Frank listened in a van nearby. He said a few choice words to Trevor and Heidi.
“I have a father you know, but he is dead. Did you know him?” Jim was grasping at how to assess the situation. He didn’t lie. He had a father and he was dead. Never mind that Jim and the CIA had never discussed who Jim Conrad’s father was, if he was named after him or if someone else had played this role before. The gamble paid off.
“Sorry to hear about your father.” Yuri shook hands and then sat down at the table. She pulled the backpack out and placed it onto the table. Then slowly pulled out the casing and set it on the table. Then she pulled the plate out and placed it onto the table. “I am sure you need to validate that it is an authentic plate.” Yuri concluded trying to read the reaction of each person, especially Jim.
Jenny observed Yuri since she first saw her. She knew the budget. They had discussed it earlier in the day at the restaurant. She had been allocated a specific amount and she had not decided her negotiation tactic yet. “We could authenticate the plate or we could make a deal without the authentication.”
“You would do that?” She looked directly at Jim. “You, or should I say you and your girlfriend, are not as savvy as I would have thought.”
Jenny looked at Yuri, “I am Jim’s business manager, not his girlfriend.”
Yuri kept her eyes on Jim. She hesitated before she spoke in order to ensure that her message was clear – she wanted to deal with him. “Well, are you savvy?”
Trevor had to physically stop Frank from heading out the door of the van as Jim spoke up. “I suppose that you have a reputation to maintain and I am someone that could ruin that if you gave me a forgery.”
“Okay, I can see that. But it could be an expensive lesson.” Yuri responded.
“I don’t think so,” Jim continued. “You see with what I am planning to pay for an item that has not been authenticated would not be a huge loss.” Jim remained expressionless.
Yuri studied him then spoke, “Let’s take a walk.” She was clearly talking to only Jim and no one else.
Jim stood and started to take a walk. Jenny thought, “Frank will not be happy.” She was correct. The voices were out of range and there was a civilian having a conversation with one of the biggest criminals in the world. Things were not going as Frank had intended. Frank wanted to go put an end to it immediately but knew that he just needed to let it play out a little.
Yuri left the plate behind with Ricardo and Jenny. She walked out the door with Jim and started down the street. She was quiet until they were down the street. Then she turned to face him. She spoke softly. “Do you see that van about 100 feet down the road?”
“Yes.” Jim didn’t say anything else, but he also knew that Frank was inside that van.
“There is someone in there that is probably monitoring our conversation, at least the one we were having inside.” Yuri looked for a reaction.
Jim responded quickly. “I always assume someone is monitoring me. I try to be careful, but it is inevitable.”
Yuri looked at him closely. She still did not have a good read on him. The van could just be a van and it could be a van full of French police. It could also be the Captain. She was not sure and she did not like being unsure of her surroundings. “Did you know your father funded terrorists?”
Jim took a line from Ricardo. “I am not my father. I am not looking to buy guns from you. This is a simple hobby for a businessman.”
Yuri felt comfortable, at least a bit. She was now ready to do business which was more about using Jim to find out about her past than it was about making any money from him. She began. “So this plate has a high value, it may be worth nearly $20 million US I am told. It is unique. It was found some place in the northern part of the old USSR, in Russia I believe. It has never been translated but is supposed to be a dead language that has its roots in Hebrew and Egyptian. ”
“If it were translated and had a good story it might be worth $5 million. I would speculate it would fetch closer to $1 million as is. I will pay you $250 thousand.” Jim kept his eyes on her. He knew that he was in trouble with Jenny and with Frank, but was having a lot of fun negotiating with dollars he didn’t have. Jenny and he were told not to spend over $2.5 million. He figured that if this one cost less than a million they might be able to get the second one also. At some point they would need to break away and tell Frank about the second meeting. Then he might actually be thrilled the tax payers saved money on this deal.
“So why do you collect such artifacts? Why not collect paintings?” Yuri asked, avoiding the talk of money for a minute. She also started to walk further down the street.
“I am just starting. I am fascinated with history. History is best told in the written form and not by a famous painter.” Jim walked next to her.
“Your father, did he treat you well?” Yuri continued in a casual conversation hoping to get just a few tidbits of information to help on her ultimate quest.
“I would rather not talk about my father. But I have a question for you.” Jim carefully changed the subject so as to not tell a story that could be contradicted at some point.
“Okay. I will answer your question then you answer one of mine. And it won’t be about your father.” Yuri almost felt like she was a teenager playing a game. Only she knew that Jim was not as innocent as a teenager–very few rich people have not stepped on others along the way.
“Sounds fair. What is your real name?” Jim asked.
Yuri stopped for a moment and looked at Jim. They had rounded the corner and the van was not in sight. “Alright, but if you repeat it then I will kill you. My real name is Stephanie Baker.”
“Stephanie Baker. Okay, so what . . .”
“I think it is my turn.” Yuri interrupted. She hadn’t really thought of a question. However, she decided to take the conversation to a new level. “If I take your embarrassing low offer, will you go on a date with me–just two people on a date?”
Jim looked uncomfortable for the first time in the evening. “When?”
