“No.”
“He’s in Moscow now?”
“Apparently.”
“Do we have someone there who can pay him a visit?”
“I think I can arrange that.”
“Do it. And if he—” His phone vibrated, stopping him.
But there was no name on his display, only BLOCKED. He held it out to Orlando.
“I thought the software update you gave me was supposed to decode blocked numbers.”
“It is.” She frowned. “Give it to me.”
He handed her the phone. Without punching the Accept button, she accessed the virtual keypad and began typing. When the vibrating ceased, she looked up. “The program should have been able to figure it out.”
“Maybe you need to start thinking about writing an update.”
“Go to hell,” she said, but Quinn knew as soon as she had a little free time, updating was exactly what she’d do.
As Orlando handed the phone back to him, it buzzed again, indicating a voice message. Quinn pushed the button to play the message, and switched it to speaker so they could both hear.
Nothing at first, then a voice: male, older, with an accent that seemed almost English, but not quite. “I will call you back in ten minutes. Please do answer your phone.”
Quinn played the message again.
“Do you recognize him?” Orlando asked.
“No.”
She then held out her hand. “Give it to me again.”
As she began scrolling through different displays, Quinn asked, “What are you doing?”
She frowned at him. “The software I installed, which you’ve already pointed out needs an update, includes the ability to record both sides of a conversation. I just haven’t activated it yet.”
“And why not?”
“We talk a lot. The last thing I need is for you to record one of our conversations, then throw something I say back in my face.” She tapped the screen one more time, then sat back. “Okay, it’s ready.”
“Does your phone have this capability?”
“Of course.”
“And it’s active, I assume.” She smiled.
He took the phone from her. “I want you to keep this function active on
“We’ll see.”
Precisely ten minutes after the first call, Quinn’s phone began to vibrate again.
“Do I need to do anything?” Quinn asked.
“Just hit Accept. It records automatically.”
Quinn did as she instructed, then raised the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Quinn?” It was the same voice from the message.
“Who is this?”
“What are your plans in regards to the project you are doing for David Wills?”
Quinn paused. “I don’t know any David Wills.”
Orlando looked at him, the brow over her left eye arched.
“We both know that’s not true,” the caller said. “You have five seconds to tell me who you are, or I’m hanging up.”
Nothing for three seconds, then, “Have you read
Quinn said nothing. He also didn’t hang up.
Some organizations created code phrases for when the legitimacy of a third party needed to be established.
“Do I have your attention now?” the man asked.
“Who are you?” Quinn said.
“You can call me Mr. Smith. The job you are doing for David Wills is actually for me. I’m his client.”
“Hang on for a moment,” Quinn said. He punched the Hold key and looked at Orlando. “It’s the client. The one with the body in the wall.”
