wasn't keen to step out of the room leaving the diamonds even though they were fastened. Carrying them around didn't appear a sound option either. Room service, like anywhere else in the world, listed appetite-subsiding sandwiches.
He glanced at his Rolex again. The entire process of securing the diamonds, channel hopping, menu thrashing had consumed all of fifteen minutes, and he had another few hours to kill till sleep knocked him out.
The drinks cabinet suddenly looked appealing. Belgium, he knew, was famous for its beers: Hoegaarden, Leffe Brune, Leffe Blond, Rochefort all adorned the little refrigerator. Conscious that he hadn't tasted Rochefort before, he pulled out the bottle and came back to the bed.
It was nine-thirty and he lay on his bed in his boxers enjoying the late night film he'd paid for, one that was graphically amorous enough to stir him. He had chomped on the sandwich and fries he had ordered from room service, consumed six beers and was ready to tuck in. He called Reception and requested a wake-up call for six in the morning, then additionally set the morning alarm for 6:15 on his bedside clock and dozed off with the telly on.
***
Jogani did not appear to have any inkling that the prominent flickering of light from the screen would indicate to the observers that the room lights had been switched off and that the target had turned in. Thank you very much!
***
Jogani woke up to his bedside phone shrilling. Coming out of his stupor he read the display: Reception. He reckoned it was morning already and this was his wake-up call till he looked at the time: 00:03. They better have a good reason for this, he thought and picked up the receiver.
'Sorry to bother you at this hour Mr Jogani, but could you come down to the reception please?'
'You got to be kidding me, it's midnight for God's sake.'
'I know that sir, and I wouldn't have called you at this hour if it wasn't urgent and important,' the receptionist politely responded.
'What's the urgency? Is there a fire in the building?'
'Nothing of that sort sir.'
'What is the problem then?'
'This is a reputable hotel sir, and it's against policy to invite escorts into your room—'
'Excuse me? Who's called for an escort?'
'It seems that you called her, sir. We have here... a lady of suspicious character...' there was a pause, like the receptionist was looking at the lady in question, ' .. .somewhat inappropriately clad, and she is looking for you.'
'For me?'
'Yes sir, she asked for you by name.'
'There must be some mistake. I didn't call for any escort, you can send her back.'
'Mr Jogani, she even knew your room number, and our records show that you made a call at seven minutes past eleven…'
'I made no such calls, in fact I didn't make any calls whatsoever.' Jogani could sense his temper and voice rising. Wary that he might disturb people in the nearby rooms, he lowered his voice. 'There must be some mistake. Listen—'
'I'm afraid Mr Jogani, if you do not come down to the reception right away I'll have no choice but to call the police.' The receptionist did not raise his voice but there was certainly a hint of menace in it.
'OK, I'll be down. Hold her there, I would also like to know who called her.'
'Certainly sir, she isn't going anywhere.'
Jogani rubbed his eyes. Was it some hooker from his last visit who had seen him in Brussels today? He thought about other possibilities as he put on his jeans and T-shirt and glanced in the bathroom. The briefcase was safely tucked away. This should be a quick conversation, there seemed no need to unlock and carry the briefcase with him downstairs to Reception at this hour.
***
In room 514 they waited for the elevator door to close, and the moment it chimed they knew the target was now away. They sprang into action.
No time to squander.
***
Jogani seethed as he rushed out of the lift on the ground floor and headed to Reception only to find it unattended. There was a bell kept on the desk that he
He glanced at his Rolex again. The entire process of securing the diamonds, channel hopping, menu thrashing had consumed all of fifteen minutes, and he had another few hours to kill till sleep knocked him out.
The drinks cabinet suddenly looked appealing. Belgium, he knew, was famous for its beers: Hoegaarden, Leffe Brune, Leffe Blond, Rochefort all adorned the little refrigerator. Conscious that he hadn't tasted Rochefort before, he pulled out the bottle and came back to the bed.
It was nine-thirty and he lay on his bed in his boxers enjoying the late night film he'd paid for, one that was graphically amorous enough to stir him. He had chomped on the sandwich and fries he had ordered from room service, consumed six beers and was ready to tuck in. He called Reception and requested a wake-up call for six in the morning, then additionally set the morning alarm for 6:15 on his bedside clock and dozed off with the telly on.
***
Jogani did not appear to have any inkling that the prominent flickering of light from the screen would indicate to the observers that the room lights had been switched off and that the target had turned in. Thank you very much!
***
Jogani woke up to his bedside phone shrilling. Coming out of his stupor he read the display: Reception. He reckoned it was morning already and this was his wake-up call till he looked at the time: 00:03. They better have a good reason for this, he thought and picked up the receiver.
'Sorry to bother you at this hour Mr Jogani, but could you come down to the reception please?'
'You got to be kidding me, it's midnight for God's sake.'
'I know that sir, and I wouldn't have called you at this hour if it wasn't urgent and important,' the receptionist politely responded.
'What's the urgency? Is there a fire in the building?'
'Nothing of that sort sir.'
'What is the problem then?'
'This is a reputable hotel sir, and it's against policy to invite escorts into your room—'
'Excuse me? Who's called for an escort?'
'It seems that you called her, sir. We have here... a lady of suspicious character...' there was a pause, like the receptionist was looking at the lady in question, ' .. .somewhat inappropriately clad, and she is looking for you.'
'For me?'
'Yes sir, she asked for you by name.'
'There must be some mistake. I didn't call for any escort, you can send her back.'
'Mr Jogani, she even knew your room number, and our records show that you made a call at seven minutes past eleven…'
'I made no such calls, in fact I didn't make any calls whatsoever.' Jogani could sense his temper and voice rising. Wary that he might disturb people in the nearby rooms, he lowered his voice. 'There must be some mistake. Listen—'
'I'm afraid Mr Jogani, if you do not come down to the reception right away I'll have no choice but to call the police.' The receptionist did not raise his voice but there was certainly a hint of menace in it.
'OK, I'll be down. Hold her there, I would also like to know who called her.'
'Certainly sir, she isn't going anywhere.'
Jogani rubbed his eyes. Was it some hooker from his last visit who had seen him in Brussels today? He thought about other possibilities as he put on his jeans and T-shirt and glanced in the bathroom. The briefcase was safely tucked away. This should be a quick conversation, there seemed no need to unlock and carry the briefcase with him downstairs to Reception at this hour.
***
In room 514 they waited for the elevator door to close, and the moment it chimed they knew the target was now away. They sprang into action.
No time to squander.
***
Jogani seethed as he rushed out of the lift on the ground floor and headed to Reception only to find it unattended. There was a bell kept on the desk that he
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