Page 53 of Nikolai
“This is a time sensitive offer,” George said cheerfully.He had the guy on a hook.“These opportunities come once in a lifetime.I can give you the coordinates where the nuclear weapons are, guarded only by two people.But as I said, the US military has been called in and they will be there soon.They will scramble, but it takes some time to put together a security team.If you leave right now, you will be in time to get there, eliminate the man and the woman, and grab the nukes.Sell them.There is a huge black market.What do you say?”
“How much do you want?”the voice asked cautiously.
“Ten million.”He’d done his calculations.It was one eighth of the profit de Luca would make.If de Luca moved fast, eighty million dollars would drop in his lap with no effort beyond picking up the nukes and maybe eliminating two people.
Drugs, people trafficking, illegal toxic waste dumping—all of that was remunerative, but not as remunerative as this, and it waswork.This wasn’t work.This was sheer luck.Eight nukes dropping into his lap.
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“You don’t.But I’m not stupid and I wouldn’t lie to you about this.I wouldn’t live to spend the money.”
“True.”There was a long pause.“Send me your bank details.”
George entered his bank account number.“Done.An account number at a bank in Aruba.Once I get the money, I’ll WhatsApp you the coordinates.Delete them as soon as you get them.”
“Of course.Hold on while I send the money.”
George waited until he heard a soft ping from his phone.He checked his account.He’d had close to a million dollars.Now he had just under eleven million dollars.That was fuck-you money.
“Got it,” he said.“I’m sending you the coordinates.”The coordinates had been in the phone call, Nikolai Garin sharing his location with Caroline Munro.Imagine her surprise and horror when Garin’s body and the body of her niece were found at the bottom of the excavation of a Roman villa.
Oops.
With the added advantage that he could continue his monitoring of the Consul’s phone for a while longer.Maybe get up to fifteen million before taking the app out.
Press for that posting to the Dubai Embassy.There would be endless opportunities for money making.
Life was good.
“Got the coordinates.”De Luca’s voice interrupted his reverie.
“Get there fast,” George said and tapped the connection closed.
Nick tookParker’s elbow and directed her to the concrete wall of the tunnel.“Let’s sit down and wait for the cavalry.”
She took one look at his face and nodded.Actually, Nick had been thinking of her, that she needed to rest.But the fact was he needed to rest, too.He didn’t think he was concussed, but he had a raging headache and saw double if he moved his head too fast.
And of course, his shoulder hurt like a bitch.
So sitting sounded pretty good.
He grabbed a tarp that had covered a wooden case of M1 Carbines and shook it out.There was surprisingly little dust.The place had been sealed off for seventy years.He folded it several times so it would provide a cushion over the rough concrete and placed it on the ground.He stumbled slightly as he stood up.Damn!The world turned black for just a second.
But Parker noticed, and without making a fuss, helped him sit down on the floor and then sat down gracefully next to him.
It took him a moment to realize what the fuck had just happened.A woman had helpedhimdown.Him.Nikolai Garin, aka Superman.Tough commando, temporarily as weak as a girl.It was humiliating.
He was holding Parker’s hand with one hand and with the other was holding on to the ground.
Jesus, hehatedfeeling weak.Just hated it.
The blackness passed and his back straightened.He let go of the ground but not of Parker’s hand.
She said nothing of the fact that she’d had to help him down like a child.
She looked over at him and gave a crooked smile.“Would be nice to have the cooler, wouldn’t it?”And just like that, his appetite roared to life.Not just for food.The cooler with food was an hour’s crawl away under a ton of rubble.
But Parker was right here.
