The Scorpion's Tale (40 page)

“Finish it,” Steven demanded, glaring back at
him.

James described the final confrontation with
his five remaining brothers and how he had broken the rules and
killed all of them, their mentors, and finally, their father.
“After killing them, Joaquin removed keys from my dead father’s
body, unlocked a door in the hallway, and walked down a secret
passage leading to another locked door. Joaquin tried several keys
and unlocked the door of an office, overlooking the lagoon. We
located several briefcases with piles of papers, multiple
passports, and stacks of cash in various currencies. Joaquin spent
hours patiently reviewing the records, and eventually found what he
was searching for–a small book inside a locked box in an antique
armoire. We folded back heavy Persian rugs and located two floor
safes. Inside was a treasure trove: diamonds, emeralds, rubies,
gold bars, and lashings of currency. We transferred the contents
into two travel bags. The second safe contained millions in
Dollars, Pounds and Francs, which filled two more bags. Taking the
untold riches, we journeyed to our new home–London.”

James finished the rest of his coffee, folded
his hands and leaned back in his chair. “Any questions?”

“How did you become a priest?”

The Scorpion smiled. “Joaquin took
responsibility for the massacre. He was a more credible
perpetrator, as nobody would believe a twenty-one year old could be
so effective. Joaquin arranged a procedure for future contacts if
ever they should need our services. Joaquin gave a codename to
insert into classifieds in the London Gazette and the New York
Times. Three weeks after the massacre, the code and a corresponding
phone number were placed in both papers. Arrangements were made for
delivery of photographs and instructions, with fifty percent of the
$50,000 contract price. Joaquin gave me the assignment. I
discovered as much as I could about my victim. He was a mid-level
assassin in a rival organization, lived alone, had little family
and spent most of his time at a local pub. I tracked him like those
I had hunted on the island but my jungle was transformed into a
cityscape. Killing him was anticlimactic and I was disappointed, as
I expected more from a fellow professional. We were officially in
business.

“Joaquin perfected the means of communicating
with current and future customers and we received referrals in
Brazil and Eastern Europe. From there, the Scorpion’s fame spread
to Western Europe and eventually to the United States. In less than
three years, I had assassinated twenty people. My standard fee had
increased to $250,000. Joaquin was the only person in the world I
trusted and he ran the business so I could concentrate on each
assignment. I had become a master of disguise and proud that nobody
knew my identity. I propagated the Scorpion’s legend, but we had to
produce multiple versions of phony passports, driver’s licenses and
other forms of identification to match the many personalities I was
developing. It took precision planning to ensure that the
documentation was accurate. A short time after my thirtieth
birthday, I received an opportunity to make a final adjustment to
our business plan, which would dramatically change my life once
more.

“The legend of the Scorpion had reached the
ears of some of the highest echelons in the Vatican. After lengthy
discussions and negotiations, we received confirmation that I would
need to infiltrate the Vatican in order to identify and kill a
high-ranking member of the Church. I was told that my target was
suspected of engaging in business that was not in the best
interests of the Vatican’s reigning power. It was a delicate matter
and the Scorpion would be required to assume the identity of a
priest from South America. He would have the required history and
papers; thus, full credibility. One of the highest-ranking
Cardinals in the Vatican was the sole person with knowledge of the
Scorpion’s true identity and his ‘theological’ purpose. It was a
difficult decision. The mission required that I allow another
person to know my real identity, but the price was astounding: two
million dollars! I was mesmerized by the complexity and intrigue of
the task. I would not only be assuming the identity of a priest; I
would also be trained under the tutelage of the Cardinal. Joaquin
believed the assignment was much too risky, but the whole scenario
appealed greatly to my conceit. I would be tracking a man
throughout the Vatican, my new island. For the first time, tracking
my prey would be psychological. I had to find a means to convince
him to take me into his confidence while I amassed a dossier to
convict him for his perceived misdeeds. Once the Cardinal was
convinced, the mark would be summarily executed.

