Chapter 7 #4
Fitz chuckled. “It will be my pleasure. I can see that you’ve learned what a treasure I am.
I’m sorry that I expressed any disappointment that you were not Beyoncé before.
I’m usually not so blind about the worth of my clients.
You’ve truly given both me and my coworkers a challenge on every front.
Beyoncé would not have stood a chance against you. ”
“Thank you.” She made a face. “But to be fair, we all know she has nothing to worry about. Now, how quickly can you pick up what we need and deliver it to us up in the hills?”
“It depends on how quickly we can get Jessie’s cycle unloaded and the two of you on your way.” He tilted his head, thinking about it. “If Jessie’s right about the distance, I’d judge I could have you settled in those hills by morning. Until then, you’d have to rough it.”
“I was right,” Jessie said. “And for Pete’s sake, neither of us is helpless, Fitz.
I served in Afghanistan and Kendra and Lynch had a few missions over there, too.
Just pull over at the next available spot and help me unload the cycle and then get on your way.
I’ll call you with a location for the delivery as soon as we find a good place to set up camp. ”
“I hear and obey.” Fitz grinned. “I didn’t mean any insult.” His smile faded. “But maybe you should think a bit about whether you want to go back there. Cambry might guess that’s what you’d do.”
Kendra shook her head. “It’s the last place Lynch went before he disappeared.
I need to go back there and see if I can find a lead.
From what Cambry told me, he didn’t seem to be all that great a tracker when he was searching for Lynch.
Jessie’s right, we can set up a safe camp and take care of ourselves. ”
“Whatever you say.” Fitz was frowning. “But you won’t mind if I check up on you occasionally? I wouldn’t want to hurt your pride.”
“Like you said, it would be my pleasure.” She smiled.
“You’re excellent company.” She added ruefully, “And I have to admit that when Cambry told me about Korkil’s men being seen up in the hills, it made me a little nervous.
By all means, drop in now and then. As long as it’s just occasionally and you promise not to hover. ”
“I wouldn’t dare.” His grin was back. “Unless I thought I could get away with it.” Then he shook his head soberly.
“Korkil? I’ve heard of that bastard. One nasty dude.
Don’t blame you for wanting to stay out of his way.
I’ve heard stories . . .” He pulled the van into the parking lot of a grocery store and opened the driver’s door.
“Let’s see how fast we can unload that cycle in the back and get it on the road . . .”
KORKIL’S YACHT
CADNOR ISLAND, NORTH SEA
“Dammit, Bremmer, where the hell is Dekker?” Vlad Korkil shouted as Bremmer came hurriedly up the gangplank toward where he was standing on the bridge. “I told you I might need all of you for something special, and he was supposed to come with you.”
“Not my fault,” Bremmer said sourly. “Dekker thinks he’s better than the rest of us.
I let him know you’d be pissed off if he didn’t come right away.
But just because he’s some highfalutin professor, he’s sure that you won’t punish him for doing stuff like this.
” He was scowling. “Just give me the go-ahead and I’ll show him that no one disobeys you.
I don’t know why you haven’t done it already. ”
“Because I didn’t choose to do it,” Korkil said coldly.
“You have no right to think you’re involved with any of my decisions.
You’re only a rather foolish man whom I sometimes allow to obey my orders.
” He added impatiently, “And you can’t even do that efficiently.
How long have you been back in London? It’s been days, and you still haven’t brought that Kendra bitch to me.
I told you I needed her right away. She may be the key I need to my taking over a position that will make all those politicians and billionaires sit up and take notice when I walk into a room.
They don’t realize the power I’ll be able to generate as soon as I make my final entry move.
But they’ll learn.” His lips curled. “I think maybe it’s you who needs to be taught a lesson.
I realize you’re eaten up with jealousy about Dekker, but I won’t have you trying to damage my relationship with him.
He’s much more valuable to me than you are. ”
“Why?” Bremmer’s tone was surly. “I’ve been working for you for years and he’s just a damn newcomer.”
Korkil swore with disgust. “Maybe I should tell you why so you won’t make me this angry again.
Listen to me while I reel off the reasons why your stupidity offends me.
Everyone knows the world is changing around us.
It’s only people like me who are smart enough to know how to cope with it so we can come out on top.
But we sometimes need a little help, so we have to hire people who aren’t smart at all to follow our orders, and when they don’t we either punish them or get rid of them.
But now and then we manage to hire a Dekker, who is not only highly educated but can associate comfortably with the diplomats and professionals who can move my business endeavors forward.
He has also shown an admirable skill in obtaining information for me from whomever I wish because he was trained by his uncle in the Taliban in Afghanistan in the art of extraction by torture.
I find that ability very . . . satisfying.
I’m soon going to need all of those talents when I take my rightful place with other world leaders.
You understand?” He made a face. “You probably don’t.
But you could possibly have a place if you did.
You just have to accept that it’s all about me.
I’ll permit you to have your place as a sort of glorified worker bee in my organization, which will give you a certain position in the order of things.
Even Cambry has been stepping forward and showing me that he knows which side his bread is buttered on and giving me hints that he has ambitions that are growing by leaps and bounds.
You all know that I’m in control and that it’s only a matter of time before you’ll have to come begging if you want favors.
But I’ve chosen Dekker for now, and you’ll all treat him with respect.
I need everything to go smoothly because I’m getting ready for a very big push.
I have something planned that will literally blow everyone away.
” Korkil suddenly started to laugh. “Isn’t that an amusing play on words?
” He stopped laughing. “You’ll all do what I say when I say it.
And one of the things is the woman. She shows signs of being a troublemaker, and I won’t tolerate that. Take care of her, Bremmer.”
“I’ve been trying to locate her.” Bremmer was almost stuttering now.
“We just keep missing her.” He moistened his lips and took another step back as Korkil started to frown.
“I’m trying to get you whatever you want.
But I was just going to tell you that I’m almost certain I’ve located Michaels.
All I need is orders from you about how and when. ”
“And I’ve just given you a lecture about questioning anything I do.
You might take it as a warning that I always have people around me who can give me what I need.
And if they don’t perform, I make sure they don’t survive to disappoint me again.
” His voice was suddenly harsh with barely contained fury.
“I don’t like how everything has been going lately, and you’ve been part of it.
I won’t have it!” He drew a hard breath.
“That’s all going to change. I’m going to call a meeting right away with all the people I’ve brought to build and strengthen my organization and give them their orders.
” He added gratingly through set teeth, “So tell me, what are you going to do to help me?”
“I’ll bring you Kendra Michaels,” Bremmer said hoarsely. “You’ll have her within two days. No excuses.”
“You’re damn right!” Korkil turned on his heel and strode back across the deck toward his cabin. The next instant the door slammed behind him.