The Machine had been reviewing the details with me again of my assault to recover the atomic weapon – applying the human template. Beyond the maxim that no martial plan survives fully intact from the initial moments of contact with the enemy, I saw no fundamental flaws in its concept of the operation. The Machine had run through each phase of the assault from my initial entry into the building and my first encounter with Soares’ men, my movement up through the building to the tenth floor, and finally to the room where the atomic weapon was located and my assault there on Khan’s men and those remaining cartel members. As it had done this, the Machine had shown me a 3-D image of the weapon site with the weapon’s precise location identified by a yellow square, Soares’ men by red circles, Khan’s men by orange circles, the Devices by green triangles, and myself and my movement to the tenth floor room where the atomic weapon was located by a black triangle and black line. As the Machine ran the software program that showed my progress through the weapon site, the green triangles moved about and disappeared, red and orange circles disappeared, until only my black triangle, the yellow square and one orange circle remained. Total elapsed time: 14 minutes, 23 seconds. This was “best case”. The Machine and I knew that this best case would never happen. Chance would play its role. It always did. The Machine ran through those happenstances of chance as far as it could envision them and our most effective courses of action should they occur. There was always the unanticipated, the unforeseeable. We accepted that. It was part of the job, part of the natural environment in which we worked. As we moved through the assault, we would simply react to those unforeseeable events as best we could. With the Machine’s capabilities, that should be good enough. It had been before. If it had not, I wouldn’t be alive. As I’ve said before, you have to have a high degree of confidence in the Grid’s technology. If you didn’t, you would start second guessing everything, and, in the ultra-high risk environments in which I worked, that would be fatal. One person – no matter how capable – acting alone without the Grid’s support, could not survive the odds. Fact.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carlton Winnfield sat at the conference table in Manuel Ramirez’s office. The Mexican banker sat in the chair to his right, facing him. The time was 5:40 in the afternoon. After engaging in the required polite social dialogue, then ordering refreshments from Clara that were delivered efficiently a few minutes later, Ramirez steered the conversation to the business of Soares’ very sizeable financial investments.
“Mr. Winnfield, I am most pleased to inform you that my clients have accepted your investment proposals. I have reviewed your proposals in depth with them. They find them logical and based on sound strategic thinking.” He smiled at the younger man. “Congratulations.”
Winnfield looked into the other man’s eyes and smiled in return. “I am very happy to hear you say that, Senor Ramirez. Thank you. Simply to ensure our understanding, Senor, please allow me to confirm with you that your clients fully accept our investment proposal in all and each of its details. Am I correct, Senor?”
“Yes, I confirm that to you, Mr. Winnfield.”
“Then allow me to inform you, Senor, of our recommended methodology of transferring the rather large sums involved, employing the apparatus that sits on the table between us.”
“Yes, please do so, Mr. Winnfield. I must say, I am most curious, though hesitant.”
Winnfield opened the gunmetal-colored briefcase and turned it toward Ramirez. “You are looking at a device that provides the ultimate in information technology security and client discretion. To our knowledge, it is unique in the investment banking world.”
Ramirez cleared his throat and leaned toward Winnfield, gesturing toward the opened briefcase. “How is it that a small, though highly successful firm such as Mr. Whitmore’s has found itself in possession of such unique technology?”
Winnfield raised his head and smiled. “I assure you, Senor, that Mr. Whitmore did not find himself in possession of such cutting-edge technology. Rather, he envisaged the need for it – for the very wealthy among his clients – and contracted a leading information technology company to develop it. You have made reference, Senor, to Mr. Whitmore’s great success as an investment banker. Mr. Whitmore simply applied that success toward satisfying the distinct requirements of his very wealthy clients. A straight forward, albeit strategic vision of future business requirements. As you are certainly and intimately familiar, Senor, many of the very wealthy are interested in accumulating more wealth, not in sharing it. They are willing to pay handsomely for discretion in achieving this goal. Our firm simply facilitates that desire. It is all about the human ego – and making money.”
Ramirez looked at Winnfield – held his gaze – a twinkle appearing in his eyes. “How very well stated, Mr. Winnfield. I like more and more your corporate attitude. Please continue.”
“This device can be connected to a completely secure electronic domain within which you personally can enter the specific investment amounts associated with the designated destination US defense companies, then identify the relevant off-shore source accounts and fund amounts to be transferred from each to the destination companies, then effect those transfers to our bank in the Bahamas, using a code known only to you – for each transaction. This will take several minutes to accomplish. Now the point of specific interest to your clients, Senor - none of these transactions will appear to have had anything to do with your bank. They will appear to have been sourced only from the various off-shore accounts around the world that you shall designate. Your clients - for all normal appearances and oversight procedures – will not be publicly associated with any of these financial activities. You will then receive a legal receipt of transfer document from Mr. Whitmore that encompasses all of these transactions as proof - for yourself and your clients - of the actual transfer of funds. With these documents, signed by Mr. Whitmore, our firm is liable to yours for the funds transferred. You have an air-tight hold on us. May I ask your sentiments, Senor? If you are not completely satisfied, we can, of course, proceed with the normal direct paper-based transfer arrangements with the requisite signatures.”
