Calypso Directive by Brian Andrews Page A

pay the negotiated fee . . . in its entirety.”
    Meredith swallowed, trying to maintain her composure. Zurn was willful, motivated, and nefarious. By circumventing her firewalls and piercing her veil of anonymity, he also demonstrated more prowess than she had given him credit for. She suspected that her personal safety would be at risk if she crossed him. Best to keep the viper’s fangs pointed at somebody else. She cleared her throat.
    â€œEverybody deserves a second chance, I suppose. What do you intend to do now?”
    â€œI need to broaden the search radius. Europe is not like it used to be. Foster will be able to travel easily between countries if he stays inside the European Union. Once he is on the move, I may have to hire additional resources, and that means more money.”
    â€œUnder no circumstance can he leave the Czech Republic. With every passing hour, with each mile of ground he covers, the probability of locating him plummets. Your failure left me no choice but to make the Czech government aware of certain details of the situation. Official efforts are underway to locate and quarantine Foster. The Czech national police and INTERPOL are now involved. Border checkpoints are being set up on all the major roads. If he tries to board a train or airplane out of the country, he’ll be detained,” she said.
    â€œThis complicates things considerably,” the bounty hunter said. “What if the Czechs apprehend Foster before I do?”
    â€œThen you’ll need to orchestrate a kidnapping and take him back.”
    â€œIf he is placed in military quarantine, that will be impossible.”
    â€œYou’re the one who refuses to quit. So I suppose that makes it your problem.”
    â€œNo, Ms. Morley, it’s yours. We tried playing by your rules and things didn’t work out. From this point forward, we do business my way, using my methods.”
    She felt a knot form in her stomach. Who the hell did Zurn think he was, dictating terms to her? He was working for her, not the other way around. “You listen to me—I want Foster alive and unharmed. That is nonnegotiable.”
    â€œMaybe you didn’t hear me. The arrangement has changed. You’ll take Foster in whatever condition we deliver him. He’ll be alive, but that’s the only promise I’ll make,” Zurn snarled. “By the way, if you get any ideas about withholding payments or trying to cross me, well, let’s just say your dirty little secret will no longer be a secret. When the journalists at the BBC and CNN hear about this, they’ll jump at the chance to help. Just think, with the power of broadcast media, and an army of concerned European citizens helping, your precious Foster will be located in no time. Maybe you’ll even be interviewed on television.”
    Her blood boiled. She loathed negotiating from a position of weakness; it was like jousting with a broken lance. Desperation begets weakness, and she had grown desperate.
    â€œYou are a persuasive man when you want to be, Zurn. When you find Foster, maybe you can try putting your persuasive powers to the test before clubbing him over the head. I think the end result would be better for all parties.”
    â€œ Nicht . Clubbing is much easier. Plus, none of the annoying American empty threats to listen to. Oh, and one more thing, from now on I deal directly with you. No more intermediaries.”
    She resisted the urge to slam the phone down on the receiver. In hindsight, hiring the Zurn brothers was a terrible mistake. Partnering with unsavory actors of the underworld was a tricky business. In the devil’s bargain, the negotiated price is never the final price, and the final price is always more than you’re willing to pay. To level the playing field she needed divine intervention.
    She checked her watch: 1:07 PM. A little early for scotch, but damn it, she needed a drink.
    She walked over to the maple wood