“Husband, I was wondering if we could talk?”
“Any time. You know that. What’s on your mind?”
“Husband, this is an honest talk. I know you can hide things from me in you mind rooms, but in this case, I wish you wouldn’t.”
“All right. I will try to be honest, if I can.”
“I appreciate that; I know we all have little secrets we keep. But I was wondering whether you wish to be the one to execute the four personally. I mean, if it is, I understand your mortal need to be the one. But if it is only their deaths that you seek, then I do not understand what you are doing.”
“Truthfully, I am here with you to make sure everything goes according to plan, but I have no reason to want to be the killer if there is a better way. Have you one?”
“Yes. I see no reason for you to endanger the men some, like Octavio and the Twins, are family. Maybe they should be there to prevent escape, but otherwise, why don’t I go in, implode their heads then leave. You should be out of the country and as far away as possible, maybe somewhere very public. I can rejoin you later. None of our people will get hurt and all your men and women will be safe. You know Edward and Anna have internal and external security and surveillance. If they spot you, there’s a chance they’ll escape or fight.”
“Very unlikely. But you have a point. If we are spotted, they will try to escape, and although we have every exit covered, it could get messy and involve police. Perhaps you go in, take care of the four, then get their on-premises security too. Could be hours, maybe even days before the bodies are discovered. And, no, I don’t need to do the job myself, only be assured that the job is done and I see with my own eyes that they’re dead. You can do that too.”
“I would feel better if you would let me do this for you.”
“And I love you for being smarter than me. But to be honest, a small part of me wants to kill them while I watch and hear what they have to say. And take some time with the fourth to even the score for Misti. But, that’s my OT side coming out.”
“Thank you, husband.”
“I will discuss this with the teams. They’ll not be happy, but will earn the same amount without going into harms way. But, I think they will at least want to take up surveillance.”
“Why?”
“Not going to tell them my Immortal is an assassin. I’ll have to say it’s new tech. They’ll say, in that case, they’re Plan B.”
“Kind of defeats the whole ‘surprise’ thing.”
“They’ve done the work, now they’ll want their reward.”
“Getting paid should be enough.”
“I know. But it won’t. Let me talk to them and maybe just send my American teams home. They’ll not argue; the Brits, well that’s a matter of professional pride.”
“I’ll just go inside you and tag along. No need to muddy the waters.”
“You’re a doll.”
“I know.”
***
There was a lot of pushback on the new plan, and none of the teams were happy. Their work was meticulous, and had every contingency planned and covered.
Except one.
Chapter 52
By the time everyone was in place, Adam unleashed his “technology” on the building and residence. But it was too late. The four were gone, something that the teams said was an impossibility. Every exit and rathole had a human being covering and watching, including the “secret” escape routes of the dumb waiter and the stairway to the basement. All security people were accounted for, but the four inhabitants were just gone.
Even Hecate was stunned that no one was there; she had sensed a presence of the mortals inside the building up until just a few minutes before she was allowed to go in, while Adam’s mortals were finishing setting up outside.
Adam told his men to stay in place; taking the building now might be even more dangerous as a result of the place being booby trapped. Besides, the on-site security for the four was packing up and getting ready to leave. Adam sent Hecate back in to look around thoroughly and find out how they escaped.
She returned a minute later.
“There was a secondary tunnel that went from the side of the stairwell down, under the street and into a basement across the street. I’m guessing the tunnel was not on the plans, official or otherwise. I followed the tunnel, but the four had gotten on a slide of some sort, and then simply exited through a back alley. Maybe some other method of escape, but they are gone for sure.”
Adam went to his men told them what he found and pointed out the escape route. Then men searched the building again and confirmed the tunnel. They sent a small robot up and found the entrance at the stairwell about five yards down from a hidden door in the living room.
Apparently, Adam thought, their surveillance was better than his and the pigeons had flown the coop. Adam was seething, mostly at himself for not doing what Hecate had suggested soon enough; in his desire to be gentle on the egos of the men he hired to seal the escape, Edward and his women had escaped and now knew that Adam was on to them. Undoubtedly, they would now redouble their security in their next hideout. Edward and his security teams would now probably alert the police in numerous countries that someone was trying to kill them.
Photographic evidence would place Adam and his teams either at the scene or close by.
This episode was an unmitigated disaster.
***
Adam sent his teams home, having little to say to them. He and Hecate boarded the plane and headed home. He had zero to show for this adventure except the bitter pill that he had mishandled the whole event. Hecate had been right. Land, send her to the building, implode heads and leave. But, no, he was the big shot in charge.
“You were right. I should have listened.”
“I know. But what’s done is done, and now we regroup. What do you think will happen?”
“If they took video and we’re on it, the police will think I’m trying to kill them, which I am. Then they’ll send official government people looking for us. I’ll have to move all our money, hide it somewhere. They’ll try to freeze accounts for sure. I’ll call Beata and Eene to start moving money. I guess we’ll have to lie low for a while.”
“Not that bad I guess.”
“Yeah; we’re not dead. But make no mistake. This is bad.”
