Blood Money by Matt Rogers

Author:Matt Rogers [Rogers, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

16

Wayne said, ‘He likes you.’

‘He does.’

‘You’re sure he enjoyed last night?’

‘I know when a man is pleased.’

‘No regrets this morning?’

‘On whose end?’

He didn’t blink.

She said, ‘No regrets. In fact, he wouldn’t shut up about it.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Want to question him?’

‘No,’ Wayne said. ‘I don’t want to do anything that might spook him. That’s why I’m talking to you.’

In the palm of my hand, she thought.

She said, ‘What’s the deal? How can I help?’

Indecision seemed to gnaw at him.

The walls came up, a final respite before he opened the floodgates.

Then rapid calculations happened behind his eyes.

Running through the possibilities. Figuring Ruby was his best shot at making sure everything went swimmingly. Thinking, She’s right. I approached her. She didn’t orchestrate this. I’m being paranoid. I can trust her.

He said, ‘My development group is constructing a supertall skyscraper in Manhattan. Along Billionaires’ Row. It’s costing me eight hundred million dollars, and construction is taking longer than expected. Which is a fucking nightmare for the interest payments. You understand?’

Ruby nodded, pretending she was still processing it, a little slow between the ears.

In reality, she already knew all this.

She just didn’t know how Zafir factored into it.

Wayne said, ‘Your one night stand is going to help me out with the payments. That’s all you need to know.’

‘Who is he?’

‘A Middle Eastern guy with a lot of money.’

‘Oil money?’

‘Yeah. Something like that.’

Inwardly, she seethed.

Thought of how many innocent men, women and children were lying dead and maimed in Yemen as a direct result of Zafir’s actions.

Her blood boiled.

If there was anything she despised more than blood money, it was those who feigned ignorance as they accepted it.

She said, ‘Then what’s the problem? Why is this so private? I must be missing something.’

Wayne shrugged. ‘It’d be awkward if I took his payments publicly. It’d look suspicious. We’re going to do it through shell corporations I’ve set up, so it seems like it’s coming from a private equity firm. Nothing sinister. Just cutting a few corners. It’s business.’

Of course it is, she thought.

She said, ‘How much is this deal?’

‘He’s going to give me two hundred million,’ Wayne said. ‘In exchange I’m giving him twenty-five percent of the tower’s profits when it’s completed. Off the books, of course. But there’s a lot of money in that. A hell of a lot of money. For all parties involved.’

She knew exactly which supertall skyscraper Wayne was building.

She’d seen its construction unfolding when she was in New York only two months ago.

A prestigious piece of the Manhattan skyline, a quarter of which would belong to a warlord who slaughtered kids for profit.

She seethed harder.

But she kept her demeanour just as nonchalant and ignorant as Wayne’s.

She said, ‘Okay. Once again — what do you need me to do?’

‘Keep him happy,’ Wayne said. ‘That’s all. But it’ll be good to know you’re on my side, and that you understand the stakes.’

She shrugged. ‘I know how to keep him happy. It won’t be a problem.’

‘Okay.’

‘I want you to triple it. Not double.’

‘Okay.’

Not a second of hesitation.

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