“You are confusing me,” he said.“This makes no sense.How would us going in there with men and weapons allow you to take over?”
Ray grinned.“We go in early.Guy that heads it?He’s missin’ right now.It’s a family business.We go in there and show some teeth, they’ll sign everything over to us real fast.Lean on ’em.”
“And the other people attending the meeting?”
“See, that’s what’s brilliant, right?We get there early, take over, and when they all show up, we show ’em who’s in charge.They gotta bend a knee to me, right?”
“Don’t you mean to ‘us’?It will be my men.”
“Yeah, yeah, of course.That’s what I meant.”
“Why do all of these people have this elaborate network of businesses if they are legitimate?”
“Well, thassit, right?Some of ‘em made their money in mining and logging and manufacturing.Over the years, they invested and built it.The corporations are a massive tax dodge.Not only can we take advantage of that for our purposes, you can take over some of those companies just for the legal protection to hide and move assets, okay?They got no stomach fer a fight, believe me.They never have.This is the perfect chance to take over.”
“And did you have anything to do with the disappearance of the man in question?”
“Nah.That’s just luck.”
Sokolov stared at him.“We will use my plane.”
Ray brightened.“Even better!”
Sokolov stood.“If I should learn you are arranging deals behind my back, it will not go well for you.”
Ray stood, holding up his hand.“Swear to god!”
Sokolov nodded.“My people will be in touch about the travel arrangements.We will fly to Seattle in three days.I have business interests there I need to spend time with.You will come alone; my men will be sufficient.”
“All right.That’s perfect.Thanks!”
Sokolov turned and left.Out in the lobby, he saw two more of Sokolov’s men standing there, waiting, and his admin assistant was gone, her purse missing from where she usually kept it.
Once the Russians left, Ray sagged against the doorframe of his office.They likely sent her home, and he wouldn’t even call her.It wasn’t the first time they’d walked in and done that, and it was safer for her, anyway.
He was heading over to his desk when he heard his phone ring.
Abundio Segura
What consumed his time now was trying to locate Jake Peterson.If he supposedly died in “custody”—and who knew what that meant, considering the Russian told him that—there had to be a record of him before then.
Meaning he’d start with trying to backtrack Carl’s history.Him and Mateo Soto both.
Mateo would be easier, since he was born in Mexico and served in the military.
Accessing Carl’s military records was a little more difficult, since it was the US military, and he didn’t have reliable contacts who could help him.
But it wasn’t an impossible task, even though his efforts thus far proved unsuccessful.
He set three different operatives he’d used in the past to the task.Without telling them that they weren’t the only ones working on it.
In Abundio’s experience, sometimes that produced better results.If nothing else, if they all returned with similar information—or no information—it could confirm the results.
Finally, after several weeks, he had a name connected to Carl’s mother—Ray Dorland, her brother.
The man was still alive, and another private investigator from over there was able to find Abundio a phone number.After figuring out the time difference, he made the call.
At first, he wasn’t sure if the call would be answered or go to voicemail, but after the fourth ring, a man picked up.
