Betrayal

Chapter 27

“You’re going to have to kill him.” Matt had taken the lead at first light, dawn having broken an hour earlier. “Got to cut the head off the snake or it will always be trying to bite you.”

“I know.”

“But we need a plan to get your daughter back. I can predict he’ll screw you. That’s what he does. The challenge is to allow him to think he’s doing so, and in the process figure out what he did with her. I may be able to help with that. In fact, I’m sure of it. It’ll take some time and money, but fortunately I have plenty of the latter. It’s the time element that will be the problem.”

“What are you thinking?”

“He’s predictable in some ways. And most importantly, he believes that he’s insulated from most things you or I might be concerned with. But I have my own assets, and one in particular can probably do enough research to catch anyplace he’s been sloppy. Whenever you catch a spy, it’s because they screwed up. Arthur isn’t infallible. He’s very smart, but remember that this is an under-the-table deal he has going, so he can’t use company resources to do things like find a home for Hannah. Which means that there will be a trail of some sort. We just need to find it and follow it before he realizes we’re onto him.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“I didn’t say it would be easy. I said it would be expensive and time-consuming. But frankly, I can’t think of a better way to use some of his own money. I’ve been trying to figure out how to bring him down, and this may present an opportunity. What I’m proposing is that you take him out, along with anyone else we can identify as ringleaders in this scheme, so you, and I, are safe. In exchange for that, I’ll spend whatever it takes to find your daughter. This is actually sort of the same deal he made with you, only in reverse. And I didn’t have to kidnap anyone to get you to go along.”

“Let’s say I agree, and we join forces. What’s the next step?”

“You have five million dollars’ worth of diamonds hanging around your neck. The first thing I’d suggest is getting to Bangkok and converting some of that into cash. Once we have cash, we have options. I know a few of the contacts Pu had, and I think I can arrange for you to be able to convert at least a couple million’ worth pretty quickly. Then you have to get some new ID and go to Europe to convert some more — maybe ten million. At that point, you’ve got a war chest. In the meantime, I’ll put my back into discovering whatever can be found. Worst case, I’ve got a pretty simple alternative that can get you close enough to be able to get your daughter back and disappear — after you kill Arthur, of course.”

“Let’s hear plan B, since plan A sounds like you haven’t come up with it yet.”

“I think you’ll appreciate the irony in plan B.”

“Try me.”

They went back and forth, arguing the possibilities in muted tones, still wary of being ambushed by the region’s unsavory elements, and as the day wore on, the outline of a strategy with a realistic chance of success took form.

The going had become harder, even with a minimum of rain, and as predicted, they didn’t make the kind of time she’d hoped for. Night fell, and they were still in the hills, but within ten miles of the border. They took a two-hour break and then pushed on, Jet driven as if by demons, keeping up the pace even though they were both close to exhaustion.

At four in the morning, they crossed into Thailand and discarded all of the weapons except for the pistol. She stowed it in her backpack and then scraped a hole in the dirt and buried the electronics and the sat phone, on the off-chance that they had some sort of tracking technology in them.

They made their way down the hill into Mae Sai and were in town by dawn. Motorcycles and trucks were already prowling the roads, and after grabbing food at a roadside stand that catered to early-rising laborers and farmers, they found a small guest house where they could clean up and rest.

After they had both showered and rinsed their clothes free of the accumulated sweat and grime, they gratefully fell onto the single hard bed and were asleep within seconds.

The bus to Bangkok was a nightmare of unwashed bodies, poor ventilation and a suspension system that had given up several decades earlier. Jet and Matt tried to make the best of it, but by the time they arrived in Chiang Rai, an hour after departing Mae Sai, both had seen enough, and they got off at the bus station and went in search of a car. After some haggling, they convinced a restaurant owner to have his son drive them to Bangkok, and soon they were on their way in the impossible comfort of air-conditioning.

Once in Bangkok, they found a hotel that was modest but safe and checked into separate rooms. Clothes shopping was the first agenda item they quickly dispensed with, along with purchasing several disposable cell phones. Matt wanted to make some calls and find buyers for the diamonds, as well as reach out to his contacts for identity papers. They’d both agreed that it would be unwise to attempt traveling on her passport. Arthur would surely be alerted the moment she crossed a border. Instead, Matt wanted to see how much a genuine Thai passport would cost — one of the nice things about Thailand was that virtually anything could be had for a price.

