recent deposit.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want to transfer funds. I need a cashier’s check to do it. I want your bank to provide it.”
“You do not intend to keep the half million euros in our bank?”
“Not that half million.”
“You intend to deposit another half million?”
“I might,” Teddy said. “It depends on the service I receive here.”
Five minutes later the head teller delivered a cashier’s check for five hundred thousand euros. The bank manager presented it with a bit of a flourish.
Teddy inspected it, smiled, and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
The bank manager looked horrified. “You need to sign it.”
“I signed for the check.”
“You need to sign the check. If you don’t sign the check, anyone can. It’s as good as cash. Anyone can make it out to anyone they want, and sign their name. And then you would have no right to it.”
“But I have the check.”
“What if the check is stolen?”
“Do you expect the check to be stolen?”
“It’s not what I expect. But it could happen.”
“But no one knows I have it. Unless your bank told someone. Is your bank in the habit of advertising the business of its depositors?”
While the bank manager struggled to think of a response, Teddy shook his hand, turned, and walked out.
* * *
• • •
TEDDY WENT BACK to the Pierre. He logged onto a computer in the lobby and sent an encrypted e-mail to Kevin. The answer came back almost immediately. Kevin had obviously composed it already, and was just waiting for a prompt. Omar’s full name was Omar Khalidi. He was rumored to have taken part in death squads, often as leader. His ruthlessness was legendary.
Teddy had never encountered him under that name or any other. But the man clearly had acted as if he knew him. It might have been merely his style of intimidation; still, Teddy wondered why he bothered. Perhaps Floyd Maitland’s ugly-American act had just rubbed him the wrong way.
Whatever the reason, Teddy would have to be on his guard.
67.
TEDDY TOOK A cab back to l’Arrington Hotel. He was still dressed as Devon Billingham, but that didn’t matter. In the crowd of the convention, no one would notice him at all, at least not in the common areas. He just couldn’t let anyone see Devon Billingham entering Maitland’s room with a hotel key card.
He was in luck. Two people got on the elevator, but neither pushed his floor. He got out of the elevator alone, walked down to Maitland’s room, and went in.
A man was sitting there.
It was Omar.
He was holding a gun.
Omar’s eyes were hard, triumphant. “Not so smart as you think, are you?”
“Clearly not.”
“You thought no one would see past that fake moustache and stupid cowboy hat. But I do. You are not Floyd Maitland.”
Teddy shrugged. “It was a calculated risk.”
“Unfortunately for you, I’ve had dealings with Maitland. He was an annoying man but a good businessman, sold us AK-47s.”
“I hope you got a good deal.”
Omar gestured with the gun. “With one hand, reach down and pull your jacket open so I can see your gun.”
Teddy did as he was told. The shoulder holster hung just where Omar said it would.
“Take the gun out with two fingers and set it on the floor. Slowly. That’s it. Now stand up and raise your hands again. Don’t make any sudden moves. You’re mine. I could have shot you. I still can. But I want to know who you are and what you’re doing. Are you with the CIA?”
“I am not with the CIA.”
“Who are you with?”
Teddy just smiled.
Omar scowled. “You have no bargaining power. You talk or you die.”
“I will talk. Just ask me something I know.”
“You don’t know who you’re with?”
“I don’t know what the sides are. I don’t know what the game is. So far, all I know is several people want to kill a black rhino. Why, I have no idea.”
“For sport.”
“So they say. But you don’t want to kill it. Why not?”
“It does not amuse me.”
“I doubt if this operation was organized for your amusement. Why was it organized, I wonder?”
Omar said nothing. He rubbed his left eye.
Teddy relaxed slightly.
Omar frowned. “You look too calm. Why aren’t you frightened?”
“They teach us not to show fear. It’s one of the first classes at Langley.”
Omar scowled.
“That gun must be heavy with the silencer,” Teddy said. “Why don’t you put it down?”
“Last chance,” Omar snarled. “You want to talk, or should I shoot you right now?”
“Hmm. Tough choice. They’re always mad at you when you talk. When