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“You’ve been sending Oleg pictures of my artwork. Tell me the details of his plan.”
Staring at the floor, sounding completely defeated, Stu outlined the operation. After Stu cut the power, Oleg’s soldiers would take over the compound. Once they had control, Stu was supposed to open the gate and let in a truck, then lead a small group into the house.
“They’ll be bringing a list, and the pieces will be loaded out front.”
“One last question. What made you do it?”
Stu slowly raised his eyes. “I’m sick and tired of being a nobody. Oleg gave me a chance to—”
“Show how easily you can be bought?” Marco retorted before Stu had a chance to finish. “Joe, gag and blindfold him.”
“What’s going to happen to me?” Stu bleated piteously as Joe set to work.
“I don’t know yet,” Marco replied, “but it won’t be pleasant.”
Leaving the traitor helpless and terrified, Marco and Joe left the wine cellar, double bolting the door to make sure no one could get in or out.
“I’m keeping the key, and give this to Benny,” Marco said, handing him the phone as they strode down the hall. “Tell him to download everything as fast as he can and let me know what’s on there, then find those fucking ladders. But, Joe, keep it low-key. Contact both me and Benny as soon as you know where they are.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
As Joe hurried away, Marco walked swiftly to the library. The quiet room with its high bookshelves and domed windows offered a clear view of the driveway. Staring through a crack in the drapes, he called Liam.
“Marco? Is that you?”
“I take it you didn’t expect to hear from me.”
“Thank God. I’ve been worried shitless. I thought you’d been incinerated. When I reached your Range Rover it was a fireball. I tried your sat phone but you didn’t answer.”
“Did you get the bastards?”
“No. The farmhouse was empty. There was no one there and no one showed up.”
“Where are you, Liam?”
“I’m almost back in town. I was thinking about stopping by the compound to see if anyone had heard from you. What about you, and why are you just getting in touch now?”
“I’m home, and this is the first chance I’ve had to call. I had a blowout. I knew right away I’d be a dead man if I stuck around to change the tire, so I bolted. The farmhouse was a trap. Oleg’s planning to hit my compound tonight.”
Marco heard a gasp, then silence.
“Forgive me if this is a stupid question,” Liam said, “but why does he want to do that? Did you piss him off? Did something happen between you two I don’t know about?”
“Think about it, Liam.”
“I’m thinking, but nothing’s coming to mind.”
“My art collection.”
“Hang on a second. When the Zeppelins put the word out they were looking for someone to work with, how could they know you’d be the one to respond?”
“Liam, that’s a very good question,” Marco replied gravely. “Do you have an answer?”
“Are you implying—?”
“I’m not implying anything, I’m just asking the question.”
“Marco, when I heard the Zeppelin brothers were trying to make inroads here, my only interest was stopping them. We’ve both been played. Oleg Zeppelin must have been planning this for months. The man’s a fucking evil genius.”
