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Fournier grunted. “Not at liberty. Don’t jerk me around, Max. After what happened the other night, my hospitality is wearing thin. I made a simple request. I told you I wanted Samir out of my country immediately.”
Vega nodded.
“If our relationship is going to work I need you to understand certain things. When I tell you that I want something to happen, and I want it to happen immediately, it needs to happen.”
“I understand, but there are certain complications.”
“The only complication that I can see is that Samir is still in France. The police are expanding their investigation. It is only a matter of time before they figure out there was a fifth man. Samir has become a liability. I cannot afford to have him walking around. He knows too much.”
“I think you worry too much. Samir is a loyal man. Nothing will come of this.”
“Samir is loyal to you and your organization. He has no loyalty to me . . . in fact he has threatened me.” Fournier shook his head as if he could still barely believe it. He ran the Action Division for the DGSE, this little Arab puke threatened him in his own country, and now Vega was trying to play it off as if it was no big deal. The stupidity of it all pushed him to make a rash decision. “Max, I do not think you take me seriously enough. I am losing faith in you and your people . . .”
“But,” Vega said, trying to interrupt him.
“But nothing,” Fournier snapped. “Have any of my men threatened you?”
“No.”
“They don’t even speak to you. But you let this incompetent fool Samir threaten me. Don’t mistake my civility for a bottomless wealth of hospitality. I have worked with you because it is in our mutual interest but I am now starting to think that dealing with you is no longer in the best interest of France.”
“I disagree . . .”
“Don’t interrupt me,” Fournier said in an icy tone. “I like you, Max, but I am worried about your judgment. If you can’t honor a simple request, then I can no longer deal with you, and make no mistake, this is France.” Fournier tapped the linen tablecloth and leaned in to within a few inches of Vega. “If Samir is not out of this country by tomorrow morning, you will force my hand.”
Vega felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He cleared his throat and pushed his chair back a few inches. “There has been a complication.”
Fournier half laughed, expecting some lame excuse. “Please do tell.”
“I have been informed that I am on the list.”
“The list?” It took Fournier a moment to understand which list he was referring to. “You mean the same list Tarek was on?”
“Yes,” Vega said with a solemn nod.
Fournier took in the new information and his mind immediately seized on a potential problem. “You are sure?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My father passed along the information. He wants Samir and Rafique to keep a very close eye on me.” Vega paused for a beat. “And he is sending more men to help protect me.”
Fournier didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. “And when were you going to inform me of this?”
“I only found out this afternoon.”
“On your phone?” Fournier asked as he pointed at the black mobile phone on the table.
Vega nodded.
Fournier cringed. “I have told you before, you cannot trust those device
s. We can intercept them. So can the Russians, the British, and the Americans.”
“We have our codes,” Vega said, shaking his head. “They can listen all they want. All they will ever hear is a man talking to his father about business.”
Fournier didn’t share his confidence. He knew the capabilities of his own organization, and they paled in comparison to what the Americans could do. This meeting had taken a decidedly bad turn. Fournier thought of his various options and was about to tell Vega it was time for him to leave France when a very unwelcome visitor appeared at the table.
