Page 79 of The Hero
Bob was impressed. It was obvious West hadn’t expected Marlowe to be so forceful. She was playing this exactly right, putting West onthe offensive right from the start. He’d been proud of her before, but now he was even more so.
“How’d you get out?” West asked.
“My brother,” Marlowe said shortly. “He has some amazing connections, and he got me a lawyer who knew exactly how to get me out of that hellhole. And now that I’m back, your little plan to get rich off those coins is shot to hell.”
Ian was quiet for a moment. “What do you want?”
“Iwantto go back to being naive. Iwantto think that the people I work with are trustworthy. That they wouldn’t throw one of their coworkers under the bus for money. But I can’t have that, can I? No,” she said, answering her own question. “So now, I want to discuss the deal you’re making for the coins.”
“What deal?”
“Honestly, you playing the innocent dumbass is getting old,” Marlowe barked. “You think I’d call you if I didn’t know what you were up to? I know you’ve been trying to sell those coins on the dark web. I know that you’ve had some interest. And I know that you’re on the verge of making a deal. I want in.”
“In ...?”
“Yes.In.You owe me, Ian. Big time. I was going to demand that you give me a percentage of the money you stand to make on those coins, but now that I’m talking to you, I don’t trust you not to screw me.Again.So instead, I want one of the three coins. I’ll make my own deal.”
“I ... I don’t have any coins.”
“Yes, you do,” Marlowe said calmly. “And I want one of them. I’ll find my own buyer. And if you don’t give me what I want, I’ll go to US CustomsandHomeland Security, and tell them everything. How you pocketed the coins when you were on that site. How you smuggled them into the US. How you framed me. They might not believe that I was framed for those pills, but when I show them the screenshots I have of your little advertisement on the dark web—and how the IP address leads straight to your parents’ house—you’llbe the one behind bars.”
She let her words sink in for a moment. Then added, “Oh, and your mom and dad just might end up there with you. You know ... since they’re aiding and abetting and all.”
“Youbitch!” Ian hissed.
Bob stiffened. And there he was. The real Ian West.
Marlowe was doing amazing. She was tense, but there was no way West would know that from the sound of her voice.
Now she laughed, a short, bitter sound. “Yup. Guess I learned to toughen up after my little stint in that prison in Thailand. I know how much those coins are worth—a million each. You’ll still get two million after you hand one of them over to me, and be grateful I’m not asking for half of everything. After this transaction, you and I are done. I’ll disappear from your life, and you’ll be free to do whatever the hell you want. Go on more digs, steal more shit ... I don’t care.”
“I don’t believe you,” Ian said. “I can’t trust you.”
“I don’t trust you either,” Marlowe retorted. “You’ve already proven that you don’t care who you step on in order to get your way. Give me one of the coins and we’re done. Forever. I don’t ever want to see you again. And besides, look at it this way—when I have one of those coins, I’m just as guilty as you are. Why would I turn you in when it would put me right back in prison as well? I just want what you owe me.”
There was silence on the other end of the line, before Ian West said in a hard voice, “Fine. But not in Boston. There are too many cameras in the city. I’ll come to you.”
“No.”
“Then we have nothing else to talk about. It’s my way or no way.”
Bob felt Marlowe tense next to him. Her gaze came up to his, her brows furrowed. It was obvious she wasn’t sure what to do now. He gave her a little headshake.
“Marlowe? You have three seconds to agree before I’m hanging up. And don’t think I just believe your little story about being let out of prison. All it’ll take is one call to confirm if that’s true—and if it isn’t, onemorecall to get you on every most-wanted list in the US.”
“Fine. Where?” Marlowe blurted.
Bob’s heart rate increased, and he could see the tension stealing over every man in the room. No! He didn’t want her coming face to face with the asshole who’d already double-crossed her.
“Wherever you are. An out-of-the-way spot. And if you even think about setting me up, you’ll regret it.”
Marlowe paused for a few seconds. Then said, “I’m in Newton, Maine.”
Ian chuckled, but it wasn’t a humorous sound. “Maine isn’t too far. Where can we meet?”
His friends were shooting looks at each other and Bob. Marlowe had given up her location! And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it now.
“Newton is a small town. There aren’t any traffic cams, and the police department’s a joke. It won’t be an issue to meet here. There’s a park off of Highway 2, right before you get to town. I’ll meet you there. Two days from now. One o’clock. Be there and bring me my coin, or I swear to God, I’ll make you regret ever meeting me.”
