Chapter Thirty-Four
Ishmael
Tiegan had brought very interesting news indeed. News that had led to this meeting. Beom Seok Jeung gazed at Ishmael impassively.
“So, we are in agreement then? In exchange for this information, you will not interfere with our vengeance?” Beom Seok asked.
Ishmael sipped at his tea before answering. “We are agreed as long as it is understood that care is to be taken, lest the intel proves incorrect in any way. The safe return of my pet is paramount. It would be most unfortunate if something were to happen that could cause a rift between us.”
Beom Seok smirked. “The intel is accurate, I assure you. You will find your lover there, in that building. Tynesdale’s official address is a show; he actually resides in that office building. He converted the first and second floors into residential quarters off the books. Officially, it belongs to an investment group which lists several small businesses as having rented office space there. They are all fronts he uses to wash his money. But,” he waved a hand magnanimously, “on the off-chance your boy is at Marcus’, we’ll fetch him back. The condition he is in of course depends on how we find him.”
Ishmael nodded. It was the best he could ask for. “Then we have an agreement.” He picked up the yakbak cake off the plate before him and took a bite. Across the table, Beom Seok gave a small nod, picked up his cup, and took a sip of his tea.
“Excellent.” Beom Seok’s lips thinned. “When they took their quarrel to our territory and killed my father on his way to brunch, sending my mother and sisters to hospital, they made a grave mistake. One that they cannot walk away from.”
Ishmael nodded. Marcus and his men would not leave the building alive. Neither would Tynesdale and his men, as that was no longer an option with this arrangement. Beom Seok held his hand out and one of his men scurried forward, handing him a slip of folded paper. He took it and slid it across the table to Ishmael. Ishmael unfolded the paper and read the address, it was in Basildon.
“So, he fancies himself an Essex Boy?” Ishmael murmured.
“He’s been making moves on their territory. They do not know he is in their midst yet or how deep he has his fingers in their pie.” Beom Seok smiled. “After tonight, that will not matter.”
Ishmael took another sip of his tea. “Ezra here will coordinate with you.” Ezra stepped forward.
“Just show me who I need to talk to so we can coordinate our plans, sir.”
“Chung Ae will assist you,” Beom Seok replied. The man who had handed him the address gave a small bow.
Ishmael finished his cake. “I will leave my man here for now. He can inform me when he returns. “ He bared his teeth in a shark-like smile. “First, I have a former employee to pay a visit to.”
Beom Seok rose, smiling in return. “I understand. And when this unfortunate business is over, perhaps we can discuss our business venues.”
“Of course. I am always looking to expand my business dealings.”
I bet you are.
Ishmael stood and straightened his tie, rolling his shoulders subtly resettle it on his frame. He reached his hand out to Beom Seok, who had moved to walk him out. “I wish this had been under different circumstances,” he said, shaking hands.
“Indeed. Perhaps next time,” came the reply as he was shown the door.
Josh straightened up as he saw his boss exit.
“Ezra is going over a plan of attack,” Ishmael said, climbing into the passenger seat of the parked car. As Josh climbed into the driver’s side. “Now, before we went in, Jamal called us with a location for Crichton?”
“Yes. He came up on a facial rec from a camera at Pitsea rail station.”
“Pitsea?” Ishmael’s nose wrinkled. “What on Earth would he want… wait, was he coming or going?”
“He was buying a ticket from one of the machines.”
“He’s gone to Basildon,” Ishmael muttered. He picked up his phone and rang Ollie. “Tell Jamal to run facial rec only on cameras at the Pitsea, Basildon, and Laindon stations,” he ordered. “If Crichton shows up again on any of them, I want to know immediately.” He disconnected the call and glanced over at Josh. “If all goes well, we’ll be able to eliminate that little problem at the same time we take the rest of them.”
“So, how’s this going down? We storming then together?”
“But separately. Ezra’s hammering out the details so it’ll be simultaneous.”
“And Kris?”
“I made it quite clear that he was to remain unharmed by any actions taking place during the op.”
