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Message no. 1
From: James Dening james@************.force9.co.uk
Subject: Wells exotica II
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 14:39:25 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Bob Laconi
>>>>>[You did just fine. Don't worry about being made to feel a bit
stupid - that was Lucky Cesare you were talking to, and he has that
effect on people.

You'll probably have heard the name - he's smart, tough and refreshingly
free of the over-confidence that seems to plague most men in his
position. I want him out of Seattle, but I'm now not sure how...shit, this
is not what I expected - I figured he'd tell you to frag off.

Anyway, don't worry, you did ok - you get the shot at Murphy's. Take
Herve with you, but for chrissake's Bob, keep him on a tight rein - I
know he's smart, but make sure *he* realises that a bit more often. ]<<<<<
-- Dona Minnie Descabiere <15:11:01/11-09-60>
Message no. 2
From: James Dening james@************.force9.co.uk
Subject: Wells exotica II
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 14:39:22 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Dona Minne Descabiere
>>>>>[Dona, we went to Wells Exotica as you asked three days ago.
There was no reply, so we went back this morning. This time, we got a
reply:

+++++begin video

The camera approaches a large warehouse to a reinforced security gate.
A young caucasian man, dressing in a sharp black suit steps from
behind the cameraman, and glances back over his shoulder inquiringly.

"Go on, try again - there's two cars here now."

The young man bends down and presses a button next to a speaker
grille.

"...zzzt.. Yes, what is it?"

The young man speaks into the Grille. "My name is Herve Guilas. This is
my associate Bob Laconi. We have, like, a business proposition for you
- you wanna let us in so we can discuss it?"

The latch on the gate buzzes and it swings open. Both men enter and the
gate smoothly reverses direction and clangs shut. The men look at each
other, and Herve mutters "Not even gonna confiscate our pieces, huh?
Big cojones, man, big cojones...."

A side door ahead of them swings open, and a large man in a suit
steps out.

"Indeed, Mr Laconi, you may retain your Predator, and Mr Guilas, while I
must question your practice of leaving a round chambered, it is not
our intention to relieve you of your weapon. Please, follow me."

The two men, slightly non-plussed by this follow the large man into
the building.

"Please, take a seat. My name is Philip Oscabaldi, and I am the
general manager of Wells Exotica - what exactly it is I can do for
you gentlemen?" Philip sinks into a large leather armchair behind
a desk.

Herve takes a step forward. "What is it you can do for us?? I'll tell
you what..."

"Mr Oscabaldi" says Bob, smoothly interrupting. "We represent
certain business interests in the local neighborhood." He sits down
in a convenient chair and puts one leg up on the other, indicating with
a small nod to his companion to do the same.

"These business interests are here to facilitate your business venture
and to help you get the most out of your investment into our
community. As you may have been informed by your predecessor,
Mr Wells, you are currently considered clients of ours. For a small
payment of 5000nY per month, we provide consultancy services,
broking services, and of course, security services. You may, of course,
wish to terminate this arrangement, which would be, of course
entirely up to you."

Bob laughs "But, naturally, in my professional capacity as a paid
advisor of yours, I would advise against it. To use the vernacular,
keep us sweet, and no-one frags with you."

"I see" says Philip. "So, for this 'small fee', you would ensure that
we had effective security, and that your help with local fire regulations
would make sure we had no spontaneous fires and so forth - that
kind of thing?"

"Yep, that's zackerly right. No problem at all. Like, none." says Herve.

"Well, gentlemen, I'm afraid that....." Philip is interrupted by the
phone on his desk. He picks it up and listens intently for a few
moments.

"I see. Right away." He replaces the handset. "Will you gentlemen
excuse me - someone else will be with you in a minute. Please
feel free to help yourselves to drinks."

Philip leaves through another door, an internal one, and leaves the two
men alone with their thoughts.

"Hey, Bob, whaddya t'ink? They gonna cough or what?" says Herve,
standing and striding across the room to the wet bar.

"Patience, kid, patience. The guy's a front man, yes? But who's
pulling his chain, that's what I want to know..."

The door opens and in steps a man. Luciano Cesare is of average size
but with burning eyes and italian good looks. He looks at the both,
sizing them up, steps behind the desk and sits down, fixing them both
with his eyes.

"So, you two gentlemen have a business proposition for me, yes?"

