We took a moment to sip wine, take an initial bite of our meals, and yes, they’d done the ribeye perfectly. I had trouble holding a knife with my hand macerated, but I made it work.
Between my caginess, Silver’s artwork, and probably the takedown in the park, we’d made a good showing.
Timurhin said, “I’m glad to have you aboard. I wonder if you can guess what we’d like from you.”
“You want the previous representative to be secured, and you want it done discreetly.”
At no point did he ask for a kill, and at no point did I offer one. This was how the game was played. Total deniability all around, until the event happened. Then favors were exchanged after the fact, if all went well.
He continued, “That’s correct. He’s a liability, and the attention is unwanted, as he’s been told. So you need to ensure he understands that in most definite terms. We’ll then discuss other discreet meetings.”
From his point of view, it was very safe. I would kill Randall, so at the very least, they reduced the security risk. Killing him would prove I was serious, and provide testament of my bona fides. They’d also try to acquire evidence of me performing that act, or admitting to it. They’d hold that close for a later threat, if needed. Investment at their end, minimal. With that out of the way, they’d negotiate with me for future kills. If I was a plant, they’d deny all knowledge, and parachute in a platoon of lawyers. I or our government would take the hit. If Randall killed me, they’d use it as an excuse to pay him some severance and cut him loose. He’d have to go freelance to lesser venues. Win-win for them regardless of outcome.
From my point of view, they were asking me to do what I’d already been tasked to do, so I had no moral qualms. I wasn’t being asked to kill some innocent bystander to prove myself. In that regard, they were professionals, not mere thugs. That’s how they’d stayed in business for several centuries.
The only question was if they suspected that was my mission and were playing along? Well, not the only question, but that was the relevant one. This could be a setup, with them feeding Randall whatever intel they acquired. So I’d have to proceed incommunicado again, for everyone’s benefit.
“What is the rate?”
“Seventy-five,” he said.
That was ridiculously cheap, in my opinion.
“You’re aware of his abilities. That’s not enough.”
“You need to demonstrate your proficiency in the task.”
“Certainly. At a discount, not a buffet special.”
“An even hundred then.”
“Is he really working that cheap? I’m disgusted if so. He’s stupid as well as inefficient.”
“It seems quite fair.”
“For really high-profile or dangerous tasks? You don’t go to Lola Aerospace for an orbital tug.”
“One fifty is as high as I will go, no matter.”
“That’ll work as an opener. After I’ve delivered your message, we can negotiate on future deliveries.”
“Acceptable,” he said. I couldn’t see the smirk, but I knew it was there. He figured to blackmail me at that point. He also had deniability. We’d discussed “messages” in hundreds of marks, not assassinations in hundreds of thousands. I’d get paid the proper amount, but he’d try to hold it at that level.
“Then I will tell you when the message is delivered.”
“It must be soon, and quietly,” he insisted. “The last round were too public and visible. That’s a breach of etiquette.”
“Noted,” I said. “I’ll get on it. It will still take several days.”
“There is a time frame here,” he reminded me.
“I appreciate any information you have on location or meetings.”
“He doesn’t meet in person anymore. I have been unable to locate him. That is why I am hiring you.”
Well, the tone had changed here rather rapidly.
“Then I shall get on the task, after dinner.”
The meal was a little tense, though we did manage small talk about the food, the lava formations and the climate.
I hadn’t actually gained anything from this deal. I had a snoopy thug who thought to control me. I wasn’t sure that was worth knowing Randall was on the ropes. We’d already deduced that.
Now, though, I had to worry about them trying to track me, if this went on too long.
We finished, excused ourselves and left. The cool, pleasant evening was hindered by the cloud over the deal.
They had contact through a disposable phone. I had contact through whatever they chose to give me. There were implied threats against me if this didn’t move fast enough.