When they met downstairs for dinner, Jet was surprised at how handsome Matt was once he’d shaved and gotten a haircut — and it looked like he’d had his hair lightened. His deep tan offset his white linen shirt, and she decided that he looked a little like a gracefully-aging surfer.

During their hike, he’d made it clear that he was willing to make available to her as many millions as she needed to get her daughter back and execute those responsible. They’d agreed that fifteen million — the five in diamonds she still had around her neck, and another ten from his bank stash — would be a better than acceptable start, but he’d shown no interest in the money other than as a means to an end.

Once they had ordered dinner and drinks, he having a cold beer and she her customary bottled mineral water, he appraised her with a knowing look.

“What else is going on behind those eyes?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, even though I’ve only known you for a short time, I can tell you’re calculating ten steps ahead. But you seem preoccupied.”

He’d read her accurately.

“I have another problem. I mean, it’s not my problem, but I’m making it mine. Your buddy, Pu, among his many flaws, was a child slave trader, and I want to rescue one of his captives and get her out of a terrible situation. She’s not even eleven yet, and she deserves something better than what she’s been thrust into. It’s heartbreaking.”

He nodded. “The world’s an ugly place, and Pu was part of the worst of it. Tell me what you know about her.”

Jet recounted the story and was just finishing when the food arrived.

“Part of me says it’s not your problem and will unnecessarily complicate things, but another part understands and agrees with you. But she won’t be safe in Bangkok — Pu’s network will still flourish, with him or without him. Sure, there will be some power struggles and a few bodies found floating in the river, but that enterprise will continue or be replaced by an equivalently horrible one.”

“I know. I’m thinking of ways to get her out of that mess. If I can buy her…”

“They may not want to sell, and even if they do, you’ll be on the radar again. I have every faith that Edgar has eyes and ears on the street. He may be new here, but the basic tradecraft never changes. You show up waving money around and he’ll know you’re back in the world within minutes.”

“That’s what I figured. So I’m thinking I’ll do something a little different. But once she’s free, I need somewhere safe to take her.”

“That’s not going to be easy. You’ll run the risk of her being abused or sold back into the trade anywhere she winds up. People suck, and they’ll do anything for money. And no matter what promises are made, the moment you’re out of sight all bets are off.”

“I don’t want to see her go from one nightmare into another.”

They both picked at their entrees, lost in thought.

“What are you going to do once we deal with the diamond situation?” Jet asked.

“Go back into the jungle. My situation hasn’t changed until Arthur and his crew are eliminated. I’ll go back, find some Shan that want to make more in a year than they would in a decade and arm them to the teeth. Until you showed up, that seemed to be the safest bet…”

His eyes flashed in the overhead lighting from the two chandeliers and for a moment seemed to blaze.

“How can you live like that?” she asked.

“I actually like it out there. After a lifetime of subterfuge and treachery and big cities, there’s something peaceful about it — something simple. You wake up every day, hunt or barter for your food, and live in harmony with the land. What? Don’t look at me like that.”

“Harmony with the land? Are you Henry David Thoreau now? Come on.”

He put down his fork and stared into space. She noted the way the corners of his eyes crinkled with the beginnings of crow’s feet and thought that they suited him.

“It’s true. I like it. I feel calmer, more at peace. I mean, I don’t want to live like that forever, but I can do a year or two, no problem. And it beats getting killed in my sleep or crossing the street. The fact is that Arthur can get to me anywhere but there. And with no Pu doing diamond runs, there’s no danger of anyone leading a hit team back to me. No, disappearing into the jungle isn’t perfect, but it’s the best I’ve come up with, and it’s worked so far. I move around a lot — I have four other camps in Myanmar and Laos. I’ll just ditch the one you erased and return to one of the others, and hire an entourage.”

She considered his words as she ate. He had a point.

When the waiter came to take their plates, she reached to take his hand.

“Matt, my new friend. I have another incredibly big favor to ask…”