Arthur punched the intercom and told his secretary to have his car waiting, and then trudged down the long halls to the main parking lot, where his driver sat ready for his instructions. Arthur slid into the rear seat and told him to head to the mall a few miles away, where he would be taking an early lunch at his favorite Chinese restaurant.
Once inside the sprawl of the mall complex, he ducked into a franchise coffee chain and ordered a frozen blended concoction – one of the guilty pleasures that he could manage with a straw. The place was nearly empty at eleven a.m., so he had the lounge area to himself, Billie Holiday crooning over the loudspeakers as truculent youths with multiple facial piercings and flamboyantly dyed hair wiped down the display cases while sneering at passing shoppers.
Arthur watched a heavyset man in a long overcoat move to the register and gruffly order a cup of drip coffee, then flip a bill at the cashier before dropping his change into the tip box and moving to where Arthur sat.
“Explain to me why we haven’t recovered the lost merchandise and put an end to the problem yet,” Briggs said by way of greeting, sitting in an overstuffed chair facing Arthur.
“We’re waiting for more detail.”
“What the hell does that mean? Don’t give me doubletalk. Let’s start with the tracking device that was supposed to lead your secret weapon straight to him. Where is it?” Briggs demanded.
“It’s approximately fifty miles inside Myanmar, in one of the most remote stretches of jungle hills on that continent. Hasn’t moved for four days.”
“So doesn’t that tell you that’s where the bastard is?”
“Not necessarily. I repositioned a satellite over the area and have studied every inch, but all I can make out is the overgrown roof of an abandoned temple.”
“So he’s hiding in the temple. Send in a full team and get it over with.”
“It’s not that simple. We don’t want to just mow him down. We want the merchandise back. It’s more delicate than that.”
“Bullshit. Go in, kill ’em all, then hang him upside down and work him over with a blowtorch. Do I have to break this down into fine detail for you?”
“Well, there are a number of assumptions in your statement. First, it assumes that he’s there. The tracker was on his Bangkok partner’s wrist. Just because the partner’s there, doesn’t mean our boy is. Second, it assumes that the partner didn’t figure out somehow that he was being tracked, or alternatively, that he didn’t get killed by any of the dozens of factions in the region. Third, it assumes that I could quickly get a heavily armed team fifty miles into Myanmar without being detected. And fourth, it assumes that our boy would be anywhere near the site when they got there.” Arthur slurped noisily at his beverage then blotted his mouth with finality.
Briggs sipped his black coffee and frowned.
“You’re paid to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen. And if it does, you clean up the mess. Now we’re facing the KGB’s grunions negotiating for our heroin, and they’re willing to pay twenty percent more than we are. Worse yet, they’ll sell it for half the price on the street to turn it over.”
“I understand. I’m working on putting together another shipment of rockets and ordnance to our friends in Africa. But it will take time for them to come up with enough rocks to trade. In the meantime, I’d suggest we just figure out how to get a quarter billion in cash into Myanmar.” Arthur held up his hand as Briggs began to protest. “I know, it’s messy, but we may never see the diamonds back. I’m hoping that we do, and I’m confident that our woman will get them if it’s possible, but there are a hundred things that could go wrong. Hawker could get wounded and die before she gets the merchandise. They could have already been transferred elsewhere and converted into cash. She could get killed.”
“I thought you were confident.”
“I am. She’s the best. But it’s impossible to guarantee anything with hundred percent certainty. So, I’d say we write this one off while we wait. As far as the money goes, I know it’s painful for all concerned. But realistically, it’s a drop in the bucket, long term.”
“Perhaps, but it’s a large drop.”
“Quarter billion is nothing. It’s barely a few decent tanks. Aren’t hammers now about a quarter billion over in your shop?”
“Fair points, but it’s caused a lot of headaches, and now we have a much larger problem.” Briggs frowned. “Arthur, we’ve been around the block a few times, and we’re not kids anymore. This is a shitstorm we don’t need. Have you heard anything from her?”
“Negative. She’s gone dark. Which doesn’t mean much. She’s secretive. And it could easily take three days each direction to get in and out. Could be that she’s waiting for the target to appear. Could be that she’s planning. I don’t know. I’m already thinking about a contingency, but as with all things, it could take a while. What I’m suggesting is that whether or not she’s successful, we should prepare for failure on this one, and then if we win, it’s a bonus.”
“This is the largest loss we’ve ever sustained. It’s not going to be popular.”
Arthur swallowed the last of his beverage. “I understand. It affects my cut, too. Look at the bright side. The dollar is only worth ten percent of what it was when we started forty-plus years ago.”
“Very funny. I’m sure the others will be equally amused.”
“Briggs. Don’t bust my chops. I’m on this, doing everything I can. But I think it would be best to go in, seal the deal with the suppliers while we can, and ship them a container of C-notes or whatever else they want. Gold. Swiss Francs. Whatever.”
Briggs rose, tossing back his coffee. “I’ll pass this on. But I think it’s safe to say if you don’t fix this, you won’t be seeing any Christmas bonus this year. Not that I think you care.”
