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

here and in the UK, the true powerbrokers and their descendants are the constant despite any upheaval in politics.” She paused. “It’s a statement of fact, not a commentary on anything about the Christophers. I hope you know that.”

“No offense taken. I get it.”

“By the way, your Lieutenant Baral from Everest called me the other day to thank me for your services and spoke very highly of the work you did with him on Everest.”

“Thanks. Nice guy. Can’t drink worth a damn though,” Matt laughed.

“Let me know when you’re finished there. I will want you back in D.C. to discuss other projects you might be interested in.”

“Ten-four,” Matt said, “I’ll let you know. Cheers for now,” and then the call ended.

After an hour or so, he called Charlie at his office to let him know today might very well be the day it all came together.

“And you weren’t able to connect any of the dots between the dead girls once you realized Rogers was tied to Sinclair?” he asked a second time.

“Not a one,” Charlie assured him.

“And if you had been able to prove Rogers was the killer, Sinclair would have been hands-off as he watched his nephew go to a five-count murder trial?”

“He would have financed the best defense barristers in the land and may have encouraged them to petition that this broken Marine was suffering PTSD and having to deal with his broken legs,” Charlie suggested. “They would have gone for a discharge due to mental issues. They might also have argued a cripple couldn’t possibly have committed the acts, that MI5 set the boy up as a move against the uncle.”

Matt shook his head in disbelief.

“And I thought politics and the system in America was fucked up!”

Both men laughed, but then Matt had to ask his friend one simple question. “Someone isn’t setting me up on this, are they, Charlie? If I thought for a second someone was, someone like Sinclair, if he has ties to my enemies back home, I’d walk and never be heard from again.”

Charlie delayed as he tried to form the words that would assure his friend he was safe.

“You’re in a very strange, very dangerous business, my friend,” Charlie said in a soft tone. “We have joked about it before. It’s like having a part in the Godfather movies. The hired killers always wind up getting in trouble because of distrust and vendettas.”

“Live by the sword, die by the sword, as they say,” Matt responded. Both men were quiet for a time.

“I got you into this one, Matt,” Charlie said. “If you don’t feel safe, if you feel you have to watch your back, then go use one of your many passports, buy a one-way ticket to Tahiti, and get out of this damn business once and for all, mate.”

“Screw that,” Matt came back with, his voice sounding strong and full of enthusiasm. “I’m after a killer of women. If I don’t stop this one, he may keep going. If he’s cleaning up his uncle’s messes, then maybe the uncle needs to go, too.”

“Step away from the coffee, my friend. You’re definitely over-caffeinated now.”

“Time to go to work. Talk soon,” Matt said and then killed the call.

Hours later, his bag packed and left with the bellman in the lobby, he was back on the Express train headed for Paddington and what he hoped would be the final act in this play.

The two men met back at St. Stephen’s Tavern just past 8 p.m. and were able to sit at the same table they had shared during their first meeting a few days earlier. Tourists, locals, and businessmen preferring to stay and drink rather than go home to the missus or an empty residence stood firmly at the bars, laughing it up or drowning their misery.

“I was surprised to get your call,” Rogers said, staring at Matt’s face. “Thought for sure I’d checkmated you with that last demand.”

“It’s all a game, Billy, until the big man upstairs says otherwise,” Matt responded.

“Been meaning to have a few words with him myself when the time comes,” Rogers said with a grin. “Just not yet.”

The two exchanged small talk for a few minutes while they waited for their drinks to arrive. Once the server dropped them off and turned away, it was time for Matt to enact his plan.

“So I accept your challenge, and now I’m going to show you how it all works,” Matt said as he pulled a cellphone from his pocket and typed a brief text.

“New phone?” Rogers noted. “How many of those do you carry?”

“Well, the phone you typed your contact info into last time we were here – that was a disposable burner. Sometimes people enter a number that, once called, turns the phone into a tracking and listening device.”

Rogers listened to Matt’s explanation, his expression registering surprise, as if he had no idea that was even possible. Matt looked at his watch and then back at Rogers with a smile.

“I slid that burner into the bag of an old Irishman and his wife who were boarding the Eurostar train at Paddington for the Chunnel crossing and their ride to Warsaw to visit her ailing mother. Cute couple. Amazing how much people will volunteer while you’re helping them with their luggage. If anyone was tracking it or trying to track me, they’d be somewhere in Eastern Europe by now.”

“That’s brilliant, but– ” Rogers began, only to stop when he saw Matt’s new phone light up with a message.

Matt went on to show Rogers what he considered Spy Stuff 101 to begin his training. Matt slid his chair around so it was next to Rogers. He explained how anything he and other operators did that was clandestine often involved a second and sometimes third verification before information was shared. He showed Rogers that text stating Enter Verification Code 78199000. The men stopped and sat back in their chairs as the server returned for a food order. After begging her to give them