“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.”