“I always care.”
Briggs dropped his cup into the trash and walked out without saying another word. Arthur waited for a few minutes and then stood, his joints painful from his old injuries, and walked towards the mall entrance.
Had he misjudged this Jet woman so badly? He didn’t think so, but it had to be considered. Perhaps she hadn’t been up to the task. Perhaps this was her unlucky mission. Everyone had one eventually.
His driver spotted him and pulled to the curb. Arthur adjusted his coat against the chill and waited as the man rounded the car and opened his door for him.
He took a last glance at the sky and shivered.
Looked like it might snow again.
Chapter 31
Lawan was staring at Jet with trepidation as Matt explained what was going to happen.
“She doesn’t look happy,” Jet said.
“She says she wants to stay with you,” Matt related. “But that she understands that if you have to go away for a while, you have to. She’s remarkably clear for a ten-year-old. Although you can tell she’s been to hell and back.”
“She’s very firm that she’s almost eleven.” Jet smiled at her. “Yes, she’s been through hell.”
“I told her that she’s going to be accompanying me back to the hills to camp out for a while. She doesn’t look like she believes a word I’m saying, but she’s playing along. I’m thinking I’m going to have to hire a female to watch over her and teach her, well, female stuff while she’s in the jungle with me. I can’t be responsible for her twenty-four seven. Maybe after a while, I can find a local family that will adopt her, and I’ll make them the richest in the village. That seems like a good solution.”
“I’m sorry to saddle you with this, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“I bit off on it, so no problem. I feel sick that Pu was such a lowlife. I mean, you know these things in a descriptive sense, like reading a dossier, but it’s an entirely different thing to see it in person.”
“Sort of takes the victimless thing out of the equation and just leaves the crime part.”
“Speaking of which, I’m sure that the Top Cat incident will cause some major ripples. It’s
not every day that a ping pong club gets attacked by a ninja.”
“Maybe it’s about time they did. Might make some of these dirtbags think twice about the business they’re in.”
“Hard to change an entire society with the barrel of a gun.”
“I know. More’s the pity.”
Lawan watched the exchange between them with calm eyes, and then Jet approached her and put an arm around her.
“Aren’t you supposed to be busy with multi-million dollar transactions today?” she asked, glancing at her watch. “The photo session was a winner, by the way. Very convincing. Want to see the shots?”
“Why not? It’s not every day you get to see pictures of your own death.”
He moved alongside her as she thumbed the little camera she’d bought and showed him a few particularly grisly snaps; the bullet hole in his temple looked extremely realistic.
“Wow. You’re a whiz with Photoshop, all right. Think it will fool anyone?”
“Sure. Just don’t show up on any reality shows and you’re good.” She tapped her watch and raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve got time. The buyers are expecting me at nine o’clock at one of the largest banks in Bangkok. It will only take me fifteen minutes to get there from here.”
“Sure you don’t want me to run backup for you?”
“Appreciate the offer, but no need. I won’t be walking out with cash. It’s all handled with a wire transfer. Like I said, I’ll have a card for you by this evening. And a present, of course.” He smiled, and she again acknowledged that he was a handsome man, especially in the navy blue blazer and khaki trousers he was wearing.
“No chance the buyers or your passport contact would sell you out?”
“To who? It’s not like there’s a most wanted poster of me up. No, as long as I’m in and out today and headed north by nightfall, I feel pretty good about things. I think this time I’ll cross over in Laos. But no matter. I still need to get the passports and rocks, and deal with a few other items.” He looked at her with a strange expression, part curiosity and part something else. “I’m also waiting for some feedback from my agency contacts. But that could take a few days.”
“You going to buy the sat phone, or should I?”
“I’ll do it. I know where to go. But you should get a few burner cell phones and plan on chucking them after a single use. Don’t power them on until you need to use them.”
“I know the game.”
“All right, then.” He spoke to Lawan for another minute and then patted her shoulder with warm concern. It was a good sign that she didn’t shrink from his touch. Maybe there was hope.
“Well, while you’re out and about, we’re going to go shopping for some suitable jungle clothes. A girl’s got to have some basics. Panties, socks, couple of pairs of shoes, a backpack, ninja sword…” Jet said.
“Just don’t spoil her too rotten. She’s going to hate coming with me if you do.”
“Something tells me that I might not be the only one spoiling her over the next few days.” Jet had seen something tender in the way Matt talked to Lawan.
He merely waved as he turned the knob.
“Good luck,” Jet called, and then he was out the door.
Lawan regarded her with a serious look. Jet pulled on the front of her blouse and then pointed at the little girl.
“Yes?”
Lawan’s eyes lit up with understanding, and for the first time, she grinned.
Maybe there was hope, indeed.
~ ~ ~
Matt returned at five, carrying two backpacks and an elegant brushed aluminum briefcase. Jet insisted on showing him all of Lawan’s purchases, holding them up so he could approve. He was good-natured about it, but obviously impatient, and Jet got the hint and suggested to Lawan that she take a last shower before they left. The young girl nodded and padded to the bathroom. When the water was running, Matt slid the briefcase over to Jet. She went to her backpack, pulled the Beretta out and handed it to him along with the extra clip.
