The Cornwalls Vanish by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2019-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 50

PELAYO ABBOUD returns to the room in the upper-floor suite that’s been converted into his own little communications center, and a distressed-looking Casper Khourery looks to him and says, “Sir…the deadline has passed by an hour. We’ve not heard from the Army captain.”

“Ah,” he says, walking into the room, gently touching and slapping the bulky shoulders of the other three men working here on his behalf, sitting in front of keyboards, computer consoles, and radio equipment. “Do we have a view of the Three Rivers house?”

A young lad named Alejandro says, “Sir, over here, if you please.”

Pelayo bends over and takes in the view from the large monitor. It’s an amazing sight, like he’s taking in a view from a sparrow or a hawk, circling over the small house. The place looks empty, looks quiet. A few bits of shrubbery are scattered across the flat yard.

The driveway is empty.

That’s not good.

He says, “There is supposed to be a truck there, am I right?”

“Yes, jefe,” Casper says, coming over to join him. “We saw it leave about three minutes ago.”

“I don’t like that,” Pelayo says. “You should have told me.”

“There was only one man who came out from the house,” Casper explains. “We could see his size and shape. It was clear that he was not the one we’re interested in.”

“I see.”

The airborne drone circles and circles over the small house. It’s an amazing thing, what the scientists and engineers can do, if given enough money and resources.

Pelayo says, “Are we sure that this drone cannot be spotted?”

Alejandro says, “This aerial platform, jefe, was developed for the American CIA. It is nearly impossible to detect. Four were given on loan to our Centro de Investigación y Seguridad Nacional.” The young man smiles. “Officially, one was destroyed in a training accident…but as you can see, it has recovered quite nicely.”

“Good,” Pelayo says.

Casper steps closer to him, lowers his voice. “About the Army captain…the deadline has passed. What shall we do?”

Pelayo says, “We give her another hour. Why not? Sometimes it is to your advantage to show mercy.”

Alejandro leans over and whispers something to the man next to him, and the man laughs. Pelayo grips Alejandro’s left shoulder. “I’m so sorry, would you care to repeat that?”

“Er, it was nothing, jefe.”

“Oh, it must have been something, for your friend there to laugh so loud. Please. Share it with me.”

“Jefe…”

Pelayo squeezes harder. Alejandro gets the message. He stammers and says, “It was…just a joke. That’s all. I just said…good for you that Miguel isn’t here to hear the talk of mercy.”

He releases his grip on the young man’s shoulder, gives him a reassuring pat. “Ah, yes. My cousin Miguel. I suppose everyone knows about him, what he’s done, what he’s capable of doing. Even though he professes to be a religious man. And if he were to know that I just extended this deadline, it would not go well for me, would not go well for my company. Because Miguel would see any sign of mercy as a weakness, am I correct?”

Alejandro whispers, “Yes, you’re correct.

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