“You used your next question rather quickly. Anytime in the next few weeks. We could go anywhere really. Any ideas?” Yuri spoke before she realized she had asked her next question.
“Now that we are even on questions–let’s call that game done.” Jim raced through his mind all of the possibilities. This could help in her capture and could lead to new criminals. This could also have Frank send him home right away. But as the single man, Jim Conrad, he would probably say yes. “All right. It’s a deal. I will choose a place and check my calendar.”
Yuri pulled out a card with a telephone number on it. “You should know that when I get the second plate, and there is another one that I will secure, it may cost you more.” Yuri liked sentences that could be interpreted in multiple ways and she appreciated people who could see that. She was sure Jim was one of those men. However, she was not sure if she liked him or if she would kill him in proxy of his father for the death of her parents.
As they walked back, she pulled out her necklace. “One more thing - I have a necklace. Your father knew what it went to. Do you know?”
Jim examined it as though he would even have any idea. “I don’t think I know. I will ask Jenny if she knows anything about it.”
“No, let’s keep it between the two of us. Just check through your father’s things and see if there is anything that might give me a clue what it is to.”
Jenny stood as Jim and Yuri approached the table. Yuri looked at her to observe her reaction “The plate is yours. We made a deal. Ricardo, you can keep the cash. Jim will call me later for a date.” Jenny’s eye twitched slightly.
Yuri left out the back without saying another word.
Ricardo spoke up, “Well how much did you buy it for?”
Jim looked very proud of himself and knowing full well that Jenny would not be as happy. “$250 thousand US and a date sometime in the next few weeks.”
The ride back in Ricardo’s car was quiet.
The tension between Jim and Jenny could have been cut with a knife. Ricardo was not sure if it was because Jenny liked him and didn’t like the date or because she was blocked out of the negotiation. He only hoped this would not interfere with their business tomorrow. To be sure he asked, “I will see you tomorrow morning? Yes?”
“Ricardo, you did well tonight. I think this arrangement has a lot of potential. We will see you tomorrow morning.” Jenny ended. Then she and Jim got out of the car and started into the hotel.
Chapter 47 – One Way Debrief
On the way to their room Jenny said quietly, “You know you might have just ended this whole thing. Agreeing to a date is just asinine.”
The backpack with the plate was wearing on Jim a little, but it was Jim’s guilt that was beginning to get the best of him. Maybe he had played the cards incorrectly and jeopardized the mission. In the middle of this thought a hotel door opened. Jim and Jenny were dragged into a room. Frank was standing there with Trevor next to him. Frank had his gun in his hand. “If I reported this to headquarters they would pull the plug in a second. I oughtta just shoot you - it would be easier on my sanity. Do you know how far overboard you went Jim and you let him Jenny. Incompetent. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Jenny started to explain. “But…”
“The question was purely rhetorical. Do you need that defined for you? I don’t need to hear a word from you. I don’t want to hear from you. The only bright side is we now know who Yuri is and that Yuri is a woman. That’s one thing. And you are going to have the chance to see her again. That means we will also.”
Jenny tried again wanting to explain that they were going to see another plate in the morning. “We . . .” Jenny did not have any guilt. She was focused on the mission.
“Don’t talk. I meant that. In fact, go see your Paris tomorrow. Pick out a nice restaurant to take Yuri to while you are out. I don’t want to see or hear from you until dinner.” He looked at Trevor, “Now get them out of my sight.”
Trevor escorted them to the door.
Jenny was half undressed before Jim was even all the way in the door. “Shouldn’t we talk or are you going to be mad all night?” She was down to a bra and underwear pretty quickly.
Jenny tossed her blouse onto a chair and came around to Jim’s face so they could talk close enough in a whisper so that no one could hear even if they had a device in the room. “What do you want to talk about?”
Jim had trouble looking her in the eyes, not because he felt guilty but because she looked very nice wearing next to nothing and her controlled anger was a little sexy to him. He decided to play on that a little. “We could talk about the brilliant deal I made.”
“Which part was brilliant, the money or the date? Was the date your idea or hers?” Jenny asked.
“Look, she doesn’t like my dad. Heck I barely remember if he was a good guy or not–but she blames me. Her asking me on a date could just be to kill me.”
Jenny laughed her little laugh. “I don’t remember your father that well either. And it could be a deadly date. Sorry, you did make a good deal.”
Jim reached over and kissed her. It was a nice passionate kiss. Jenny continued after the short embrace ended. “You more or less guaranteed at least one additional meeting.”
“And she told me she is after another plate. She called it the ‘other’ plate.” Jim continued.
“Interesting. We may have it by tomorrow if there are only two.”
Jim looked at Jenny, “Don’t we need to tell Frank about the meeting tomorrow?”
“Not a chance.” She said as she gave Jim a playful kiss. “He asked us to go see the city ourselves. We will have fun with this one. And just so you are clear, it is still an open offer for you to join me for the night.”
Jim gave her another nice kiss. “Not tonight.” Those were his words and he painfully stuck to them.
