Page 78 of Billion-Dollar Ransom

“A little north of two thousand pounds.”

So the handoff would require a pallet jack or power stacker. A good operator could transfer the pallets from one vehicle to another in short order. But it wouldn’t be instantaneous, meaning they’d have a little bit of time on their side, Nicky thought. “Nonsequential numbers?”

“Naturally, because they’ll ask. But each bill has been scanned and recorded.”

“What’s in the little guy?” Mike asked.

The “little guy” was the polycarbonate container. It held the other 60 percent of the ransom.

“Assorted jewels,” Haller said.

Randolph Schraeder snorted, clearly offended by the terse summary. The man was strangely proud of what he’d been able to gather, and he began to detail the contents of the container.

“That single case,” Schraeder said, “holds a number of one-hundred-carat diamond rings worth nearly twelve million each. Also, a collection of rare Colombian emeralds, the largest collection of its kindanywherein the world, and they run about seven million for each fifty-carat gem. There are also rubies, padparadscha sapphires, paraiba tourmalines…”

All of which added up to six hundred million dollars—and not a penny more, according to Schraeder, who had insisted on having a certified gemologist assist Virgil Tighe in gathering the ransom.

The next series of photos sent by Capital showcased those precious gems. If you were into fine jewelry, the images were borderline pornographic. To Nicky, it looked like someone had smashed the front windows of a fancy jewelry boutique on Rodeo Drive and cleaned out the displays. Justoneof those gems would take care of Kaitlin’s educational needs forever. All that value depended on eons of geological formation—and all of it was set to change hands in a couple of days.Human beings,Nicky thought,are absurd creatures.

“As soon as we have the delivery point,” James Haller said, “we’ll have the cash and jewels in the air. My associate Virgil Tighe will accompany the ransom the entire way.”

“They’re gonna ask about tracking devices,” Jeff Penney said.

“I’m sure they will,” Haller responded.

Nicky frowned. “Anything you need to tell us?”

An awkward silence descended. Randolph Schraeder started to say something, then apparently thought better of it.

“That won’t be a problem,” Haller said. Which was not a denial that there would be tracking devices.

“One is back on the line,” Hope said.

CHAPTER 88

“ARE YOU PREPARED to take this transaction seriously?” One asked.

“We are forwarding visual confirmation of the ransom,” Nicky said. “The documentation will follow shortly. Now we’d like proof of life for the hostages.”

“No.”

“You can’t seriously believe that we’ll release the money without some indication that you are holding up your end of the deal.”

“That’s exactly what I believe, Agent Gordon. What choice do you have?”

“At least show us the children. You’ll get everything you’ve asked for.”

One sighed. Processed through the voice-disguising synthesizer, it sounded like a computer glitch. “Do you wish to end this discussion now?”

“I just want to bring the Schraeder family home safe.”

“Your words are guaranteeing the opposite. But maybe the failure is on my end. Maybe I haven’t convinced you that I am capable of following through. Fair enough, Agent Gordon. So pick one.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Pick one of the children.”

Everyone in the Sandbox wore an expression of pure terror. Nicky could have sworn she saw James Haller’s soul leave his body.