Santo Diablo Pt 12

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise showed, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this story are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are over the age of eighteen.

This covers roughly the same time-frame of Crimson Chapter 6, from Rich Burkhart's point of view.

Santo Diablo Part 12 Contacting Crimson

It took a week in New York for Katia to train with the new darts, and for Nicole to make adjustments to the narcotic. Katia received tiny doses of the drug to begin her acclimation and immunity. Of course, that would only last so long, but periodic doses should keep her safe.

After Katia's return, we spent another two weeks planning and organizing the next phase of my plan for Crimson; infiltration. I needed to get close to them, learn what they were about, and, if possible, gain their trust. It wouldn't be easy; these men were all either wealthy, connected, or both. What I needed most to gain their trust was time, but I didn't have that. They would eventually learn the true fate of Russell and his family, and I needed my plan to finish before that happened.

While I lacked time, I made up for it with money. I figured it was time to expand Burkhart Shipping. Since I founded the company, we opened small hubs in various states, but I needed something larger to gain their attention. So, with as much fanfare as I could muster, I announced the opening of our new regional hub. It coincidentally fell to within a few miles of Crystal Lakes Casino, owned by Theodore, otherwise known as Reggie, Wallace.

The location of the casino was a smaller town. It wasn't much more than a highway, a small commercial district, and residential areas where the workers lived. The casino, by far, was their largest employer. The town was about a forty-five minute drive from the city, without traffic, and surrounded by desert.

When I put in my proposal for the new shipping hub, the town didn't hesitate to approve it. My business would almost double the town's income from taxes, and allow them to grow, with the new jobs drawing new residents. Everyone from shop owners to constructions companies celebrated, eyeing all the new revenue that was guaranteed to come their way.

Sure, I was doing it to get close to Crimson, but having a hub in that location benefited me. I won't bore you with the business details, but the ability to locate assets in the area would cut cost, especially of the illegal kind, as I could store them locally before sending them off to their final destinations. I planned on a few other regional hubs between the East and West Coast, but this was to be my first. It wouldn't take long before the legitimate business from Burkhart Shipping rivaled Santana's other subsidiaries.

Of course, I researched before approaching any of this. I sent a few people ahead, mostly my lawyers, to engage with the town. I had them to make a few mistakes in the paperwork, small enough to not cause any major problems, but enough to draw attention. Local laws can differ from one place to another, and I played on this by having my lawyers feign ignorance. This allowed me to call Reggie Wallace to arrange representation for my local business dealings.

Having done so, I flew out to introduce myself, with Katia and Isabella in tow as my wives. At least I didn't have to lie about them, but introducing them as my wives was one of the few things I was truthful about. Most knew I lived with multiple women, which people chalked up to just an eccentric billionaire. From what I gathered, everyone thought I was just another wealthy man that wanted to expand his business. They were more than happy to take as much money from me as they could.

The week prior to arriving, I bought a good-sized house on the outskirts of town with its own private lake and airstrip. The runway was long enough for my plane, so I could come and go as I pleased. To say it was extravagant was an understatement. Twelve bedrooms were joined with twenty other rooms, ranging from a bowling alley, movie theater, an indoor pool, to an indoor spa and sauna. All of that didn't count three dining rooms, two full sized and one smaller kitchen, and a garage large enough for about ten cars. Oh yes, and the hangar for my plane was attached to the house by a covered walkway. Not as large as Seaside, but drew more attention.

The security I hired from a local firm was with me when I arrived downtown an hour after landing. The security team led me into the building, with Katia guiding my wheelchair and Isabella walking by my side. Katia was in a white kimono, enlaced with black and red roses. Isabella wore a tan business dress, nothing too revealing or sexy, but it looked magnificent on her. I wore one of my many black suits. I owned dozens of like styled suits, in a few different colors, all expensive. It wasn't that I needed to own expensive clothes. Hell, I would rather buy less expensive suits and put my money elsewhere. However, I had a reputation, and I wanted everyone to know I had money and was not afraid to spend it.

