Page 77 of Savage Reckoning

Aaron is unrepentant. “We were busy, bro. Things to do, traitors to kill.”

Ethan waves the explanations away. “Go on,” he says, directed at Casey.

“So, the deal was unfinished. We saw that and wondered why. Seems we were right. Archer was strapped for the cash. His accounts are either frozen or emptied, so he couldn’t lay his hands on the price, four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Without the money, up front, the contractor wasn’t budging. I imagine he was trying to sort all of that out when you burst in. The rest is history, rather like Jerome Archer.”

Maybe I’m being dim today, but I’m struggling to make sense of all this. “So, there isn’t actually a deal in place? No contract?”

Casey grins at me. “That’s right. And once it gets out that Archer is dead…”

“You think it’ll all just disappear?” I ask.

Casey nods. “Pretty much, I imagine.”

“And if that happens—”

“When that happens…” she corrects me.

“When. We’ll never know who was willing to take on the job. Until they decide to have another go.”

“I suppose that’s true, but we should just be glad we foiled it in time. We can stand down and get our people back.”

I’m not so sure. I may not be a classic mercenary. I kill for a living, but I work for my country, not a pay packet. Even so, once a target is marked, it’s about more than just money. It’s about honour, prestige, reputation. It’s about getting the job done. The offer of a contract is out there. Ethan Savage is a marked man now.

I’m about to point that fact out when Ethan clears his throat.

“Tempting as that might sound, it doesn’t really solve the problem.”

All eyes are on the boss.

He continues. “Gabriel is right. We know, now, that there’s some bastard out there ready to have a go, as soon as someone offers the right price and has the cash to back it up. And next time, we won’t be so lucky. We may not see it coming. I moved us all here to avoid this sort of fucking problem. I’m not spending the next few years looking over my shoulder, knowing my family is in danger, while some chancer is biding their time, waiting, watching. I want this ended. Now.”

Ah, so he is on the same wavelength as me…

“How can we…?” Tony’s brow furrows in puzzlement.

“We should finish what Archer started.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s not general knowledge that Archer’s dead. We can assume this firm he’s been dealing with don’t know yet, anyway, or they’d have fucked off by now. They wouldn’t still be expecting their money. All they know is, they’ve done a deal and want the payment, but he’s not coming through. So, what if we pay them and activate the contract?”

“Are you serious, boss?” Jack gapes at him.

“Deadly serious. This way, we can dictate the terms. When. Where. We’ll be waiting for them. We’ll wipe them out for their trouble. It’ll send a nice, resounding message to anyone else who gets a similar idea.”

There’s rumble of generalised muttering, and it’s clear not everyone sees the logic in this plan.

“It’s asking for trouble.”

“Suicide.”

“What if…?”

Personally, I’m on board. It sounds like a stroke of genius to me.

In what I’m beginning to realise is his usual style, Ethan allows them their say. I’ve no reason to suppose he isn’t listening, weighing their views with his own. He slaps his palm on the table, and the rest fall silent.

“It’s my call. I say we’re doing this. Anyone object?”

---