Wednesday
Paris
Chapter 48 – Dragos’ Plate
Jenny and Jim took a nice leisurely walk to the Metro underground. Jim was carrying a new backpack with the bronze plate in it. Jenny suggested that there might be a benefit in comparing the two items. They spent the next 2 hours switching trains, taxis and a bit of walking to elude anyone that might be following them. By the end of the first hour, Jenny eliminated any of the subjects she thought might be following them. They kept the evasive tactics for a while longer just to be sure. Jim referred to it as the “tour of Paris under the ground–a place all tourists should see.”
The end destination would be a small conference room in a hotel just a few blocks from the Opera de Paris Garnier. Jim and Jenny had both determined that this would be their stop after the meeting. It was another great site in the city that they both wanted to see.
Ricardo was in the lobby for them. He greeted them with his normal enthusiasm and explained that his contact was looking for a public auction, but not to be concerned. He felt that they could arrange something if the other plate was suitable.
Entering the conference room, there was a single table with two gentlemen sitting at the table. Jenny observed that they had just entered the only way in or out of the room. She did not like that. There was a bag sitting on a chair that was left of one of the gentleman. Jenny surmised that this gentleman was from a Slovak country. The other gentleman appeared to be a well-educated American. Both seemed a little surprised when Ricardo walked in the room.
Dragos spoke, “Your colleagues, I assume Ric?”
“Dragos, you always assume too much. These are potential buyers. But I understand your request. We will accommodate what you need if we get to a sale.” Ricardo clarified.
Dragos was trapped, with only one exit. He was more than a little angry with Ricardo but was left with little choice. “All right then, let’s at least have some introductions. I am Dragos and this is my friend Professor Arthur Borden.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Arthur said with his deep British accent. Jenny was surprised, she expected an American accent.
“I assume you have brought him to authenticate the plate?” Ricardo asked.
“Uh yes, that is the reason.” No other explanation should be given as far as Dragos was concerned.
“I am Jenny and this is Mr. Jim Conrad. And we assume that the conversation will be kept confidential. Jim likes to keep a low profile.” Jenny and Jim shook hands with Arthur and Dragos. Then they all sat down around the table.
Dragos’ eyebrows raised, “The Mr. Jim Conrad. I do say it is good to finally meet you.”
Arthur was quiet. He had no idea who Mr. Conrad was and didn’t really care just so he could help this problem go away. He was anxious to call his children and let them know that he hadn’t fallen off the end of the world since his wife died. Then again, he felt as though he had fallen of the edge of the world.
Ricardo introduced himself, primarily for the professor. He knew everyone else in the room. A waiter came into the room and took an early morning food order of coffees. They also ordered a fruit and cheese tray.
After a very short conversation Dragos got right to business. He reached down for his bag and set it on the table. Then he slowly started to pull something from the bag. Instinctively Jenny put her hand on her gun ready to use it in an instance if necessary. As the contents came out it was a plate very similar to the one they had just purchased the night before from Yuri. It even had the same casing. Jim blurted out, much to Jenny’s dismay. “How come this plate’s casing is attached.”
Ricardo’s first thought was that his commission just went way up. His second thought was that this might quickly explode into an out of control situation. His second reaction nearly proved to be true. He saw Dragos reaching back into the bag for what was likely a gun. Gently grabbing Dragos’ hand he said. “We did not have a chance to tell you, but we purchased a similar plate last night from someone else. It was purchased at a greatly reduced rate because it had not been verified as authentic. Perhaps Professor Borden can look at it no
w.”
Jim realized he had just said the completely incorrect thing. Ricardo was surprised; he had never seen Jim misstep yet. Perhaps he was human after all. Jim pulled his backpack onto the desk. He pulled out the backing and then the bronze plate and laid them on the table. Dragos immediately knew that his is the one the Russian had taken from his friend Bucky.
Jim was a little hesitant but was really curious. “Arthur, what is the casing for? Why would one be out of the casing?”
Arthur picked up and looked at the second plate as he answered, “It’s just a protective cover. It serves no purpose but to keep the item protected from the elements. It is not ancient, put on by some archeologist until it can be properly preserved in a lab. You would take it off to put some new covering on it – but there is no real other reason unless…” He paused and turned the plate over. Then he picked up the second plate.
“Unless what?” Dragos asked.
He started to chip away at the wax seal on the other plate. “You wouldn’t open it unless you expected to find something on the other side.” He popped the plate out. Two pieces of paper fell from the back. There was also something carved on the back of the plate. “Interesting.” Professor Arthur Borden was intrigued by this new find.
Jim and Jenny and Ricardo were puzzled. Dragos was worried. They were all startled by the knock on the door. “Room Service.”
They quickly covered the plates on the table and invited the waiter into the room. He pushed in an open tray with a selection of meats, cheeses and fruit. There were also five cups of coffee. Dragos’ face went white and said as he reached for the gun in his bag, “The Russian.”
Jenny noticed the change in Dragos’ demeanor and instinctively reached for the closest thing she could find which was the casing of one of the plates. In a single motion she flung it across the small room towards the waiter. Then with her other hand simultaneously pulled her gun. Jim and Arthur both headed right for the floor. Ricardo was also reaching for a gun. The plate’s casing hit the Russian quickly enough to divert his first shot slightly. Dragos was hit in the chest.
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