“No need to get nasty,” I said. “What do you mean, you’ve got them?”
“I mean that we’ve kidnapped them for ransom. You get the honor of being the ransomer. You’re gonna pay me ten million dollars to get them back.”
“You can’t be serious. I don’t have that kind of money,” I lied.
“Not you, asshole. Your company.”
“Richard IS the company,” I said.
“That’s right, he is, and that’s why you’re gonna pay to get him back. Ten million is chicken feed to you guys. You should be thankful that I’m not asking for more. He’ll make it all back in a week. If you pay, that is. If you don’t, we’re going to chop them up and throw them in the river.”
I looked at Meyer, who was looking back at me. We both knew that kidnappings rarely ended well, even when the ransom was paid. Kidnappers were too afraid that the victims could identify them, or were just too busy to be bothered with returning them when killing them was so much easier.
“I need proof that you have them and that they’re okay.”
“Figured you would,” he said. There was a brief pause and then Richard Morrison was on the line.
“Hello, Johnny,” he said.
“Hi boss,” I said. “How are they treating you?”
“So far, so good. I authorize you to pay them,” he said, knowing that I had absolutely no access to his money.
“Okay,” I said. “Who do I make the check out to?”
Another pause, then: “Real funny, asshole. You’ve got your proof. Morrison says it will take you three days to turn stocks into cash. You’ve got one. Write down this account number.” He spoke some numbers, an ABA bank identifier and an account. “The money goes there. I’ll need it to arrive by midnight tomorrow, please. Or else.”
“Got it,” I said. “But if I liquidate that much of the fund, the market will know it almost instantly.” I was guessing here, but it seemed like something a Johnny Dawn would say.
“That’s your problem,” he said.
I thought fast. “I’m going to need a phone number,” I said. “I’m going to call at random times to make sure that Richard and Cyndi are still okay.”
“Sure,” he said. “I have throwaway cell phones and after this call we’ll never be on long enough for a trace. Oh, and no cops, of course. I’ll know if you call the cops in, and if you do it’ll be chunks in the river.”
“Okay,” I said. “Deal. Just don’t hurt them.”
“Good boy,” he said. He gave me a cell phone number to call next and hung up.
“So much for paper cuts,” Meyer said. “What are you going to do?”
“First, I’m going to call Barker. Then I’m calling Buddy.”
“Rescue mission?”
“Seek and destroy mission.”
Meyer sighed. “I’m in,” he said.
I dialed Barker’s house, still on speakerphone. Tina answered.
“Hello, stud,” she said. “I’m naked and aroused and only 15 minutes away. What are you going to do about it?”
Meyer rolled his eyes.
“Tina, I’m in trouble. I need Thomas.”
She was instantly all business. “Wait one,” she said.
Then: “Johnny. What’s up?”
“You know all kinds of people in the electronics world. Do you know anyone who could figure out the location of a cell phone I have the number for?”
Silence for a while. “Maybe,” he said. “Actually, I’m almost positive I do. Let me make a call and get right back to you.” He broke the connection. I immediately dialed my friend Buddy Magellas.
“Impressive,” Meyer said. “You did the ‘I’ll need a number to call’ thing so you could track them down.”
I nodded. “Best I could come up with on short notice.”
“Pretty goddamned good.”
The phone rang and as usual Jen answered. “Hello, lover,” she said.
“Really, Johnny?” Meyer said. “Is there anyone you haven’t fucked?”
“Meyer? Good to hear your voice! Haven’t seen you in like forever,” Jen said.
“Same here, Jen,” he said.
“Johnny and I haven’t had sex, Meyer. I’ve tried everything I know to make it happen. I’m starting to think maybe Johnny is gay. He’s got some excuse about not wanting to cheat on his buddy Buddy.”
In the background I heard, “You can have her!” Then a short scuffle and giggles.
“Backup,” I said.
The scuffling stopped. Then Buddy’s voice, serious now. “Talk to me.”
“Kidnapping. Friends of mine. They think I’m the money mark.”
“Ransom operation?”
“Seek and destroy.”
“Fuck, you know I’m in, Bro.”
In the background I heard, “Me too, this time, you bastards!”
“Yes, you are,” I said. “Personal protection detail. They might know where I live. I need you to stay with my women while Buddy and I go hunting.”
“Buddy and Meyer and you,” Meyer said. I looked at him. He hadn’t been in the Rangers like Buddy and me, but there was nobody I trusted more to have my back.
“Right,” I said.
Jen grumbled about her assignment but agreed. She asked if I was willing to pay so she could bring her partner along. I thought about it. He was openly gay, but nobody gave him any shit about it. We had sparred several times and he could almost take me. I had taught him a few things and he picked it up quickly and I wasn’t looking forward to our next sparring match. He was also perhaps the best shot with a handgun that I knew.
“No problem,” I said. “As long as he can keep his mouth shut. This is going to be off the books.”
“I trust him,” Jen said. And that was enough for me.
“I gotta go,” I said. “Barker’s calling me. I’m hoping he can help me find them.”
“Rog, out,” Buddy said. “We’ll be there in half an hour.”
I pressed the button. “Rand,” I said.
“I’ve got your guy,” Barker said. “What’s it all about?”
I told him.
“Well, he’s in San Francisco. I can get him and his equipment here within two hours.”
“How much will I owe you?” I said.
“Shut the fuck up,” Barker said mildly. “Anyway, the next time you call them he’ll be able to tell what network they’re on and which cell tower is handling the call. And when they give you the new cell phone number, as long as it’s on the same network it’ll register with that cell tower and we’ll be able to figure out where it is with pretty good certainty. Smart, the way you set that up.”
“I just hope it works,” I said.
“It’ll work. What else do you need? I don’t know how to help you do your job but I do have a big crapload of money.”
I thought hard. “Helicopter?”
“Done. What else?”