“I am drawn – of course – Senor Winnfield, to your recommended methodology. Still, it is new to me and I am not so technically competent as to quickly grasp all the possible nuances of your recommendation.”
Winnfield sat back in his chair and held the gaze of the director of the First Bank of Mexico. “Might I suggest, Senor, that you engage the talent of one of your information technology staff – someone, of course, that you trust fully – to review our recommendations? We would not wish – in any manner whatsoever – to suggest a course of action with which you or your clients might be uncomfortable.”
“I do not believe that will be necessary, Mr. Winnfield. The discretionary requirements of my clients are paramount – as you have noted. I believe my lack of familiarity can be addressed by the video conference that Mr. Whitmore has requested. He and I have known each other for some years.”
“As you wish, Senor.”
Winnfield pulled the suitcase closer to him, sat closer to the conference table and pushed various keys on the keyboard built into its inside surface. A series of world wide web Internet interfaces appeared and connected to others. Winnfield negotiated them with obvious familiarity. Ramirez watched him. A few moments later, James Whitmore’s image appeared on the screen. Ramirez immediately recognized the face and Whitmore’s office displayed in the background behind him. Winnfield noted the smile that appeared on Ramirez’s face.
Winnfield continued to watch Ramirez, who was looking intently at the computer screen. “Carlton, excellent, right on time. I see Mr. Ramirez is with you.”
“Yes, sir. Very good to see you.” English now.
“Manuel, very good to see you – nearly in person. How are you, my friend?”
“Excellent to see you, James. I am very well, thank you.
Your Mr. Winnfield has been taking very good care of me.”
“I’m delighted to hear that, Manuel. Shall I presume that we are nearing the point in our interaction of implementing the investment desires of your clients?”
Winnfield cleared his throat and turned toward Ramirez. “Senor, may I summarize to Mr. Whitmore the progress of our discussions?”
Ramirez looked toward Winnfield then at the computer screen – at Mr. Whitmore. “Yes, thank you, Mr. Winnfield. Please do so.” The image of Mr. Whitmore smiled at them from the computer screen.
“Sir, Mr. Ramirez’s clients have accepted our investment proposals in all and each of their details. Mr. Ramirez is prepared to proceed. He would like, however, to feel more comfortable with our recommended technical mechanisms for the transfer of funds. Have I summarized our progress accurately, Mr. Ramirez?” At these last words, Winnfield turned his gaze to Ramirez. Whitmore’s gaze turned slightly to look at the Mexican banker.
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Winnfield. That is accurate.” Ramirez turned his gaze toward the computer screen and the image of his long-time business acquaintance. “I don’t wish to be burdensome, James, and I want to assure you that Mr. Winnfield has done an exemplary job in satisfying my clients’ investment requirements. Still, as I have confessed to him, I am not – how should I put it – technically savvy, if that is the correct jargon, to fully appreciate this wondrous device in front of me and its capacity to provide for the secrecy and complete discretion that my clients require in this transaction.”
The image of Whitmore leaned closer to the computer screen. “How can I help you, Manuel? I wish you to be completely comfortable with the mechanisms of the funds transfers. Perhaps it will help you in that regard if I tell you that the key element to the briefcase sitting in front of you is the encryption system that it employs. The encryption cannot be broken within a decade’s time frame. I guarantee this to you, Manuel. This means that knowledge of the transfer of funds from your bank to the off-shore accounts holding your clients’ money will remain between you and me alone for at least ten years. I will effect the actual investments from the off-shore accounts you will designate into the US companies you and your clients have agreed with Mr. Winnfield. You will have nothing to do with that. Your clients will have made good on their investments well before this ten-year period runs out. Complete secrecy and absolute discretion, Manuel. As I am certain Mr. Winnfield has explained, once the funds are transferred, you will have in your possession signed copies of the fund transfer documents between your bank and mine via the third-party off-shore companies. The paper trail will not be public, but it will be in your hands and can be made public by you should you ever feel the need. In summary, my friend, you will have both the comfort of the required legal documents in your hands and the added security of cutting-edge information technology. Am I being helpful, Manuel?”
Ramirez had watched Whitmore’s image intently. As Whitmore had spoken, Ramirez nodded at times toward the screen. He was quiet now, and then said, “Yes, James, very helpful. Thank you. Given your explanation, our past business together on many occasions, and your personal guarantees on this occasion, I can agree to your recommendation to use your new device here to make the transfer of funds. I am now comfortable with doing that.” Ramirez turned to Winnfield and added, “I hope, Mr. Winnfield, that you do not hold it against me to have had this discussion with your superior?”
“Not at all, Senor. I completely understand your professional curiosity and concern. Indeed, I admire it. Your clients are very fortunate to have you looking after their interests.” Winnfield offered a broad and sincere smile.
Ramirez smiled in return and nodded his head, then looked from Winnfield, sitting to his left, to Whitmore smiling at him from the computer screen. He spread his hands and said, “Very good. Let us transfer the funds.”