***
Laura arrived in New York City via Calgary, selling the RV, then staying in New Jersey while she tracked down Bernard. She found him at his place of business, a small bond trading firm on Long Island. She had never met Bernard; in fact, never even seen a picture of him. Once she found the small building where his offices were located, she arrived early one morning, staked out the place and waited for the business to open.
When one gentleman arrived in a nice sleek Porsche, she recognized his face right away. It was Franco di Pietro; the rumors of his death having been greatly exaggerated. Following in close behind him was James Wong. Her initial instinct was to draw her weapon and confront them, but her better instincts said no to that. Instead she would shadow them, find out as much as possible what she could, then get them both in a room and then find out what was what.
Clearly, they had to be the ones in possession of the Cache; all she wanted to do now was get free of the danger posed by Edward and his deviants, then disappear. If Edward met his end at the hands of his son, so much the better. She knew exactly what to do.
So, she did.
***
When Adam and Hecate got home he was greeted by all his women who rushed to both their mortal and Immortal.
Adam said, “I’m afraid we have some rather bad news. We missed them. Outsmarted by dear old Mom and Dad.”
Eene said, “We know. We know everything. Actually, your Dad is quite the charmer on the phone. Says he’d like to have a word. Left a number; thinks we should all listen in.”
“That will only be whoever spoke to him and me on the call. Misti is supposedly dead or insane, and the others girls are unknowns. He doesn�
��t know anything about Hecate, Eene and BTS, so they remain our secret weapons.”
Misti said, “Not so sure about that Adam. I think he knows more than he said about personnel. If I had to guess, I’d say Laura, Gaea or Alana have fed him recent intel; only BTS is likely still a secret. I don’t think he’d believe any of them about Hecate and the other Immortals, so likely his own inability to grasp the concept will prevent him from taking precautions. It might not be all bad. Just ordinary bad.”
“Hey, good news I guess. Our best weapon is still secret.”
Noki said, “I took the call. Put it on speaker but we never identified anyone else in the room.”
“Good. Just remember that my Dad is a consummate liar and his only goals are to flush me out and get the Cache. That’s it. Murder and money. So, no matter what he says he’s either lying now or will be lying for later.”
Eene said, “There’s more. And this is good.”
“Go on.”
“We received a second call. This one from …”
“Don’t do that please.”
“Sorry. The second call was from Laura. On our Sat phone number. Same as Edward’s call, which makes me wonder, how did he get our number?”
“Good question. I’m guessing he got it from Laura or Gaea. Emergency only, untraceable. He’ll have people on it right away, probably his law enforcement friends. But let me guess, Laura wants to be negotiated out of this mess and will either say where the Cache is or how to get it.”
“Correct. Says she has no idea exactly, but she now knows the true identities of James Wong and Franco di Pietro. Says she knows where they are. Pretty sure they were the ones that routed or re-routed the Cache elsewhere. Thinks it might never have been in the possession of the Italians. She’s willing to make a trade of what she knows for safe passage back here. Seems she really likes Paraiso and the City of Light right now.”
“We could do as she asks, of course. It is good luck if not complete BS to save her ass, but how do we know if theses two jamokes won’t bail? Maybe we need them too, just so we have either bargaining power or more plausible bait. What’re your thoughts?”
Noki started to speak.
Adam interrupted. “And, for the record, Hecate was totally correct about what to do and when. I fucked up. Made a bad decision instead of listening to my Immortal. Won’t happen again.”
Noki continued, “I say we pick’em up and bring the three of them here. Create adjoining cells for the two frauds, Hecate does the interrogation, and then we have a chat with Edward. But you need to call Edward tonight; Eene should call Laura now and make the deal. Then we send someone to New York City and gently encourage the men to come along quietly. I nominate Hecate.”
Hecate said, “No, call Octavio and the Paz twins. They should meet with Laura and get the location of the men. Then I put the two fuckfaces in a coma, Adam’s cousins scoop them up, and we let them regain consciousness once the wake up here. As soon as I know where they are, I’m there and they’re fucked.”
Adam smiled. “Nice use of curse words for effect. Your English is getting much better.”
“Well, you know I am an Imm…”
“… amazing and beautiful woman. Yes, I agree. And very wise. Wisdom always trumps knowledge, in my book. If you have both and you are amazing.”
“Not what I was thinking, but thank you anyway. And what do I get?”
“Eternal love and affection, and a giant wet kiss. Lots of tongue.”
“Lots. Good. Eene, you’re up.”
***
Eene was not on the phone long as she spoke to Laura. She laid out the terms, non-negotiable, and when she was finished said that, in return, she was welcome back with limited privileges until this sordid affair was over. But she had to agree to stay for up to one year, maybe longer, as she would be treated as a security risk while in residence. If she tried to escape or determine their GPS location, she would wind up in the cells along with “Franco” and “James”. That would be presumptively conclusive evidence that she was working for Edward. She would also agree to cooperate, which to Eene meant that Hecate would enter Laura’s mind without permission and get everything there was to get about the Cache and her various relationships and intentions. If she was honest, she would live. If not, the Serengeti below beckoned for fresh meat.
