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At the fifty-second mark, Sam’s phone trilled. He let it go off three more times, then picked up. Charlie King said, “You’d make a decent poker player, Sam Fargo. Glad we could reach an understanding. I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out about Frank Alton. Can’t promise nothin’, of course, but—”
“If we don’t hear from him in twenty-four hours, the deal is off.”
Charlie King was silent for a few beats. Then, “Keep your phone nearby.”
Sam disconnected.
Remi asked, “What if King thinks we’ve got the evidence with us?”
“He knows better than that.”
“Do you think he’ll follow through?”
Sam nodded. “King’s smart enough to have insulated himself. Whoever took Frank probably made sure their faces were hidden. There’ll be no trail leading back to King, so he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain by going along.”
“Then why do you look so worried?” Remi asked her husband.
“Do I?”
“You’ve got the squinty-eyed thing going on.”
Sam hesitated.
“Tell me, Sam.”
“We just got done beating up on one of the world’s richest men, a sociopathic control freak who got where he is by crushing his enemies. He’ll release Frank, but something tells me King is sitting in his office planning a counterattack.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS
Eight thousand miles away, Charles King was doing just that.
After hanging up the phone, he paced his office, staring straight ahead but seeing nothing beyond his rage. Muttering to himself, King stalked to his office window and stared out over the city. To the west, the sun was setting.
“Fine, Fargos,” he rasped. “Round goes to you. Enjoy it. Ain’t gonna happen again.” He walked to his desk and stabbed the Intercom button. “Marsha, get me Russell and Marjorie.”
“Yes, Mr. King, one moment.” Thirty seconds passed, then, “Dad—”
“Shut up and listen. Is Marjorie there?”
“I’m here, Daddy.”
“Zhilan?”
“Yes, Mr. King.”
“What in blazes do you three idiots think you’re doin’ out there! The Fargos just called me and whipped me from pillar to post. They say they got pictures of you, Zee, killin’ some local at the Langtang site. What went on there?”
Russell answered, “I got a call this morning from the head of site security. He said they found a suspicious vehicle and raised the alarm. They found one man unconscious, but nothing appeared to be missing.”
“How’d he get knocked out?”
“They’re not sure. He may have fallen.”
“Bull! Did we have any pendin’ shipments?”
“Two trucks,” replied Marjorie. “As soon as the alarm was raised, they were evacuated by Colonel Zhou’s men. It’s standard procedure, Daddy.”
“Don’t lecture me, girl. Did the trucks arrive at the transfer point?”