“I told Joaquin that I was going to accept
the assignment and permanently assume the role of the priest. We
both knew this would be our final work together. The negotiations
with the Cardinal concluded with our demonstration that we had
taped all contacts with him and had overwhelming evidence of his
complicity against God’s laws. We established a mutual
understanding that we each had sufficient leverage against the
other to dissuade either party from betraying the other’s identity.
Joaquin and I divided our spoils from the island and our business
and said goodbye. I went to Costa Rica where I remained for several
months before being summoned to the Vatican. Joaquin disappeared
for years.

“As I fulfilled my responsibilities at the
Vatican, I constantly traveled back and forth to Ecuador and to the
missions throughout the country. Each time I visited Ecuador, my
religious identity strengthened. I started diverting massive
amounts of money into the economy to help my parishioners. Wherever
I traveled, I brought resources to feed and clothe the poor.
Ultimately, I became a legend in the Ecuadorian mountains and I was
dearly beloved by the natives. Eventually, I executed my task at
the Vatican. Unfortunately, the Cardinal knew that I was now
dispensable and had to be eliminated. However, perhaps due to a
moral dilemma regarding how to get rid of me, the Cardinal
hesitated in his follow through. I, having no such issue, killed
the Cardinal after completing my mission, and both his murder and
my mission remained unresolved. I stayed at the Vatican for several
months and received instructions to return to the mountains of
Ecuador to carry out my mission with the Catholic Church. Now I
could freely travel throughout the world as Father Mateuse, an
identity that allowed the Scorpion to travel as well.

“That is the Scorpion’s Tale, or at least the
background you need to understand me.”

“Understand? Why must I understand you?”

James pulled out a one hundred dollar bill.
“I’m going to leave you with your thoughts; it was indeed a
pleasure brunching with you. I have been truly honored and blessed
by a visit from the son of Tomasso Capresiano. When I stand, you
will have several choices. You can try and stop me. You can try and
kill me. You can try and follow me, or, you can simply let me
leave. I have discussed everything I needed to discuss with you. I
have cleansed my soul and cleared my conscience. If you still must
kill me, you will have one last opportunity. I shall never again
underestimate your ability to find me and I will never make another
mistake. I will assume that you know almost everything there is to
know about me and I will act accordingly.”

“Almost everything?” Steven asked.

“Yes,” James said, smiling pleasantly at
Steven. “I retain an element of mystery. That is the power I will
always hold over you. When I leave this restaurant, you have the
choice of never seeing me again.”

Holding a box, James stated: “Here is your
destiny. You can follow these directions and find me again or you
may disregard them and return to your life. If you follow these
instructions, you will come to my island and you will learn the
lessons that I must teach you. And you, Steven Capresi, son of
Tomasso Capresiano, will know what it is like to walk in my
shoes.”

“I still don’t understand.”

James pushed back his chair, stood, and threw
the bill on the table. “Read, and you will understand. Follow the
instructions and see my island or turn away. The choice is yours.
But do not expect to rendezvous with Nick Manzione in Quito. Those
plans have been changed; he and his lady friend are now guests on
my island. Your detective friend, Michael Johnston, is keeping them
company. If you do not follow my instructions, I will kill all of
them, but I will not trifle with you again. It is your decision. I
wish you a long and happy life. You have the opportunity to seek
the peace of Christ or the eternal torment of Satan. It matters not
to me. May the peace of the Lord be with you.” The Scorpion removed
his watch and handed it to Steven. “This was your father’s. Now it
is yours.”

Steven watched James slowly turn and walk
out, disappearing. Steven desperately wanted to stand up and plunge
a knife into his neck, but he couldn’t move a muscle. Strangely, it
wasn’t fear that was paralyzing him. He opened the box and read the
Scorpion’s instructions. He had been given no time to consider his
options. To continue the game, he had to be aboard a specific
private jet within the hour.