“These are the terms. Do you accept.”
“One condition.”
“No conditions. Packaged deal.”
“One addition then. I can stay as long as the nut cases are alive or are still a danger to us all. I know what they think, but they’re wrong. I have no idea where that shit is but I’m guessing these two men do. So, do as you wish, but I suggest you keep them alive until you have something to trade. I’m in the wind if you won’t let me stay. I’ll strike out on my own again with whomever I please if you won’t guarantee my safety.”
“Agreed. But remember, we’re only all as safe as we all are together. We can’t guarantee our own safety; we will not consult you unless we feel like it. And we will keep you housed, fed and as safe as we can. No more. If we need your experience or expertise in anything, you will cooperate fully and truthfully. When we’re done here, Adam will set you up and give you money. A lot of money. Understood.”
“Yes.”
“Our men, our team, are in the air and will be at your hotel in a matter of hours. You will give me your location and where the men are.”
“How do I know you won’t just take the information and leave me.”
“Because Adam doesn’t lie. He has authorized this deal. You have his word.”
“I’d like to hear that from him.”
Adam said, “You have my word. An apartment free and clear and a million dollars. If you’re lying or playing us, we will hunt you down and kill you.”
They already knew where she was. Fionna’s bio tracker was still working; she was at an upscale hotel across the river from New York City. Hecate could steal the info they wanted, and she did.
“We don’t need her.”
“Yes, we do. I want to know what else she knows.”
“OK. Then I implode her head.”
“No. We still need her.”
“Why?”
“Bait.”
Chapter 53
“I’ll try later,” said Hecate. “For now, you have a call with Edward in fifteen minutes. We’re all supposed to be on the line with you.”
The phone rang but, to everyone’s surprise, the person on the other end was not Edward, but Crissy Chance.
“Hello Adam. It’s Crissy.”
“I know. I’d never forget your voice. Or the face of childhood angst.”
“Flirting with me?”
“Never had the opportunity when our hormones raged for each other. Better late than never. I was expecting Dad and Mom.”
“They’ll not be on this call. Maybe later. But, for now, I need you to clear your room and just talk to me. Alone, no recordings.”
“And you?”
“Same. I know that trust is a commodity in short supply between us, but unlike what your Mum and Dad are like, I still feel like I have a modicum of equity left with you. Perhaps not like before, but on the sensitive matters, we can code word the meaning. The other stuff will either hang me or set me free. What I need right now is trust in you and a frank conversation – please no old jokes.”
“OK. The room is clear. No humans around, listening and recording devices off.”
“Adam, would it surprise you if I admitted I still have feelings for you. Never stopped?”
“Yes. I think I’d have a pretty hard time believing that. Too many years tutored by my folks. And I think you’re a psychopath – possibly learned or brainwashed, but whatever you are is evil. I see no redeeming qualities in you.”
“Your friend Noki was pure evil at one time. She murdered innocents for a living. She proves that people can change; that they can change for the better. I can too.”
“Point tak
en.”
“And it wasn’t a brainwash; it was bribery. I was younger and dumber than Misti, who knew her mind at a young age, had a happy upbringing and was loved by you all her life. There were differences between her upbringing and mine; you know how my parents were with me. But my parents trusted yours and convinced them that I had potential they could develop. Never around you, but that’s where it started. When I turned eighteen, I couldn’t get out of Barrows Bay fast enough and your parents did all that for me. Got me into NYU, then NYU Law School and then the NYU LL.M. Program in Tax. I was grateful; they got me my first job; took me all over the world. They asked for nothing in return until one day they did. Now my life is a nightmare. I’m in too deep. I want out.”
“Look, Crissy, even if any of this is true, I still have no reason to believe that you aren’t dedicated to them and want me dead as badly as they do. And they do.”
“I know. But I’ve got nothing to do with that. That’s your folks. Even the insane bi.., crazy woman Francesca is wondering when her time is up. Your parents are no longer stable. And Francesca, Francesca Genetti, is even less so. But there is good news.”
“They’re all dying of cancer? Have only days to live? What do you want from me?”
“Your help. I want out of this with or without you. But this is complicated; your parents are now paranoid as hell and they will step up any means possible to find you.”
“So?”
“I will try to arrange a meet. We will all try to find an advantage for one purpose: kill the others. I don’t think this comes as much of a surprise. Then we kill Anna and Edward and eliminate Francesca.”
“How does that work?”
“Like your father said in San Francisco, he’s turning everything over to me. He wants me to negotiate with you for help on the computer side; update his systems. Then get him the Polo Cache. Then we make peace. I will supposedly run the legitimate side with academics, teach classes and assist with law enforcement. They still want access to me; I want nothing to do with that or them. They expect to do whatever they want after the turnover for the rest of their lives until they get caught or killed. But we both know this can end only one way, and I expect you to be the eventual winner. Not playing sides but I will likely be persona non grata with both you and them no matter what happens. I’m just trying to stay alive.”
Crissy Chance Page 39