Page 186 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“Ghazil, you are a true gentleman, and both the firm and I appreciate your assistance.”

“It is my pleasure to hasten the course of true love,” he said poetically.

Noah snorted but reconnected him with Thom. With a credit card number to use, Noah chartered a private flight directly from a small airport closer to the cottage than Cardiff to take him directly to Mykonos, which should arrive a couple hours before Zara.

Noah pulled his things together and got the cottage ready for the next user. He reinstalled the starter relay in the Range Rover and drove to meet the chartered jet. The flight was uneventful, and he used the time to write and send a report back to the firm. He shook his head. Not only was he never going to hear the endof falling for Zara, once she was safe, they would take fiendish delight in needling him about letting her get the drop on him.

When he landed, Noah picked up the new secure cell phone, credit cards, and luxury SUV Thom had arranged. Noah had asked Thom not to disengage the cell phone Zara had taken. He didn’t want her stranded without any way to call for help.

Noah spotted Ghazil at the small bistro in Little Venice, surrounded by adoring women. Ghazil was usually surrounded by adoring women. It was part of his persona. Most didn’t know Ghazil was gay. Not that there was anything wrong with that, Noah just felt bad that most of those who thought they knew him didn’t know him at all.

“My friend,” he called as he saw Noah and shooed away his newest entourage.

“Ghazil.” Noah sat across from him. “Again, my apologies for snarling at you earlier. I am more than a little annoyed with Zara.”

“I’m not sure whether I am envious of her or not.”

Noah smiled. “I’m not sure if you should be or not, either. My biggest concern right now is keeping her safe. How much did she tell you?”

“Not much at all. Just that she wanted to talk to me deep cover and had managed to make the radar of your firm and you in particular.”

“What have you heard about Fariq Abdal’s organization?”

“Nothing good. They say one of his men went rogue, and Fariq had him killed. Then there was a small altercation in Las Vegas that was quickly hushed up. Fariq has disappeared, and one or more of his lieutenants is looking to take over.”

“The altercation was a simple K&R gone bad, the brother of the photojournalist, Finlay Reid, a friend of Zara’s. After we got Finn back, she went to Zara and got her involved. Springer senta hit team after Zara. I snatched her, and we ended up at one of our safehouses.”

Ghazil shook his head. “No, it wasn’t Springer. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have done it, but he’s too busy trying to see if he can snatch Fariq’s operation. If anyone is trying to tie up loose strings, it’s Fariq himself.”

“That can’t be. He’s been in our custody since Vegas.”

“Twenty-four-seven? Unless you have eyes on him at all times, believe me when I say it’s not only possible, but also probable. Was the ransom monetary in nature?”

“No. Information on a thumb drive in exchange for Finn’s brother.”

“Finn’s brother?”

“Yes, he’s an international banker, a glorified accountant. He stumbled across something and, when Timon Springer found out, he moved against him without Fariq’s approval.”

Ghazil shook his head again. “That, too, is not possible. Timon was a lackey. I doubt he ever had an original thought to call his own. He would have been following orders.”

“We figured that… they came from his brother.”

Ghazil laughed. “Not possible. They hated each other. Fariq kept them in different parts of the world to keep them from going at each other’s throats.”

“Then who?”

“My guess? Fariq himself. If Gerold Springer has been amassing support and connections, Fariq would have known. There is very little in the arms trade Fariq doesn’t at least know about, and most of it, he arranges himself. Fariq could have been doing this to set Gerold up. Fariq has had a money man in his back pocket for years, who he’s been grooming him to take over the business. The banker wouldn’t be Christian Reid, would it?”

“It would indeed.”

“Is he a guest of the firm?”

“He is, but not kept under lock and key… why?”

“Christian Reid isn’t just a glorified accountant, he’s a major force in the international banking consortiums. He deals in takeovers and hedge funds. I don’t know for certain, but I’ve been keeping my eye on him. I didn’t know his sister was Finlay Reid, although looking back, I should have. I believe he’s been working with Fariq for several years and is Fariq’s heir apparent. If it wasn’t possible for Fariq to send the hit team, then it was Reid.”

“So, the whole K&R was some kind of ruse?”

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