Chapter Fifteen
The following day, Clarity followed Mannen inside the diner of Moe Alamy, holding a copy of a document he'd been preparing with Eiesland. His final task to establish presence in South Florida, was to put in place the new general business agreement on meat packing and distribution with the other Cappi and the Cappiesa, Moe Alamy. He glanced at the usual booth used by Moe for meetings, and sat in the booth after Harvege, with Clarity by his side. Facing him on the other side of the booth was Moe Alamy, Gavino Di Laure in the middle seat, and Mush Revving sitting to the left of Di Laure. Monfort had opted out of the meeting, preferring to get the news from Mannen himself. He was out playing golf at the Miami Beach Golf Club.
Mannen handed the general agreement to Di Laure, who read the relevant parts, the pages which talked about percentages and distribution territories of each mobster with presence in Florida. The license from the USDA to sell organic beef had been approved for Oakland Bellevue, and so all of the items and paperwork Mannen needed to open the new burger place in South Florida, were now in place.
"You want twenty five percent of the meat distribution market in South Florida, in addition to purchasing our own twenty four locations," said Di Laure.
"I'm not asking for half, or more than half, just my share, commensurate with what I can do here, and sort of the business I bring in."
Di Laure was a realist. He brought his watch, which was over his shirt, to his wrist, without looking at it. When circumstance, or the environment, was not favorable, he knew how to grant concessions to preserve some of his assets. Mannen asked him to read page nine of the document. Di Laure read the paragraph, explaining that for a duration of several years, a document published by Oakland Bellevue, called the Cocoanomics Gazette, would be the reference for everyone at the table with some 'business' in South Florida. The new Gazette, which would be published four times a year, would include all notices, changes, appointments, deals, locations, or relevant information for those carrying out meat distribution, meat packing, real estate, or resort investments or operations in South Florida. Reluctantly, Di Laure signed the document issued by Mannen and handed it to Moe.
"You know I'm doing this, simply because I like the judge you introduced to us the other day," said Moe. "He's going to be a friendly face for us."
Mannen pointed out that he was going to add an article in the Gazette on knitting woolly breasts. Moe added her signature, and passed on the document to Revving.
"I want my money back though," said Moe, "those bonds taken from North Florida Bank, that you probably hold or know where they are."
"When I get my bonds back," said Mannen. "We'll do well with the locations of Mclannan's Moe, it's a good move to sell those outlets to me and Oakland."
Moe did not press the issue. She knew that Di Laure had given the location of the bonds belonging to Mannen, to the federal authorities. And so Mannen was simply recovering his money. It was not worth while getting into another war, when she was getting good money for Mclannan's, at a time when the franchise was having some difficulties.
The old lady glanced at Revving, who was reading the purchase conditions of the twenty four locations of Mclannan's. A total of forty eight million dollars was going to change hands, from the golfers of Lofty, to the hands of Di Laure, and Moe Alamy. Revving also owned a share of Mclannan's, and so some of the money from the location purchases, was going to end up in his pocket. That was the main reason for signing the document. He checked the total figure that would be paid out to them by Oakland Capital. Taking a closer look at the locations selected by Mannen, Revving had added two point four million dollars in 'goodwill' to the original valuation of Eiesland for the restaurants, which was forty five point six million dollars for twenty four locations of Mclannan's. According to the mobster, the locations were better than what Eiesland was saying, and Mannen had agreed to a slight additional amount, coming with a final offer of forty eight million dollars for the locations, telling 'golf' investors that the transaction was going ahead, and would provide profit from day one for Oakland, thanks to the good location of the restaurants purchased.
