a nutshell.
Chapter 15
Vienna, Austria
S cientists could make a gunfight sound as dry as Death Valley. Gerrit couldn’t take much more of this dribble.
It was the third day of the conference. Bored, Gerrit returned to his hotel room to find a brown leather briefcase on his bed. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, brightening an otherwise drab day. He’d left Henry Clarke minutes ago as the scientist continued to drone on as a member of the panel, boring everyone in the room about cyber security.
Kane had reached Gerrit by phone yesterday, telling him to expect this briefcase and provided a combination to open it. The lock sprung open as he entered the last digit of the combination and pressed the release. He found a laptop and a zippered leather pouch inside. Opening the pouch, he found a key, an address to an apartment he was to visit, a small wad of latex gloves, and a cell phone.
Everything a burglar might need to commit a felony.
He pulled out the computer to examine it more closely. Kane had advised that this laptop was registered under the same alias Gerrit used to travel to Harrogate. He was to switch out his current ID with the John Gerrity documents.
Let the games begin.
The cell phone vibrated from an incoming call. Pressing the Send button, he placed the phone to his ear. Kane was on the line.
“You get everything we sent you?”
“Yeah. Just a minute ago. You watching me?”
“I like to think of it as protection. Yes, we’re watching
over
you.” Kane hesitated. “Remember, use a cab to get around. Have them drop you off several blocks away. Pay cash. Are we clear?”
“I got it. This is not my first time to the dance.”
“The next call you get will be the signal. Stay put until then and be ready to move.” Kane hung up.
Gerrit settled back to wait for the call. He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. With everything on his mind, he knew rest would not be an option.
Evening shadows now danced outside as Gerrit opened his eyes. He felt the cell phone inside his front pocket vibrate with an incoming call.
“Dr. O’Rourke?” A woman’s voice.
“Yes?”
Someone knocked on his door. Gerrit, phone at his ear, moved to the door.
The woman’s voice came on the line again. “Your friend from England wanted me to tell you it is time to leave.”
Before responding, he flung open the door.
A woman stood in the hallway, phone in hand. She flipped it closed and walked in without an invitation. “Dr. O’Rourke, I presume. Are you ready?”
She entered and closed the door behind her. She moved about the room, prowling like a cat ready to spring, long black hair pulled back into a silky ponytail and a body that would make most men sit up and take notice.
And she knew it.
She looked back, almost defiantly, knowing she could make most men succumb. He had no doubt she used this to her advantage. Her dark, inviting eyes watched him like a feline eyeing a mouse.
“I know Kane said you’d get a call—and I did call because I always do what Kane wants.” She offered a smile. “But I could not help myself. I wanted to see who my boss had picked. I have heard so much about you, Gerrit.”
“And I’ve heard so little about you, Miss…”
“Collette. That’s all you need to know about me.”
“Well, Collette, now that we’ve met, maybe you can tell me what you do for Kane?”
She shot him a sultry look. “Now, Doctor, Kane and I must keep our secrets. You understand.” She looked at him with amusement.
He walked over to the door and opened it. “Well, Collette, it’s time I get to work. Will I see you again when this is over?”
She moved toward the door. “Oh, we will meet again. You can count on it.” Collette seemed to float down the hallway. He watched her walk all the way to the elevator. She turned and smiled back before closing the elevator door.
He gathered the briefcase and his coat and slipped on a black ivy hat he’d picked up in London. The
Chapter 15
Vienna, Austria
S cientists could make a gunfight sound as dry as Death Valley. Gerrit couldn’t take much more of this dribble.
It was the third day of the conference. Bored, Gerrit returned to his hotel room to find a brown leather briefcase on his bed. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, brightening an otherwise drab day. He’d left Henry Clarke minutes ago as the scientist continued to drone on as a member of the panel, boring everyone in the room about cyber security.
Kane had reached Gerrit by phone yesterday, telling him to expect this briefcase and provided a combination to open it. The lock sprung open as he entered the last digit of the combination and pressed the release. He found a laptop and a zippered leather pouch inside. Opening the pouch, he found a key, an address to an apartment he was to visit, a small wad of latex gloves, and a cell phone.
Everything a burglar might need to commit a felony.
He pulled out the computer to examine it more closely. Kane had advised that this laptop was registered under the same alias Gerrit used to travel to Harrogate. He was to switch out his current ID with the John Gerrity documents.
Let the games begin.
The cell phone vibrated from an incoming call. Pressing the Send button, he placed the phone to his ear. Kane was on the line.
“You get everything we sent you?”
“Yeah. Just a minute ago. You watching me?”
“I like to think of it as protection. Yes, we’re watching
over
you.” Kane hesitated. “Remember, use a cab to get around. Have them drop you off several blocks away. Pay cash. Are we clear?”
“I got it. This is not my first time to the dance.”
“The next call you get will be the signal. Stay put until then and be ready to move.” Kane hung up.
Gerrit settled back to wait for the call. He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. With everything on his mind, he knew rest would not be an option.
Evening shadows now danced outside as Gerrit opened his eyes. He felt the cell phone inside his front pocket vibrate with an incoming call.
“Dr. O’Rourke?” A woman’s voice.
“Yes?”
Someone knocked on his door. Gerrit, phone at his ear, moved to the door.
The woman’s voice came on the line again. “Your friend from England wanted me to tell you it is time to leave.”
Before responding, he flung open the door.
A woman stood in the hallway, phone in hand. She flipped it closed and walked in without an invitation. “Dr. O’Rourke, I presume. Are you ready?”
She entered and closed the door behind her. She moved about the room, prowling like a cat ready to spring, long black hair pulled back into a silky ponytail and a body that would make most men sit up and take notice.
And she knew it.
She looked back, almost defiantly, knowing she could make most men succumb. He had no doubt she used this to her advantage. Her dark, inviting eyes watched him like a feline eyeing a mouse.
“I know Kane said you’d get a call—and I did call because I always do what Kane wants.” She offered a smile. “But I could not help myself. I wanted to see who my boss had picked. I have heard so much about you, Gerrit.”
“And I’ve heard so little about you, Miss…”
“Collette. That’s all you need to know about me.”
“Well, Collette, now that we’ve met, maybe you can tell me what you do for Kane?”
She shot him a sultry look. “Now, Doctor, Kane and I must keep our secrets. You understand.” She looked at him with amusement.
He walked over to the door and opened it. “Well, Collette, it’s time I get to work. Will I see you again when this is over?”
She moved toward the door. “Oh, we will meet again. You can count on it.” Collette seemed to float down the hallway. He watched her walk all the way to the elevator. She turned and smiled back before closing the elevator door.
He gathered the briefcase and his coat and slipped on a black ivy hat he’d picked up in London. The
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