PART 8

As they walked toward the mansion, Trent and his companion began their conversation.

"I guess you are wondering who I am," the man said, breaking the silence between them.

"That had crossed my mind," Trent replied.

"Mario Petronelli," he paused, turned,  and  looked Trent squarely in the eye before he added, "the son of the late Vito Petronelli."

Trent's mind raced back to the conversation he had with Walker and Carlos before his assignment took place. **Mario Petronelli... Age 35... Oldest son of Vito Petronelli...** "Mr. Petronelli, I don't want to sound rude, but just what is it that you want with me?
When we last talked over the phone, you said you had a job for me if I was interested. Just what did you have in mind?"

"All in good time... First, there are a few people I want to introduce you to and then we will settle down and discuss business."

"Okay, take a deep breath and tell me how you first met him," Carlos softly spoke in an attempt to get Tandi to open up to him. "Just take your time," he reassured her.

Still shaking from mixed emotions, Tandi stood up from the couch. "I can't. I can't do this. I just can't..." her voice trailed off as she sobbed, "It's just too hard..."

Carlos, relying upon all his police training to keep his sanity, tried in vain to calm the distraught Tandi. "Sweetheart,  it's okay," but before he could console her any further, the doorbell rang sending Tandi into a sudden jolt.  **Of all the bad timing...** he thought. "Just sit here and I will go and see who it is." Carlos rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen to open the door. As he peeked out the window, through the curtain, he was shocked to see who was standing there.

"Can you hear him okay?" Trivette asked Walker. The two of them were in the back of a blue delivery van parked across the street from the Petronelli mansion.
"What's going on?"

"Yes, I can hear him," Walker replied. "They are going into the house... Trent is getting introduced to some people... Can't quite make out their names though...
Okay, they are going in the house..."

"Rick," Mario paused and then turned to his guest, "It is okay for me to call you by your first name isn't it. I was always taught to be polite, but in this line of business, well, you know what I mean."

Trent forced himself to laugh. "Yes. I do. And, yes, Rick is fine."

"Good. Let's go upstairs where we can talk, privately."

Mario led Trent through a vast hallway and up an elegant spiral staircase. **Rick Cordino,** he thought to himself.   **I just hope I can remember the rest.**

Carlos sighed and opened the door, "Hi Alex. What are you doing  here?" Not that he was displeased  at seeing a friend, but right now - he had a hysterical teenage girl sitting on his sofa. But, then again, maybe this was a blessing. He could have Alex talk to Tandi.

"Nice to see you too," Alex Cahill said as she took into account the far-off look in Carlos' eyes. "How are you and Tandi holding up?" she asked.

"Well," Carlos was not sure what to say. "Why don't you see for yourself?" he replied. "Do you have time to talk?"

PART 9...COMING SOON!