Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty by Mark E. Cooper

hand but didn’t take it. He would need his hands if this went sour. “Zhang,” he said with a slight nod, “and this is?”
    Zhang lowered his hand. “I think you already know, but in case I overestimated you, may I introduce Daniel King? Daniel, this is the man I told you about, Eric Martell.”
    King didn’t offer to shake. “You have a novel way of gaining my attention, Martell. Your free sample certainly did.”
    Eric relaxed a little; this didn’t feel like a prelude to an attack. “I’ve found it quicker and it usually works. I like to do my groundwork before meeting clients and getting down to the practical applications of what I can offer.”
    King didn’t smile. “President Thurston’s secret police are watching your suite. They have it wired.”
    Eric shrugged. “I know.”
    Secret Police indeed. King was trying to portray himself as a patriot fighting the good fight against a despot. Eric managed not to laugh. It was amazing really, how many of these people used the same rhetoric when justifying themselves. He had heard it all hundreds of times before. He was beginning to wonder if they had read the same terrorism manual, because they all seemed to be using it for their bullshit.
    King blinked. “You know?”
    “Of course. No need for concern, there’s nothing for them to find there. Everything I need is in my head.” He tapped his temple with a finger. He didn’t tell them that he had found their surveillance as well as the government’s gear. “All they have is my underwear and spare uniforms.”
    A splutter of laughter burst out of Zhang. He turned to his brother. “See what I mean?”
    King nodded. “The two million will hit your account in...” he checked his wristcomp. “About twenty minutes. Come inside to wait. You have the means to check our deposit here?”
    Eric nodded, patting the pocket containing his wands.
    So, no attempt to disarm him and they would definitely assume he was armed. He would have in their place. The mention of the money clinched it. He was in the door... more or less.
    King lead off and Eric followed. Behind him, car doors opened and eight men brought up the rear. Eric targeted each one, but did nothing outwardly offensive. It was precautionary only. He would do nothing to halt progress. He had gained some ground, but he wasn’t in yet.
    Zhang led them into an empty office, not his own Eric noticed and wondered why not. Maybe all his employees weren’t in the loop. Eric glanced around as King took one of two swivel chairs near the desk. Zhang headed for the autochef. Eric turned as two of the escort entered the room and closed the door. Before it closed fully and they blocked any approach to it, Eric saw the other six men arraying themselves along the corridor outside. Not very trusting, he thought with an internal grin.
    Eric didn’t seat himself, but did take a coffee from Zhang when it was offered. He grimaced at the taste. He detested decaf. “Assuming the transfer goes ahead without problems, what do you envision my role will be?”
    King turned his chair and looked up at Eric. “I’ll assume you know the situation here so won’t waste time reiterating. Normally I wouldn’t be meeting with a recruit like this, but your unorthodox approach appealed to me. You’re no ordinary recruit and I don’t expect you’ll need that gun under your arm. I have plenty of trigger pullers. I want you on my team devising strategy.”
    Eric nodded; smart man to be thinking along those lines. It was exactly what he wanted King to think, but he hadn’t needed to guide the man. It being his own idea should bolster King’s trust in him and give better access to what he needed. If they had just recruited him as plain soldier, he could have been posted as a guard at the arse end of nowhere and unable to learn what he needed.
    “You are fortunate,” King went on. “Your plan worked so well that it occurred to people I trust that you might be an operative working for