The Discarded

CHAPTER 3

“Was I right?” the client asked, her frustration coming through loud and clear over the phone line.

Ethan Boyer, vice president of special operations at McCrillis International, paused for what he considered an appropriate amount of time before saying, “I can’t help but wish you had come to us in the first place. If the project had been ours, you would have had no lingering doubts.”

“Was I right?” she asked again.

“To be concerned? Absolutely.”

“So you did find proof.”

“We found indications.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means those we’ve questioned so far weren’t interested in cooperating, which leads me to believe they were hiding something.”

“Were?”

He hesitated, confused. “You did order a full wipe-down.”

Her instructions had been clear. Find out if the operation she’d contracted another organization to perform had been carried out as planned, as the company claimed, or if she hadn’t gotten the whole truth, like she’d begun to suspect. In the process, the McCrillis team was to eliminate everyone associated with the operation so that no one would be left to divulge what had occurred. Which was exactly what Boyer’s specialists were doing.

“Jesus, Ethan. I know exactly what I ordered. I just want to make sure you’re getting everything out of these sons of bitches before you eliminate them.”

“We’re dealing with professionals here, so our usual means of information extraction aren’t always as successful. But rest assured, we will find out the truth out of those we’re still processing. That’s why you came to us. Here at McCrillis, client satisfaction is everything.”

“Can the PR speech. Just find out if they really got rid of the girl or not.”

“That is our top priority.” He paused. “We have yet to discuss what happens if we find out she’s still alive.”

“What’s there to discuss? If she is, then I need your people to finish the goddamn job.”

“It may take some time before we know the truth,” he said, salivating at how lucrative this job could turn out. “Months, maybe more.”

“I don’t care how long it takes. Find out if I’ve been screwed, and if I have, rectify the situation. Can I be any clearer than that?”

He smiled. “No, ma’am. Your wishes are fully understood.”