Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Undercover Lovers ❯ A Masters degree in Idiotology ( Chapter 39 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

CHAPTER 39: A Master's Degree in Idiotology

Squall turned to where Carrie and Kadaj were standing and asked, “So what do you two have planned for today?”

Carrie smiled and answered, “Class.”

Kadaj replied with a lazy grin, “Work then contacting a realtor about finding a house in this area.”

Seifer nuzzled Squall's neck and murmured, “I think he can afford good parking.”

Squall snorted with laughter but before he could respond to Seifer's quip his cell phone chirped. Fishing it out of the pocket of his robe he started to answer it but didn't recognize the number so instead of his usual greeting of “Leonhart.” He flipped it open and said, “Hello.”

“I need to speak with Michelangelo Valentinius.” The voice on the other end of the phone said.

Squall didn't recognize the voice although there was something familiar about it, grabbing his cup of coffee he left the kitchen and went into the living room before he replied, “This is him, how may I help you?”

“Yeah, this is Loz Hinge. Reno Carson asked me to call you to set up a meeting.” Loz answered.

“Tell Mr. Carson that if he wishes to do business with me to call me himself and not have one of his flunkies do it.” Squall snapped and clicked the cell phone shut.

Loz looked at the phone that had suddenly gone dead in his hand just as Reno emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“So did you get a hold of him?” Reno asked as he rummaged through the closet.

“Yeah! And he said that if you wanted to have a meeting with him that you needed to call yourself and not have one of your sycophants do it.” Loz replied tersely, he wouldn't say that Squall had called him a flunky. He really didn't like Squall Leonhart nobody had ever gotten the drop on him before even when he was in training at Quantico. He hadn't even heard the other man approach and had been unaware of his presence until he felt that cold metal of the pistol barrel pressed up against his skull.

Reno chuckled with laughter over Loz's response. He knew that Loz was good he had made sure to do a thorough background check on the man before he even agreed to work with him. He had seen the fear that crossed Loz's face when Squall Leonhart had got the drop on him.

“What's so fucking funny?” Loz griped.

“Oh! I was just thinking that it's a damn good thing that he's on our side otherwise we would both be dead right now. And I for one like my head on my shoulders instead of plastered against the wall like Art Nouveau.” Reno replied with a dry chuckle. Finding what he was looking for in the closet he quickly dressed in the black suit and long sleeved white shirt leaving the top three buttons undone, he grabbed a tie and pulled it over his head letting the knot hit him mid chest. Glancing in the mirror he ran his fingers through his red hair and let it fall in a shaggy mass around his shoulders. He didn't give a merry damn that he looked a little sloppy, he liked it and that was all that mattered.

“You like him don't you?” Loz questioned.

“Yeah, I do. The kid has a lot of moxie.” Reno answered honestly as he picked up the phone and called Squall's number.

“Hello.” Squall answered gruffly.

“So you don't want to deal with my sycophant huh?” Reno joked.

“No! What I said was that I wouldn't deal with a flunky.” Squall snapped.

Reno laughed again, “Ah! I can see why Loz changed it. Are you available this afternoon?”

“For what?” Squall replied cautiously. He wouldn't drop his guard until he was sure that they could speak freely.

“For the business venture that we discussed. I need to hammer out some of the finer details with you before you can meet with…” Reno stifled a giggle and finished, “…The Boss.”

Squall let out a sharp bark of laughter, “When and where?”

“Meet me at the corner of Haight and Ashbury at 2:00 and we can go anywhere that you wish to Mr. Valentinius.” Reno replied.

“Fine. But if I so much as sense trouble or if anyone comes with you, I'm gone and you will never hear from me again.” Squall said and snapped the phone shut.

“Set up a meeting with this Valentinius punk yet?” One of Caraway's heavies walked in the room and asked.

“Yes I have.” Reno answered.

“So where we gonna meet `em?” Ulysses asked. He fit the role of flunky perfectly. He was big and as bright as a twinkle light on a Christmas tree. He stood 6'6” and weighed 300 pounds. His eyes were light brown and his bottle blond hair was cut in a crew cut. He was wearing the standard outfit that most of Gene Caraways hired help did the black suit, white button down shirt and necktie but his looked like he outgrew it two years ago.

Reno glared at him and answered, “We don't meet him anywhere. I will be meeting him alone.”

“Da boss ain't gonna like that.” Ulysses griped.

