“We received a file with pictures and location.”
“Where’s that file?”
“If I tell you, what do I get out of it?” Borz sat up taller.
Mike, who had remained quiet through the interview, leaned forward and grabbed his sore shoulder. In perfect Russian, he said, “The ability to continue breathing.”
Borz sighed. “The file is on a secure server. I will show you.”
Noah nodded. “How did you know she was here?”
“I got a call in my hotel room. Where I could pick up our weapons and where she was.”
“Where did you pick up your weapons?” Noah asked.
“We picked up camping gear at Rock Creek Park.” At the answer, Ian ordered any security camera footage his people could find.
“How did you know where she was on the grounds?” Mike asked.
“That was easy. She likes to sit outside. She stays close to the house by the pool. The doctors stay with her. She was too weak to walk the path to the big house,” Borz said with familiarity.
“How did you know that?” Noah’s hair on the back of his neck stood up.
“Not us. It came in the file. She is a pretty little one. So tiny in the pictures. Easy to kill. I could snap her neck like a twig. I prefer up close and personal, but one shot, boom. Did we get her?”
Noah didn’t answer. “Who hired you?”
“Money was wired into my account.”
“From whom? Who do you work for?” Noah’s voice rose. Borz looked at his feet. “Who do you work for?” Noah slammed his fist on the table. Borz refused.
“Maybe I should call Arkady Sabitov.” Noah spotted the first hint of fear in his prisoner. That was the confirmation he needed. “Just thought you may be interested in a little information. One of the men we captured during another act died an excruciating death in jail. If you weren’t working for Arkady, how were you found?”
Borz laughed. “Soldier boy, you think you’re smart. You know people with the right contacts and money can buy anything. They won’t stop until they get her. Nine of us came this time. If we didn’t succeed, more will come again. It’s an open contract.”
“Why?” Mike asked.
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“One more question: how much?” Mike asked.
“Five hundred thousand dollars.” Borz laughed.
* * *
After returning Borz to his cell, Noah and Mike repeated the interrogation two more times with similar results. They met with Ian and Kieran to give a situation report.
“The ex-AFEUR guys were from Moscow. These three are Russian. The residences on their visas and passports are Moscow. Ford and Tate are searching their hotel rooms now, and Brett is setting up a computer to monitor and record the keystrokes when he logs into his laptop. We should have that file soon.”
Kieran nodded. “Noah, when you’re ready to separate, you have a job with us if you’re interested.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Jason drove Ian and Luke to plan Cassie’s memorial. “Jason, while we’re inside, please call tech to see if the pictures you took yesterday have come back,” Ian said.
“Yes, sir.” Jason walked his boss to the door and returned to the car.
