The Nameless Ones by John Connolly

Chapter LXXVII

Once Louis had drained the last of his green tea, he called the number given to him by Mr Rafi. As he listened to it ringing, he mused on the chain of events that had led him to this juncture: a man who had spent most of his adult life avoiding the attention of authorities in any number of countries, now exposing himself to the highest possible level of surveillance. Much of this was Charlie Parker’s fault. It was just lucky for all involved that Louis was fond of him.

His call, as anticipated, wasn’t answered, and was terminated after four rings without redirection to a message service. Seconds later, Louis’s phone vibrated with an incoming call from a withheld source. Louis hit the green button, and Rafi’s voice said, ‘I wondered if you’d get in touch, but I’m glad you did.’

Louis thought that Mr Rafi was probably being sincere, if for purely homicidal reasons. Rafi’s life was in peril, and it had forced him to take chances he would have preferred to avoid. By establishing a means of communication, he risked betrayal, but he was relying on the threat of reprisal to keep Louis in line.

Except Louis knew that Rafi was damaged goods. One more false step, and his own people would cut him loose.

‘I needed some time to run the numbers,’ said Louis.

‘On what?’

‘On my chances of hitting the Vuksans and getting away clean, against yours.’

‘What did you decide?’

‘That it doesn’t much matter who kills them, as long as someone does,’ said Louis. ‘If you fail, and get shot by the Vuksans or the Austrians, the world will be a better place, and I’ll come at the Vuksans again when the opportunity arises. If you succeed, and get shot by the Austrians after, the world will be an even better place. It’s a win-win situation for the world and me. Only a sap wouldn’t let another sap do his dirty work for him.’

‘That’s very admirably unidealistic of you. So, what do you have for me?’

‘The lawyer, Frend, is staying at a hotel in the city. You spooked him by hanging around outside his office. You should have been less conspicuous.’

‘Which hotel, and what name is he using?’

‘I don’t know the alias,’ said Louis, ‘just the hotel. I imagine it’s the kind of place that prides itself on its discretion. Frend used to take his mistress there to fuck her, because a fifty-euro note was enough to ensure that the desk didn’t ask for ID.’

‘We can’t search every room,’ said Rafi, not unreasonably.

‘You won’t have to. Frend will be leaving the hotel at five a.m. tomorrow for a business meeting.’ Louis had decided it was better if Mr Rafi didn’t know that the meeting would involve the exchange of a million euros, and had been arranged for the ultimate benefit of the Vuksans. ‘You can take him when he leaves. After that, it’s up to you how you persuade him to tell you where the Vuksans are holed up.’

‘And how do you know about this meeting?’

‘Frend told us.’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘Because,’ said Louis, ‘my colleagues are holding his daughter hostage.’

When the call was ended, Louis put away his cell phone and rejoined Angel in the restaurant. A text message, from a Virginia number, arrived as he was settling the check. It read: Found him.