“Yeah well he hasn't had any dealings with Mr. Valentinius where I have.” Reno explained slowly like he was talking to a two year old instead of an adult. God he wanted to crack this case almost as badly as he wanted to crack Uselesses head open to see if he actually had a brain or if his skull was keeping his head from caving in.

“Why do you treat me like I'm stupid. I did go to school you know?” Ulysses snapped.

“Gee I hadn't realized that they gave degrees in Idiotology.” Reno replied his voice dripping with acidy sarcasm.

“Huh?”

Reno smirked across the room at Loz and put his hands over his head and acted out that he was rubbing two sticks together. “Ugh, caveman start fire.”

Loz broke out laughing at the redhead's actions. Reno was a riot.

“Well da boss wants to see ya.” The blond said more confused now then he was before.

Reno's lips turned back in an evil smile, remembering a particular conversation with Squall Leonhart he decided to use the line that the brunet had used. “Why didn't you just say so to begin with? You just can't get good help anymore.”

The comment caused Loz to laugh even harder and if it were possible Ulysses look even more confused. Feeling that his work there was done, Reno sauntered out of the room and went downstairs to Gene Caraway's office. Stopping in the doorway he waited until the older man signaled him in.

Gene Caraway was a handsome man he had wavy brown/black hair that was just starting to turn gray at the temples a full mustache and deep penetrating brown eyes. His eyes were heavy lidded and his proud nose was hawk like. He was happy with his life, he had a beautiful submissive wife who catered to her husbands every whim and didn't ask any questions about his business. She didn't care as long as her credit card bills were paid. The only disappointment in his life was his daughter. She was spoiled past the point of ruination, and if she didn't get her way or what she wanted she would whine, scream and throw things.

Glancing up from his paper Gene Caraway saw that Reno Carson was now waiting to see him. Out of everyone that worked for him he trusted the witty redhead the most. “Ah, Reno just the man I wanted to see. Come in please.”

“What can I do for you Gene?” Reno asked.

Gene Caraway smiled, that was one of the reason's that he liked Reno Carson, he wasn't an ass kisser and the only one of his people that referred to him by his first name, the other's it was always `Yes boss this or no boss that.' “Please sit down.” He indicated the chair across the desk from him and waited until the lanky redhead had complied to continue. “There are a few things that I need to discuss with you. It's come to my attention that Angelo Valentinius is in town and I want you to find out what the hell he wants.”

“Not a problem.”

“The second thing is do you happen to know where Sephiroth Jenova is?”

“Yeah I do.” Reno answered.

“Oh! And where might that be?”

“Right now he's at the bottom of the bay.” Reno replied honestly.

“What?” The word exploded from Gene's lips.

“He's fish food.”

“Why?”

“You wanted to know why Valentinius was in town well it's simple, he came to visit his nephew who lives here.” Reno said blandly.

“And what the hell does that have to do with Sephiroth?”

“Well you know that Jenova had his kinks. It just so happens that he set his sights on a certain young man and if I hadn't of stopped Jenova he was going to rape him.”

Gene Caraway leapt up from behind his desk and started pacing back and forth, “Reno stop mincing words. I don't give a shit about who Sephiroth fucks and who he doesn't.”

“Fine! The man that Sephiroth was going to rape was Michelangelo Valentinius, Angelo Valentinius' nephew. Would you have preferred that I did nothing? Angelo would have eventually found out whom that psycho was working for and when he did he would have not only held Sephiroth responsible but you as well.” Reno snapped.

That brought Gene up short he stopped his pacing and spun around to look at Reno who was still sitting casually, and raged, “Jesus Christ, did Jenova even stop to consider the repercussions of his actions? Is he okay? The nephew.”

“Yeah he's fine. I bandaged him up and took him home. I guess you could say it was fortuitous that I did considering I have a meeting with him this afternoon. His family is looking to expand their business out here to the West Coast.” Reno said easily.

“Really. My you have been a busy boy haven't you Reno?” Gene said in amazement. “When you get back from your meeting I want you to report to me on what transpired. And Reno take Ulysses with you.”

“Uh no. He's already been attacked once. Me he trusts but not anyone else, if you want this to go down I go alone.” Reno replied.

Gene Caraway raised an eyebrow and said, “Fine.”

Reno rose from the chair and left the room and breathed a silent sigh of relief. He knew for a fact that if he showed up with anyone else that Squall would be true to his word and leave, there was no way that he was going to give up this opportunity to get this fucking job done.