“No, just private industry and commercial material.”
“Very interesting,” I repeated. “No one came after him before, because of the risk of it being tracked. So Randall’s marketable enough to expand. Very bad news. At the same time, those outfits are not going to be interested in paying extreme amounts of money. It’s just not worth their time. This means his rates are palatable. I’m not sure where to price it, but I’m going to start with an estimate range of fifty K bottom and a mil top. I doubt this project was over two hundred K.”
She wrinkled her brow and thought while I spoke, and replied, “I can try to find who’s made recent reportable threats. They may not have been public. This also suggests he’s trying to keep the jobs going and as you say, expand them. He wants or needs more money.”
“Yes, we’re closing in. I know I keep saying that, but we have to expect a point where things will start to move very fast, and we may not have time to plan for it.”
“Understood,” she said. “And the visit on the shop was productive, too?”
“Somewhat. I need to get back there and do more, but not while their crew is on site.”
“Yeah, that’s impressive.” She grinned. “I’m proud of myself. We beat the local cops on scene.”
“You should be,” I said. “Dinner when this is all done.”
“You’re gracious,” she said.
“I appreciate my troops.”
The mutual cheering came to an end when the room comm chimed. That was unexpected.
I gave Silver a nod, and I ducked for cover in the bathroom. I nodded, and she clicked the intercom. “Yes?”
“I need to speak to Mr. Jelling, please.”
That got my attention. I nodded. Silver gave our room number.
She turned to me and said, “I’m nervous.”
“As am I. Let’s see what this is.” I indicated the door, and I stayed back, weapons handy. If they wanted me, a pro shouldn’t kill Silver. It would slow them down and alert me. If they wanted me, she’d be behind them.
CHAPTER 16
Shortly there was a chime at the door. Silver looked to me, I nodded, she opened it.
A young woman stepped in. Average size. Pretty brunette. Business typical with ringneck shirt and jacket. She held ID.
“I’m glad to have caught you,” she said. “I’m Courtney Petersen with the embassy.”
I stepped out, took the ID, examined it, handed it to Silver, who scrutinized it in detail. She nodded and handed it back.
“How can I help you?” I asked. I was not happy with any contact. It could only serve to mark me.
“Your target has been apprehended. We’re trying to lower the recognition footprint, and want you to come in. We’ll do another ID change and get you home.”
“Really. Someone else brought him in. Who?”
“Sir, I don’t know. I was simply told to locate you and relay the information. I don’t even know your real names, or that of the target.”
It was possible, I suppose. Though I couldn’t imagine Naumann doing so. He’d tell me . . . how?
That was a problem. He hadn’t said there was another team out, but of course, he wouldn’t, and multiples did offer some advantages. I could also easily see a diplomat wanting to do something like this, to reduce “tensions.” They tend to hate secret ops. Reasonable, from their point of view.
“Who is the ambassador at the moment?”
“Citizen Cambara.”
“I know him slightly. How does he handle repeat or obnoxious calls?”
“He tells his assistant to ‘tell them I’m dead.’”
That sounded like him.
“Who’s head of security?”
“Lieutenant Riggs.”
I’d never heard of him or her. No reason I should have. She was comfortable offering answers, though.
“What’s your official position?”
“Military Liaison Office. I’m the junior coffee girl.”
That didn’t sound right. Coffee isn’t all that popular with us. We prefer chocolate. Her accent was very good, but that can be learned, and I’m not in a position to study them.
“What unit did you do Basic in?”
“Second Recruit Training Regiment.”
That didn’t sound right either. When you ask someone that, they rattle off their platoon and company. Recruits are only barely aware that Regiment exists, except as a fact to be memorized.
“Who was your instructor?”
“Sergeant Instructor Abernathy. Look, sir, I’m happy to answer questions all day, but can we do so on the way to the embassy? Our schedule is somewhat tight.”
“We have fresh ID,” I said. “With that noted, we can make our own way out. It’ll be less apparent than the embassy, which is certainly observed by multiple parties.”