Scarcity (Jack Randall #3) (21 page)

“Let’s hope we don’t talk to a red name tonight.”

Hours later they sat as before, the husband and wife at the kitchen table and Luis in the dining room. Consuela had returned in time to fix a quick meal only to be politely sent away soon after. Luis sat with his feet up and thumbed through some papers. He hated the waiting, too, but it served to build the tension and that was what was really needed. The time had come and gone thirty minutes ago as planned, but when the phone rang it was still an expected surprise.

His feet hit the floor and he flipped several switches before picking up the phone. The husband and wife entered the room, but a pointed finger stopped their progress before they got too close. He picked up on the fourth ring.

“Hello?”

“You keep me waiting, Mr. Perez. That is not a good way to start out with me.”

“This is not Mr. Perez. I’ve been hired to speak for them.”

“What the fuck is this? You think this is some game? Put the father on or this is over right now!”

“That’s not going to happen. If you want your money you deal with me. That’s your only option.”

“Bullshit! You think we’re not serious? I don’t have time for your bullshit games! If you want your product back, we do this my way. Now where is the family? Put the father on the fucking phone!”

Luis smiled at the use of the code phrase. It was a popular one. He used some in return.

“Relax, friend. If you want to see this through to a decent settlement, you deal with me. That’s how we’re doing this.”

“And just who the fuck are you?”

“You can call me Tajo.”

“Then Mister Tajo with the smart mouth, her blood will be on your hands!”

The connection broke and Luis sat back with a small smile on his face. He erased it as Mrs. Perez wailed behind him.

“Where did they go? We’ve lost her!”

“What the hell are you doing?”

Luis stayed calm as he adjusted the equipment. He spoke over his shoulder.

“Relax, that went well. He’s bluffing. It went how I expected it to. Now they know you have hired a negotiator, and that I am serious. They have to change their plan now, but they’re actually not upset either. These people prefer to work with people like me. An amateur would try something stupid, and then both parties lose. He also knows that if he’s talking to me then the police are not involved. He’ll call back.” Luis settled back in the chair and again put his feet up.

The father stopped pacing and stared at the man sitting in the chair. His negotiator was relaxed and sure of himself. Luis felt the man’s gaze but ignored it. The father soon gave up and left the room to check on his wife. This gave Luis a chance to smile again and check his watch. Fifteen minutes.

On cue the phone rang again. This time Luis engaged the electronics and let it ring. Four, five, six rings until he picked up.

“This is Tajo.”

“Well Mr. Tajo. You are still there. I would think you’d have been fired by now, but since you are not, I guess we will speak.”

“Very good. What should I call you?”

“You can call me . . . Miguel.
Si?
”

“Miguel, I am glad you decided to call again.”

“Tajo, I have decided to hate you already, but we can talk.”

“Also good. Are you ready to be serious? No more threats?”

“That depends. How much are they willing to pay for the package?”

“Three hundred thousand dollars.”

There was a pause before the laughter of the man on the other end was clear. Luis smiled at the father while he waited.

“Is that a fucking joke? Are you a comedian? I thought you were a professional, Tajo? But this? This man and his company are worth millions, and we are not some charity asking for a donation!”

“The man’s company is worth millions. He only owns a part of it. The money is spread out in several different areas. There are investments and a board of directors to deal with. The money is in stocks, also, and they are not doing so well at the moment. You have to understand that he can’t just run down to the ATM and make a withdrawal. But you’re right, perhaps I am being unreasonable. I’ll raise the offer to four hundred thousand dollars. Will that help you?”

“Tajo . . . Tajo. You think I’m a fool? I know the money is there, I don’t care how he gets it as long as he does. This is going to take as long as it takes for you to get us what we want. If you want your package to you soon, you will find a way. But I am feeling generous today. I will lower my invoice to five million American dollars. No less.”

“You’re a skilled negotiator, Miguel, but I cannot meet such a high price. To do so would attract the attention of several people, and I know that is something neither one of us wishes.”

“You play the game well yourself. But I can assure you that the people I represent will never accept such a low bid. The family must do better. I don’t know how long they are willing to wait.”

“If they want their fee, they will wait as long as it takes. If we are to continue I will need to see further proof of life. Nothing can progress until we have it.”

“You already have it. You don’t require more.”

“Nevertheless, we require it. If that upsets you, I’ll remind you that you hate me already.”

“You crack jokes, Tajo, but I’m not laughing. I’ll call the men who safeguard the package. But they may just decide to send you part of it instead. Good-bye, Tajo.”

The connection broke.

Luis ignored the parents’ questions and searched the desk for the list of names he had out earlier. Finding it, he ran his finger down the rows until he found the name he wanted.

Miguel.

The father approached and looked over his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Perez.”

The name was highlighted in red.

Luis smiled as the father turned away. It had gone very well.

Kidnapping and ransom on the rise
February 19, 2009—CNN
 
 

—SIXTEEN—

L
enny ignored the monuments and crowds of tourists clogging the streets as he made his way back across the District from one of its many suburbs. He divided his attention between the view in front of him and the one in his rearview mirror. Every trip to the safe house was preceded by a long drive around the city. Only when he was sure he was not being tailed did he enter that part of town.

He didn’t really mind the drives. Time in the car had always seemed to calm him. He had discovered long ago that his brain could take care of the mechanics of driving the car, and yet somehow still allow him to think about whatever case he was working on. He often had ideas that proved to be quite valuable while driving. So he had learned to make the most of travel time.