That's exactly what I wanted Reggie, and everyone else associated with him, to know. I also wanted to convey that I wasn't a threat, and the security I hired was part of that image. If someone has a large security detail, it means they are under threat, or believe they are. My public persona was one of a semi-recluse who spends money freely, with an extravagant taste in everything, including women. That brought me across as shallow and at least a little paranoid. Couple that with the fact I was in a wheelchair, and no one would see me as much to worry about.

Reggie and his team of lawyers greeted us inside the main entrance. His law firm sat inside a large highrise building in the center of downtown. There were other businesses listed as occupants, but after doing our research, we linked all of them to Reggie. He had about half a dozen security around the lobby, but nothing that would lead anyone to believe he felt threatened.

Reggie stood about 5'10, and looked to be in his sixties. Wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt, and matching tie, he carried himself as a man with means. His gray hair was thinning on top, and he tried to comb it so most of the balding area was covered. A pair of wire-frame glasses highlighted a rounded face that, for the moment, held a smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Burkhart." Reggie announced as Katia wheeled me to the front of the entourage I had arrived with. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you find our city to your liking. I would also say that you have wonderful taste. The house you purchased is simply magnificent, and your wives are stunning."

Reggie turned his attention to Isabella and Katia momentarily, just long enough to be polite. His comment about the house let me know he had been monitoring me. Undoubtedly, my purchase of such an expensive house made the rounds, but the way he said it was for effect. When he mentioned that, I purposely broke eye contact, looked down, then left and right. I wanted to appear uncomfortable. It worked. When I made eye contact again, Reggie's smile was larger, and he looked more relaxed.

"Thank you, Mr. Wallace." I answered. "I appreciate your firm taking me on as a client. I can really use someone of your expertise to ensure my future business plans don't run into any problems."

When I said that, I bowed my head. I wanted him to believe I needed him and did so to show deference. And while I appreciated him taking me on as a client to further my plan, I was certain he appreciated my business even more so. The fee I was paying him was exorbitant, to put it mildly.

"If you'll follow me, we can head to my office." Reggie announced, turning and walking toward the elevators. Katia guided me while Isabella held my hand and everyone else followed. After arriving at the top floor, they escorted us into his impressive office. It was more than double the size of mine at Seaside, and the views out of the panel of large windows overlooking the city were magnificent.

"You have a beautiful office, and that goes for the building as well." I commented as Katia situated me in front of Reggie's enormous oak desk.

"Thank you, I appreciate that." Reggie responded. Once I was in position, Isabella took a seat to my left, and Katia remained standing slightly behind and to my right. As she sometimes does, Katia's hand remained on my shoulder. She normally didn't stand next to me, but later she admitted to having a bad feeling when it came to Reggie, and didn't want to leave my side.

Reggie and I talked about details of what I needed, and I turned over the paperwork my lawyers drew up. Reggie promised to take those and clean them up, ensuring nothing violated local laws. After we completed the official business, the talk turned casual. He inquired about my other businesses. I shared enough details to make him believe I wasn't hiding anything, and he feigned interest in gauging whether there were any other business opportunities he could take advantage of. This dance continued for another thirty minutes until Reggie saw an opening.

I mentioned to him my family. I commented how I only traveled this time with two of my wives, and that my other wives were back home. He admitted his penchant for beautiful women and had a number that he grew close with after his wife passed years before. We talked about balancing multiple women and our particular interests in that regard. I admitted I could not perform sexually after the attempt on my life, and how it left me with the inability to care for myself.

I explained how I grew close with Katia, but truth be told, she was in the relationship mostly with Isabella. I wanted to draw his interest, so I mentioned Katia was a submissive while Isabella was a budding dominatrix. With their relationship, which they included me in, I could live vicariously through them. Mostly lies, but told for effect. Reggie offered a solution to Isabella; someone that was well versed in BDSM, and who could instruct Isabella on how to dominate another person safely.