After spending the night alone in a rustic
bungalow, Giovanna entered an awaiting seaplane occupied by two
armed men. An hour later it was Nick’s turn, only this time, two
armed men boarded the jet where Nick had spent an uncomfortable
night and removed him into a waiting car.

As the car approached the seaplane, Nick
asked, “Are we taking another flight?”

“You are. Stay dry, Mr. Manzione,” said the
big man who had rendered Nick unconscious.

The seaplane glided away from the dock and
slid into open water, where it built up enough thrust to become
airborne. They reached about 1,000 feet and then circled back
toward the airstrip. Nick could see the jet beginning a slow turn
at the end of the airstrip as it prepared for take-off. As the
seaplane flew by, Nick watched the jet accelerate down the runway.
He closed his eyes and prayed that Giovanna was safe, unaware that
she was only one hour ahead of him.

-----------------

The Scorpion’s island was more like a movie
set than a real island. It seemed impossible that an ecosystem,
designed and built as a hunters’ paradise, could continue to
flourish decades after it was no longer used for its original
purpose. Viewed from above, the island was a contradiction of
nature. Occupying twenty square miles, it contained several
incompatible terrains that coexisted solely because a wealthy man
had willed them to coexist. There was a section of forest, one of
open plains, and another of overgrown jungle, all separated from
each other, yet connected.

-------------------

The plane touched down and turned into the
wind as it glided atop the ocean. Looking out the window, Detective
Johnston spied land in the distance. As the plane approached, he
made out a floating dock, anchored to the sea bottom, upon which
three armed men awaited his arrival. The detective slid out first,
hopped onto the dock, and turned toward Joaquin with an extended
arm to help him deplane. Joaquin looked down at him and simply
shook his head.

“I’m not going with you detective. I’ve been
instructed to return to St. Thomas.”

The detective drew back momentarily with a
puzzled expression on his face. “Are you kidding? Who ordered you
to return to St. Thomas?”

“The Scorpion.”

“The Scorpion? When did you speak with
him?”

“All this was prearranged,” Joaquin answered.
“You have received an invitation to join him, and I have not. I
wish you the best, Detective, but I must leave you.”

“Wait a minute, you double crossing
son-of-a-bitch!” he shouted. He took a menacing step towards
Joaquin and two guards quickly pointed their rifles at him,
screaming and motioning for him to fall to his knees. He couldn’t
understand their language, but their gestures had the detective on
the ground in seconds.

“If I were you, detective, I wouldn’t excite
the guards,” Joaquin cautioned. “They are native South Americans
whose families have proudly maintained and protected this island
for decades. They are poor, unworldly, and easily agitated. They
are also very loyal and protective of their benefactor. Like
starving dogs, they are ready to rip you to pieces on command.”

The detective glared at Joaquin as he spoke
in an even tone. “You set me up! You were never coming onto this
island, were you?”

“I’ve seen too much of this island in my life
and do not wish to return here.”

“What happens now?”

“You wait for the other guests to arrive.
After that, I have no idea. I hope you do well, Detective.”

Joaquin silently withdrew into the plane. The
pilot started the engines and the seaplane pulled away from the
dock. Detective Johnston surveyed his surroundings. All he could
see was a small area of white, sandy beach sandwiched between two
areas of dense vegetation extending to the water’s edge. He
realized he had no chance of escape and reluctantly boarded a dory,
carefully attended by two armed natives. His adventure had
begun.

-------------------

Steven boarded a 2004 Cessna Citation XLS in
Quito. Along with its pilot and co-pilot, he was the only
passenger. Steven leaned back in his chair. He had no idea where he
was going and no time to develop a strategy. It was now clear to
Steven that the Scorpion had orchestrated his ‘discovery’ of him.
Steven knew he did not have a choice. He would get answers to
questions concerning his father and then his revenge. Steven was
mentally prepared for whatever awaited him.