have to break, but I need all the info you can get on box 1566.’
Ulster looked him in the eye. ‘Give me one hour, and I will get your information.’
While Ulster did some digging inside the bank, Payne, Jones, and Megan killed time at the Hotel Beau-Rivage where they ordered hot beverages and homemade pastries inside the L’Atrium Bar. Located next to the five-floor atrium, the bar continued the same theme with its chandeliers, mirrors, candelabras, and sculptures. High stools filled with guests lined the long marble bar, but the trio preferred a more private setting, commandeering the plush loveseat and upholstered armchairs near the roaring fire.
Halfway through a mug of authentic Swiss hot
Payne smiled. ‘Next time I see her, I’ll be sure to mention it.’
‘Please don’t piss her off. For some reason, I still want to bang that chick. I think it’s her cartoon ponytail.’
Megan laughed at the absurdity of the comment. ‘Welcome back, David.’
‘Welcome back?’ he said, confused. ‘Oh, you mean my crankiness? Sorry about that. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m not a fan of the cold.’
‘Don’t worry, I figured it out. Helen Keller could have figured it out.’
Payne nodded in agreement. ‘DJ’s the best soldier I’ve ever met from forty degrees to one-hundred and forty. Never bitched. Never moaned. Never needed sunscreen or extra fluids. The guy was like a black Terminator. But thirty-nine and below? He was a pouty little princess. Thankfully, during Hell Week — the roughest part of Special
Jones smirked. ‘No comment.’
‘Nowadays, he’d be screwed. All candidates are forced to live in the mountains of Kodiak, Alaska, in near- arctic conditions to prove their worth. They’re tossed from tiny boats into the coastal waters and have to swim to shore. Over the next three weeks, they climb cliffs, traverse gorges, rappel down mountains, and sleep in the snow. All in hopes of preparing them for extreme conditions like Afghanistan.’
Jones sipped his hot chocolate and sighed. ‘I don’t know about
Megan was about to question him further when Ulster entered the room. His cheeks were flushed, and he was out of breath.
Payne stood, concerned. ‘What are you doing here? You were supposed to call, so I could meet you at the bank.’
Grinning, Ulster collapsed into an armchair. ‘No need, my boy. I have great news, so I hurried straight here.’
A few seconds later, he hustled out of the bar and into the atrium.
Confused, Ulster and Megan looked to Jones for answers.
‘Did I do something wrong?’ Ulster whispered.
Jones nodded as he eyed the room. ‘You were supposed to call us from the bank. That was the plan. You deviated from the plan.’
‘I know, but it was only a block. I might be plump, but I can walk that far by myself.’
‘Maybe so, but how do you know you weren’t followed?’
Ulster’s eyes widened. ‘Followed? Who would follow me?’
‘The same people trying to kill us,’ Jones explained. ‘If they know about the letter, there’s a possibility they know about Geneva, too.’
‘Yeah, but—’
Before Ulster could utter another word, Payne hustled back into the bar. The look on his face and the gun in his hand told them everything they needed to know.
They had company.
56
Urban warfare is particularly tricky, especially in a delicate environment like a five-star hotel. Before the first trigger is pulled, the combatants have to decide whether their impending battle is more important than the collateral damage that is bound to occur. Not only to the artwork and the architecture, but to all the people who might get caught in the crossfire. Ideally, Payne would have preferred a gunfight in the mountains or a desolate stretch of desert where he could utilize his training and minimize civilian casualties. However, when the enemy initiates a fight, a soldier has no choice in the matter. The field of battle has already been determined. All that is left is to make the best of a bad situation.
‘How many?’ Jones demanded as he pulled his gun from his belt.
Payne answered. ‘Four out front. Maybe more in the back. Didn’t have time to check.’
‘How do you want to play it?’
He yanked Ulster from his chair and grabbed
Jones said nothing as he hustled out of the room.
Meanwhile, the people at the bar realized that something bad was about to happen. Payne sensed their emotion and did his best to quell the panic. ‘You, behind the counter.’
The barkeeper froze. ‘Me?’
‘Call the cops and tell them armed gunmen are about to storm the hotel.’
‘What?’
‘I’m a US soldier on vacation. My partner and I will stop the gunmen, but we need reinforcements. Got it?’
The barkeeper nodded and picked up the phone.
‘White guy, green sweater,’ Payne said as he pointed at his own clothes. ‘My partner’s a black guy in a beige coat. Tell them not to shoot us.’
He nodded again. ‘White in green… black in beige… got it!’
‘What do we do?’ said a middle-aged woman on a nearby stool.
‘Get behind the bar.’ Payne quickly scanned the room, calculating how much space the
‘What about us?’ Megan asked.
Payne ignored her and focused on Ulster. ‘Where is Sotheby’s located?’
‘What?’ he asked, confused.
‘The auction house! Where are their offices in this hotel?’
Ulster pointed towards the other side of the building where some of the most spectacular auctions in Europe had been held. Over the past few decades, Sotheby’s had sold the celebrated jewels of the Duchess of Windsor, the princely collection of Thun und Taxis of Germany, and a pear-shaped diamond weighing over 100 carats for $16.5 million. In addition, they also auctioned art masterpieces and a variety of precious collectibles.
Payne asked, ‘Do they have a walk-in vault where they store their treasures?’
Ulster nodded, too panicked to speak.
‘Listen to me,’ Payne growled as he grabbed him. ‘You got us into this mess, now you gotta get us out.’
Ulster blinked a few times. ‘How?’
‘I can’t fight the bad guys if I’m worried about you and Megan, so you need to take her to
Megan overheard the instructions. ‘But what if—’
Payne cut her off. ‘No ifs! You got me? There are no ifs when I’m involved! I will come to the vault and get you. That’s a promise.’
