61
Colin heard Seamus slam the door and wondered if he’d been found out. He felt his cell phone burning a hole in his pocket like a traitorous beacon. He’d cleaned it of any evidence from his calls but wasn’t sure Kevin couldn’t find something if he was ordered to look. That technology was a mystery to him.
Maintaining a calm demeanor, he waited for the man to enter their hovel, a little aggravated that he and Kevin had to stay and babysit while Seamus slept in a hotel. Enjoying hot water and real food, while he continued to stink and eat microwave dinners.
Seamus came through the door, his jaw clamped shut, his veins throbbing in his neck. Kevin looked up from his computer and said, “Bitcoins are transferred. At today’s rate, we have about twenty-four million dollars. It’s all in the wallet.”
Brought up short, Seamus said, “We own the money?”
“Yeah. We have it. It’s in the wallet we made. The one you have.”
Seamus pulled out the paper construction they’d made before. “Are you saying this thing now has twenty-four million dollars in it?”
Kevin smiled. “Yes. That’s what I’m saying.”
Seamus shook his head in wonder. “Okay, I’ll believe you. That’s the only bit of good news.”
Colin said, “What’s the bad news? Where is the team in France? Where’s Braden? You need to give us more information instead of just coming and going.”
Seamus took a seat and said, “We’re under fire. I can’t contact Braden, and I haven’t heard from Ratko again. He’s on the hunt, I’m pretty sure.”
“Then we need to get the hell out of here. Go somewhere else.”
Seamus said, “Where? Where the fuck do you want to go? There is nowhere else. We can’t get a hotel and shuttle in three hostages, and I’m out of safe houses.”
Colin said nothing, not wanting to antagonize Seamus. Not wanting to give him any reason to question.
Looking out the window, Seamus said, “Braden’s gone. I’m sure of it.”
“Why didn’t we get the Snapchat yesterday? Of the other hostages?”
Seamus said, “Because those fucking Serbs hit the apartment. During the planning for the jewel heist in Brussels, Braden probably told them where our safe house was in France, and they hit it. Expecting to find all of us, but they didn’t. They killed the Clute twins and our men. That’s what happened.”
“So what now? If we can’t go somewhere else?”
“They don’t know where we are. We still have the prize.”
Colin stood up, agitated. “Bullshit. Seamus, this thing is falling apart. We can’t continue blindly assuming everything is going swimmingly. It’s not. They had your cell phone number. How did they get that? What else do they know?”
Seamus stood, and Colin realized he’d pushed too far. “They know nothing. Nothing about our mission. They’re bank robbers. They care about nothing but themselves.”
Fists clenched, Seamus glared at Colin, and even given the disparity in size, Colin was afraid. He sat back down and said, “Okay, Seamus. Okay. I’m just asking. We have a lot on the line here as well.”
Seamus turned away and said, “We need to get more men here. Get some protection. Harden this place.”
Colin said, “Why? If we’re hidden?”
“I can’t promise that, and you’re right. They had my phone number. I don’t know how they got that. I mean, I have fourteen different SIM cards at any one time, and they had the one I would answer.”
“But nobody knows about this place. Right? You said that. Nobody but us.”
Seamus looked at him, a sick expression on his face. He said, “Nobody but Braden. He knew. I told him.”
Seamus ran his hands through his hair back and forth, pulling the scalp. Colin sat still, understanding the moment of his departure had arrived.
Seamus said, “I’m leaving again. I’m going to get some bodies for this place. Hard men. We don’t have to worry about the Yanks, but we do need to fear Ratko.”
Kevin said, “What’s that mean? Fuck, man, let’s call it quits. Get out while we still can. We’ve given it a good run.”
Seamus leaned back, staring at the ceiling. He said, “You have no idea of the sacrifice for this. None. Both of you came on late in the game. We quit now, and we lose everything Braden and I fought for.”
He looked both men in the eye, causing Colin to stare at the floor. He said, “You want to quit now, there’s the door. But you’d better remain quiet.” Neither Kevin nor Colin said a word. Seamus said, “Look at me. Both of you.” When he had their attention, he said, “You remember the old ways? What was done to informants?”
Kevin nodded, looking sick. Colin remained mute.
His voice calm, his expression tranquil, belying the gravity of his words, Seamus said, “You can leave with no repercussions, but if you say a word, I’ll fucking power drill both of your kneecaps. I’ll hunt your ass down and maim you for the short life you’ll have left.”
Kevin turned away, tapping the keyboard to his front as if he had something important to do, his fingers trembling. He said, “Hey, Seamus, no reason to start that. I’m with you. Really.”
Seamus said, “Fine. Colin?”
“Of course. I’m with the cause. Wherever it takes us.”
Seamus rubbed his eyes. He said, “I have to find Clynne. Get more drugs for transport and get some help. We’re close to the endgame. The Somalis have done their work, and we’re almost home. Tomorrow, we’ll take the hostages to them. After that, it’ll be a war.”
Kevin said, “And what if Ratko interferes again?” Meaning, What if he comes here?
“He’ll find that we’re more than he wanted to mess with. Fuck his jewels,” Seamus said. “Keep an eye out. They may be close. They won’t attack in the daytime, but they might come looking. I’ll be back later with the reinforcements.”
He grabbed a set of keys off the wooden shelf and left, dialing a phone.