by Jason Kasper
“To the contrary, I believe the mission went rather well. For a man in my position, unexpected outcomes are inevitable, at times.”
“Heavy is the head that wears the crown of highly enriched uranium?”
Upon realizing Caspian had told me the contents of the case from Somalia, the Handler stopped walking for several seconds. Then he continued his stroll before responding, “Most men of sound mind would be glad that substance was removed from the world stage.”
“As a key component for building a nuclear weapon, sure. But I have trouble believing you plan on using it for a paperweight.”
His lips pursed in solidarity before his expression righted itself. He circled back behind me.
“Of course, we have obtained the militia commander’s account of what transpired between you and him on the hilltop in Somalia. Including the fact that Caspian had not yet been shot and”—he crossed my front, wincing slightly as if the notion brought him pain—“you asked for an AK-47 to be left behind. That information would be of great interest to many at the Complex, including Sergio—”
“I think we’re beyond threats at this point.”
“Now, now, David, we are never beyond threats. Counterbalanced with incentive, threats keep balance, order. I could threaten to inform the Outfit that you killed a beloved operator on your excursion to Africa, and then deliver you to meet their justice. Or I could incentivize you by keeping your secret and leaving open the possibility of what you want most in this world.”
“Your death?”
“That is not what you want most, David. You want to continue participating in missions. That is your lifeline, as it were, your tenuous grasp to remaining alive by facing death.”
“Remaining alive isn’t worth being in your service.”
“You are no longer a servant. Now you are a slave, and Ian’s life hangs in the balance.”
“You’re going to kill him no matter what I do or don’t do.”
“To the contrary, killing him serves no purpose but closing a loop that is satisfied equally well by his captivity. I would much prefer to employ him. He successfully evaded my people’s efforts to locate him for some time now. Otherwise I would not have had to resort to luring him to the airport.”
“You’re lying.”
“I am not.”
“You could have lured him any way you wanted.”
“Ah, but you were the only bait that has worked. He had four separate operatives positively identify you in the lounge before he risked exposing himself. Prior to that he evaded my men’s surveillance efforts every time he left the house of your former paramilitary team. He has a skill set I could use, and I intend on doing just that.”
“You just staged an elaborate puppet show to manipulate your daughter into complying with your master plan. You’ll understand if I choose not to believe you.”
“I should mention the alternative to your compliance is watching Ian tortured to death in front of you, right now, using the most imaginative methods at my people’s disposal that will make Roshan’s and Luka’s deaths seem benevolent. Surely you would prefer my job offer.”
“You’re talking about what you said in the garden—the problem that requires collateral.”
“I am.”
“What did that mean?”
He came to a stop before me, ending the ticking clock of his footsteps. Turning to face my chair, he leaned down, lowering his eerie amber eyes to mine.
He spoke quietly, methodically, in a sickly amused tone.
“You’ve tried to kill me once, David Rivers.” A smile twisted his lips. “I need you to try it again.”
THE DAVID RIVERS SERIES CONTINUES…
Book 4 will be released in 2018.
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About the Author
JASON KASPER is the bestselling author of the David Rivers series. He served in the United States Army for fifteen years, beginning as a Ranger private in 2001 and ending as a Special Forces captain and team commander in 2016. Jason is a West Point graduate and a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and was an avid marathon and ultramarathon runner, skydiver, and BASE jumper, all of which inspire his fiction.
He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Cary, North Carolina.
Visit www.base1178.com.
