“Please try harder. I’ll die soon if you don’t.”
“No one’s going to die.”
Ingrid crept into the kitchen, silent as a housecat, a bewildered expression on her face. Gabriel placed the burner phone in speaker mode. “Is it money they want?” Alice was saying.
“A great deal of money,” answered Gabriel.
“Why hasn’t Edward paid them?”
“It’s not as simple as that.”
“It is to me, Mr. Allon. My captors tell me the negotiations have reached an impasse.”
“We’ve hit a rough patch, but we’re close.”
“Please tell Edward to pay them whatever they want.” Her voice broke. “I can’t take much more of this. I want to come home.”
“I know it’s hard, but try not to cry in front of them.”
“Too late for that, I’m afraid. It turns out that I’m not cut out for the hostage life.”
“You’re stronger than you realize.”
“I’m spoiled rotten, if you must know.” She laughed in spite of herself. “My captors just gave me a nudge. It appears I have to run. It was a pleasure almost meeting you, Mr. Allon. And please give my love to—”
The connection died before she could finish the thought. Gabriel placed the phone on the kitchen counter. Ingrid picked it up and dialed the most recent number in the directory of incoming calls. It went straight to voicemail.
“Why now?” she asked.
“They’re at the end of their tether.”
“So is Alice.”
“She can hold out a few more days.”
“You’ve pushed them far enough, Mr. Allon. It’s time to make a deal.”
The phone rang before Gabriel could reply.
“Well?” asked the automated female voice.
Gabriel hesitated, then said, “Five hundred million.”
“Take it or leave it?”
“Yes.”
“Done,” said the voice.
Gabriel waited until 6:00a.m.to break the news to Edward Knight. The billionaire businessman was at his mansion in Hans Place. He responded with a flash of dark humor.
“It must be some sort of record, don’t you think?”
“Must be,” answered Gabriel in the same mordant tone.
“It sounds to me as though they had their hearts set on a half billion from the beginning.”
Gabriel didn’t disagree.