Revving kept his head cool when doing business. Some goodwill added to the initial valuation of Eiesland, was well worth paying, to shareholders of Mclannan's. Revving took out a fountain pen from his pocket. He knew that Mannen would pay a sum to them, simply to be doing business in South Florida. The local Cappo took out his calculator, to come up with the actual dollars that would end up in his pocket from the purchase. Eight hundred thousand dollars of those two point four million additional dollars were going to him directly, as agreed with Moe and Di Laure, who would keep the rest, the remaining two thirds of that amount. Then, he was getting five percent of the original purchase amount, or two point two eight million dollars. Moe was getting thirty percent of the initial purchase amount, or slightly over thirteen point five million dollars, and Di Laure was getting sixty five percent, or little over twenty nine and a half million dollars. Not displeased with the transaction, the mobster heading the northern counties of South Florida took the cap off his fountain pen, and added his name on the document. Looking at Di Laure and Moe to see if there were any other comments, Revving handed the diner agreement back to Mannen.
"Congratulations Joe. I'm gonna be in North Florida for a while, playing some golf," said Revving, "I won't be able to attend the opening of Oakland."
"That's fine Mush, enjoy your stay there."
Clarity sensed some rivalry with Mannen in the words of Revving, and in the firm yet deferential response of the chubby guy, who rarely backed off any actual intent to throw him or push him or displace him out of wherever he was carrying out his business. Di Laure and Moe were shrewd, but Revving was the one who valued things most accurately, so Mannen was careful with the information given out to him, or how he spoke with him. With the signed document in his hand, the chubby guy, owner of Lofty, placed the salt shaker in the middle of the table. Mannen was the new de facto spokesperson of the Crime Syndicate in South Florida.
"Next meeting will be next year then, in the flagship venue of Oakland, probably at my place in the Keys. I'll invite you to a burger. The notice will be out in the Gazette."
Mannen followed Clarity out of the booth, and out of the diner, not displeased with the outcome of all the work done in the past few months. He hopped in the back seat of Jaguar 73, followed by Clarity, telling Baggio to drive to the pawnshop, which was being refurbished, after Ambrosio had nearly wiped it out, a few days earlier.
"Let's get the money to these people." Mannen set up a conference call from his home, and the golf investors working with Lofty, agreed to put forth the money to buy out the locations of Mclannan's, to establish Oakland Bellevue in South Florida. Mannen told Baggio to check a few contractors available for building the new burger locations. He treated Clarity to a good lunch, and after offering her a digestive liqueur, he made an unexpected remark.
"Let's go see your home." Clarity thought she had not heard well.
"What home?" She Asked.
"Your home. You've done good work. I've been looking for a place that you might like. Come with me, we'll take the Jaguar."
Clarity followed Mannen to a nice cottage in Miami, a place officially owned by Lofty Lease, itself owned by the Gladeview pawnshop. It was a nice place, and Clarity began to ask Mannen about her compensation for all the work done for him in Florida.
"Instead of working to pay back your crashworthy agreement, you can use blocks of money to purchase this home."
Clarity inquired about the price of the place. The home, listed on pleasantpads, was five hundred twenty eight thousand dollars.
"How am I going to pay for this?" She Asked.
Mannen took out a sheet of paper, and explained to Clarity that she could pay installments, whenever she got some money, to add actual equity, or ownership, to the home, which was listed in the name of Lofty, and of Gladeview pawnshop, at a more fine print level. There was no limit on
the time that Clarity could use, to pay for the installments.
"So I can buy this over forty years, if I actually have the money then? Because right now, I'm not making any money."
"Yeah, then you can use the home a few weeks a year. The rest of the time I'll rent it out, you'll be the actual lessee. When you get some money, just pay whatever is comfortable for you. I'll put in the first five thousand dollars for you in the lease agreement, in exchange for the good work you did here."
Mannen took out the crashworthy agreement of Clarity, where the name of Flower also appeared, noticing the crashworthy insurance policy agreement was signed for a period of fifty years.
"Can I use the money to write off some of the years in crashworthy?" Asked Clarity.
"It's possible, but not at this very moment, not today. With this agreement, you don't have to invest one hundred thousand dollars, you'll be able to waive that requirement of crashworthy, which all of our golf investors bring."
