Page 79 of The Atlas Maneuver

COTTON HAD BOUGHT HIMSELF A TON OF GOODWILL BY SAVINGAIKOEjima’s life. The question had become how to capitalize on that investment. This woman’s, and her nation’s, motivations were not the purest.

“When you had Kelly Austin,” he said, “you told her you knew about the Atlas Maneuver and that you had a source within the bank. Why compromise that source?”

“It was important she understood the extent of our interest. She clearly has no love for her former employer. I thought her knowing we had eyes and ears inside would show her we are on the same side, and that we are informed.”

“And when the CIA made a move on her, you thought she might need a friend.”

“That had been our intention. Of course we never calculated you into that equation.”

Or the fact that he and Suzy knew each other.

No one but he and Cassiopeia knew that.

Ejima drove as fast as the road and traffic allowed back to thegasthaus.

“Austin thought she was doing the right thing contacting theCIA,” Ejima said. “What she did not realize was the extent the CIA would go to suppress what she knew. They are not her friend. And now the bank has been made impotent. Once that is discovered the CIA will, without a doubt, try again to kill her. That way whatever she knows dies with her and the bank is rendered moot. We do not want her dead. I was trying to convey that fact to her.”

“By strangling her?”

“We have found that an element of fear is good in those situations.”

He didn’t agree, but let it go. “Why not just come to Koger and tell him all that?”

“We thought it better to work unnoticed.”

“How’d that work out?”

He saw that his sarcasm had registered. The Japanese were after something, and it did not involve helping America.

They were approaching thegasthausand he motioned for her to park.

“Wait here,” he said, as he opened the car door.

He hustled up the stairs into the building and found Kelly’s room. He tapped on the door. No answer. Another knock. Nothing. This was not a high-tech locale. Locks with real keys only. He tried the knob.

Which turned.

Not good.

He opened the door and saw that the room was empty.

He rushed off to the front desk.

“The woman who came here with me,” he asked the man behind the desk. “Do you know where she is?”

“I saw here leave. About half an hour ago.”

“How did she leave?”

“A car came, with another woman driving.”

A woman? “Did it look forced? Was she in trouble?”

“She opened the door herself and climbed in. That was after she used my phone.”

Not good.

“I need to see your phone.”

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