The Russian Deception

CHAPTER 28

Gutenberg sat in his darkened room, brooding over the failure in Vienna. It would have been good to start with the woman, a cruel blow to the heart of the team leader, Carter. He had anticipated the reaction when a tape of Selena's horrible death reached her husband. Now that pleasure would have to be postponed.

There would be other opportunities. Perhaps he was being too selective, too caught up in the psychological game of mental punishment. Perhaps it would be better to simply eliminate them all in the most efficient way possible. He knew where they were. He had someone observing them at all times. Wherever they went in the world, whatever they did, Harker's team could not escape.

He'd thought the man he'd hired for the Vienna business was the best choice for what needed to be done. That had been a mistake. He didn't like making mistakes but a mistake was always an opportunity for a correction, for discovering a new way to solve a problem. Solving problems was one of the few joys left to him in his ruined body.

He hadn't been looking at the problem objectively and that had been the mistake. The recognition felt like a revelation. He'd been unable to keep his emotions separate from the need to form a clear plan. His rage had gotten in the way.

That wouldn't happen in the future. In the meantime, he would have to do something about the contractor who had failed him. He was a weak link, a man who had proved unreliable. Weak links could not be tolerated. He knew someone in Hamburg who could take care of that. It could be arranged with a simple phone call. Eliminating Carter and his team required a different kind of expert.

Gutenberg possessed a list of contract killers and terrorists that would be the envy of any intelligence agency, a list Interpol would give anything for. He toggled a lever on the side of his wheelchair and rolled over to his computer. He entered an encrypted password and looked at the file that came up on the screen.

Each file described the contact's strengths and weaknesses along with his or her specialty. Each noted the particular way the contact was to be approached. If there was a phone number to call, it was listed. If there was a person to talk with as an intermediary, their information was listed as well.

Whom should I choose?

It was a delicious decision.

There were twenty-seven names on the list. The contractors came from all over the world. Gutenberg considered his options, reviewing each entry. After an hour he had decided.

Dupree. The Frenchman.

Dupree was a psychopath who lacked any trace of empathy or compassion, a classic narcissist who prided himself on never having failed in a mission. He was perfect for a job like this. Next to Dupree's name was a contact number for a man named Berger. Gutenberg had used him before. The man knew him as Pieter and thought he was in Johannesburg. Gutenberg made the call.

"Yes."

"This is Pieter. I need you to arrange a connection."

"For the usual fee?"

"Of course."

"Who do you want to talk to?"

"Jaques Dupree. I want to speak with him as soon as possible."

"Ah, Dupree. This man can be quite expensive. Are you sure? I know someone who is very good and will cost half as much."

"I can have someone else call him," Gutenberg said.

"No, no, I can reach him. I was only trying to help."

"How long?"

"It's uncertain."

Gutenberg gave him a phone number. "Tell him he will be well paid."

"Dupree is picky about who he works with," Berger said.

"Then you had better convince him to contact me."

Gutenberg ended the call. Forty minutes later his phone signaled a call.

"This is Pieter."

"Our mutual friend tells me that you are a serious man. Is this line secure?"

"It is."

"My fee for talking to you is fifty thousand euros. I make no guarantee to accept the assignment. If I do, the money will be applied to your account. Are you agreeable?"

"That is acceptable," Gutenberg said.

"Transfer the funds within the next hour. Write down these numbers." Gutenberg recognized the routing number for a bank in the Caymans. "I will call you back when the money is in the account."

"Agreed."

Dupree hung up.

It took less than fifteen minutes to move fifty thousand euros into Dupree's account. Dupree called back.

"Tell me what it is you want me to do."

"There are four people who have caused me considerable harm. They work for an American intelligence agency. They are interfering in my plans."

"And you wish me to stop them from interfering?"

"Precisely."

"Am I to assume that you want all of them removed?"

"Yes. I would recommend that they all be dealt with at the same time."

"You are talking about a difficult target," Dupree said.

"I'll make it worth your while."

"The risk is high."

"I said I'd make it worth your while."

Dupree considered. Taking on professionals was a challenge. Dupree liked challenges.

"One million euros," he said. "One half now and one half when the job is done. I need detailed information on the targets."

"Understood. If you can find a way to make their exit long and painful, I will pay you a bonus of another half million euros. Of course I would need visual proof. A videotape, perhaps."

Dupree thought. A man who seeks such an end for his enemies is seeking revenge. I could've asked for more.

"I'll see what I can arrange. Is collateral damage a concern?"

"No."

"When will you transfer the money?"

"As soon as we finish talking."

"You have pictures?"

"I do."

"Where are the subjects now?"

"Vienna."

"I need the pictures and as much information as you can give me. Without pictures I cannot be sure of the targets. Send everything to this address."

Dupree recited an email address.

"Can I reach you through this account?" Gutenberg asked.

"No. This will only be good for one message."

"How will I know when the job is complete?"

"Trust me," Dupree said, "you'll know."

Dupree ended the call. He was thirty-eight years old and thinking of retiring. It had been a good run over the past few years but it was only a matter of time before Interpol or someone else caught up with him. With that much money he could disappear.

One final assignment. He would make it a masterpiece, something that would be talked about for years.

After Dupree hung up Gutenberg entered new commands on his keyboard and accessed a French satellite hovering over Western Russia. He would've preferred the higher resolution of the American satellites but they had excellent cyber security and almost impenetrable protection. The French were not so far advanced and Gutenberg was able to utilize their surveillance satellites with little difficulty. The program had been developed before the attack on his château and had proved useful many times in the past.

He watched the Russian troops and equipment moving through the western part of the Federation. He would have smiled, except that the scarring on his face made it impossible.

Soon, he would have his vengeance against all of them.