Page 88 of The Atlas Maneuver

They retreated into the midday sun, the air at a comfortable room temperature.

“Malone-san—”

“Call me Cotton. Please.”

She smiled. “It is not our way to be so informal with people we have just met.”

“Humor me.”

“As you wish. It is true we have long sought the return of the war gold. But we abandoned that quest some time ago. What we did not give up on was the hypocrisy of the United States. That gold was used to covertly further American interests postwar and to do some highly despicable and illegal things. Unfortunately, history does not note those quite so clearly.”

“And your point?”

“We want to rectify that situation. Expose to the world what really happened after World War II. The truth of the evil we did is there for all to see. But the truth of what the United States did is not. Not to mention that the CIA has lost all semblance of control. Compounding this is the Bank of St. George, which not only has taken command of the gold, but now secretly dominates the entire bitcoin market, which some nations are heavily dependent upon. We think they, and everyone else, deserve to know the truth.”

“One-upping the United States?”

“Exposing your ineptness. And why not?”

Good question. Why not?

“What we never anticipated was Kelly Austin’s betrayal of the bank. Having her in our custody assured that the bank remained impotent regarding the Atlas Maneuver. No manipulation would occur. Our hope was she would eventually see us as a friend and cooperate. She is the single most important live witness to it all. She is Satoshi Nakamoto. But now the bank has her back. You can take comfort in the fact that nothing will happen to her. They need her alive and well.”

“Until they get those private keys.”

“Something tells me that Kelly Austin can take care of herself in that regard.”

He could only hope. But he still wondered why Kelly had gone voluntarily. Then there was, “Do you know a Robert Citrone?”

“I am familiar with him. He was the CIA’s liaison to the Bank of St. George for a long time. An opportunist who personally benefited from his service. But he’s no longer important. He retired a few years ago.”

“He was attacked by two men and taken prisoner. Both Japanese.”

“I assure you, those men did not come from me. We have no interest in Citrone.”

His instincts had always been spot-on and served him well. And though he too had been retired for a few years they remained sharp. Every one of those told him this woman was being truthful.

So he decided to trust a little.

“I need you to check and verify that the PSIA doesn’t have Citrone in their sights. Derrick Koger and a woman I care a great deal about are dealing with Citrone, and they need to know the facts.”

She nodded. “Excuse me while I make that call.”

She stepped away and used her phone.

He too needed to make some calls.

First, to his old boss Stephanie Nelle.

Next, to Geneva.

CHAPTER 49

CASSIOPEIA SETTLED ON THE ROCKING BOAT AND KEPT THE GUN SHE’Dretrieved from the deck aimed at Citrone. Koger lay still under the covered portion, near the helm, not moving.

She spotted a bucket.

“Dip that over the side and fill it,” she ordered.