The Cain File Read Free Page A

“Roll with it.” He turned, looked over at Velox, Beltran, and Li, waiting. Velox tapped his wristwatch and raised his eyebrows.
    “Let’s get signing,” Maggie said.

~~~
    In a grand office next door, the five of them sat around a table the size of an aircraft carrier, while the two humorless men in aviator glasses manned the door, hands behind their backs. One man was about fifteen pounds heavier than the other, but apart from that, they were clones. The ceiling high above dazzled with elaborate rococo plasterwork with gilt highlights. The far end of the room, overlooking the pool, gave out onto a huge leaded-glass window of dozens of frames. The murmur of the band and party was muffled through the thick stone walls.
    Li leafed through the documents to be signed, while Maggie booted up her MacBook.
    The first thing she did was to activate the web cam and position the computer so that she had Beltran, Li, and Velox nicely framed. She hit record . All of this would be documented, whatever transpired.
    Li passed the papers to Velox and eyed Maggie. “I hope Star Bank understands the discretion this transaction requires.” His voice echoed in the room.
    “It’s all been made very clear, Mr. Li,” Maggie said, speaking clearly so the microphone would catch everything. “None of us wishes a high profile. Commerce Oil wants complete discretion as well. That’s why Star Bank is representing them. The two million will be transferred to Minister Beltran’s private account.”
    Maggie saw the suspicion in Li’s face. No one trusted a man like Beltran. But there was plenty of cash for everyone down the road once Five Fortunes started pumping oil out of the Amazon for Commerce. The two million was penny ante compared to what these men stood to make for their respective interests.
    “It all looks kosher to me,” Velox said, reaching into the breast pocket of his suit jacket, retrieving a gold pen. “As soon as Miss Marin here finalizes the electronic payment, I’m good to go.” He clicked his pen a couple of times with his thumb.
    Beltran smiled as well and Li even divulged what might have been called a non-frown.
    John Rae had his phone out and was checking texts.
    Maggie kept one eye on him while she accessed the Agency’s global IKON network, looking for any indication that National Vice might not show.
    John Rae rubbed his chin with his left hand. Vice were still en route.
    Maggie took her time logging into Star Bank Online, the front that she had set up. The USB connector flickered green as an hourglass on the laptop’s screen stopped spinning.
    “What is taking so long?” Beltran said in a stony voice that bounced around the big room.
    “Slow satellite connection,” Maggie said. She gave John Rae a sideways glance. He rubbed his chin with his right hand, gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
    Brigada del vicio nacional were in place. She could move ahead.
    Relief flowed through her otherwise acidic stomach.
    She selected as payee the Amazon Wildlife Restoration Fund, a front owned by Beltran, and, while another hourglass spun, retrieved her digital-access key fob, a small device the size of a keychain, typed in yet another password, and was presented with a one-time use digital key. She entered that hexadecimal number onto another screen, stepped through more authentication, and landed on the main account page.
    There it was, waiting to be kicked off: an electronic payment from Star Bank to Beltran’s façade account, based in the Isle of Jersey, British Isles: $2.1 million.
    And when the documents were signed and the transaction completed, arrests would be made.
    How very little money powerful men could be bought for.
    Powerful weak men.
    “Here we are gentlemen,” she said. “ Finally. ”
    Just then, the vip of a text popped up on Maggie’s screen.
    msg pending from Blackhorse:
    Blackhorse was Ed, her Agency supervisor, back in San Francisco.
    Maggie typed a quick response: ?
    Blackhorse: NVC is