One Rough Man - Brad Taylor [49]
“I’m sorry, my English isn’t that good. Could you please explain yourself?”
“Yeah, I’ll try to make it as plain as I can. Your messenger acted like an asshole and I took him off the project. I’m not involved in any way, and just want to make sure that you know that I don’t have the package, don’t want the package, and don’t even know what it is.”
28
On his Guatemalan estate, Miguel cursed under his breath. Those damn amateurs. He should have known they would screw this up, but he was on a tight time schedule, and they were the only ones who could have reacted in time. His calculator brain began assessing courses of action. The guy on the other end of the phone, whoever he was, was clearly no innocent bystander, as he’d had the presence of mind to call and had fairly good operational security on the phone. Tony and Ed must have said too much, and now this guy wanted a piece of the action. On the other hand, why would he start out by saying he wanted nothing to do with it? Of course, he could be the police, but if that were the case it really didn’t matter. Miguel wasn’t tied to whatever antics Ed and Tony had pulled. The only loss was the package itself, and if this was the police, the whole operation was over anyway. He needed to determine who this guy was, and maybe turn this to his advantage.
“I’m beginning to think you have a wrong number. I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about, but am curious. If you don’t know anything about the package, then how do you know there is one? That seems a little illogical.”
“Look, the person who was supposed to get the package is sitting right here. She told me about it. I’m not involved and just want to make sure you know that I’m not trying to get the package, whatever it is. Your business is with her, not me.”
Miguel had the opening he wanted but was still not sure this wasn’t a trick. “All right, because I’m curious and have nothing else to do right now, I’ll talk to her. Put her on.”
“I will, but before I do, are we good? I’ll get her on the phone, and I’m out of it? I didn’t mean to do anything, but your messengers were insistent.”
“Sure, you’re good. Put her on. Since I don’t know about a package or any messengers, I certainly won’t be upset at you for anything.”
Miguel waited a few seconds, then heard a female’s voice. “Hello? Who’s this?”
He was surprised, but pleasantly so. This seemed to be the real deal, and it didn’t look like the entire operation had been brought to a halt. He still needed the package, but maybe he could get it through her. He dropped his innocent pretenses. “Is this the niece of John Cahill?”
“Yes, this is Jennifer. What do you want? How do you know who I am?”
“I’m a business associate of your uncle’s. He told me that he mailed you a package by FedEx yesterday. Unfortunately, he mailed you something that he had promised me, and I need to get it back. My two friends were sent there to get it from you, but apparently you would prefer to steal what is rightfully mine.”
The phone went silent. After a pregnant pause, the woman spoke.
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a package from my uncle. If you would let me talk to him, maybe I can sort this out.”
Miguel knew he had to manage this carefully. His only lead was the phone call going on right now, and both would likely flee as soon as they hung up. He didn’t even know the man’s name. He needed to turn this to his advantage, bringing the mountain to Muhammad, as his foreign guests would say.
“I’m not sure what else your uncle could add to the conversation. He told me he sent you a package, the method it would arrive, and the date. What I need is that package, and since you have seen fit to prevent my men from collecting it, I’m going to need you to bring it to me.”
“I’m telling the truth. I didn’t kill your guys, Pike did.”
WHAT THE FUCK DID SHE JUST SAY? I jumped up in a spasm, trying to get the phone out of Jennifer’s hands. She turned around in a circle, batting my hands