Devoir

6

6

“Giorgio Faenza,” the leader of the arrest team, called by Paolo Mazzanti, said. Like his colleagues, eight men in total, he wore a blue jacket with the logo and letters of the service he worked for: FBSI; the Federal Bureau of Space Investigation. “I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder…” He looked at the long list on his console. “And a whole bunch of other crimes,” he added, chuckling. “But the murders alone are enough for at least 10 life sentences.”

Paolo Mazzanti, Faenza’s adviser, his confidante, stood by smiling. “Arrivederci,” he jokingly said to his former boss. He felt like he was growing. This was a perfect deal he made with the FBSI. From now on he was the man; the big boss of this branch of the Mafia here on the remote green planet Viridis. Don Faenza was a relic of the past; from now on, Don Mazzanti was in control here. Finally, he would set the course. And he had big plans.

Remodeled by the unexpected change in Mazzanti’s attitude and overwhelmed by his arrest, Giorgio Faenza walked meekly with the Special Space Agents. Without resisting, he was taken away by some of the eight men. His mind was working overtime. How could he have been so wrong about Paolo Mazzanti? Why didn’t he notice that there was going to be a coup? And… How did Paolo manage to engage the FBSI without being arrested himself? There could only be one explanation. Paolo had seen a chance to place a mole, or perhaps several moles, within the FBSI. Oh, s**t! Giorgio thought. That sonofabitch Mazzanti already had more power and more influence than he had managed to obtain in all these years. But Paolo, Giorgio thought. You’ve made one mistake. One major error that could get you killed yourself. You let me live… Grinning, he was led away from his former adviser. That look on his face; that self-righteous head… Paolo would pay for this. As long as Giorgio was alive, there was hope. There would be opportunities. He would use all his contacts to get out as soon as possible and get his revenge. Unless… Unless these men took him away and took his life in an extremely horrific and painful way in a secluded place. Formally, the FBSI should never do such a thing. But under Mazzanti’s influence… Giorgio realized he couldn’t waste time. He had to act fast.

And he knew exactly how.

“Without my help, you will never get access to the crypto dollars, Paolo,” Giorgio bluffed while passing by. “You will never get those billions.”

Paolo Mazzanti pretended he didn’t hear anything.

The leader of the arrest team on the other hand, could not believe what he just heard. He stopped abruptly. Turned around and looked at Mazzanti questioningly. “Billions in crypto dollars?”