The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

Nikola said with a little less enthusiasm. He looked at Taube, who was concentrating on cutting another piece of meat. Embarrassed by his momentary lapse of control, Nikola regained the confidence of a professional soldier. “I will take care of it.”

Taube waved his knife at Nikola like a wand and let out a chuckle. “He will not be alone. He never is. Kill him. As soon as possible.”

“It will not be an issue. I promise.”

Leaving one man to protect their patron, Nikola took the other and ran up the stairs.

11

Asap

Jacob Kirkwood Boardroom

Jessup rolled the fingers on his right hand into a fist. MacBride sat perfectly still. Kirkwood’s face went from raspberry to brick as he looked directly at Jessup. Chapel was smiling and brushing his tie with his hand.

“Walter, why not give Peter here all the details? It is why we are here. Isn’t that right?” Chapel said after the silence lingered a few more uncomfortable beats.

“Yes, Danny. Of course,” Jessup began, with the tone of the law professor.

“That would be great, thanks,” Peter said, picking up the Kirkwood pen and holding it over the Kirkwood notepad.

“I would prefer that no notes be taken,” Jessup told Peter, motioning with his head in a slight nod to Peter’s notepad.

“Oh. Sure.” Chills spiked through Peter’s body at the rebuke. He set the pen down and sat back.

Jessup continued.

“Let me explain. It is somewhat complex. LeonidOre, Bondar’s mining and steel operation, is a new client. We anticipated it would provide a new opening into the lucrative Eastern European and potentially Russian markets. The contract calls for us to upgrade their entire command and control data networks integrating their mining and metallurgical factories. To secure the contract, we agreed to vendor-finance a large percentage of the one billion dollars for the infrastructure and service.”

“It was the largest contract for Kirkwood in many years. It came at a critical moment,” Kirkwood interjected. “Critical.”

Peter saw the cheeks of the CEO’s round face flush to a shade of pink.

“The financing went from Kirkwood Credit Corporation to Ukraine Standard Bank, which is owned by the Viktor Bondar family.”

Jessup paused and then took over again.

“As collateral on our one billion dollars, Bondar pledged stock in LeonidOre and some of his other commodities assets. We sent them half, five hundred million dollars. As of today, Ukraine Standard Bank has failed to repay KCC on the loans as agreed. The whole deal was consummated in bad faith on their part. They have ceased payment on the loan. They are not responding to our inquiries.”

“The case Walt, get to the case,” MacBride said.

Peter saw Jessup try to conceal his growing annoyance at MacBride. Peter wasn’t surprised. It was no secret in Kirkwood's rank and file that the two men were often at odds over the company’s future. Jessup, the lawyer and risk-averse. MacBride, the entrepreneur and willing to take the risk for the reward.

“George was in Ukraine to try to, um, clear things up with them,” Kirkwood said, as he gently rubbed his face with his hands as if to wake up from a bad dream. When he lowered his hands, his cheeks had moved from pink to raspberry. “Why did he go?”

Peter sat forward and picked up the pen. Jessup twitched, preparing another warning, but stopped when Peter started only to lightly tap it on the Kirkwood notepad.

“The case, Peter,” Chapel said, “contains sensitive proprietary information for Kirkwood. Fortunately, the case is the type that requires certain biometric keys to open. It is hoped that this will give you time to locate it before they do so.”

“Why did he have it?”

Everyone but Jessup let out a sound that told Peter he had asked the big question.

“Excellent and astute question, Peter!” Chapel said, which to Peter sounded like he was Sherlock Holmes on a new case.

“Sensitive documents are all I will say, and it doesn’t matter. Retrieving it is your primary focus.” MacBride patted Peter on the arm as he gave him his mission.

“Are you saying Bondar killed him to avoid paying or to get the case? He was murdered?” Peter asked.

“We do not know. I hope to heavens not,” Kirkwood said.

“We will let the local authorities tell us what happened,” Jessup said, staring oddly at Kirkwood when he spoke. “We are not exactly certain where the case is at this moment, but you must find it. That is the priority,” he added in the tone of a lawyer telling a jury they can only decide the case in his favor.

“I have all the confidence in the world in your abilities,” Kirkwood said. He gestured with both hands toward MacBride and Jessup. “We all do.”

The lawyer and the strategist smiled and concurred with their CEO.

“I most wholeheartedly agree,” Chapel said, running his hand along his tie.

Peter sat, absorbing their comments. Peter wouldn’t say no. He couldn’t and wasn’t sure he wanted to, anyway.

“Wonderful. Thank you, Peter,” Kirkwood said, declaring the meeting was over. He walked over and shook Peter’s hand. His face had returned to its usual light fleshy pink. “The company is counting on you.”

“How much time do I have?” Peter asked.

The men once again looked at each other. Their faces grew more severe as they seemed to be communicating and deciding how to answer with only the expressions in their eyes.

Peter knew what was coming. He waited in the silence for the answer.

Kirkwood stood and looked at the painting of his father hanging over the door the CEO had walked through moments ago.

“We need it as soon as possible. ASAP,” Kirkwood said.

As soon as possible. Peter hated ASAP.

“Can you give me an idea of when, exactly, you’d like to have this?”

“Two weeks. We announce our results in three weeks,” MacBride replied.

“We would like this resolved in advance of that,” Jessup clarified.

Peter remained silent, looking as if he was making some secret spy calculations in his head.

Peter stood and returned the handshake. “I will do my best.”

Jessup picked up the folio and looked once more across the table