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For eighteen months, I’d worked hard to preserve the image of Saint Peter. Where necessary, I spoke publicly about philanthropy and met with our criminal clients – always accompanied by Cassandra or Odell, of course. I’d also kept my true identity a secret from everyone except Cassandra. This was the biggest burden I carried. I had to watch every word I said, and always imagine how my brother would have acted.
In one short outburst, I risked undoing all that work.
Lexi gave me a puzzled expression. “Come, Pe’er. This is nothing. This guy Thomson will be fine. He’s getting the ride of his life from Cassandra – I’m sure that’s worth it for him. Anyway, you’ve done worse. Didn’t you hang someone with a meat hook in their neck?”
What a monumental gaff I’d made! I said nothing. I was in a hole, with no way out. I sat back in my seat. My face must have been bright red because it felt like it was on fire.
Cassandra pursed her lips and sat back, crossing her arms. “Are you going soft... Peter?” She paused before saying the name – reminding me that she knew who I really was. I knew she was assessing her options. Would she reveal who I really was at this moment, or use it to her advantage in future? “We spoke about this all yesterday with Odell.”
Odell’s mouth hung open in disbelief, like a golfer whose opponent has hit a hole-in-one to win the match. At the sound of his name, he snapped it shut, and cleared this throat. “Cassandra, I think Peter’s just raising a few concerns. Nothing that can’t be addressed. Isn’t that right, Peter?”
He’d thrown me a lifeline. Why, I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to pass it up. This was the shovel with which I could dig myself out the hole.
I laughed it off. “Like Odell says, just a couple of things we need to clear up. Nothing we can’t fix.” I looked at Lexi. “I’m sorry. Please forgive my comments. I have a lot on my mind just now. Ransomware is new to me and I’m feeling out of my depth.” I rubbed my hand over my face and forced myself back into the persona of my callous brother, the real Peter Black. “That’s why we have you involved, of course. I don’t need to worry.”
Lexi’s face was immobile, and her thin lips were so tightly pursed, they looked like the black line at the bottom of a maths sum.
No-one spoke for a full minute. Lexi stared at me.
My throat was dry and felt like sandpaper when I swallowed. I drank the end of my tepid coffee. I decided lying was the best option. “Cassandra is keen that we progress this project and I’m supportive of it.”
“That’s reassuring to hear, Pe’er. I thought that was the case when Cassandra organised our meeting. I only want to work with professionals, but if you have second thoughts, then you must tell me now. I can arrange another partner, I’m sure.” She gave Cassandra a curt nod.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” I said.
Odell dusted the all-butter pastry crumbs from his black turtleneck shirt. “What happens if they don’t pay the ransom, Ms Baryshev?”
Lexi put the thin, unlit cigar between her lips. “We’ll set the ransom at a low level. Just two or three million pounds.”
“But what if they don’t pay? I’m not against the project, I just want to know what the maximum risk is.” He smiled. “I’m a mathematician at heart, I just need to understand the percentages.”
“Well, I’ve done twelve similar jobs in six months.” Lexi put both hands flat on the white table and leaned forward, then spoke each word individually. “One hundred percent success rate.” She nodded vigorously. “One hundred percent. I have never failed.”
“But if they don’t pay,” I said, “we can’t leave Blackpool without water.” I saw what Odell was getting at and I weighed in, but professionally this time. I was in control of my emotions. “What I mean is, we’ve had a recent issue with the press. There were some articles in The Times, and we don’t want any publicity. If this goes wrong, we’ll get unwanted attention.”
Lexi stood up and walked over to the window, her black brogues tapping a rhythmical beat on the wooden floor with each step. She tilted her head side to side for half a minute and seemed to be debating something with herself.
Clap!
Lexi’s spun round, her hands locked together. “I understand where you’re coming from. The timing of this job is risky, I get it. So, I need to provide you some securi’y.” From her snakeskin attaché bag, she pulled out another USB stick and put it on the table in front of Cassandra. It was green and labelled ‘Restore’.
“What is that?” asked Odell.
“It is the decryption tool which reverses the attack. It is the same tool we email the victim after they pay the ransom. I agree that you can anonymously send this to Western Water if they don’t pay the ransom within forty-eight hours. Does that give you the comfort you need?”
Odell nodded. “That’s a fair compromise. It’s an insurance policy for us. Peter?”
“I agree. That’s very reassuring.” I reached forward to pick up the green USB stick, but Cassandra snatched it up first.
She smiled at me. “I’ll look after both of them.” She zipped the red and green USB sticks in the inner pocket of her black and gold Luis Vuitton handbag. As she did so, I caught Lexi and Cassandra locking eyes for a second.
What did that look mean? Was Lexi going to double-cross us on this job? We were certainly putting a lot of trust in her. I couldn’t place the glance they shared and dismissed it.