RainStorm

the
    U.S., it would have been catastrophic."
    "The two who died at Kwai Chung," I said. "What was their
    connection to Transdniester's president? And his son?"
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    "Why?"
    "I just like to keep tabs on people who might want to take me
    off their Christmas card list."
    There was a pause. "Nephews of the president. Cousins of
    the son."
    I thought about that for a moment. "The family is probably unhappy
    about losing them," I said. "Just guessing."
    "They have no way of connecting you with what happened at
    Kwai Chung."
    "What about Hilger?"
    "Hilger?"
    Kanezaki might have been playing dumb. Or the "Hilger"
    moniker might have been a pseudo, used operationally, that Kanezaki
    didn't know. It didn't really matter.
    "The NOC," I said.
    There was a pause, during which he digested the fact that I had
    learned the NOC's identity, or at least an operational pseudo.
    "Without confirming any names," he said, "I can say that everyone
    involved has an incentive to stick to the official story. This was a
    joint CIA/Hong Kong law enforcement operation."
    "It sounds like Dox and I ought to get a bonus," I said. "You got
    a lot more than you bargained for."
    "I can't do that," he said, "but you can charge me more for the
    next job. I don't think anyone would argue."
    "Where'd the money go?"
    "The money for the missiles?"
    "Yeah."
    "It was recovered at the scene."
    "How much was recovered?"
    "About three million."
    I laughed. " 'About three million'? Anyone wonder why such an
    odd amount?"
    "What do you mean?"
    "I mean your man Hilger scooped out about two million after
    executing the remaining people at the scene. It was dark and he was
    in a hurry, though, so he couldn't very well count it all out bill by
    hundred-dollar bill."
    "No. Why wouldn't he have taken all of it?"
    "This was a sale. It would have looked suspicious if there had
    been no funds at the point of purchase. Hilger is smarter than he is
    greedy."
    There was a long pause. "Let me ask you something," he said.
    "Do you think he knew what was in those shipping crates?"
    I considered for a moment. "I don't think he knew beforehand,
    no. He seemed surprised when he heard the word 'missiles,' and
    Belghazi said something to him about not asking questions he
    didn't want answered."
    "Yeah, but still, to just stand by for something like this . . ."
    "For what it's worth, I think he might have decided to try to
    prevent the deal from going down, once he figured out what it was
    all about. But should he have known beforehand? Could he have,
    if he'd cared? Hell, yes. Until circumstances made rationalization
    and denial impossible, he was probably happy to look the other way
    because he was getting such good 'intel' from Belghazi."
    There was another long pause while he took it in. "That's what
    I thought. Anyway, there's not much I can do about the money he
    took. Not this time."
    That's all right, I thought. I know who he is now. I've seen his face,
    up close through those Zeiss binoculars. And I know he uses the name
    Hilger, at least operationally. Dox and I might want to have a chat with
    him, tell him it isn't nice not to share.
    "You ought to think about the arrangement NE had with Belghazi,"
    I said. "I doubt that it's unique."
    "It isn't."
    "Then you're getting jerked around by other 'good' guys?"
    "Look, the people who have the dirt are dirty. Belghazi was
    poor execution, but that doesn't mean the concept itself is flawed."
    "You spend all this time with people who are dirty, what does
    that make you?"
    "You don't want to get dirty, better stay out of the sandbox."
    I laughed. "He was playing you."
    "Of course he was. Opposing sides always play each other. It
    doesn't mean a deal doesn't get done. As long as there's something
    in it for everyone, it all gets worked out."
    "Incredible."
    "Not really. It's just the way of the world. Look at America. All
    the interest groups donate to both political parties, knowing that,
    whoever wins, the winner will be in their debt."
    I paused, thinking, then said, "There's something I want you
    to do."
    "Name it."
    "You've got a file about me. The file mentions Rio de Janeiro.
    It mentions Naomi Nascimento."
    "Yes."
    "I want those references deleted."
    "I can do that."
    "Good," I said. "I'm going to tell you something now. And the
    information comes with responsibility. Heavy responsibility."
    There was a pause, then, "All right."
    "I care about that woman. It's over between us, but I care about
    her. I owe her something.