Reggie paused for a moment, weighing his next words. I'm sure, whenever it came to introducing future members to the idea of Crimson, he had to be careful. If he revealed Crimson's existence to the wrong person, it could mean trouble for him and the organization. He undoubtedly did his research on me, and this entire meeting he spent feeling me out. He must have found the answers he was looking for.

"This woman, however, comes with a catch." Reggie began explaining. "I run an organization that has women, like the one I mentioned, that cater to our wealthy members. It's a very exclusive club, and is kept that way by the high price to join. The money serves two purposes. One, it helps fund the organization, allowing us to provide this service to our members. The second is to act as a barrier to entry. Only people of wealth can afford it, keeping our membership low, and ensuring the men are in it for the right reasons."

"The buy in is $10 million, with a fee of one million per month to remain a member." Reggie continued. "I can see that you have two beautiful women, but in your case, maybe spicing things up, or some variety, could come in handy. There are rules to protect the women and the organization, and we can go over those if you're interested in joining."

I asked several questions, all very basic, as if I had never heard of Crimson. Reggie happily answered them all. Isabella joined the conversation, asking questions of her own. She kept to the script, feigning ignorance of how the organization worked and what membership included. I'm sure our show of ignorance left Reggie with the impression that this was all new to us. After some back and forth between Isabella and me, all for show, I agreed to join. I arranged a transfer of the $10 million membership, plus the first month's fee before I left his office.

Reggie also explained that this woman had her own fee, that I would pay directly to her, and that she was the only women in Crimson that demanded that additional payment. If that was the case, I looked forward to meeting this woman. I was curious what she had that demanded the extra money.

Our meeting ended, and Reggie walked with us as his security escorted us back to the lobby. We said our goodbyes, and a few minutes later, I was back in the limo with Isabella and Katia returning to our new house. While we were gone, my crew finish installing cameras and microphones throughout the house, covering it the same as Seaside. As we talked through the door, Julie greeted us through the smart home.

"Welcome home." Julie's voice boomed through the speakers in the foyer. "Oh, I'm sorry. We'll adjust the volume a bit. Hold on a second."

Katia guided me into the living room while Isabella walked to the master bedroom to change. Entering the living room, I heard Julie again, this time at a more pleasant volume. "Is this better? It sounds better from our side. We were getting some serious feedback on our end."

"Yes, that's much better." I replied. "I almost jumped out of my wheelchair, and I still have some ringing in my ears. How's the cameras? Are they all operational?"

"Yes, I'm watching you right now." Julie answered. "I'm also watching Isabella undressing in the bedroom."

"I heard that." I heard Isabella yell. "Well, enjoy the show, I suppose."

"Keep the exterior and all interior cameras recording except for the master bed and bath." I instructed Julie. "I think we can give Isabella some privacy."

Julie ran down the new electronics in the house. The smart home covered everything, from the lights to the thermostat. Our command center in Seaside constantly monitored the house, recording both audio and video. I had a small team of my operatives housed nearby, and if someone sensed we were in danger, they could get to the house within five minutes. Having Katia with me, I didn't see much need for that, but Julie and Beth were insistent.

The only change from my routine, other than location, was the fact I had to leave Sarah and Riley behind. I didn't know if we would run across anyone that would recognize them, and I didn't want to chance it. Once I was ready to reveal who I was, and the real reason I was here, I could have them flown out. In the past few weeks, they both proved invaluable to me. Both women helped me with everything from the moment I arrived at Seaside in the morning to when I left in the evening.

My endurance also improved over that time. While I had a long way to go, I could feel myself get stronger. My headaches were still debilitating, but I could last longer until they overcame me. I also began walking a bit more. Sarah and Riley would help steady me as I walked around Seaside. I mostly resembled a drunk man, almost falling over because my legs still did not want to listen to my brain. I was, however, getting better.

Before we left, I flew Sarah, Riley, and Ellie to Hawaii so they could visit family. No need to keep them cooped up in Seaside while I was occupied here. They told me Violet was enrolled in college to finish her degree and was thankful to have her tuition and fees covered. Sarah and her daughters were happy for the first time in years, and after what the four of them went through, they all deserved it.

