The Einstein Pursuit

41

It had been more than twenty-four hours since Cole had detonated the charges in Stockholm. Typically, he would have been halfway around the world by now, basking in the glory of his crime while putting as much space as possible between himself and the authorities. But due to the sensitive nature of this particular job, he was forced to stick around to make sure every specimen had been destroyed in the fire.

If not, he would have to plan another blast.

He had rented an apartment in Stockholm a month before the explosion, paying cash and using an assumed identity. He had needed a base of operations: a place in the same city as his targets from which he could study their every move. He would learn everything he could — the scientists involved, their entry codes, the security measures at the lab and the rotation of the guards — and then he would strike in a way that would ensure success.

Much to his surprise, he had enjoyed his time in the city. Stockholm offered a variety of food and entertainment choices — things he could never find in the jungles, deserts and mountains of his youth. He decided he could get used to the finer things in life, even if he defined ‘finer things’ as simply not having to kill his own dinner.

That had gotten old over the years.

From now on, Cole wanted to be a better class of criminal.

Someone who farmed out the tasks he didn’t want to do.

Which was why he had brought in Masseri.

Cole had hired him based on his reputation alone. They had never met. In fact, there was no reason for them to ever meet. As long as Masseri did what he was paid to do, Cole didn’t need to know him on a personal level. It was a relationship they had developed over many jobs in the past. As long as Masseri held true to his well-deserved reputation as a man who could find and secure anyone, anywhere, there wouldn’t be any issues.

Cole saw no reason why Masseri, having been given an open budget and a handful of men he had used in the past, would have any problems apprehending an octogenarian. He had yet to meet an eighty-year-old who could fend off a trained mercenary, much less half a dozen of them. Yet Masseri had failed to check in during the past twenty-four hours.

When the call finally came, Cole was angry. ‘Where the hell have you been?’

‘I’m still in Pittsburgh,’ Masseri answered calmly.

Both men knew there was no reason to speak in code. The minute this assignment was completed, everything — fake passports, cell phones, credit cards — would be burned. There would be nothing to tie them to either location. Their next mission would bring new destinations and new identities. As such, the only thing they avoided was the use of their real names.

‘Still in Pittsburgh? With the old man?’

‘No … not yet.’

‘What’s the holdup? This should have been a simple assignment. You’re putting me behind schedule, and I don’t like delays.’

‘I don’t like incompetence,’ Masseri countered. ‘So we’re even. Neither of us got what they expected.’

‘What are you talking about? The intel was sound. If you couldn’t find an advantage, that’s on you. Especially given the additional forces I supplied.’

‘Actually, they were the problem. If I had handled this myself, they would still be alive.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘Your men are dead. All of them.’

Cole was stunned. ‘How?’

‘Bad intel on your part. You failed to mention the special forces.’

‘Special forces? What are you talking about?’

‘Does it matter?’ Masseri asked.

‘It does, actually. If you tell me it’s someone from the Bordo Bereliler of the Turkish special forces, or the Venezuelan Special Operations Squadron, or any one of the many, many units in which I have contacts, then maybe there’s something I can do to help. I have more connections than you could possibly imagine. I never thought I’d need to call in a favor to bring in Sahlberg, but if I have to, I have to.’

Cole regretted his words the instant he said them. He knew that no one in their line of work liked to be called out, least of all a professional like Masseri. Supporting a soldier in the field was one thing, but questioning someone’s ability to finish a job was quite another.

He softened his voice and changed his approach. ‘Who are they?’

‘MANIACs,’ Masseri answered. ‘Two of them.’

‘What’s their connection to Sahlberg?’

‘One of them is Jonathon Payne.’

‘Payne?’ Cole asked. ‘As in Payne Industries?’

‘The very same. The other one is named Jones.’

‘And they risked their lives for Sahlberg? Why?’

‘I was hoping you could tell me — after all, you’re the one who failed to warn me of this possibility.’

Cole pondered the new development before speaking again.

Sahlberg was still his focus, but Payne would make for an interesting interrogation. Sahlberg knew the science, but Payne’s secrets would certainly be worth exploring. Given its size, Payne Industries was sure to have a hand in a multitude of R&D divisions. Capturing Payne could open up a whole new world of prosperity. Cole wondered what people would pay for newfangled, cutting-edge equipment — be it a revolutionary new way to mine minerals or a plasma rifle.

At the very least, Payne’s company would pay handsomely for his safe return. Hell, for all Cole knew, there might even be a bounty on him. He had heard tales of corporate espionage taken to extremes, and he wondered if there was an opportunity staring him in the face.

‘I want you to consider Payne a target of opportunity. Sahlberg is the primary objective, but I will double the rate if Payne can be brought in alive,’ he said.

Masseri grimaced. ‘It won’t be easy. I’ve seen what he’s capable of. The old man is one thing, but Payne is an entirely different beast. I want double the rate for Sahlberg, and if I bring in Payne, we’re going to split his bounty fifty — fifty.’

‘Screw you! You’re telling me you can’t handle someone who spends his days in the boardroom? It sounds like you’re slipping.’

Masseri ignored the taunt. ‘Do we have a deal or not?’

‘Fine!’

Cole hung up the phone and laughed. He had no intention of paying Masseri double his rate for Sahlberg. Why would he increase the bounty when it was so much easier to simply kill Masseri for his efforts?

The Egyptian was good, but so were many others.

Easy come, easy go.