Lost(45)

From a business standpoint, it wasn’t late, but from a parenting standpoint, it was getting there; she’d told Josie and Tasi they would be back to the hotel before eleven. Hanna didn’t like breaking a promise. She tried to set a good example for her daughter.

Across from her in the booth was her Russian contact, a fit forty-year-old who looked more like a lifeguard than a gangster. He had a dyed-blue goatee that gave him an edgy vibe, but he was friendly enough. He spoke with a Russian accent, and he’d told them to call him Billy.

Albert had whispered, “Somehow I don’t think that’s his given name.”

Hanna just gave her brother a stare.

Billy had ordered a round of Mojitos, but Hanna hadn’t touched hers. She wanted to get to the meat of the conversation now that they’d gotten through the small talk.

Billy said, “I can take ten girls as long as they’re not too ugly or old. My preference is for Europeans. I can make more money with them. The downside is they tend to form relationships with customers and make some of my men jealous.” He looked at them from under his dark, thick eyebrows, but he got no response.

He added, “I might be able to take the rest off your hands, but at a discount. The cops have been bothering us recently and nothing is easy. But what I can offer should cover most of your debt to the Rostoff brothers.”

Hanna saw what Billy was doing. She had spent five years in this business and knew all the negotiating ploys. Where others had failed or been murdered by the competition, she and her brother had built a decent business. If it hadn’t been for some bad luck, she never would’ve had to borrow the money she was so desperate to pay back now.

Hanna said, “By my calculations, it will cover the whole debt.”

Billy smiled. “Let’s get the people in first, then we’ll see where we are with money. There’s a charge for using our contact in Customs, and there are a few other fees.”

Hanna didn’t want to ask what the other fees were.

Then Billy said, “I heard you might be interested in selling some high-quality diamonds.”

That took Hanna by surprise. “How did you hear about the diamonds?”

Billy chuckled. “My dear, I speak with my partners in Amsterdam at least twice a week. If they know about it, I know about it. I also know that, late this afternoon, you visited three jewelers in the Seybold Building. Nothing remains a secret there. By tomorrow, every jeweler in the city will be interested in your diamonds. I was just hoping to beat the rush.”

“Let’s worry about dispersing my load of people first. Once that’s settled, I’ll be happy to talk about other issues.”

“Where and when does the load come in?”

This time, Albert, who had been sitting quietly next to his sister in the booth, said, “That’s not information we wish to share before they arrive. I’m sure you understand.”

Billy flexed the muscles in his jaw. He understood, and that was the problem.

Hanna took control of the conversation again. “I need to arrange transportation and housing before I can do anything else.”

Billy smiled and said, “If you want, you can call me directly as soon as they arrive. I can have transportation ready to take much of the load off your hands right away. That should keep your expenses down.”

Hanna considered the offer. It would certainly be easier if someone else arranged for vans and hotel rooms. They were also running short on cash, and with that thought, she made her decision.

Hanna reached across the table and shook Billy’s hand. “I will be calling you sometime in the next three days.”

Billy gave her a charming smile and said, “I look forward to it.”





CHAPTER 66





I SAT IN a conference room at the task-force offices with Marie Meijer and Steph Hall. Both of them looked fresh, while I looked like I hadn’t slept much. Because I hadn’t.

Marie’s informant in Amsterdam had said to expect the ship to dock somewhere in the Southeast sometime tomorrow, but that was all the information available. Marie said, “It comes from a well-placed informant, but they say they’re getting only bits and pieces. They pass the information on to me as soon as they get it.”

Steph shook her head and said, “That rules out undertaking any kind of rescue on the high seas, which was a long shot in the first place. But we’ve got to free those people as quickly as possible. There’s no telling what sort of conditions they’re being held in.”

That’s why I liked working with Steph Hall—she understood what was important. All the arrest stats in the world didn’t help someone who died while being trafficked.

Lorena Perez said, “I’ve been looking at some financial info we’ve gotten on Rostoff. Most of it appears legit. He donates a shitload of money to a Miami Beach councilman and charities associated with Miami Beach. He’s getting a humanitarian award there next week.”

I said, “Great. Everyone thinks he’s a prince while in reality, he ruins lives.”

Lorena said, “His main muscle, Billy the Blade, lives in Fort Lauderdale. He doesn’t owe anything on his condo or his Corvette.”

Lorena was matter-of-fact when she passed on information. She wasn’t an accountant, but she knew how to figure out relationships by following the money. She was good on surveillance too. No one suspected that a beautiful woman with big hair and perfect makeup was actually a cop.