[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
I suppose you know that I m in town here on business.
You re perfectly free to have all your meetings here in your suite, Hopewell told
him. But I m not sure how much of this you want to involve anyone else in.
Why do you think they emailed three people? he asked.
Hopewell shrugged. Maybe they re hedging their bets. Making sure there won t be
a question of getting all the money together. Why? Are you saying you don t want to be
involved?
Prescott chose his words carefully. I m saying I wouldn t think I would be a logical
choice of the kidnappers. But of course I want to do whatever I can to facilitate this. I
think a great deal of Eli Wright and his family.
You and Mr. Wright have partnered in some business deals, right?
That s correct. And everything was aboveboard, I can assure you. Why did he
feel the need to add that little extra?
Good. Because I m sure you know we re going over both the business and
personal affairs of everyone involved here.
Yes. Of course.
Prescott rose and went to the sideboard, where he poured himself a cup of coffee.
What he really wanted was a good stiff slug of bourbon. Sipping the hot liquid slowly,
he checked to make sure he had his cell phone with him and headed for the bedroom.
Where are you going? the agent asked him, suddenly alert.
To use the restroom, he said with a touch of derision. I m assuming I won t get
arrested for that?
119
Desiree Holt
The agent simply looked at him, face unreadable and went back to looking at the
papers in his lap.
Prescott passed through the bedroom to the bathroom, closed the door softly,
locked it and pulled out yet another disposable cell phone. In his business he d learned
to keep a supply of them for situations just like this when he wanted to make calls and
bypass any law enforcement traps or traces. Now all three of them were doing it. And it
was becoming damn inconvenient.
* * * * *
Ron Pelley was getting sick of looking at Anthony Delaware. Not only was the man
a permanent fixture in his office, he d made it very plain that he had people who
worked for him digging into every corner and crevice of his life. How the hell did he get
into this mess, anyway?
It hadn t been much fun meeting with staff members and division heads with the
silent presence in the corner and he hadn t been able to come up with an explanation
that satisfied anyone. They all left his office with curiosity stamped on their faces.
Sometime after six he called down to the cafeteria that operated 24/7 for Wright
employees and ordered something for himself and Anthony Delaware. He ate only to
try to fill the hole in his stomach, forcing himself not to constantly check his watch.
What the hell were they waiting for? The morning?
This was an impossible situation.
You d better hope the Wrights and Miss Culhane are still somewhere in this
country, the agent said now. I ve talked to my boss in Washington and he s firm
about the fact that if they ve been taken to a foreign country, the chances of recovering
them are slim to none. We won t be able to go in after them.
Pelley didn t want to think about that. What makes you think they won t turn
them loose when the ransom is paid?
We don t know anything for sure. What we re trying to learn right now is who
made the connection with the kidnappers. Who fed them information. And how the
ransom will be arranged.
What do you mean, who made the connection?
I ve been telling you, Delaware said with exaggerated patience. Someone had to
set this up. None of the kidnappings in the border states have been random. Someone
besides the kidnappers is going to make some bucks on this. And we plan to find out
who.
I thought you told me they d probably arrange to have the ransom paid by bank
transfer.
That s still a possibility. But in the past few months we ve pretty much been able to
trace all wire transfers, so they may decide some other way would be safer.
120
F-Stop
Like what? Pelley demanded. He d long since given up trying to get any work
done. Now he was more worried about the pieces of his life being held up to the light of
day.
I don t know. We ll have to wait and see.
Why the hell is it taking so long for the next email? he complained. What are
they waiting for?
It s a standard tactic, Delaware told him. Ratchet up the anxiety factor so the
mark will do anything, pay anything, agree to anything, to get the hostages back.
What makes them think we wouldn t pay up?
I don t know. Delaware s voice was flat and uninflected. We re talking about a
lot of money here. Are their lives worth that much to you?
What the hell kind of question is that? Pelley stood up, pushing his chair back.
Excuse me. I think I need to hit the men s room. This conversation is making me sick.
The agent just shook his head and looked back at what he was reading. Pelley
carefully palmed a disposable cell phone from his desk, shoved his hands in his pockets
and strode out of the room. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
I suppose you know that I m in town here on business.
