The Export by J.K. Kelly (read along books txt) 📕

as he handed him the device. “Think about this for a day or two, and then I’ll call you to see if you want to discuss this further, okay? My ride’s picking me up for another meeting.”

Rogers typed in his number and then added a second one, returning the phone as Matt stood up from the table.

“One is work, the second is personal.”

Rogers had stiffened already in his chair but slowly mustered the strength to get back up and thank Matt for the beer and the talk.

“You going to pay for the pints?” Rogers asked politely, and in no time, Matt pulled two 20-pound notes from the wad he’d had in his back pocket and dropped them on the table.

“Hate to run, but I think there’s more to talk about. I hope you pick up when I call you in two days.”

Matt knew it had gone well, better than he had expected, but wasn’t sure if terminating the meeting as suddenly as Charlie had suggested was a mistake or not.

“Very sorry to have to cut this short, Billy,” Matt offered as he extended his hand across the table. Minutes later, a black BMW sedan pulled up curbside in front of the tavern, and the passenger side door flew open in front of Matt.

“Let’s go, mate, Lois is waiting, and she’s going to be pissed!”

On the ride to Charlie’s, Matt didn’t have much to say.

“You okay over there?” Charlie asked, taking his eyes off the road for an instant to check on his passenger. There was no response.

“Matt, you good?”

His American friend and colleague turned to respond, but the expression on his face gave Charlie a dire read.

“This guy’s good,” Matt offered. “Scary good. Nobody would ever suspect a guy slowed down by those damn legs to be a threat. If he’s a killer, then he’s going to be a very successful one.”

Thirty minutes later, their journey slowed due to the heavy rush-hour traffic, they finally arrived at Charlie’s modest home in nearby Highgate. He stuck his key in the front door lock and gestured for Matt to enter first.

“Could have walked here quicker,” Matt joked.

But before he even had a chance to laugh, he was suddenly knocked hard to the floor.

CHAPTER SIX

Stunned and lying flat on his back in the entry hall, Matt could feel his attacker’s hot breath on his face.

As Charlie flicked the light switch, he yelled for Lois to get off their guest.

“Bloody dog walker was supposed to leave her in the backyard!” he protested as Matt laughed and fought off his assailant. Finally able to get up on one knee, he began wrestling with Lois, the 170-pound Mastiff that he had known since she was a pup.

“Lois, what the hell have you been eating!” Matt said, his face displaying a look of disgust but his voice full of affection.

“Don’t ask, Matt,” Charlie answered as Matt and Lois continued to wrestle. “You don’t want to know.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Charlie asked when Matt was finally able to rise to his feet while still roughhousing with the massive dog. “I told her you were coming, and she’s been excited ever since.”

“Damn, Charlie, she’s gotten really big!” Matt declared as the dog’s enthusiasm switched from their guest to her empty food bowl on the kitchen floor. Once it was filled, Charlie and Matt were able to uncork a bottle of wine and hope the Chinese food delivery would arrive soon. As Charlie set the table, Matt wandered into the living room and smiled, admiring the massive bookshelves his friend had filled from floor to ceiling on two of the four walls. The dimly lit aquarium remained absent of any fish.

"Love what you've done with the place, Charlie," Matt teased. "I don't think you've changed a thing since I was here last."

“You’re slipping, my friend,” he retorted. “Lois’ bed is now three times the size, but she rarely uses it.” Charlie tossed Lois a treat and then another as she sat on his command and waited obediently for more.

“She’s taken over her half of my bed upstairs,” Charlie said with a laugh as Matt watched them play.

“Wish I had the time and space for a dog,” Matt said, his regretful tone not lost on his friend.

“Dogs are great, but they’re not for you, not with your damn lifestyle, and Bella wouldn’t put up with a dog,” Charlie said in a similar tone. “At least, not this one.”

“Yep,” Matt responded and then changed the subject.

“It’s not quite finished yet Charlie but you won’t believe what I’ve sunk a ton of money into back in Washington,” he said hoping to get his friend’s curiosity going.

“Bought a football team?” Charlie joked.

“Better – I found the woman who helped develop facial recognition technology and I’ve paid her to develop how to get around it.” Charlie sat back in his chair and stared at his friend for a time, watching as a broad smile came across Matt’s face.

“What’ve you done Matt, gone through all the money and now you’re going to start robbing banks?” he asked. Matt took another long draw of his beer and then finished the conversation.

“No Charlie, we’re going to be able to put intelligence assets into China and Russia and all sorts of places without detection. Unless someone is actually watching the video feed for a specific face, we’re very close to being able to confuse the technology and read only a 25-30 percent possible match – which won’t register with anyone. Once it’s operational, think of the possibilities.”

“I already have mate, already have. This could be a game changer.”

An hour later, the food and wine were settled well in the diners, and coffee was next on the menu. Lois, just in from a constitutional in the backyard, was chomping on a bone filled with peanut butter.

“She’ll be on that for a bit, and then she’ll climb into my bed – her bed – and fall out till sunrise,” Charlie said as he looked fondly