Six new e-mails. Two were junk. One was an alert from the bank. Two were from Fanzou. Karl deleted the spam and opened the mail from the bank. The transfer to Brazil had been completed. Fanzou had gotten his money. Karl deleted the e-mail and was just about to open the message from Fanzou when his back pocket started vibrating.
He took out his phone and looked at it. Jacob’s cell. He smiled as he answered it, leaning back in his chair. "This is Karl."
"Karl, it’s Jacob."
"Good morning, Jacob. How’s the weather in Malta today?"
"Beautiful. Warm. I’m thinking of going for a swim this afternoon."
"Damn you. I’m freezing here. And it’s snowing."
Karl closed his eyes as he listened to the sound of Jacob’s laughter. He’d been alone in this enormous house for over a month now. The sense of freedom he’d enjoyed for the first two weeks had gotten stale, and now he longed to have everyone at home again.
"How is everything?" Jacob asked.
"Boring without you," Karl replied. He took a sip of his coffee. "Hespah’s scheduled to come home next week."
"I’ll be home soon too. Fortitude’s almost ready. It won’t be long now."
A soft chime from his laptop indicated a new e-mail. Karl glanced at the little pop-up before it disappeared. A third message from Fanzou. That was unexpected. Karl had told him not to bother sending him details or updates on this mess with Nadina. So why all the mail? He opened Fanzou’s first e-mail as he listened to Jacob detailing the initial progress of Fortitude’s awakening.
Got the cash. Thanks. Now commencing Operation Save The Jackass. – FReally, this message was more than Karl had expected. What else was there to say? He clicked on the second message.
Thought you should know. Tsu Lai just landed in France. – FKarl stared at the message. What the hell was Tsu Lai doing in Europe?
"Jacob. . ."
"Hm? What?"
"I just got an e-mail from Fanzou. Tsu Lai arrived in France this morning."
Jacob was silent for a moment. "Is Aterat with him?"
"Wait, there’s another message. Give me a moment."
TL is in Switzerland. Coming your way. Who is with H? – F
Karl stood up, knocking his cup over and spilling coffee all over his desk. "He’s on his way here. Jacob, I have to go."
"Karl, be careful."
"I will." He hung up and shoved his phone back into his pocket as he rushed up to his room. He didn’t know when Tsu Lai would arrive, but he needed to be ready.
He strapped on his vest and buttoned a warm flannel shirt over it, then unlocked his bedside table and pulled out the box that held his favorite Beretta, a classic 92FS with a custom grip. The weight of it in his hand was very reassuring. He also made sure he had a good knife on his belt, just in case.
He was just lacing up his hiking boots before leaving the house when his cell phone went off again.
"This is Karl."
"Mr. Waiblingen? This is Sophie at the– "
"Yes? What is it? What’s happened?" He’s already there, he thought as he slid into his car and put the key in the ignition. He’s got Hespah.
"You requested that we call you if any unauthorized visitors came to see Ms. Stille. . . ."
"Who is it? Don’t let him in. Wait for me, I’m coming."
"The gentleman has already left. I informed him that we needed your consent before we could let him see her, and he said he would come back later. He didn’t give me his name. He said you would know who he was?"
"Describe him."
"He’s tall, with really long hair. He looks Asian, but with gray eyes. Do you know him, Mr. Waiblingen?"
He did.