Page 75 of Billion-Dollar Ransom

Boo had opened the glove box and was reaching inside.

Dowd smirked. “Wondering who we ripped off?”

“No,” she replied. “I know exactly who this car belongs to.”

And with that, she removed a Smith and Wesson CSX micro-compact nine-millimeter pistol from the glove box and emptied it into Dowd’s chest. The shots rocked the car and filled the interior with the bitter scent of cordite.

In that moment, Tim Dowd assumed this was an elaborate prank that would end with both of them laughing their heads off before they drove off into the dawn. Not until the life was draining out of his body did Dowd realize that this was indeed a joke, the biggest joke of all, but the joke was on him.

Dowd would have asked why, but he couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.

“I’m sorry, Tim, but…” Boo started. Maybe she finished the sentence, but Dowd would never know, because that was when the lights went out forever.

DAY THREE

CHAPTER 84

Transcript of audio-only conversation (recovered from private Macao-based server)

ONE: I hope you have a very good reason for calling this number. You are not supposed to contact me unless it is a dire emergency.

SIX: I believe you’ll consider this dire.

ONE: What is it?

SIX: Gordon’s daughter is gone.

ONE: What do you mean,gone? How did this happen? Did she have some kind of weapon on her? You were supposed to know about these things!

SIX: No. She had no weapon.

ONE: Then why are you wasting time with a phone call? Chase that kid down and hold her until further notice. She’s a vital part of our plan.

SIX: It’s too late for that, One.

ONE: There is no such thing as too late. You find her right now, before she can contact her mother, or the consequences will be severe.

SIX: Why would I try to find her? I’m the one who let her go.

ONE: What?

SIX: You’ve gone too far, One. This has stopped being about the money. Now you’re just a murderer.

ONE: No one is dead.

SIX: So you’re a murderer and a liar?

ONE: No one… important.

[There is a lengthy pause.]

SIX [Quietly]: I’m going to enjoy watching this house of cards fall all around you. You’re not going to see a penny of that billion dollars.

ONE: And you’re not going to live to see the sun rise. You think I’m a murderer? Guess what, Six—you’re next on my hit list.

SIX: You’ll never find me. Or the girl.

ONE: After all this time, all this preparation… you don’t believe I have eyes everywhere?