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"You have a welcoming committee," said the pilot, pointing to the landing pad.
"My, my," said Giordino, squinting in the bright sunlight. "It looks like our old pal, Captain Brunone."
"And a squad of his goons," Pitt added. He tapped the pilot on the shoulder. "Keep your firepower aimed at them until we wave you off."
The pilot hovered half a meter from the ground, keeping his rocket launchers and Chain gun pointed at the waiting security guards. Giordino dropped lightly to the concrete pad and then helped Pitt step down to favor his leg. They walked over to Brunone who stiffened as he recognized them and stared in astonishment.
"I did not expect to see you two again," said Brunone.
"I'll bet you didn't," muttered Giordino nastily.
Pitt stared hard at Brunone, reading an expression in the Captain's eyes that Giordino missed, an expression of relief instead of anger or fear. "You almost look happy to see us."
"I am. I was told no one ever escaped from Tebezza."
"Did you send the project engineers and their wives and children there?"
Brunone shook his head solemnly. "No, that travesty occurred a week before I arrived."
"But you knew about their imprisonment."
"I only heard rumors. I tried to investigate the matter, but Mr. Massarde pulled a wall of secrecy around it. Anyone connected with the crime has vanished from the project."
"He probably slit their throats to shut them up," said Giordino.
"You don't much like Massarde, do you?" said Pitt.
"The man is a pig and a thief," Brunone spat. "I could tell you things about this project--"
"We already know," Pitt interrupted. "Why don't you quit and fly home?"
Brunone stared at Pitt. "Those who resign from Massarde Enterprises receive funerals within a week. I have a wife and five children."
In for a penny, in for a pound. Pitt had a hunch he could trust Brunone. The Captain's cooperation could prove valuable. "As of now, you're no longer in the employ of Yves Massarde. You're working for Pitt and Giordino Industries.
Brunone thought over Pitt's proposal, more like a statement of fact, for some time, eyed the hovering helicopter that had enough firepower to level half the project, and then studied the resolute and supremely confident looks on Pitt and Giordino's faces. Then he shrugged. "Consider me hired."
"And your security guard force?"
For the first time Brunone grinned. "My men are loyal to me. They hate Massarde as much as I do. There will be no protest over a change of employers."
"Cement their loyalty by informing them their pay has just been doubled."
"And me?"
"Play your cards right," said Pitt, "and you'll be the next managing director of this establishment."
"Ah, now, a first-class incentive. You can be assured of my full cooperation. What would you like me to do?"
Pitt did a sideways nod of his head toward the project's administration building. "You can begin by escorting us to Massarde so we can give him the sack."
Brunone suddenly hesitated. "Forgotten General Kazim, haven't you? He and Massarde are partners. He won't sit by and see his share of the project go elsewhere without a fight."
"General Zateb Kazim is no longer a problem," Pitt assured him.
"How can that be? What is his present status?"
"Status, status?" Giordino replied in a mocking tone. "The last time anybody saw him he was drawing a lot of flies."
