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Abram picked up the box and handed it to Petrov. Petrov studied the box a moment, looking for any signs it had been broken into. Liam smiled. “Not a scratch on it.”
Petrov pulled a small key out of his pants pocket and opened it, studied the contents, gently closed the box. “No curiosity, Mr. Hennessey?”
“Mr. Petrov, the box doesn’t interest me. It never did. It was a job, nothing more.”
“I have to admit I’m surprised the box was where you left it. The FBI did an extensive search.”
“They surely did, but don’t you see? I’m smarter than the FBI.”
“He had a homeless man keep the carryall for him,” Elena said.
A black eyebrow shot up, matching his dramatic widow’s peak perfectly.
Liam shrugged. “You have your box. I wish you luck with your blackmail. It’s past time I leave now. I’ll be taking Elena with me again. I’ll send her back with Ralph once we land where I tell him to.”
Petrov frowned. “You have your money; you have the helicopter. There is no reason to take Elena.”
Liam shrugged again. “I’ve always believed in redundancies, Mr. Petrov. One never knows what might happen to a helicopter or what might happen on the way to a helicopter. I know you have more affection for Elena than you do for Ralph and me, so it’s safer that way.”
Abram gave a low growl, took a step forward.
“Control your dog, Mr. Petrov.”
Petrov shook his head at Abram, and Liam gave them both the same salute Major Hummer had given Elena.
“No need to worry. Elena will come back to you safe.” Liam laughed. “If she wants to come back to you, of course.”
* * *
It wasn’t long before Liam was staring out the helicopter window at the Potomac below. He would miss the city, particularly the lights at night, and all the countless marble monuments, a beautiful sight really. But still, it wasn’t Belfast. Liam remembered the pounding excitement of besting an enemy or a mark. Thinking about it still made his blood pump fast and hard. No, there was nothing like Belfast in the bad old days.
Elena said, “All I want is to get back home and take a shower.”
Liam looked at her, smiled. “Maybe where we’re going we can shower together.”
She turned to look at him. “In your dreams. You look like a clown in Abram’s white shoes.”
He leaned over, lightly rubbed the Walther’s muzzle over her smooth cheek. She didn’t move. He admired that. He drew back, smiled at her. “You have guts, moy golub,” he said.
“I wonder if I will have time to kill you and exactly how I’ll do it.”
Liam laughed.
Ralph’s voice came over Liam’s headphones, “Where do you want me to go, Mr. Hennessey?”
“Do you have a full tank of gas, Ralph?”
“Nearly.”
“Fly north, mate, I’ll tell you when to drop me off.”
44
DR. HICKS’S OFFICE
JEFFERSON DORMITORY, QUANTICO
WEDNESDAY MORNING
