Page 57 of Fear No Evil

Weak!Comandante Marquez was too weak to be a good leader. Thank goodness for the Venezuelans who would make the FARC strong again. But ignoring the potential for spies in their midst was a big mistake. Rojas wouldn’t be so cavalier about the possibility. Gallo needed only a minute of the general’s time to put a bug in his ear.

Crammed once again into the officers’ quarters with Arias and the other peacekeepers, Maggie digested the news he relayed to the team: The FARC had accepted Boris Mayer’s counterproposal‍—two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for Jay Barnes, ten thousand dollars for the body of Mike Howitz, and the release of the three JUNGLA captives in exchange for the five FARC captured at Calamar. There was just one caveat: The money had to arrive in the form of cash, via a helicopter, to a field designated by the FARC near the base of the mountain on the northeast side.

Maggie shared a stunned look with Jake. His SEALs might not have to rescue the hostages after all.

Bellini broke the silence. “How do we come up with that sum?” A bead of sweat rolled from his dark hairline.

With the approach of heavy rain clouds, the officers’ cramped quarters were as humid as a sauna. Each UN team member eyed Boris with varying degrees of hope and cynicism.

Boris scraped a large hand over his bristly jaw. “It is possible,” he said, each word carefully measured. “A better question is whether it is ethical to agree to such extortion, as it only encourages the FARC to kidnap again.”

Bellini and Esme’s faces fell. Those two were clearly willing to accept the FARC’s terms.

“Then again…” Boris seemed to be thinking out loud. He sent an enigmatic glance at the seated Argentine, who appeared to have shrunk in size yet again. “I started a fund years ago that can cover the sum for Mike Howitz’s body. And Jay Barnes has an insurance policy that pays up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in the event of his kidnapping. All that is needed tosecure that sum is for Mr. Barnes to write a letter in longhand, requesting the amount be paid to a designated carrier.”

Maggie caught back a cynical snort. Insurance, my foot. More likely, the CIA had reached out to the UN lead before this mission, informing him of what they were willing to pay for Jay’s release. Once again, Boris had kept a card up his sleeve, waiting for just the right moment to play it.

The team members held a collective breath.

“So…” Bellini broke the silence. “We are agreeing to the FARC’s counteroffer?”

Arias held up a blue-veined hand. “Wait, there is one more thing. The exchange must take place within forty-eight hours.”

Everyone’s eyes rounded. They looked to Boris for his response.

The mention of a timeline seemed to add another crease on the German’s large forehead. Raising a hand, he tried to rub it away.

Maggie addressed Arias directly.“Por qué tanta prisa?”What’s the hurry?“They kidnapped Barnes and Howitz four months ago. Now, suddenly, there’s a deadline on their ransom?”

Esme, who rarely spoke up, suggested, “Perhaps they’re just desperate for men and money.”

Bellini nodded fervently. “Well, we have seen firsthand how hungry they are.”

Until recently. Maggie kept her thoughts to herself. The world would soon discover that the FARC now had the backing of the Venezuelans. Maybe that was why the rebels were so eager to make a deal‍—they wanted the peacekeepers to leave before they learned who was backing them.

“The time constraint is problematic.” Boris was frowning, deep in thought. “I would need to communicate with the outside world immediately so I can contact the right people and makethe account transfers. Freeing the five captives from prison, securing the funds‍—there is always red tape involved.” He drew a tight breath before blowing it out.

Maggie eyed him with concern.Don’t stroke out on us, Boris.

Both Esme and Bellini seemed to wilt in the face of Boris’s pessimism. Jake’s steady blue gaze suggested the exchange was still possible.

Charles threw his hands into the air. “When does this time constraint begin? And what happens if the money isn’t here in two days, eh? Are the FARC going to kill the remaining hostage?”

Arias blanched at the mention of anyone being killed. No doubt, he worried that might be his own fate. “I will tell General Rojas you are willing to cooperate but that you require a satellite phone and more time.”

Boris nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, except high-speed Internet access would be better than a satellite phone. We must have seventy-two hours to make this work and access to the Web. Please convey this counteroffer to Rojas.”

“Very well.” Arias’s final words were scarcely audible. A second later, he pushed to his feet and tottered toward the door.

As he pushed it open, Maggie’s gaze went past him to where Gallo was sitting on a stump, cleaning his pistol. His dark gaze, full of malice, met hers, causing her scalp to prickle. She knew that look. What had she done, exactly, to exacerbate themondo’s dislike of her? God forbid David had said something to rouse his suspicions.

As they prepared to file out of the officers’ quarters, Boris said to his team in a quiet voice, “If they give us more time, then this will work.” His encouragement was meant to raise Bellini’s and Esme’s flagging spirits.

Glancing at Jake, Maggie wondered at her lack of excitement. It wasn’t like she wanted to stay on El Castillo any longerthan necessary. But leaving this muddy mountain meant leaving Jake, whose company she wasn’t ready to relinquish just yet.

Don’t be selfish. This mission was about freeing the captives, not about her. Apart from Howitz being dead, negotiations were exceeding everyone’s expectations, and both the CIA and Southern Command knew way more than they had a week ago. The last time Jake had checked his phone, a thumbs-up from the JIC meant they now had the precise location of two rebel camps. Thanks to the watch, they likely knew exactly where to find General Rojas.

Even so, Gallo’s dark expression suggested things weren’t as groovy as they seemed.

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