Conflict of Interest

Chapter 8

I knocked on the office door feeling nervous.

''Come in.'' I heard Dimitri's muffled voice ring through the door.

I slowly turn the knob, stepped inside and closed the door softly behind me. I saw Dimitri sitting on his desk, reading a subpoena with a cup of steaming hot coffee in his hand. He didn't even look up at me before speaking.

''Sit down, Estelle.'' His hand motioned to my desk and I quickly sat down and cleared my throat.

I sat down in my office chair and looked up at Dimitri. He finally looked up right back at me and I opened my mouth and began to apologize.

''I just really want to say that I'm so sorr-''

''Save it. I know you're sorry and I know you did nothing wrong. The Feds explained to me what happened. It's fine.''

I nodded because I didn't know what to say. Dimitri was always a great boss and very nice to me. We had each other's back and I was grateful for that.

''Anyways we really need to get working on the Battista case.'' Dimitri said as he looked in the file cabinet and handed me a manila file.

''Are you sure you want me to still work this case? I don't want it to be compromised.'' I wasn't sure if I could continue working the case.

''Yes of course. You know, being affiliated with Giovanni Battista could really help us in the case. You might be able to get some information out of him that could lead to us getting his father convicted.''

''So you want to like pretend date him?'' I asked. It made sense though, but I didn't really want to use Giovanni like that. He seemed pretty sweet and let's not forget he paid my bail and got me out of this mess in the first place.

''Yeah. He seems to like you since you paid his bail. Just call him up and see if he wants to meet for dinner. I've talked to the feds and they agreed it would help the case. You would be like an informant but you wouldn't have to wear a wire or anything like that.''

I thought about it but it just seemed wrong, especially if Giovanni finds out that I'm an informant. This could all blow up on me. His father is a mafia crime boss! I could end up dead.

''Let's not worry about the Battista case for now, alright? We still have plenty of other cases to work on.''

-----------------------

As I finished the paperwork for a kidnapping case, I heard a knock at the door. Since Dimitri had left to get some Chinese for lunch I went and opened it and saw Agent Scott and Agent Perez at the door.

I forced a smile on my face. These two were the last people I wanted to see. I wanted to forget about my horrible ordeal.

''Ms.Brown, it's nice to see you again.'' Agent Perez said. Agent Scott just nodded.

''I'm uh, I'm good.'' I reply meekly. What could they possibly want?

''We wanted to talk to you about Giovanni Battista again.'' Agent Scott said.

I almost rolled my eyes. I really wanted this to be over. These people are just reminding me of my terrible experience.

''I'm sure your boss Mr.Wright has already told you that the feds need you to get information of Giovanni Battista to help convict his father. We already know he has some type of relationship with you, so all we ask is for you to just get to know him and try to pry something out of him.'' Agent Scott said.

''Do I have to do this? I'd rather not.'' At this point it seemed like my best interest to stay away from Giovanni. Everything was all too sticky and complicated, and it would only make matters worse if I talk to him just to get his father convicted.