His thoughts were on Angel and what to do with him next. The interrogations had been going on for a few days now and Lenny and Jack had a team of people working at all hours processing the information. Judges across the country, as well as in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe and Asia, were signing warrants at a record pace. Police, SWAT teams, and federal agents were conducting raid after raid. It was the kind of action that Lenny had only dreamed of. He only hoped that they could complete the arrests before the entire network disappeared. It was rumored that Oscar’s brother had taken over in his absence. The file on the man was extensive. While he was known for his ruthless way of getting things done, he did not have his brother’s business sense. Lenny did not expect him to last long on the throne. No doubt a competitor, or someone within the cartel, was already considering a move to take over. But that all depended on Oscar. If he survived the transplant he faced prosecution for numerous offenses. But these men had proven difficult to convict. Like a Mafia head, he had the money and the means to threaten, intimidate, or bribe whoever it took. Lenny had no faith in American juries. They could never be counted on to convict such a man.

Despite all this, Angel was a very valuable man for both sides. The feds wished to keep him alive and talking, while the cartel wished him dead as soon as possible. The security arrangement was something Lenny had sweated over since they had brought Angel to the States. He had two options really. One was to hide him with minimal security as they had up till now, the other was to go with the brute force option and place him in the lockup at Quantico Marine base. He and Jack had decided to keep things as they were until the interrogations were over, and move Angel to the base after that. There would be no way to hide him safely once he was forced to travel to and from the courtroom. But if something did happen, they at least had the hours of tapes they had produced in the basement via the video feed. It was their only safety net.

Lenny fired up another cigarette at a stoplight and checked the rearview again—still nothing familiar behind him. Deciding he was clear, he took a right turn toward the row house. After a couple more turns he was on the right street and had to concentrate to make sure he didn’t pass it. The homes were all the same. Narrow two-story brick structures with wide front porches and driveways leading to a separate garage in the back. Roof color was the biggest difference, but he looked for a tall tree he had made a note of, and once past that, he slowed to a stop and turned into the driveway. Navigating past the two garbage cans, he pulled past the porch and parked on the side of the house. He looked up to see the curtain covering the window being pulled back an inch. He got out slowly and turned his face to the house so they could see him. The curtain fell back in place as he passed and he flicked the cigarette butt onto the pavement before cutting across the grass to the front steps. The door opened before he reached it, and Jake held it for him as he entered.

“Hey, Jake.”

Jake was busy looking out the small window in the door to see if Lenny had drawn anyone’s attention. He didn’t turn to reply.

“Hey, Lenny. Our boy’s napping in the back. Just finished another video speech.”

“Good for him.”

Lenny proceeded across the room and entered the kitchen were he found Charlie working on a donut and a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Charlie, still on that diet I see.”

Charlie stirred more sugar into his coffee and watched Lenny search for a cup for himself.

“Same one you’re on, from the looks of it.”

“You got it.” Lenny helped himself to a donut. “So how you holding up?”

“If it wasn’t for the information we’re getting, I’d have done the cartel a favor and killed him myself by now.”

Jake had entered during the remark. He bypassed the coffee and donuts and retrieved a Gatorade from the fridge. He laughed at Charlie’s remark.

“Angel and Charlie aren’t exactly getting along,” he quipped.

“Oh yeah?” Lenny raised an eyebrow at that.

“Guy’s a real ass. Have you been reading the transcripts? Sick bastard’s going to rot.”

Lenny dropped his donut on the table and sampled his coffee before replying. “I’ll agree he’s an asshole, but right now he’s our asshole. We’re making some serious busts just based on what he’s given us so far. Evidently Oscar’s brother didn’t take Angel’s capture as seriously as he should have. He didn’t move his assets quickly enough and we’ve been picking them up left and right. The Mexicans raided a house yesterday and found over three million in cash. Three million! They just had it stacked in a back bedroom like wood. They sent me a picture. It was about as high as this table and the room was ten by ten. There was maybe enough room to open the door and that was about it. All American bills.”

“All that cash was probably just payroll money, too,” Jake added.

“Yup, just operating expenses. The two they caught there were payroll clerks more or less. It was just them and a few guards. We managed to get a list of names and drop points. Some account numbers. The names are code names, so it may take awhile to match them up to actual people, but I’m a patient man. The Mexican president loved it. He’s sending more troops to the northern states to fight the drug gangs. Sort of a thank you, I guess.”

“That’s all great, but what I’d really like to know is when we can get out of this frickin’ row house?”

“Tired of babysitting? Can’t say I blame you. I just need you to hang on another couple of days. We may be moving him to another house, or just cut it short and go to the base with him.”

“Guantanamo?” Charlie asked jokingly.

Lenny had to laugh. “No, I think the brig at Quantico would do just fine.”

Charlie’s reply was cut off by the sound of Angel’s bedroom door opening. They waited silently until he emerged, rubbing his unshaven face.

“Well look who’s fucking here,” he observed. “Please tell me you’re here to take me out of this hole.”

“Not yet, Angel. I want to hear every verse of this song you’re singing. Till then, you stay here.”

“I’d say I’ve held up my end of the deal. I want the fuck out of here.”

“I decide when you’re done shithead. Not you. Better get that through your head real quick.”

Angel sneered and searched for a clean coffee cup.

“You making a big name for yourself, are you, Lenny? Gonna get a nice promotion or maybe a little plaque on the wall somewhere? A piece of ribbon with a gold trinket attached?” He turned to offer a shit-eating grin in Lenny’s direction. “You’re probably busy right now, huh, busting all the guys I’m giving you. Don’t you know that their replacements are already hard at work? In a few months, it’ll be like you and I never met.”