“Across from the living room. But I didn’t have a chance to try to get into his computer before I heard you causing a ruckus.”
“Then we’d better go do it now.” He said curtly to Zwecker, “Get some clothes on. We’re going to go to your office, and by the time we leave it, I’m going to know everything that you know about Nicos’s operation.”
“I don’t know anything,” he said quickly. “Why should I? I’m only a tech expert. I set up Nicos’s system, but I don’t have any information about what he enters into his files.”
“You might make someone who didn’t realize how good you are believe that,” Lassiter said. “But I know a little something about computers, and I looked at how many calls Salva made to you. They must have had you do constant adjustments to make that file work efficiently for them. And I’m wondering if they didn’t have you set up other files concerning other Nicos enterprises.”
“I don’t know anything,” Zwecker said stubbornly. “I just set it up.”
“No, you didn’t. You created that file and made it yours. And it’s so complicated that I’d bet you wouldn’t have been able to resist putting in a command to slip out a copy into your personal computer. You’re going to tell me every detail of what’s on that file. Do you understand?”
Zwecker shook his head. “Why? Nicos will kill you as soon as he finds out that you came and threatened me.”
“He’s not going to find out. He’s a dead man. Now get your bony ass in gear. We’re going to go to your office and start work.” He reached down and picked up the knife Zwecker had dropped. “And if you’re cooperative, I may not cut off any of your fingers. That would make it so difficult to operate a keyboard, wouldn’t it?”
Zwecker’s eyes widened, and for the first time he appeared uncertain. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“No? I’ve spent eighteen months trying to find a man whose location has probably been at your fingertips for that entire time.” Lassiter’s voice was soft but icy cold. “I won’t go into what Nicos has been doing to him during that time. You might even already know. You said he trusts you.” He stared Zwecker in the eye. “Look at me. Then tell me I won’t do anything I have to do to make sure that I find out what I have to know.”
When Zwecker finally pulled his gaze away, he was pale. “I’m just a tech.” He moistened his lips. “And Nicos would kill me if I told you anything.”
“And I’ll kill you if you don’t. I’m the devil you know. I’d advise you not to be concerned about Nicos. Worry about me.” He glanced at Mandell. “My friend Mandell here and I will take turns questioning you. We’ll start on the little programs and build up to others. I have an idea we may find a few interesting nuggets that you’ve squirreled away in your own computer. But I’m not going to waste my time. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll start on the index finger of your left hand. I don’t want to interfere with your dexterity by disabling your right hand in case you become more sensible. You might be able to access your own data quicker than I can. I’ll break that index finger first. Then if you don’t begin to answer, I’ll show you the knife again. Is all that clear?”
“Yes,” he said hoarsely, his eyes now wide with fear. “But I’m just a tech.”
“Don’t say that again. I know exactly what you are. And now you know what I am.” He turned to Mandell. “Get him started by having him give us his own password to bypass his firewall. I’ll go make a pot of coffee. I figure we can afford giving him until noon before we have to get on the move.”
“I can’t let you have my personal password,” Zwecker said quickly. “What good would that do you? You’re after Nicos.”
“Ah, maybe I struck a nerve? Interesting…”
Trinidad
10:35 A.M.
“The password for Nicos’s file is Bakulu,” Mandell said as Lassiter walked into the office an hour later. “It’s some kind of monster voodoo god who ruins lives and causes pain. The file is a nice healthy one. And Zwecker evidently has his own copy of this file, as he does several other of Nicos’s directories. He was just about to break it down for me.”
“Good.” He glanced at Zwecker. “You didn’t exactly earn that trust that you said Nicos gave you.” He made a clicking sound with his tongue. “I’m certain Nicos wasn’t aware you have your own copies, was he?”
“It was just a protective measure, a backup,” Zwecker said sourly. “In case there was a loss of power or something of that nature.”
“And you think Salva would approve of that backup?” He dropped down in a chair, his gaze on the screen. “Somehow I doubt it.”
“I wasn’t intending to—” He shrugged. “It was only smart to take out insurance in case Nicos decided that I wasn’t reliable. He’s a little erratic.”
“Tell me about it.” The heading at the top of the file was NALSARA. Lassiter’s gaze was going down the subheadings. He could feel the excitement grip him. “NALSARA. What do you know about this, Zwecker?”
“It’s the name of a camp, an installation in northern Columbia. I assumed it was some kind of drug-related storage facility. You see that it has employees, transportation, and supplies listed. It’s deep in the rain forest and the supplies have to be trucked in from the coast. The forest is so thick and impenetrable that there’s no place to land a plane or helicopter anywhere nearby. Here are the dates of deliveries and receipts for salaries. Salva is very efficient.”
“And how many people are at this facility?”
Zwecker pointed to the employees list. “Twenty-two on staff who are paid bimonthly.”
“You’re sweating. You’re hand is shaking.” His eyes narrowed on Zwecker’s face. “You’re lying or not telling me everything. Why?”
“I’m telling you what—”
“I think it’s time we start on that index finger, Mandell.”
“Wait.” Zwecker hesitated. “There may be other people down there. The food-supply orders indicate that there may be.”
Lassiter went still. “How many?”
“How should I know? I could be wrong. I just found it curious.”
“How many more?”
“At least six.”
That meant five more of Nicos’s enemies he’d kept prisoner who might have been suffering as much as Patrick had.
“Six,” he repeated.
“I thought it was nine, but the food order went down a couple months ago,” Zwecker said impatiently. “What difference does it make? It probably doesn’t mean anything. I just thought it was curious.”
“And you wanted to explore every aspect of Nicos’s little kingdom in the jungle,” Mandell said. “Were you thinking about blackmail?”
“Maybe.” He scowled. “If I could do it without getting myself killed. Nicos wanted that camp to be kept very confidential. He had to have a reason.”
“You said drug storage? Truth?”