Over the next forty-five minutes, Winnfield and Ramirez worked together to transfer 500 hundred million US dollars from accounts within the First Bank of Mexico to various third-party off-shore accounts that he had used in the past to conduct financial transactions related to Soares. Working from his desktop computer, Ramirez electronically transferred packets of funds from his bank to the briefcase sitting on the conference table in front of Winnfield. Each transfer was associated with the designation of a specific US defense company. Then, through the briefcase device, he directed those fund packets to the specific third-party off-shore accounts from which the investments would subsequently be made by Whitmore in those designated US defense companies. At the end of this tedious and detailed work session, Ramirez joined Winnfield back at the conference table. When Ramirez looked at the computer screen in the lid of the briefcase, he saw Whitmore looking at several pieces of paper in his hand. “Yes, Carlton, this looks fine.” Whitmore set the piece of paper on his desk and signed it. He placed the piece of paper in what appeared to be a printer, pressed some buttons, looked at the lower portion of his computer screen, then pressed another key. He looked up to the center of the screen at Ramirez and Winnfield. “Carlton, you should be receiving the signed paper copy of the funds transfer document.” Winnfield’s laptop made a barely discernible sound and five pieces of paper – normal legal size paper - slid from the briefcase. They bore the standard letterhead of Whitmore’s bank in Freeport.
Winnfield took and looked at them, noting Whitmore’s signature, nodded, then, looking at Ramirez, handed them to him. “Senor, your receipt.”
“Ramirez, you will see that the receipt includes the amounts that will be transferred into the specific US companies, by name, and each investment has a number before it. You will also see that my bank’s fee to manage these transactions is the normal, nominal percentage. Still, very nice for us – thank you, Manuel – given the size of your clients’ investments, as well as the usual verbiage for such transactions. You can tell your clients that the investments will be in place – each and every one – no later than 24 hours from now. I will provide you a daily update on the value of the investments, at noon your time, to your private e-mail. I will use the number preceding each investment on the paper in your hands as a reference. Therefore, in my daily investment report, you will see only a number, a colon and another figure. The latter figure will be the current value of that specific investment. Will that be sufficient?”
“Much more than sufficient, James. You have outdone yourself on this occasion. I congratulate you and your excellent protégé, Mr. Winnfield.”
“I couldn’t be more happy, Manuel. You will have my first investment update the day after tomorrow at noon. Now – one last thing – don’t steal Carlton from me while you have him under your influence, Manuel. Do you promise?”
All three men laughed at this casual and friendly remark. “I do not believe that you require my promise, James. Mr. Winnfield impresses me as a man who knows where his loyalty lies and it is unshakable.”
“Yes, we are indeed lucky to have him.” At this remark, Winnfield looked briefly away from Ramirez to the image of Whitmore looking earnestly from the computer screen. He smiled.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eight PM, the same day. Soares’ office. Ramirez sat again on the deeply cushioned sofa, turned toward Soares, who sat toward its other end. The Device was placed to show me the faces of both men. The leader of El Centro was studying the five pieces of paper handed to him moments before by the Mexican banker. He looked up at his old friend. He nodded. “All of this will be in place within twenty-four hours?”
“Yes, Gomez. It has all been arranged. This document is legal proof of the transactions, but is not in the public domain. I will receive daily updates – at noon each day – of the current value of each of these investments. This will commence the day after tomorrow. I will inform you of their value each day – as you wish.”
“Excellent, Manuel. Your business associate, Mr. Whitmore, has done well for us, and well within the
timeline. He has lived up to your confidence in him. I congratulate you.”
The director of the largest bank in Mexico bowed his head slightly toward one of Mexico’s most prominent narco-traffickers. “Thank you Gomez, my dear and old friend. You are, as always, too kind.”
“Not at all, Manuel.” He leaned toward Ramirez and handed the document back to him. “You keep this, my friend. I trust you implicitly and I know how to get in touch with Mr. Whitmore, should we ever need to talk.” Ramirez held Soares’ intent gaze and then looked down to his hands, laying on his lap. The moment captured the essence of their relationship, I thought. As Winnfield had said, it was all about ego and money.
An old saying crossed my mind: “You put your money down and you take your chances.”
CHAPTER 15 – Assault
“All Devices are in place and monitoring.”
I was turning right onto the major avenue that would take me another fifty meters, then right onto the side street toward my objective – the weapon site. My bicycle squeaked as I pushed it forward at my side. The hour was 3:40 in the morning. The habitual timeframe for a surprise attack. Some things just never change. You can count on it like clockwork. The Grid has done the studies - dating back to the Punic Wars. I’ve read them.
Soares was receiving an update every hour - from waking in the morning to placing his head on his pillow at night - of any indications that any element of the Mexican government or a criminal competitor suspected his plans. Were his men and those of Khan acting honorably? Had some happenstance occurred somewhere that had caused some otherwise unknowing person of interest to lift his nose to the air in his direction? Was fate being kind to him? While he slept, he was to be awoken immediately – no matter the hour – at the appearance of any indication of treason in the ranks, trespass, or turbulence in the air caused by the wings of chance. While Miguel watched over Khan’s martyrs, this task fell to Miguel’s second, Mendoza – ever loyal and obedient to his master.
The Grid Page 18