Page 14 of Eleven Numbers

“We’ll figure that out,” Tyler said. “Assume you get the word. What happens then?”

“We get you out.”

“Immediately?”

“More or less. The ducks are all in a row. Finland is cooperating, so we can use the short route. Call it two hours’ flight time from there, which we would spend in the car, driving to the airfield to meet the plane. He gets off, you get on. So yes, more or less immediately.”

“I have the information my four friends want.”

“What?”

“My mission is complete.”

“Fantastic,” Shaw said. “That solves our problem entirely.”

“So let’s go.”

“You bet,” Shaw said. “I have to drive thirty minutes south to get cell reception. You wait here with Cartwright. In this room. Do not go back to work. As long as one of us is with you, it’s a legitimate legal conference, and they can’t touch you, as long as it takes. I’ll make the call, and I’ll pick you up on the way back.”

Tyler waited with Cartwright, in the room. They didn’t talk. There was nothing to talk about. Cartwright was strictly need-to-know. And don’t-want-to-know, Tyler thought. He figured thirty minutes south and thirty minutes back plus a phone call would add up to an hour and ten, maybe an hour and a quarter. He had no way of keeping track of time. There were no clocks in the camp. Just the iron triangle.

Shaw came back after an hour and twenty minutes. He looked concerned. He said, “We have a small problem.”

“What problem?” Tyler asked.

“The Russian prisoner due to be exchanged is waiting in Finland. He came down with COVID. The prison system in Finland prohibits the movement of infectious inmates. He has to isolate until he tests negative. Could be three days.”

Tyler didn’t answer.

Shaw said, “Your friends in America apologize for the inconvenience. They ask you to sit tight. They want you to rest assured they’re on it.”

Tyler didn’t answer.

“But they say the information you have is critical and urgent. A matter of national security. They need you to pass it on right now, through me.”

“No,” Tyler said.

“Excuse me?”

“Go call them again. Remind them of the arrangement we made. I go back there to discuss the information in person.”

“They won’t like that.”

“They suggested it.”

“You’re in a weak position.”

“I don’t agree,” Tyler said. “They want the information. I have it. That feels like a strong position.”

“This is national security.”

“Tell them to find another prisoner to exchange. One that doesn’t have a fever.”

“That could take days.”

“We have days, according to them. In fact tell them to find two prisoners. Tell them the price just went up. Tell them to loan the second guy to the Dutch government. To swap for a prisoner named Jan de Vris.”

“Who the hell is he?”

---