“I’ll trade you. You’ll probably need this more than I will.”
He slid it into his bag and then motioned at the briefcase with his head.
“Open it.”
“I’m almost afraid to. I’ve never seen ten million in diamonds before.”
“Go on.”
She unsnapped the latch and lifted the lid. Inside was a new Thai passport and driver’s license, four stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills, and two packages wrapped in brown paper.
“Wow. That’s more than I thought it would be based on the amount you said you were carrying around your neck. Which I still have three million of, by the way.”
“Keep those. I got another five million’ worth at the bank.”
“How much cash?”
“Two hundred grand.”
She nodded and picked up the passport.
“You’re now a member of the Thai diplomatic corps, Elyse Nguyen. Congratulations.” He had used the name they’d agreed upon – French first name, Vietnamese family name.
“I have a feeling my style of diplomacy may be a little different than they’re used to, but hey.”
“That’s a safe bet.”
She handed him a list scrawled on a piece of hotel stationery. “I need to see if your CIA contact can get me these once I’m in the States.”
He studied the items. “How do you know about these neurotoxins? They’re top secret.”
“The Mossad isn’t living in a cave, Matt. You should know there are no secrets.”
“I’ll see what she can do. You may need to have a specialized lab make them. If she can’t get her hands on any, I’m sure she’ll be able to get you the chemical recipe.”
“Fair enough. Then I’ll also need a lab that will moonlight for the right kind of money.”
“Consider the request made.”
“Can I check out the diamonds?”
“Sure.”
She lifted the smaller package first, then carefully peeled back the tape and unwrapped it. Inside was a plastic freezer bag with what looked to her like at least a hundred stones, starting at three carats. She opened the second, larger package and found more like four hundred in that freezer bag, all larger cuts, between four and seven carats.
“That looks like more than ten million, Matt.”
“It is. The larger package is fifty million. In case we need to go to plan B.”
She stared at him wordlessly, then folded the two packages back up and replaced them in the attaché and lifted out the passport to inspect it.
“I thought we discussed buying fifty million of laboratory manufactured stones.”
“You run a big risk that he has them tested and figures it out. After giving it more thought, it isn’t worth taking the chance. So you now have sixty-three million dollars of diamonds in your possession.”
“It just seems like too much…”
He grinned and feigned outrage. “What, you mean I’m going to have to limp along now on only a hundred thirty-five million until you bring the fifty back? What will I do? How will I survive?”
“You’re hell-bent on doing it this way?”
“You want your daughter back. Hopefully, plan A will work out and you’ll never have to give him the diamonds, but if for some reason it doesn’t, you now have a solid plan B. Not to be casual about it, but we’re playing with house money. Whether it’s fifty or ten, there’s more than I could spend in ten lifetimes sitting in my safe deposit box, so to me it doesn’t matter. Believe it or not, I’m not a money guy. It’s never been a big priority for me. You don’t go into intelligence work to get rich,” he said, then added bitterly, “unless you’re planning to be in the drug business and sell poison to the world as your sideline. Like our friend.”
“I still go to Zurich and do the deal on the ten million?”
“Of course. I already set it up. You’ll meet them at their bank – they’ll have a private room with verification equipment – and remembe
r that the value of the stones I use is wholesale, not retail, so don’t let them mislead you. Retail value would be triple that – I’ve horse traded these stones enough to know that the values the CIA used were the very bottom of the spectrum.” He pointed at the briefcase. “All of their contact info is on a note in your passport.” He slid a bank card to her, with a slip of paper wrapped around it. “That’s a card with your new name on it that will allow you to access the funds, up to a hundred thousand a day, from anywhere in the world. Between the two I deposited today and the ten you’ll get in Switzerland, you should be able to afford whatever you need to get the job done. Whatever you don’t use of the fifteen you now have, you keep. Consider it your fee for eliminating Arthur and his band of cockroaches. I sort of expect the fifty back…”
She nodded. “That’s more than generous.”
“Again, it’s play money. Just get your daughter back safe and erase Arthur and his gang. To me, it’s a bargain. I’d pay ten times that to have my life back and shut those bastards down once and for all.”
“Do you really think that I’ll need that much?”
“You’re going up against very powerful, very rich men. They routinely deal in billions. Trust me. Fifteen million total firepower is not overkill. You may find yourself having to buy your way into or out of some difficult situations. Specialized weapons. I have no idea. But I do know that I don’t want to hear about how you failed because you didn’t have adequate resources. As an example, to avoid any customs unpleasantness, you should charter private jets to get to Europe and then to the U.S. – it’s a completely different system from the airport cattle lines when you’re a diplomat on your own jet. That alone will run a few hundred grand, easy. And then you have to plan your getaway. That won’t be cheap. Not to mention that if you need to bribe anyone in the U.S., it could cost a few million for anything truly risky.”
JET II - Betrayal (JET #2) Page 21