We spent the next few days completing contracts and arranging the groundbreaking for our new hub. The city wanted to make a big deal of it, hoping to draw other businesses, and we planned on the groundbreaking Monday afternoon. That left this weekend free. Since it was only Wednesday, I called Reggie to have the woman he mentioned come over and spend it with us. After a few hours, he called back and confirmed.

Reggie also offered us a free night at Crystal Lakes Casino. We had an otherwise empty day on Thursday, so I figured, why not? I don't gamble, but Isabella and Katia enjoy it. I feigned surprise that Reggie was one of the casino's owners. He explained he was part of a group of men that operated the management company that owned it. I knew better. I had Reggie investigated thoroughly, and I knew for a fact he was the sole owner, although his ownership was taken through multiple companies. I also knew his law firm, and the casino, were both vehicles for Crimson, but I didn't have the full picture yet. Spending some time there may provide insight.

I arrived with Isabella and Katia at Crystal Lakes Casino on Thursday, mid afternoon. Casino staff escorted us inside, where Thomas Kinkaid, the general manager, greeted us. He stood 5'10, about fifty years old, and appeared in shape. "Welcome to Crystal Lakes Mr. Burkhart. I wanted to extend a warm welcome to you and your lovely wives, and hope we can impress a man of obvious taste and refinement with our entertainment and hospitality."

Well, I'll give Thomas credit for knowing how to butter someone up. "Thank you, Mr. Kinkaid." I replied. "Your casino looks magnificent. I can't wait to get a look around. If you don't mind, I would love a tour. My wives dabble a little in gambling, but I don't have a taste for it. I find my entertainment elsewhere, and seeing how you run such a place would be fascinating."

Casinos were one of the few things Santana International didn't have it's fingers in, but depending on how everything went, that very well could change.

"It would be our pleasure to have a businessman with your reputation give us feedback on our operation. I'll have my day manager, Paul Rogers, show you around. While you do so, I've set your wives up with $20 thousand dollars' worth of chips to get them started. Allison here will escort them to the teller."

Standing behind Thomas was a young lady in her early twenties. She wore a black satin blouse and skirt, both shimmering slightly in the bright lights of the lobby. She had brunette hair that hung behind her shoulders, leaving the sight of her shirt outlining her smaller B cup breasts. Her skirt, flowing loosely, hung to mid-thigh. Low enough to protect her modesty, but she needed caution when bending over, as it would most likely expose her from behind.

Completing the ensemble were three-inch black, closed toe pumps, with one strap over the top. I didn't catch the hint of nylons, but her legs shined just the same, giving the appearance of glowing slightly and drawing my attention. This was intentional, as I could barely keep my eyes off of them. In her heels, she stood about 5'8, taller than Katia, but shorter than Isabella.

Today, both women wore casual dresses, or what passed for casual for Isabella. Katia wore a blue dress decorated with flowers that hung loose and dropped to her calves. It hung from her shoulders in wide straps to her upper chest. This was not a sexy dress, but one that you see someone wear when they're headed out to run errands. Katia completed the ensemble with a pair of plain white sneakers. She undoubtedly wore her corset and knives underneath, but no one would have known, as it was perfectly hidden.

That brings us to Isabella. Her casual was a red and black dress that dropped to her knees. It had a slit on the right side that ran up her leg to mid-thigh. A high neckline completely covered her breasts, but it was tight enough to outline them perfectly. I knew for a fact that the dress was expensive, and as I mentioned, she considered it casual. She completed it with a pair of two-inch, black, open foot heels. This was definitely a casual day for her, as she hardly wore anything less than three-inch heels, and was often higher.

I glanced at Allison, and as Thomas explained to Isabella and Katia what they could expect inside, she stood there with her arms behind her, looking straight ahead without making eye contact. I recognized that as the waiting position, taught to me by Sarah. This woman was undoubtedly Crimson, and that cemented the fact that Crystal Lakes was part of it.