Jeff Abbott - The Last Minute

August ran a hand through his blond hair. ‘Have you heard of Associated Languages School?’

‘Yeah. The owners of the property where Mrs Ming was taken. Old abandoned house in Morris County.’

August stood and began to pace by the cases of beer. ‘This fine language school also employs one of the dead women.’

‘Meggie or Lizzie Pearson? Those were their real names. Lizzie struck me as a person who would not work well with others.’

‘So they’re Nine Suns?’

‘Since they were trying to capture me, and I was Nine Suns’ errand boy, I think not. I believe they are working for someone else who wants to collect the money on Mila. They talked about putting me in a cage and extracting information from me. Apparently kidnapping and interrogation were their specialties.’

‘So we have Nine Suns after Jack Ming, and then a third party, and we don’t know how and even if they’re connected?’

‘We do not.’

‘I would love to have access to Special Projects files to see what we have on the women, but I’m supposed to go back to Langley next week and I’ll be given a janitorial job. Or maybe fry cook in the cafeteria.’

‘That’s honest work.’

‘Nothing wrong with it,’ August said. ‘My career is gone, Sam.’

I considered. ‘Was your boss eager to get rid of you?’

‘Not particularly. But today was a massive screw-up. A head had to roll and it wasn’t going to be his although he could survive the bullet. He could survive anything.’

‘Why?’

‘He’s retired officially, just brought back inside a couple of months ago to stiffen our backs and straighten our spines. Very old school, very much concerned about the honor of the Company, protecting its reputation. His name is Braun. Did you ever meet him?’

‘No.’

‘He retired before our time and came back after… after you left Special Projects.’

‘If you came back to him with new information would he listen?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Is there anyone inside who would help you?’

August sat back down on the cases of Heineken. He looked more tired and frazzled than I’d ever seen him. ‘Maybe Griffith.’

‘Yeah, I kicked him kind of hard and I winged the other guy in the leg. Is he okay?’

‘Yes. And you tried to murder Ming in front of him.’ He shook his head. ‘Why am I talking to you, Sam? We’re done. We have to be done. I have to rebuild my career. I’m nothing without the Company, and, yes, I know that’s pathetic, you don’t have to tell me. I hope you find your kid, more than anything, I hope that. But I don’t see how I can help you.’

‘I can give you Jack Ming.’

‘What?’

‘I can give you Jack Ming.’

August stood up from the beer cases, then he sat back down. ‘But you’re going to kill him.’

‘Yes, I am,’ I said. ‘And then I’m going to give him to you.’

The Last Minute Bar, Manhattan

Mila watched the man sitting at the corner table on the security camera. She had never seen him before. He ordered a small appetizer of tapas, slowly finished his pint of lager.

‘Do you know this man?’ she asked Leonie.

Leonie leaned over and studied the face on the camera. ‘No. I haven’t seen him before.’

Mila had stepped back from the monitor and watched Leonie: the lay of her gaze, the set of her shoulders, the curve of her mouth. ‘I guess Sam was wrong, then.’

They watched the man in the corner get up and leave money for his tab and walk out.

‘I don’t think Sam is wrong about much,’ Leonie said.

‘So what is your plan?’ Mila said. ‘You and Sam get to save your babies and live an exciting, on-the-run version of The Brady Bunch?’

‘I’m quite sure I’ll never see Sam again when this is done. Does that make you happy?’

‘Sam is only a friend. I am his boss. That is all.’

‘Then I guess you’ll never know what you’re missing. That parkour running does hone a body. And he’s been alone for so long, poor thing.’

‘Alone I am sure you are not. For long. Ever.’ Mila seemed to stumble over her English.

‘Your jealousy translates clearly.’

‘Do not confuse jealousy with concern for a friend.’

‘I don’t think I’m confusing anything, sweetie.’

Mila gave a thin smile. ‘Do you know what I like about Sam? He is clueless. He does not know he is attractive. He does not think about it and if you told him he is handsome he thinks you are just being nice. He is down on himself right now because he blames himself for Daniel being in danger. He loved Lucy very much and he doesn’t trust his instincts now about women. He does not know he is a really good guy. So it is easy to take advantage of him right now.’

Leonie was silent for ten long seconds. ‘He’s not a fool and I’m not taking advantage of him.’

‘I am sorry for what you are suffering. Your child being taken. I would not be myself.’

The sympathy seemed to take Leonie aback. ‘I understand you want to help us, Mila. Thank you. I’m not exactly myself at the moment and maybe we’d get along fine under other circumstances. But Sam and I have to do what we’re told and you will forgive me if the involvement of others makes me nervous.’

Mila’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She gave Leonie a searching glance and then she answered her phone. She listened. ‘This is a private call, sorry, do you mind?’

Leonie got up from the monitor. ‘I need a cigarette anyway.’ She retrieved her pack from the desk. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

Leonie walked downstairs. The bar was full, people milling about drinking, the music stopped. She stepped into the warm damp of the humid evening and lit her cigarette. The first two drags calmed her nerves. The man who’d sat in the corner of the bar now stood on the corner of the street. Watching her.

Did Mila have a camera on the front of the bar? She assumed there must be one. These people – whatever Mila and Sam were – were as organized as Nine Suns. She made a show of her pack being empty, shrugged in annoyance, and then she turned and walked in the opposite direction from the man.

She turned left at the light and walked down to the next corner. She stopped inside a store and bought a fresh pack of cigarettes. Then she stepped outside and fished one out and made a show of patting her pocket.

The man she knew as Ray Brewster stepped forward, offered her a light.

She glanced behind her, scared to see if Mila was following her.

He said: ‘You look well, Lindsay. I’d like to say I’ve missed you but I don’t care to start a chat with a lie. Not when we need each other.’

‘Why are you here?’ She managed to keep her voice steady.

‘Two reasons.’

She waited.

‘First. When you and your boyfriend kill Jack Ming, I want whatever evidence Ming has on the Nine Suns.’

‘That’s not possible.’

‘You make it possible.’

‘I can’t steal it; I need it to ransom my child.’

‘Then you are going to tell me where the exchange happens with Nine Suns. I want to know.’

‘Why do you want it?’ She drew hard on the cigarette. ‘Have you switched sides?’

‘No, sweetheart. I have just the one side, mine, as always.’

‘I can’t.’

‘No, Lindsay, you will.’

She looked down the sidewalk again. No sign of Mila.

‘And the other reason?’

‘Have you seen a woman named Mila? She’s connected to Capra.’

‘Why?’

‘I want her.’

Leonie drew on her cigarette. One problem I can make go away, she thought. Two words – she’s upstairs – and Mila would cease to be trouble. She knew Ray Brewster well enough. That smarmy bitch would be as good as taken or dead as soon as she stepped outside The Last Minute.