K2 book 1
Page 56
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‘Look, look, we have your man!’ Vladimir could not contain his joy.
The K2 agent carefully inspected the prisoner’s face, the tattoos on his arm, a scar on his leg. Finally he asked, in perfect German, ‘Which village were you born in?’
Rudenson managed to talk clearly through the improvised gag. ‘Memmingen, Bavaria. You are Interpol?’
The K2 agent offered Rudenson a cold stare. ‘I work for K2.’
Rudenson flinched back as far as he could go before gunmen slapped him and held him forwards.
Vladimir laughed. ‘Ah, you see, he knows K2. He knows what waits for him.’
The K2 man stood, staring intently down at the prisoner. ‘My employer has one final request, before you take him to an airfield south east of Moscow tomorrow night.’
Vladimir puffed up his chest. ‘Anything for my good friends at K2.’
‘We want you to find several good surgeons and a operating theatre they can use. We want them to make some small … alterations to this man before he flies home.’
Vladimir’s eyes widened. ‘Surgeons?’
‘This has to be done before tomorrow night,’ the K2 man insisted.
‘Tomorrow night? My God, I have not slept! What must we do with these surgeons?’
‘You must take our guest here to the surgical theatre and perform the operation listed on this paper.’ He handed over the document, and a cheque. ‘This is a Swiss banker’s draft for ten million dollars, it can be paid into any bank in the world or drawn to cash.’
Vladimir readily accepted the cheque, studying it carefully. ‘I can pay this to my bank, here?’
‘Yes, the money will be transferred within one hour.’
Vladimir began to read the note, glanced at the prisoner, then read further. He swallowed several times before looking up. ‘I think this man made a big mistake,’ he informed the room, approaching Rudenson. ‘Yes, my friend, I think you upset the boss of K2. It was a big mistake.’
He shook his head as he turned to the man from K2. ‘I will arrange this very quickly. And then your boss, he will pay?’
‘Tomorrow night.’
‘OK, my friend, you can rely on me.’
‘Do a good job, Vladimir, and make sure our friend here stays alive. In the future we may have more need of your … services.’
‘Yes, of course. You pay well. And you are people of your word.’