The Columbus Affair: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

from the muted speaker.
    He trained the gun on Simon, who gestured with the iPad.
    “You can shoot me. But what of her?”
    “What do you want?”
    “First, I need you to believe me when I say that I will harm your daughter. Do you?”
    His left hand kept the gun leveled, but his gaze darted back to the screen. Both men were exploring areas that the slits in Alle’s pants had made readily accessible.
    It had to stop.
    “Second,” Simon said. “I require a task from you. After that, your daughter will be released and you may finish what I interrupted here this afternoon.”
    “What task?” he demanded.
    “I need your father’s body exhumed.”
    ———
    T HE FLOOD LAMP EXTINGUISHED, AS DID THE RED LIGHT ON THE camera. Alle lay back on the bed, freed from the cocoon of illumination.
    Another light came on. Less bright, but enough to expose the room.
    Rócha sat beside her.
    Sweat soaked her brow.
    The first communication with her father in two years had ended.
    Rócha stared down at her, the knife now back in his hand. Midnight stood beside the camera. Both of her legs could be seen from the slits, but at least their hands were not on her.
    “Shall we continue?” Rócha asked, a touch of Portuguese in his voice.
    She bore her gaze into him and fought the urge not to shake from fear.
    “I guess not,” he said, adding a smile.
    He cut away the restraints on her arms, then the ones for her legs. She sat up and stripped the tape from her mouth, telling herself to handle these men carefully. “Was all that necessary?”
    “You like?” Rócha asked, clearly proud of himself.
    She’d told them to be convincing, even suggested using a knife. But she’d never mentioned anything about slitting her clothes and groping her body.
    But what did she expect?
    These men were undisciplined opportunists, and she’d presented them with a golden opportunity.
    She stood and stripped the bindings from her wrists and ankles. She just wanted to leave. “You made the point. We’re done.”
    Midnight said nothing, nor did he act particularly interested. He never did. He was a quiet sort that seemed to do only what he was told.
    Rócha was the one in charge.
    At least while Zachariah was gone.
    She wondered about what was happening in Florida, at her grandfather’s house in Mount Dora. The call had come less than an hour ago from Zachariah, saying that her father had driven there from Orlando, a thirty-minute trek east on Interstate 4, one she’d made many times.
    Then, another call.
    Her father had a gun and seemed about to kill himself. For an instant that had bothered her. No matter what had happened between them, he was still her father. But showing that man compassion was what had gotten her heart broken time after time.
    Better to leave the wall up.
    She rubbed her sore wrists.
    Her nerves were frayed.
    She caught both men admiring her bare legs, which protruded from the mutilated pants.
    “Why not stay?” Rócha asked. “We can finish the performance. Without the camera.”
    “I don’t think so,” she said. “I’ve had enough acting for one day.”

CHAPTER SIX
    T OM WAS PERPLEXED. “W HY WOULD YOU WANT THAT BODY EXHUMED ?”
    The video feed from the iPad had stopped, the screen once again black.
    “My associates are awaiting a call from me. If that is not received in the next few minutes, then the suffering of your daughter will begin. The video was to make clear the situation.” Simon motioned at the gun. “May I have that.”
    He wondered, what
would
happen if he just let the police handle this?
    About as much as what happened eight years ago, when he’d needed them to do their job.
    Not a damn thing.
    He handed over the weapon.
    Interesting how defeatism worked. Back in the days when he roamed the world for the next big story, he never would have been cowed by someone like this. Confidence and audacity had been his trademarks.
    But they’d also been his downfall.
    He’d been a moment away from ending his