You re perfectly free to have all your meetings here in your suite, Hopewell told
him. But I m not sure how much of this you want to involve anyone else in.
Why do you think they emailed three people? he asked.
Hopewell shrugged. Maybe they re hedging their bets. Making sure there won t be
a question of getting all the money together. Why? Are you saying you don t want to be
involved?
Prescott chose his words carefully. I m saying I wouldn t think I would be a logical
choice of the kidnappers. But of course I want to do whatever I can to facilitate this. I
think a great deal of Eli Wright and his family.
You and Mr. Wright have partnered in some business deals, right?
That s correct. And everything was aboveboard, I can assure you. Why did he
feel the need to add that little extra?
Good. Because I m sure you know we re going over both the business and
personal affairs of everyone involved here.
Yes. Of course.
Prescott rose and went to the sideboard, where he poured himself a cup of coffee.
What he really wanted was a good stiff slug of bourbon. Sipping the hot liquid slowly,
he checked to make sure he had his cell phone with him and headed for the bedroom.
Where are you going? the agent asked him, suddenly alert.
To use the restroom, he said with a touch of derision. I m assuming I won t get
arrested for that?
119
Desiree Holt
The agent simply looked at him, face unreadable and went back to looking at the
papers in his lap.
Prescott passed through the bedroom to the bathroom, closed the door softly,
locked it and pulled out yet another disposable cell phone. In his business he d learned
to keep a supply of them for situations just like this when he wanted to make calls and
bypass any law enforcement traps or traces. Now all three of them were doing it. And it
was becoming damn inconvenient.
* * * * *
Ron Pelley was getting sick of looking at Anthony Delaware. Not only was the man
a permanent fixture in his office, he d made it very plain that he had people who
worked for him digging into every corner and crevice of his life. How the hell did he get
into this mess, anyway?
It hadn t been much fun meeting with staff members and division heads with the
silent presence in the corner and he hadn t been able to come up with an explanation
that satisfied anyone. They all left his office with curiosity stamped on their faces.
Sometime after six he called down to the cafeteria that operated 24/7 for Wright
employees and ordered something for himself and Anthony Delaware. He ate only to
try to fill the hole in his stomach, forcing himself not to constantly check his watch.
What the hell were they waiting for? The morning?
This was an impossible situation.
You d better hope the Wrights and Miss Culhane are still somewhere in this
country, the agent said now. I ve talked to my boss in Washington and he s firm
about the fact that if they ve been taken to a foreign country, the chances of recovering
them are slim to none. We won t be able to go in after them.
Pelley didn t want to think about that. What makes you think they won t turn
them loose when the ransom is paid?
We don t know anything for sure. What we re trying to learn right now is who
made the connection with the kidnappers. Who fed them information. And how the
ransom will be arranged.
What do you mean, who made the connection?
I ve been telling you, Delaware said with exaggerated patience. Someone had to
set this up. None of the kidnappings in the border states have been random. Someone
besides the kidnappers is going to make some bucks on this. And we plan to find out
who.
I thought you told me they d probably arrange to have the ransom paid by bank
transfer.
That s still a possibility. But in the past few months we ve pretty much been able to
trace all wire transfers, so they may decide some other way would be safer.
120
F-Stop
Like what? Pelley demanded. He d long since given up trying to get any work
done. Now he was more worried about the pieces of his life being held up to the light of
day.
I don t know. We ll have to wait and see.
Why the hell is it taking so long for the next email? he complained. What are
they waiting for?
It s a standard tactic, Delaware told him. Ratchet up the anxiety factor so the
mark will do anything, pay anything, agree to anything, to get the hostages back.
What makes them think we wouldn t pay up?
I don t know. Delaware s voice was flat and uninflected. We re talking about a
lot of money here. Are their lives worth that much to you?
What the hell kind of question is that? Pelley stood up, pushing his chair back.
Excuse me. I think I need to hit the men s room. This conversation is making me sick.
The agent just shook his head and looked back at what he was reading. Pelley
carefully palmed a disposable cell phone from his desk, shoved his hands in his pockets
and strode out of the room. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]