“I did what I had to do. The same you would have done. We’re both successful men, Bene. To remain that way, we make hard decisions. Just like you did when you pointed the Americans my way.”
Interesting. Simon had become informed. “I had no choice.”
“I doubt that. But it doesn’t matter. Jamison is dead. It is just you and me now, Bene.”
Which explained why he’d heard nothing more from Brian. He hoped the Americans were out of his life for good. “What do you want?”
“Let us call it even between us.”
“Would there be a point to that?”
“There’s a man named Thomas Sagan on his way to Kingston.”
“The man from Florida?”
“That’s right. He’s flying in late tonight, your time. I am on the way, but I will not arrive before he does. I need you to follow him and see where he goes.”
“And why would I do that?”
“He will lead you to the location of a great treasure. I lied to you, Bene. I am not after Columbus’ grave or even the lost gold mine. Whether or not there were crates of gold from Panama hidden somewhere on the island, who cares? I want something far more valuable that does exist. Four objects. The Jews’ Temple treasure.”
Now he was interested. Simon was telling him things he knew to be true. “This man, Sagan, knows where that treasure is?”
“I think so.”
But Frank had made clear that the objects were moved. Did this man Sagan know their
He decided to hold that nugget and discuss it with Sagan.
“Since you already know about Sagan,” Simon said, “find his photo on the Internet, then find him. He will be on a British Airways flight from London that arrives around eleven tonight, your time. He may have with him a small black bag. What is inside is important.”
“Why call me?”
“Because you want another shot at me.”
That he did. Like Grandy Nanny and the British there might be a truce, but no peace would pass between them.
“Do this,” Simon said, “and you will get that chance, because you will have something I want.”
But Bene knew something else.
Thomas Sagan was Simon’s enemy.
And that he liked.
“There is one other point,” Simon said. “Something for you to consider before you act. I have a piece of the puzzle that Sagan does not. Without it, you will find nothing. I need to be there, with Sagan, and I will provide that piece for us all.”
He chuckled. “Always an angle.”
“It is the way of the world.”
“I’ll have a man waiting for you at the airport with a car,” he said. “In the meantime, I’ll find Thomas Sagan.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
TOM ACCEPTED HIS PASSPORT BACK FROM THE WOMAN BEHIND the counter. He’d traveled all over the Caribbean and Central America as a reporter, but never to Jamaica. His trip had started with an hour flight from Prague to London, then another nine and a half hours east across the Atlantic. To his body it was after four o’clock in the morning tomorrow. Here, it was 11:15 P.M.
The transatlantic flight had not been packed, so he was able to stretch out and sleep. For the first time in a few days he’d relaxed, safe thirty thousand feet in the air. He’d even eaten a meal. Not much, as he’d never cared for airplane food, but enough.
The tropical air was thicker and warmer than Prague’s. More like Florida. Like home. Funny he would think that way. He hadn’t considered the concept of home for a long time.
He headed for the rental car counters, which placards said were in the Ground Transportation Hall. Construction was evident everywhere, the terminal undergoing renovations. The gate they’d arrived at appeared new, as did the concourse. Few vendors were open this late, but a fair number of passengers came and went.
He should be jet-lagged, but he wasn’t. He’d never suffered much from that malady, adrenaline both then and now an effective countermeasure. He spotted the Hertz counter, which was lit and manned.
Two men suddenly appeared beside him.
“Need a ride?” one of them asked, an eager look on his face.
He shook his head. “No thanks.”
“Come on, man,” the other one said. “We can take you wherever you need. Quickie quick. Low cost. No problem.”
He kept walking.
