The naked edge

5

In one of the city's lovely parks, Carl sat, watched a bicyclist go past, nodded to a woman with a stroller, smiled at children on swings, and worked the combination lock on the briefcase. The case was dull brown, attracting no attention. He slid his hand inside and felt past five thousand dollars, a pistol, an extra magazine, fifty rounds of ammunition, a knife, small rolls of duct tape, fake ID, and other necessities. He gripped a cell phone. His previous phone had been destroyed by the river. He pulled the new one out, closed the briefcase, and enjoyed the pleasant morning.

Then he couldn't postpone his business any longer. He pressed numbers on the encryption-equipped phone and waited. After two rings, the connection was completed, although the person on the other end didn't speak, presumably waiting to learn which language to use.

"This is Bowie," Carl said.

"You disappoint us."

Carl felt his chest harden. "Things went wrong. They couldn't be helped."

"You accepted our money but did not produce results."

"I got some results. The mission isn't a total failure."

"You sound like a child making excuses."

Carl's muscles tightened, now because of anger. "It was a unique situation. The next time, the person who caused the problem won't exist."

"Your friend? If he had been available to us, the mission would have succeeded."

Carl bit the inside of his cheek.

"You will return the fee we already paid you," the voice said. "One million dollars. An electronic transfer. By noon tomorrow."

"Of course."

"You will also return the money we paid for expenses and preparations."

"You know it's been spent. Where am I going to find three million dollars?

"Perhaps from your friend," the voice said acidly. "We need to meet. To discuss what has happened."

I'd never survive the meeting, Carl thought. "Well, at the moment, that's a little difficult. The authorities are hunting me. I'm trying to get out of New Orleans."

"I don't mean today. That's impossible. I'm flying to the Philippines."

"And you feel comfortable talking about this on a plane?"

"A private jet. I arrive in an hour. When you reach a secure location, contact me again. I'll tell you where to meet me."

Carl felt a weightless sensation, as if a trap door opened beneath him. As soon as I arrange an electronic transfer of the money, he'll invite me to a meeting and have me killed. Perhaps he'll do it himself.

"On a plane? Are you passing the time, trying to figure out how to open the secret knife I gave you?"

"That's another way you disappoint me. Your ridiculous knife doesn't work. I tried every possible combination."

"Sure, it works. Have you got it with you?"

"In my pocket."

"On the top combination, turn the man in the moon to two o'clock. On the bottom combination, turn the arrow to Roman numeral X."

"I already tried that! Nothing happened!"

"Try it again."

Impatient, the voice said, "The same result! Nothing!"

"Did you release the catch?"

"What catch?"

"Recessed into the bottom of the handle. See the little hook?"

"You didn't say anything about that. It's barely visible!" the voice complained.

"Pull it."

"This had better-"

The transmission ended.