The incident confirmed Lise’s skill at her job. She was given more responsibility with the group, Hegre trusting her with more and more important tasks. He kept the fact to himself, never voicing that he felt safer than he had for some time. He had become aware of her true dedication, coupled with a natural affinity with the needs of the group. There was, as well, a standoffish trait to her character that suited her position in life, a detachment he put down to her early life with an uncaring father and a depressive mother. Lise had learned at an early age not to put much trust in others. She had developed a hardness to protect herself from the harshness of life. Not to become too dependent on those around her. It gave her an aura of aloofness that only Julius Hegre himself could penetrate. No matter what happened around her, Lise held Hegre in the highest regard.
Her true worth was demonstrated when she picked up on his unease over a deal being brokered through the Sicilian Union Corse. Hegre had expanded from the U.S.A. over a number of years, making deals in Europe and Asia where they offered assistance to other criminal groups, to the mutual benefit of all concerned. As always, the acquisition of additional wealth was one of the prime motivators in any business deal. The Sicilian criminal institution had entered into a deal with Hegre that involved money laundering on a large scale.
When the deal was almost complete Hegre’s accountants had discovered that the local Union Corse group had been skimming money from the operation. When Hegre had asked for an accounting, the local head man had simply turned aside the challenge, accusing Hegre of being little more than foreign crooks trying to fleece the honorable Sicilian clan. It was an insult to Julius Hegre. In all his dealings, criminal though they may have been, he had never treated a business partner badly, had never cheated on a deal. Hegre felt strongly about his reputation, and the Union Corse insult hurt him.
Without any outward show of concern over the matter, Lise had begged off her responsibilities for a few days, and because of her tireless efforts over the past few years Hegre had granted her request. Lise had made sure a team of her best security people were assigned to stay at Hegre’s side. Lise had used her authority to commandeer one of the group’s aircraft and take a flight to France. Once there she had used her Hegre influence to recruit help and had traveled to Marseilles where the Union Corse chapter was based.
Two days after her arrival in the French city the two top Union Corse men were killed. Each man died from a shot to the head from a high-powered rifle: one on the street, the second while he stood at the window of his office overlooking the Marseilles waterfront.
The shooter was never identified, the weapon never found. The assassinations were put down to intergang rivalry. The French police ran an investigation that petered out quickly. The killing of local criminals was not an entirely original occurrence, and if the truth was known, the deaths were not going to cause many cops any loss of sleep.
The intergang scenario was true to a point, though it was in fact less rivalry and more a matter of honor.
Lise Delaware left France as quietly as she had arrived. On the flight back to the U.S. she slept comfortably, emerging from the plane refreshed and in no way affected by what she had done.
The killing of two Sicilian gangsters in France was not big news in the States. It received some reporting in newspapers but not enough to garner much reaction.
Except from Julius Hegre.
He read of the incidents and quickly associated the location of the killings and the Union Corse with his own fallout with the crime association. That and Lise Delaware going AWOL for a few days made him come to a conclusion.
He had a quiet talk with Melchior and found the man was of the same mind.
“Let’s face it, Julius, she decides something needs to be done and goes ahead and does it.”
“But this?”
“Could be.”
“Why?”
“For you, Julius. The young woman is your greatest admirer. Since day one she has had your back. Always. She treats any slight against you as personal.”
“You really think so?”
Melchior nodded. “The Sicilians insulted you. That would stick at the back of her throat. So Lise made it right.”
Hegre decided a large glass of whiskey was called for. He poured one for Melchior, and they sat quietly drinking and reviewing the situation.
“We both know she is devoted to you,” Melchior explained. “That young woman will do anything you ask.”
Hegre managed a smile. “And now it seems she will also do things on her own.”
“I have been watching her, Julius, over the past few years. She is smart and understands more than she lets on. She realized what we do here long ago. She watches. She learns. She has total control of herself and of her abilities. Enough to make her a valuable asset.”
“She is family,” Hegre said. “The only family I have left. But is it right that I should allow her to immerse herself in what we do?”
“That has already happened. There’s nothing you can do about it. Except embrace what she can offer.”
“And what is that?” Hegre asked, already knowing Melchior’s answer.
His close friend simply told him in words Hegre would have used himself, confirming that Lise Delaware, of his blood, had already integrated herself into the family business. Given the opportunity, she would become even more a part of the group. It was a natural progression, a way of keeping control of the organization through family strength.
“She has found her calling, Julius. To be part of the group. You want my honest opinion? Embrace her. Bring her fully in. She will serve you well.”
Hegre had to admit the feeling was growing on him. Bringing Lise into the fold would hold his dream together. It would fulfill a dream he had held close for a long time: that a blood member if the family would emerge as his eventual successor.
And now it appeared that heir had emerged.
Lise Delaware.
The next in line.
