Sins of the Father Read Online Free PDF Page B

would keep the two groups focused on each other, and not on him. Which was exactly the way he had planned it.
    Nevertheless, it felt as if his heart was trying to beat itself to death against the inside of his ribcage, and the high wind was wicking the cold sweat away from his exposed skin, making him feel chilled and shivery. Yet he couldn’t let himself think about any of it. He had to concentrate on the sleight of hand that was coming next.
    When he reached the skylight with the missing pane, he dropped the Chechens’ briefcase into the suite below, smoothly grabbing his own identical case, and never breaking his stride.
    The Koreans were so busy giving the Chechens the stinkeye that they barely noticed Peter until he was right beside them, handing the case over to Mr. Park. The Korean nodded and passed it to the tall guy with the bleached hair, trading it for the one he was holding.
    But Park didn’t hand over the Korean case. Instead, he waited silently as the tall guy opened the one Peter had given them, and began to inspect the contents.
    This was a tricky spot. The point where everything could go to hell.
    Peter held his breath, and clenched his fists.
    Inside the case was a device of Peter’s own creation. He’d told both sides that he could deliver to them a device which would allow the user to hack and reprogram armed UAVS, also known as drones. In reality, the Korean was examining an old laptop motherboard and frame, grafted to a touch-screen tablet and the controller for a toy helicopter.
    It only needs to be convincing for a few minutes , he reminded himself. He’d told each group that the other one was selling this technological unicorn. Both parties thought they were the buyers. Peter already had the Chechen money, which he’d dropped through the skylight. Now he needed to get the Koreans’ payoff, as well, so that it could join the first case in the suite below.
    On paper, it all looked simple.
    Peter liked to believe that, after a decade of experience as a freelance “social engineer,” he was able to predict human behavior like a veteran sailor could predict the tides. Along the way, however, he’d also learned to expect the unexpected.
    Stay calm , he reminded himself.
    To his amazement and relief, Blondie nodded his approval. Peter felt every muscle in his body turn to relieved jelly as he let out the breath he had been holding, trying not to be too obvious.
    So far so good.
    Mr. Park handed Peter the other briefcase, motioning with his weak chin, gesturing toward the antsy Chechens. Peter thanked him in Japanese, and started back across the roof.
    When he reached the skylight, he made the second crucial swap, smoothly dropping the Koreans’ case into his suite and grabbing his own. He could feel the Chechens’ hard eyes boring into him as he cleared the final stretch, hoping all the while that the shadows had kept his secret.
    By the time he reached the other side, he was clenched-up again. He handed the ringer case to Umarov. They were less than ten feet away from his escape route now, but one of the Chechen boys had positioned himself in front of the door. Peter’s only hope was that when the govno hit the fan, the goon would leave his post to join in the action, giving Peter the opportunity to take a powder, unnoticed.
    The kid with the Kalashnikov drew down on the Koreans with rock-steady hands. He spat his wad of gum off to one side, narrowly missing Peter’s sneakers. Umarov opened the case, revealing its contents—several copies of the “Gentleman’s Guide” to Bangkok’s red-light districts.
    Life would be so much better for this kid , Peter thought to himself, if he spent his rubles on a hot soap massage with a happy ending. Umarov swore and flashed a low hand signal. The kid with the rifle unceremoniously shot Mr.
    Park in the face. His aim was superb, considering the lighting, the high wind, and the distance of the target.
    This couldn’t be his first time.
    Peter hit the