Page 80 of Vortex (FBI Thriller 25)

“Mike? Be careful, don’t believe him, he’s a killer, he’s—”

René tapped off, slipped his cell back into his coat pocket. “How is it you say? Proof of life? Now you have it.” He shook his head. “It always amazes me how a man will do anything for a woman he believes he loves. You went to grand trouble to hide the flash drive, to keep it out of my hands, yet all I have to do is take your woman, and you have the willingness to hand it over gladly. You are a common fool, like most men. It is time for you to show me the flash drive.”

Mike said, “You must know it cannot be decrypted without the key.”

“I have no wish to decrypt it. I wish only to make certain it is the flash drive given to you by your CIA agent in Iran.”

“I know your boss is French, just as you are. Is he afraid Hashem names him on the drive?”

René said, “Do not waste my time with your stupid questions. Show me the flash drive, prove to me it is legitimate.”

Mike stepped to the ancient blue sofa, pulled the flash drive out from under a tear in the fabric.

“Show me.”

Mike plugged the flash drive into an adaptor, pushed it into his cell phone, punched the screen. He held up the cell for René to see. “Satisfied? Nothing more than a prompt for the encryption key. That’s as far as anyone can get without the key. I will give you the drive when you give me Olivia.”

René said, “Did you try to decrypt it?”

“Of course I tried, but since I don’t have the key, it was impossible. You won’t decrypt it either.”

René smiled. “Me? I would smash it under my foot but I am asked to take it back instead.”

“To whom?”

René smiled. “As we agreed, I will bring Olivia and we do our business.”