“One more thing, Julius. Keeping her at your side allows you to watch over her. If she is with you, that is a way of protecting her. Let her devote her energies to the organization. It is what she wants.” Melchior saw the change in Hegre’s expression. The softness in his voice when he spoke about Lise. Hegre was a hard man, with little time for sentiment, but his attitude had changed where the young woman was concerned. One of Melchior’s talents was being able to judge people and the way they reacted.
“Do not underestimate her. Give her the chance and she will be the best.”
Melchior’s prediction bore fruit.
Lise Delaware proved her worth quickly. Without show, without any flamboyant displays, Hegre drew her deeper into the daily workings of the group, explaining the how and the why.
He instructed her in the various enterprises Hegre undertook, from straight criminal acts to the more complex financial deals that were far off the books. Lise had a sharp intellect and she quickly grasped the complexities of the myriad operations. Hegre gave her projects to manage, allowing her the opportunity, though always keeping an eye on what she was doing. She grasped the intricacies quickly.
One of her skills was her ability to interact with people. Her beauty drew the attention of male counterparts. They were lured by her quiet sensuality, and it was easy for her to draw out information they might be reluctant to impart to other men. Lise used her sexuality to its best advantage. It was a weapon none of Hegre’s men could employ.
Lise, despite her growing responsibilities toward the group, never let her protectiveness where Hegre was concerned waver. She was always at his side when he moved outside the house. She drove him personally. She accompanied him to meetings. It became the norm. Others became used to seeing her beside him. Lise was always silent until Hegre asked her a question, and he valued her opinion, trusted her judgment.
&n
bsp; Hegre’s organization flourished. Whatever enterprise they went into, success became the watchword. It was almost too easy to make money. The world was in constant turmoil, so it followed that clients, new and old, wanted the professionalism Hegre offered. He had global contacts, people in many lofty positions. Hegre understood human nature, the vices that controlled people’s emotions. He sourced those vices and used them to bring people under his control.
Manipulation went hand in hand with the corrupting lure of money. Hegre always paid well when he was seeking to control someone. It was, he realized, so easy to entice some people with the promise of money. A briefcase full of untraceable cash offered for a favor still had the power to turn an individual. That was proved on more than one occasion. It applied to all manner of individuals. Bribery covered the spectrum. Police, people in a position of power—they were all there for the taking. Businessmen, financiers, Hegre sought them out and used them.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Julius Hegre prided himself on the professional attitude conveyed by his organization, the stream of successes that showed those he dealt with the level of skill he offered. The only black mark on Hegre’s otherwise unblemished record was the recent failure to deliver the promised virus to the North Koreans. Interference from an American undercover agent, then further involvement by an unknown, persistent and highly dangerous individual had resulted in the entire venture being terminated. Hegre had lost good people, the North Koreans had suffered losses and the virus itself, which would have netted the organization a great deal of money, had been taken from them.
Lise, who had been overseeing the operation, had only just survived. In the final confrontation she had managed to escape at the last moment, losing the valuable virus consignment and suffering a minor bullet wound that had left a scar on one arm.
Months down the line, the memory of that confrontation stayed with her. It was her only failure. The scar on her arm, which she refused to have removed, was a reminder of that incident. She kept it as a way of recalling what had happened.
She also remembered the man who had given her that scar. A tall, black-haired man with intense blue eyes.
Although he had been taken captive by Hegre, drugged and put under pressure, he had escaped and lived to inflict casualties on the group. In the end he had destroyed the deal with the Koreans and wiped out the Hegre team.
After the event, when Hegre had regrouped, they had attempted to find out about the man. They had come up empty. The man, Cooper, appeared to be some kind of independent operative. He was skilled, uncompromising, and Lise was left with a grudging respect for his abilities—but also a hunger for retribution.
Hegre had its own anonymity, keeping a low profile that enabled it to stay one step ahead of anyone trying to get inside its setup. That took money, coercion and a continuing effort to stay below the radar.
Cooper seemed to operate under an independent cloak. Hegre was unable to tie him in with any of the known agencies, and it was this fact that both intrigued and angered Lise Delaware.
She used every resource available. Hegre had its own information sources, but none of that had any effect on the attempt to trace Cooper.
Lise disliked unresolved issues. The fact that she could not trace Cooper stayed with her. Hegre himself knew that until she brought the matter to an end she was going to let it fester. He advised her to let it go, but even as he did he knew she wouldn’t. She could not. But she did not allow it to cloud her judgment on other matters and was able to set it aside when she was working on something.
There were the lucrative deals to be made, especially for the procurement and sale of military hardware. Much of this was done overseas, where Hegre had his foreign agents making deals. His reach was far and wide. It covered Europe, South America, Asia and Africa, which was proving to be extremely profitable at the present time. With various unstable regimes at each other’s throats, having a regular supply of weapons on tap meant Hegre was seldom without a fresh contracts.
