Andie was busying herself making coffee, preparing for Crissy's visit, but I could see she was still worried—hell, I was too.
It's not every day I'm called upon to infiltrate a Satanic cult.
But I didn't want to add to Andie's anxiety by showing I was fearful as well.
I knew she would endure anything rather than admit she had doubts in the power of The Almighty, but I think it's only natural to experience angst when confronting a supernatural force that is bent on destroying you...
And that just about summed up my feelings about Bane and his demonic army.
Crissy, on the other hand, exuded pure joy and was looking forward to defeating Bane.
I wished I had her confidence, but then again, it wasn't she who would be wearing the wire.
"Do you actually think Bane's going to trust me," I asked fearfully, "especially after I've voiced my doubts to his face?"
"I think that's exactly why he will trust you," she replied, "Bane is a narcissist who thinks other people ate lesser mortals compared to him. If you blindly followed him, he'd get suspicious because he expects you to be weak and uncertain. He feeds off people's fears."
I had to admit, Crissy made good sense and she did have real insight into Bane's motives and psychology because she had been observing him closely for some time.
"Phone him and suggest a lunch meeting, she proposed. "Tell him you've been unsure whether Middleton is the right fit for you, but you respect his opinion and are seeking his advice."
"You really think Bane would risk taking a chance on me?" I frowned.
"Absolutely!" she said, "he spent a lot of time in an executive search before choosing you and he must think you would be the ideal person to implement the next stage of his plans."
I coloured, "I have to admit it's a real kick in the head for the CEO of my firm to think that highly of my talents, but being admired by a Satanist is not exactly the kind of thing that inspires me. Maybe he just thinks I'm pliable enough to be a useful idiot to him."
Crissy patted my arm compassionately, "Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts of people like Bane who have surrendered their soul to Satan?"
"Amen to that thought," I smiled ruefully, wondering what made me so desirable for Bane's dark purposes.
But when I placed my phone call a few minutes later, Crissy’s assessment of Bane’s seemed to be deadly accurate.
’Well, as I always told my board,” Bane replied, “the good ones always cause me trouble, but they come around in the end. I’m glad you’re man enough to admit your doubts, Paul, but the question is, are you man enough to overcome them and embrace my vision?”
“I got to admit, in this instance, my eyes don’t see as far as yours, Mr. Bane.”
“Of course not, Son, you’re not on my level, but I’ll take time to pull back the curtain hiding the future and you’ll see what a glorious opportunity awaits you. Meet me in Sardo’s restaurant at 1 pm. Tell the Maitre D I’m expecting you.”
I hung up the phone and wanted to puke. Just listening to his megalomania over the phone was sickening, it would be disgusting to have to deal with him in person…
But I was resolved to do whatever it took to take down this madman.
