Chapter 18
It didn't take too long for David to supposedly reluctantly admit he might be able to use Gina's smuggling services. She explained she would have to call her partner in.
David agreed to speak to her partner, and the following evening they all met in Shana's apartment. Con was introduced to David, and it was obvious neither man trusted the other. Yet business was business and Con was willing to do anything to turn a fast buck.
"I'd like to see samples of the merchandise," he told David.
"Naturally," David replied. "I don't keep them here or in my car, but if you would care to take a ride with me ... "
"You stay with Shana," Con said to Gina, as if letting David know Shana's life was threatened if anything happened to him. David had expected such a ploy.
They got into David's car and went to a warehouse in the city, and David showed Con the crates of rifles and ammunition he had. What Con didn't know was that a similar set of crates of guns and ammunition were nearby, and those were the weapons that would be shipped.
"I'd like to check out the merchandise," Con told David.
David nodded, and Con walked over to one of the crates at random, used a crowbar to open it, and delved inside. He pulled a rifle from the center of the pile, then opened another crate containing the ammunition, loaded the rifle, and emptied it into a bale of hay that had been left there for that express purpose.
"Very fine merchandise," Con nodded. "Just one more."
He opened another crate and selected a machine pistol at random, put a clip of bullets into it, and emptied it into the same bale of hay.
"Fine!" Con nodded. "The merchandise is prime."
The two worked out a price, and David smiled to himself, knowing Con would be making much more on the deal than he would be paying David. Then the two left the warehouse. Less than five minutes later, the crates of good weapons were removed, and the crates of duds were left in their place. Ten minutes later, a team of Con's men, who had been not too far away, waiting for Con to signal the deal had been closed, approached the warehouse and took charge of the crates.
Con paid David with a cashier's check made out to cash. David was wearing gloves when he took it, and he put it in an envelope, ostensibly to bank it the following day. But when Con wasn't looking, he dropped it into the mail chute in his building. The check had Con's fingerprints on it and would go a long way toward convicting the man when the time came for the IRA to denounce him for selling inferior merchandise.
As they rode up in the elevator, Con said to David, "Just what does Shana mean to you?"
"Nothing," David shrugged, knowing if he admitted his feelings for Shana, it might arouse jealousy in Con to the point where he might drastically harm the redheaded woman.
"Well, then, what say you and I seal this deal by double-fucking her. I hear I owe you for making her change her stupid virgin ways."
David knew he had to play along. He said, "I have to stop off at my own apartment for a minute. But I'll be right up."
"Fine," Con nodded.