They were all markets open for someone with an eye for business. Julius Hegre was that man. He dealt with every business venture on a strictly confidential basis. Deals were done in behind closed doors, no different from legitimate business. Julius Hegre had high standards and expected anyone who dealt with him to have the same. He applied swift and non-negotiable penalties to anyone who broke contract demands. There were no exceptions. A deal with Hegre was similar to a blood bond. There was no margin for errors. No allowance for reneging. Punishment was always final. A mistake was never allowed to be repeated.
The high standards Hegre kept hurt him personally when the North Korean deal was blown wide open and the client had been denied what he had been paying so highly for. Hegre repaid every cent of the advanced fee and added a sizable amount to cover the North Korean’s loss. It was the first time the Hegre organization had failed. Hegre himself accepted the defeat because he felt there was no profit in brooding over it. He simply put the matter behind him and concentrated on future business. The hardest part was the loss of a substantial amount of money after returning the North Korean cash and the goodwill payment. It had left a sizable hole in the Hegre coffers.
Hegre knew Lise had not fully accepted the defeat. For her, the loss of face became a personal thing. She covered it as much as she was able. Yet Hegre was able to see beyond her outer calm. Inside she was angrier than she had ever been. Occasionally her restraint crumbled and she would exhibit irritation toward anyone around her. She was a hard taskmaster at the best of times, but following the North Korea loss she became even harder to please.
The only people she held herself together for were Hegre himself and Dominic Melchior.
Second to Hegre, she had great respect for Melchior. She understood his position within the organization. He was intelligent, aware. Listened a great deal and gave out unfailing advice. Lise trusted him. For Lise he was the voice of wisdom, a sounding board for any doubts she might have. They often sat in the peaceful surroundings of his office with his tasteful decorations and the shelves of books. It was a quiet place where she could gather her thoughts and engage in conversations with her uncle’s trusted adviser.
For his part Melchior enjoyed her company. He accepted that behind the youthful facade lay a strong-willed leader with a capacity for ruthless violence. It came with the territory. The Hegre organization was, and it had long become an accepted matter of fact, a criminal fraternity. It practiced criminality, ran a business that thrived on lawlessness. The money it made came from illegal practices, and on many occasions it indulged in murder and brutality. Melchior had taken that on board many years ago. It did not cause him any sleepless nights.
So the presence of this attractive young woman unafraid to use deadly force did not trouble him. She was as smart as she was beautiful. She exuded an aura of contained sexuality. She was capable of flirting, never overtly, but with a hint of a smile on her lips, as she worked her magic.
It intrigued Melchior. If, privately, he might have harbored a sense of attraction toward her, he kept that hidden. No matter his personal feelings, he would never reveal them. It would have been a betrayal of his loyalty toward Hegre, and Melchior would never consider risking that loyalty.
Instead he maintained his composure and acted as her adviser, staying as close to her as he could and offering sage advice when she came to him.
They had many quiet sessions when Delaware expressed her feelings over various matters, and Melchior, in his unhurried manner would advise and suggest. With his skill as a lawyer and mediator, his way with words, he was always able to offer solutions to her problems. She, in turn, found him a willing listener, one who never judged her, but who always offered solutions to her questions. Their relationship was harmonious, always moving along the same lines and always providing satisfaction.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The flight touched
down at Hong Kong International Airport. Bolan and Mitchell picked up their bags and made their way through the crowded terminal to the exit an hour later, after customs had played the delaying game.
“That was not fun,” Mitchell said.
Bolan shrugged. He’d been through the same thing in too many airports around the globe to ever allow himself to become ruffled.
They emerged into the light of a warm day, letting the tide of people surge around them. Bolan was looking for their local contact. He spotted him quickly and they crossed to meet him.
Andy Chen nodded in recognition. He was a lean man with a worn, lined face. His black hair was worn close to his collar. He wore a light-colored suit and an open-necked white shirt.
Chen was a freelance, long-term intelligence man who had served in Hong Kong for a number of years. He operated for the U.S., monitoring what was going on and reporting to his control in Washington. Mack Bolan had met Chen a few years back and had been impressed by the man’s quiet confidence.
“Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, welcome to Hong Kong.”
Chen was standing beside a meticulously maintained ten-year-old Mercedes sedan. The paintwork gleamed. He ran the car as his cover, providing a vehicle chauffeuring service. It had proved to be a handy way of overhearing conversations. He took Bolan’s and Mitchell’s luggage and placed it in the trunk, then opened a rear door for them to enter the car. Once behind the wheel, he eased the car away from the terminal and picked up the road that would take them to the North Lantau Highway and Kowloon.
“I have you booked into the Holiday Inn hotel on Nathan Road,” Chen said by way of opening the conversation. “Very nice room.”
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