Bob repeats his spiel, which Cesare listens to attentively, a slight
smile on his face at the last sentence and replies.

"Gentlemen, we're all friends here. Let us cut to the chase - I
represent a very powerful individual in the Vegas area, and we wish
to operate here in Seattle. Naturally, we wish to accomodate our
new neighbours, and I can see no reason not to continue the
current arrangement. However."

He stands and walks over the the wet bar. "I must naturally ensure
that I am receiving value for money, I am a businessman after all.
If, for that money, I receive security, and the ability to go about my
business unhindered by any locals who might desire otherwise, then
so be it. However, gentlemen, if this is simply extortion, pure and
simple, then I would ask you to inform Dona Descabiere that I must
regretfully decline to avail myself of your services. "

Bob looks pained, and considers for a moment. "Hang on a minute -
no one mentioned extortion - this is a genui..."

"Mr Laconi. Bob, if I may. Don't kid a kidder. You tell Minnie from me
that if it's a genuine offer, then I naturally wish to enjoy the protection
of the local, ah, 'business syndicate' - I believe that's the phrase in
vogue at the moment? In fact, why not start now - here's two months
down payment for a start."

He reaches into the desk drawer, and pulls out a credstick. Handing
it to Bob, he moves towards the door and opens it.

"Anyway, gentlemen, if that's all, I am rather busy today. I trust
I'll be hearing from you soon? Oh, and extend my deepest sympathy's
to the Dona - I understand she's recently bereaved. It must be simply
*terrible* to suffer the loss of an individual as...as unique as Eric was."

The sarcasm is not lost on Bob and Herve as the door shuts behind them
and they walk down to the already opening gate, both looking rather
bemused.

"So now whadda we do, Bob?"

"Herve, what do you think...? We go and tell the Dona..."

+++++end video

Dona, that is one smooth operator, and no mistake. They had us pegged
from the minute we pulled up outside. He seemed genuine enough,
and the credstick panned out - 10K on the nose. I dunno how you want
to play this, but he seriously seemed happy to pay for our protection.

Hope we did the right thing, but Dona, I think we was just passengers
on this one - he's....clever.]<<<<<
-- Bob Laconi <14:23:21/11-09-60>
Message no. 3
From: James Dening james@************.force9.co.uk
Subject: Wells exotica II
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 14:39:25 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Bob Laconi
>>>>>[You did just fine. Don't worry about being made to feel a bit
stupid - that was Lucky Cesare you were talking to, and he has that
effect on people.

You'll probably have heard the name - he's smart, tough and refreshingly
free of the over-confidence that seems to plague most men in his
position. I want him out of Seattle, but I'm now not sure how...shit, this
is not what I expected - I figured he'd tell you to frag off.

Anyway, don't worry, you did ok - you get the shot at Murphy's. Take
Herve with you, but for chrissake's Bob, keep him on a tight rein - I
know he's smart, but make sure *he* realises that a bit more often. ]<<<<<
-- Dona Minnie Descabiere <15:11:01/11-09-60>
Message no. 4
From: James Dening james@************.force9.co.uk
Subject: Wells exotica II
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 14:39:22 -0000
*****PRIVATE: Dona Minne Descabiere
>>>>>[Dona, we went to Wells Exotica as you asked three days ago.
There was no reply, so we went back this morning. This time, we got a
reply:

+++++begin video

The camera approaches a large warehouse to a reinforced security gate.
A young caucasian man, dressing in a sharp black suit steps from
behind the cameraman, and glances back over his shoulder inquiringly.

"Go on, try again - there's two cars here now."

The young man bends down and presses a button next to a speaker
grille.

"...zzzt.. Yes, what is it?"

The young man speaks into the Grille. "My name is Herve Guilas. This is
my associate Bob Laconi. We have, like, a business proposition for you
- you wanna let us in so we can discuss it?"

The latch on the gate buzzes and it swings open. Both men enter and the
gate smoothly reverses direction and clangs shut. The men look at each
other, and Herve mutters "Not even gonna confiscate our pieces, huh?
Big cojones, man, big cojones...."

A side door ahead of them swings open, and a large man in a suit
steps out.

"Indeed, Mr Laconi, you may retain your Predator, and Mr Guilas, while I
must question your practice of leaving a round chambered, it is not
our intention to relieve you of your weapon. Please, follow me."

The two men, slightly non-plussed by this follow the large man into
the building.