Not displeased by the offer of Mannen, Clarity glanced at the garden of the cottage, through the window. A familiar silhouette appeared on the driveway of the home. It was Officer Gomes from Customs and Border protection.
"We got company," she said.
Mannen looked out the window. The customs official was walking on the driveway of the home, followed by police officer Kerrigan. Mannen told Clarity to go to the back of the house, while he talked to the new guests. Walking out of the home through the back, and moving along the outside side brick wall of the home, she listened to the conversation.
"We're here to pick up Miss Clarity Nice, Mr. Mannen," said Gomes, "she is here in Florida without any papers, and we agreed that she could work here for a few days, not a few weeks. It's been several weeks now."
"Where are you taking her?"
"To the Everglades Correctional facility detention center, there is a spot there which is open."
Clarity swallowed, taking a step back towards the back of the home, praying that Mannen had a way to get her out of the new immigration predicament.
"I haven't seen her, she may have left Florida." Good beginning, thought Clarity. Gomes showed the chubby guy the passport of Clarity, issued by the Republic of Singapore.
"We've got her passport, she can't leave the country."
Mannen had an additional idea.
"Give me her passport. I'll use it to bring her out here, and then I'll bring her to you."
Gomes glanced at his boss, police officer Kerrigan, who was standing behind him looking at the property's garden. A place like that wasn't bad, thought the airport policeman. Kerrigan lowered his head and sniffed the grass along the driveway, ensuring it was genuine. He knew that Mannen was backed by Judge Alridge and the governor. Always trying to do less work, the airport chieftain agreed with Mannen. Gomes handed out the document to the chubby guy. After a few more minutes of chat, the officials left the property.
"Got to get you out of here," said Mannen.
"Where? I live in Malibu."
"Not going back to Malibu, you need to leave the country."
"Get me to Macau, then. That's where I was going before being queried at the airport."
"I'll get you to a nice place. Got one provider of cocoa for Oakland Bellevue who is in Brazil. I'll take you to one of the regional airports I use to come in and out of Florida, and you can leave on a plane, to make a visit to them, for a while. You can be a cocoa representative."
Mannen unfolded a map of Rio de Janeiro and pointed to a place in Copacabana, one of the well known beaches of the place.
"I'll get you a room at the Belmond hotel, you can go there first night. Then, you'll have to figure out what to do."
Clarity reflected on the offer, thinking that there were not that many alternatives, which were, as they said, viable. She decided to go ahead, to avoid spending a few weeks, or a few months at the Everglades Correctional Facility. A car from Reverplain came by to pick her up that evening. The driver took her to Ormond Beach municipal airport, one of the airports used by Mannen to get in and out of the country. The hall of the airport was small, and she had no trouble finding the counters of the charter companies operating there. There was no customs area at those airports, people usually traveled to other regional airports in the country, and there was no need for Border and Customs personnel to be there. A hostess working in a charter company led her to the boarding gate area, which had a few seats and a vending machine. She bought an iced tea, and something to eat, and took a seat.
Around nine thirty in the evening, the hostess prompted her to board one of the planes. Walking out to the tarmac, she boarded the Airstar Executive charter flight headed for Rio. The plane took off at night, around eleven pm. She sighed, glad she hadn't gone through customs or seen Gomes to leave Florida. She had a place in Florida, although it wasn't her place. Sitting comfortably in her seat, she took out the business card given to her by Mannen. It said Bahia Cocoa Beans, Food production and packaging, member of the Cocoa association of producers in Brazil, Campus do Inmet, Cruzeiro, Brazil. She used her tablet to see the location of Cruzeiro. It was a city in the south east of the country, in the metropolitan region of Vale do Paraiba. Getting a cup from the bar cart for the only drink served on the plane, she told the hostess to pour a hot drink in the cup and she wet her lips with the balanced, fine flavor, cocoa powder beverage.