She mixes the entirety of one sprayer into Ricardo’s port sauce and the other she pours into his glass of cabernet.

When Ricardo returns to the table, the two return to polite conversation. Wendy watches him take a bite of his pork chop and drink some of his cabernet before she settles in to enjoy her own meal. She keeps a watchful eye on him as he finishes his dinner and wine, leaving nothing for leftovers. The two of them also enjoy a wonderful dessert of blueberry crepes and coffee.

At the end of their meal, Wendy says, “I am surprised to say, I have had a delightful time with you. I’ll make sure Bonnie contacts you at your hotel in two days. If you haven’t heard from her by then, call me, and I’ll find out what is going on and possibly bring her to meet with you.”

Ricardo thanks Wendy for a wonderful dinner and her willingness to help him restore an important business relationship, then excuses himself under the guise of much needed rest.

Ricardo returns to his hotel, places the ‘do not disturb’ placard on his door, and calls the front desk to request no room service tomorrow. He informs the clerk that he intends to sleep in late after his long trip.

The front desk clerk assures him he will not be disturbed in the morning and says, “Sleep well, Mr. Montes.”

“Thank you,” Ricardo replies, then watches television, makes a few short phone calls, and goes to sleep.

The next morning, the hotel staff doesn’t disturb him, as requested. He wakes up around noon, fatigued, and goes to the bathroom. He crawls back into bed, thinking he must be getting old because he has never experienced such extreme jet lag before. He awakens again around six in the evening with a dry mouth and stomach cramps, then rushes into the bathroom to vomit. Realizing he probably has the flu, he grabs some water and phones the front desk again to explain about the flu and asks not to be disturbed again.

“Of course, Mr. Montes. Is there anything you need?”

“No,” Ricardo replies rudely, “I just don’t want to be disturbed.”

Once again, she assures him he won’t be and Ricardo hangs up.

He awakens in the middle of the night having a little difficulty breathing. Taking some aspirin, he decides to go back to sleep. When he awakens yet again in the morning, he can’t even get out of bed to reach the telephone. Knowing he is in trouble, he hopes the cleaning lady will check on his room, but he forgets he requested to not be disturbed.

Ricardo falls back to sleep, simply unable to keep his eyes open. Having not heard from him well into the afternoon, the staff knocks on the door. When they don’t receive an answer, they go inside and find him having extreme difficulty breathing. They attempt to help and also discover he is almost completely unable to move. The staff immediately calls for medical attention, and one of the maids stays with him, waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

Ricardo grabs her arm and pulls her closer to him. Struggling immensely to find the breath, Ricardo whispers hoarsely, “I think I’m dying, and I need to tell someone. I hired… the killer.” He wheezes. “And I’m the one who—” His revelation is interrupted as the paramedics enter, and he is intubated and rushed to San Francisco General Hospital.

He arrives in severe respiratory distress with overwhelming sepsis. The staff immediately rushes to place him on a respirator, and then get him into intensive care. Blood cultures are taken, but Ricardo is now completely unresponsive. His liver and kidney functions begin failing and, within six hours, he dies from multi organ failure.

The hospital laboratory, concerned about some type of outbreak, continues testing the cultures and finally determines that Ricardo died from botulism. The hospital notifies public health officials, who focus on recent reports of food poisoning in San Francisco restaurants and, through the process of elimination, determine Ricardo contracted the botulism after eating at the Bistro on Union Street. Local news reporters broadcast the death, which prompts an onslaught of individuals reporting to local hospitals, claiming symptoms of botulism. Most of the reports are false, but a few disturbing cases test positive and confirm the place of origin.

That evening, Bonnie turns on the news and immediately calls Wendy, who had returned to San Diego after their brief visit.

“I just saw on the Channel 7 News that Ricardo just died at San Francisco General of botulism. I didn’t even know he was in San Francisco, did you?”

Wendy allows surprise to tinge her voice when she replies, “He what? Yes, I knew he was in San Francisco. I had dinner with him at his request. After some conversation, I told him I wasn’t in favor of you seeing him, and since he never tried to arrange a meeting himself, I didn’t mention it. Did you just say he’s
dead
?”

“Yes! Did you feel sick after eating with him?”

“No, I feel fine. I had a wonderful dinner.”

Bonnie sighs. “Well, it’s a good thing because several people have come forward with food poisoning. It’s all over the news.”