"Please, take a seat. My name is Philip Oscabaldi, and I am the
general manager of Wells Exotica - what exactly it is I can do for
you gentlemen?" Philip sinks into a large leather armchair behind
a desk.

Herve takes a step forward. "What is it you can do for us?? I'll tell
you what..."

"Mr Oscabaldi" says Bob, smoothly interrupting. "We represent
certain business interests in the local neighborhood." He sits down
in a convenient chair and puts one leg up on the other, indicating with
a small nod to his companion to do the same.

"These business interests are here to facilitate your business venture
and to help you get the most out of your investment into our
community. As you may have been informed by your predecessor,
Mr Wells, you are currently considered clients of ours. For a small
payment of 5000nY per month, we provide consultancy services,
broking services, and of course, security services. You may, of course,
wish to terminate this arrangement, which would be, of course
entirely up to you."

Bob laughs "But, naturally, in my professional capacity as a paid
advisor of yours, I would advise against it. To use the vernacular,
keep us sweet, and no-one frags with you."

"I see" says Philip. "So, for this 'small fee', you would ensure that
we had effective security, and that your help with local fire regulations
would make sure we had no spontaneous fires and so forth - that
kind of thing?"

"Yep, that's zackerly right. No problem at all. Like, none." says Herve.

"Well, gentlemen, I'm afraid that....." Philip is interrupted by the
phone on his desk. He picks it up and listens intently for a few
moments.

"I see. Right away." He replaces the handset. "Will you gentlemen
excuse me - someone else will be with you in a minute. Please
feel free to help yourselves to drinks."

Philip leaves through another door, an internal one, and leaves the two
men alone with their thoughts.

"Hey, Bob, whaddya t'ink? They gonna cough or what?" says Herve,
standing and striding across the room to the wet bar.

"Patience, kid, patience. The guy's a front man, yes? But who's
pulling his chain, that's what I want to know..."

The door opens and in steps a man. Luciano Cesare is of average size
but with burning eyes and italian good looks. He looks at the both,
sizing them up, steps behind the desk and sits down, fixing them both
with his eyes.

"So, you two gentlemen have a business proposition for me, yes?"

Bob repeats his spiel, which Cesare listens to attentively, a slight
smile on his face at the last sentence and replies.

"Gentlemen, we're all friends here. Let us cut to the chase - I
represent a very powerful individual in the Vegas area, and we wish
to operate here in Seattle. Naturally, we wish to accomodate our
new neighbours, and I can see no reason not to continue the
current arrangement. However."

He stands and walks over the the wet bar. "I must naturally ensure
that I am receiving value for money, I am a businessman after all.
If, for that money, I receive security, and the ability to go about my
business unhindered by any locals who might desire otherwise, then
so be it. However, gentlemen, if this is simply extortion, pure and
simple, then I would ask you to inform Dona Descabiere that I must
regretfully decline to avail myself of your services. "

Bob looks pained, and considers for a moment. "Hang on a minute -
no one mentioned extortion - this is a genui..."

"Mr Laconi. Bob, if I may. Don't kid a kidder. You tell Minnie from me
that if it's a genuine offer, then I naturally wish to enjoy the protection
of the local, ah, 'business syndicate' - I believe that's the phrase in
vogue at the moment? In fact, why not start now - here's two months
down payment for a start."

He reaches into the desk drawer, and pulls out a credstick. Handing
it to Bob, he moves towards the door and opens it.

"Anyway, gentlemen, if that's all, I am rather busy today. I trust
I'll be hearing from you soon? Oh, and extend my deepest sympathy's
to the Dona - I understand she's recently bereaved. It must be simply
*terrible* to suffer the loss of an individual as...as unique as Eric was."

The sarcasm is not lost on Bob and Herve as the door shuts behind them
and they walk down to the already opening gate, both looking rather
bemused.

"So now whadda we do, Bob?"

"Herve, what do you think...? We go and tell the Dona..."

+++++end video

Dona, that is one smooth operator, and no mistake. They had us pegged
from the minute we pulled up outside. He seemed genuine enough,
and the credstick panned out - 10K on the nose. I dunno how you want
to play this, but he seriously seemed happy to pay for our protection.

Hope we did the right thing, but Dona, I think we was just passengers
on this one - he's....clever.]<<<<<
-- Bob Laconi <14:23:21/11-09-60>

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Wells exotica II, you may also be interested in:

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