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

Bridger thought—plus, they had good food and even better sweets. He wondered if they were serving in the middle of the night.

“Here comes another car,” Milton reported. “It’s coming from the direction of the Tesla Museum. Speaking of visiting the Tesla, I’d love to tour—”

“Shut up, geek,” Demon snarled.

The new car stopped in front of the restaurant like the SUVs had a moment before. Through his binoculars, he saw one man get out, then enter the restaurant. A dim light glowed through the closed blinds of the long, cantilevered bay window. The car pulled away.

“That’s Vuk, the president’s son. Okay, that’s it. Milton. Beatrice. Bring in the bots and head back to the safe house and get ready. Beast?” Bridger asked.

“I’ve got good shots. Nice and clear.”

Across Krunska Street, Beast hid behind the square concrete pillars in front of the Societe Generale Serbia bank building. Standing in the shadows, he silently clicked photos with his Nikon D750 DSLR camera.

Nikola’s intel proved invaluable. They knew the meeting’s location and when. The restaurant website proved to be outstanding, providing a series of 360-degree views of the interior. It gave Bridger his plan.

Separately, Beast and Snake had had lunch earlier that day to confirm the layout of the interior. Milton and Beatrice made a reservation for dinner and requested the back room for a “romantic anniversary dinner.” During dinner, Milton placed a small HD micro camera and recorder on a bookcase shelf in the room. Disguised as a small wooden box among the other knickknacks, photos, books, and bottles cluttering the shelves, he positioned the device facing toward the red couch and tables.

Milton would activate the device remotely to conserve battery life and avoid detection by Taube’s security team as they swept the room after the restaurant closed. When the meeting was over, a signal to the camera would cause the internal mechanism to overheat and melt.

Leaving Demon to continue as the lookout, Bridger climbed up the hill through trash, bushes, and trees. He hopped down onto a path that sloped down to Prote Mateje Street and a van where Imp was waiting.

“We are on,” Imp announced as Bridger opened the back door. He sat next to Imp and looked at the monitors attached to the interior above a stack of blinking electronics.

On the screen was a clear image of the three men sitting in the private room. Taube was on the couch with his back to the wall. Vuk was across from him with his profile to the camera. A Chinese official sat at the table next to them, his back to the camera and bookcase. A phone was on the table in front of them.

“You are recording, right?” Bridger asked Imp, who ignored the comment.

Bridger sat back and watched the pay-off meeting unfold.

At 6 a.m. that morning, a new Twitter account, @zločinački, tweeted a link to a YouTube video under the same name. A series of tweets followed addressed to the president and including the link to the video. “This is our criminal ‘partnership’ with the Chinese.” “You are criminal working with criminals Serge Taube selling our country to criminals.” “Your @brotherVuk is a criminal.”

More tweets followed, tagging media outlets in the Balkans first, then international news organizations. After those tweets, @zločinački went silent. Within hours, @BBCWorld picked it up and retweeted the video. Retweets and comments by Bellingcat, the online investigative journalism site. Then the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Students from Belgrade University organized on social media and began protesting in front of government buildings.

The most referenced part of the video were the still images of the men entering and leaving the meeting. One video segment with subtitles was replayed worldwide.

TAUBE: This has been a very long process, but I am glad we have made all the proper arrangements. I hope all are satisfied.

VUK: I am satisfied. I plan to eat, drink, and fuck girls. (Video shows Vuk picking up a glass and drinking).

TAUBE: What of the president?

VUK: He will fuck girls, too. Don’t tell his wife! No, but seriously he was concerned with all the press you are getting right—”

TAUBE: There is nothing to be worried about, I told you that. I have my people in the government, so do you obviously (laughter).

VUK: Well, yes. Do you have it?

TAUBE: As we have agreed.

VUK: The three million?

TAUBE: Yes, and the same later. (Video shows Taube handing the case to Vuk, who opens it. Bundles of paper bills are visible.)

VUK: I’m in love. (Video shows Vuk closing case and putting it on the floor between his feet.) Will there be more?

CHINESE OFFICIAL (UNNAMED): There are possibilities, but let us first complete this negotiation. We are expecting no issues with the acquisition of the weapons.

TAUBE: Taken care of.

CHINESE OFFICIAL (UNNAMED): And no issues with the more legitimate infrastructure contracts?

VUK: No problems.

TAUBE: And our Ukrainian friends have received their payments. Correct?

VOICE ON PHONE: Yes.

The Chinese Embassy in Serbia did not respond to press inquiries requesting the Chinese official's identity in the video. At 11 a.m., reporters stationed at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport saw a car with Chinese diplomatic license plates arrive at the private plane terminal. They recorded a video of a man getting out of the car and entering the building from a distance.

In Ukraine, reporters searched for the person on the phone in the ‘Serbia Video,’ as it was now being called.

By noon in Serbia, leaders of the opposition party demanded the termination of the deals with China. Others called for a criminal investigation into the president’s actions, administration, and brother. They also insisted on the immediate arrest of Serge Taube and the seizure of his companies.

At 1 p.m., Bridger called Taube using Nikola’s phone.

“Nikola?” the confused and tired voice asked.

“So sorry, Serge. Nikola will be unable to assist you today.”

There was silence for several seconds.

“Bridger. Of course,” Taube sighed and paused in sudden realization of who was behind the events that exposed the deal.

“I don’t have long to talk, but I wanted to know how your day