Death Echo

but they’re a hell of a lot more convertible into sheer leverage in the marketplace.”
    Mac didn’t know what Harrow or the CIA really believed, but he knew that counterfeiting was the story they were passing out.
    â€œConsidering that you provided the plates for the counterfeiters to work with,” Emma said, “discovery would be seriously embarrassing for some high-up people. Career fatalities all over the place.”
    Harrow let out a long breath. “I told them you would understand.”
    â€œWhere’s the handover supposed to take place?” Mac asked. His voice was like his face, neither understanding nor skeptical.
    â€œWe’re not sure,” Harrow said. “We have information that the goods are coming off a container ship onto a fishing boat off the Pacific Coast somewhere between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. The fishing boat will come south and make the transfer to Blackbird at their leisure, somewhere in a quiet cove. God knows the Inside Passage is full of deserted places.”
    â€œCan’t argue that,” Mac said. “Especially after summer.”
    â€œWhen is it supposed to go down?” Emma asked.
    â€œIn the next few days,” Harrow said.
    â€œWas Tommy yours?” Mac asked, his voice as unreadable as his face.
    â€œTommy?” Harrow looked confused.
    â€œThe dead man on the rez,” Mac said.
    â€œOh. He was the Bureau’s. That’s why they were unusually territorial about the case. I looked at the file. Nobody owned Tommy but the last person to put crank or a bottle in his hands.”
    â€œLucky for you Tommy died,” Emma said. “It gave you a ticket aboard Blackbird .”
    Mac had been thinking the same thing.
    â€œMaybe,” Harrow said, shrugging. He narrowed his eyes at Emma. “Tommy was whacked by someone, but it wasn’t the Agency or the Bureau. We would have been happier with him in place.”
    â€œHuh,” Mac said, a word as neutral as his expression.
    â€œBut we’re in place now,” Emma said. “What if we don’t want to play nice with you?”
    â€œEven if St. Kilda Consulting wiggles out by playing the rogue-agent card, you and your ex-hotshot captain become international fugitives with serious money on your heads. Award paid on proof of death.” Harrow shrugged. “Doubt if you’d last real long.”
    It wasn’t a threat.
    It was a fact.
    â€œWhere is Blackbird ?” Harrow asked again.
    â€œYou don’t trust us to play nice?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t trust anyone.”
    â€œEspecially not the man in the mirror,” Mac said very softly.
    She didn’t argue.
    â€œWe need a locator and a data recorder aboard,” Harrow said, “and we’re going to get them. Cooperate or I throw you to the bounty hunters.”
    â€œWho killed Tommy?” Mac asked flatly.
    â€œI told you. I don’t know. Why do you care?”
    â€œCollateral damage pisses me off.”
    â€œThrow a fit on your own time. Are you in or out?” Mac looked at Emma.
    They exchanged a long silence.
    Then she turned to Harrow and said, “In.”

61
    DAY FIVE
VANCOUVER ISLAND
4:15 P.M.
    T aras Demidov divided his attention between his cell phone screen and Lina Fredric.
    Both required watching. His two coordinates were no longer closing with one another, which was making his boss crazier than usual. He had kept making and countering his own orders, until finally Demidov quit following them. He was waiting for two like orders in a row.
    As for the woman, Lina was restless, wanting to go back to her safe little life. Demidov didn’t understand the desire. The grave was safe. Life was for taking risks. Lina had become too soft for anything but death.
    Demidov’s boss might be crazy, but he didn’t have a soft impulse in his body.
    â€œDon’t worry, little bird,” Demidov said to her. “This will all be done in a day or two. You’ll be taking fat fishermen out on the water again, and I’ll be another name you’ve forgotten.”
    Her expression said everything she was too frightened to voice.
    â€œWhy would I kill you?” he asked practically. “You could be of use again. A smart man plans ahead.”
    â€œAnd you’re a very smart man,” she said, her voice empty.
    â€œI live. Others died.” He shrugged. “That is smart enough, yes?”
    His cell