I heard enough, she said, as if she had telepathic capabilities to go along with her long legs, sweet ass and memorable treasure chest.
Youre a liar, Agent Odell. Either that, or you sold your shipping company in Denmark for more excitement playing spy games. Somehow I doubt that, though.
You would be right.
How long have you been working for Onyxx?
Long enough. You? How long with EURO-Quest?
Long enough to know that if youre with Merrick youre a rat fighter. A real tough guy, da?
Her tone, as well as her quick on-and-off smile, mocked him. Speaking of tough, Bjorn thought, she had developed a crust of her own. And more curves.
She had to be close to thirty now, but the years had only made her more beautiful.
Do you have an interest in this mission, or did you draw the short straw, Agent Odell?
I agreed to the mission.
So there was a choice? Which means you have a personal stake?
Bjorn didnt answer.
Whos the lucky pigeon?
The target is Holic Reznik.
She offered
no expression on hearing the name. I read the transcript that came in on his capture in Greece. Were you there?
I was there, Bjorn admitted, seeing no reason to elaborate on the subject, or the part he played in Holics capture.
So now youre hunting my fellow countryman again.
Bjorns ears perked up. Countryman. I thought you were born in Switzerland, not Austria.
I was, but I moved to Austria to live with my grandfather at the age of eight. At the time Kovars home was in Langenfeld. Do you know where Langenfeld is in relation to Holics home in Otz?
Yes.
Thats where Holic Reznik was born.
Holic is listed as an orphan. His birthplace has never been confirmed.
She shrugged. He knows much about Otz.
We know he lived there for a time.
Do you know where exactly?
That was the question every agency hunting Holic wanted to find out, but no one knew the exact location of Holics hideout in the Otzal Alpine.
Ill take your silence as a no. Thats too bad. I could find that cabin in the dark, drunk.
Bjorn studied her face, then her stance. He saw nothing alarming. Nothing to make him think she wasnt telling the truth. Still, he asked, What kind of game are you playing, Nadja? If you know so much about Holic, why isnt that listed in your file?
Because no ones ever requested the information.
Ill ask again. Whats your game?
My game is simple. I want to be on that plane bound for Austria. What do you say? Why not grant me my hearts desire, Larsuh, Bjorn? Lets sayfor old times sake.
She wanted to go with him. To be his partner. Why? What wasnt she telling him?
Ive already made my choice.
The wrong choice.
Whether you think so or not. Its my call.
In the end it will be your call. To your commander to tell him youve changed your mind.
But I havent.
Only a fool would leave behind the map to Holic Rezniks mountain hideout, and I have it. She tapped the side of her head. Its in here. Lets seehes been on the run for two days. That should place him very close to his destination. Hes no doubt made a phone call already and asked to be picked up.
Holic trusts no one.
Thats where youre wrong. He trusts someone, and that someone will see to it that hes tucked into a warm bed very soon. Hell be waited on, hand-fed, and within a week hell be back to his old self.
Not likely. His hand was seriously injured in Cupata. If Quest has information that can advance this mission, then Polax should forfeit it.
He cant give up what he doesnt know he has. Like I said, Ive never shared this with anyone, until now.
But youd share more with me if I chose you for the mission?
Grateful is what I would be, and grateful people can be generous.
And will you be?
Yes.
Why do you want on the mission so badly?
Ive got a small personal matter in Innsbruck that I need to take care of. It wont take longa few hours is all.
Personal shit has no business on a mission.
I agree, but this cant be helped. It wont interfere with my work.
Back to Holic, how well do you know him? The truth.
He spent time at Groffen.
Groffen?
My grandfathers ski lodge. You must not be much of a skier if you havent heard of Groffen. Its powder paradise. Everyone dreams of skiing Groffen.
And Holic was there skiing? When?
He spent two winters at the lodge out of the four missing in his file.
Bjorn went over the data on Holic that hed stored in his memory bank. The assassin was an orphan, believed to have lived, at least for a time, in the Otzal Alpine. His file was full of holes, however, and if he remembered correctlywhich he always didthe amount of time Nadja said he was missing fit.
I suppose youve kept abreast of Holics exploits?
Of course. Hes listed on the top ten most wanted in the spy world. A legend to some, the devils son to many.
And to his wife, Bjorn mused out loud. I wonder how she feels about his murdering ways.
I dont know. You would have to ask her.
And while Im at it, I should ask her how she feels about her husbands appetite for variety in the bedroom.
She was too cool when she said, Whatever you think relevant.
What kind of woman marries a man with no remorse or morals?