Hammond left Susan with Ned Beetle, one of her ex-husbands who’d been the first to arrive with his wife, a Manhattan society girl, the ex-wife of a player in banking, and waited at the rail with his chief steward, Kathy Bliss, as one of the fishing charter boats he’d hired came out to where they were anchored.
At seventy-five with a light breeze, the weather for Skagway was almost balmy. Across the bay, two gigantic cruise ships were docked, and flash cameras had been popping off since the first helicopter had landed on Glory’s foredeck a couple of hours ago.
He and Susan had put out the word that they were hosting a long weekend wilderness party aboard the yacht. But they didn’t give the name of the place—only it’s latitude and longitude: 59.27.30N 135.18.50W. It was to be a treasure hunt.
The charter boat pulled alongside with three couples, two of whom had flown a private jet to Juneau and then a twin-engine prop job up to Skagway, whose small airport was notoriously difficult, especially for small jets flown by pilots with no local knowledge.
First up the boarding ladder was Vitali Novikov, who owned a majority position in the Russian telecom giant MobileTele Systems with his twenty-three-year-old Italian movie-star wife, who was less than half his age.
“Vitali, surprised to see you and Gina here,” Hammond said. He was certain that Tarasov had sent him to spy.
“When Tommy throws a party, one can’t miss it,” Novikov said.
Gina Bragga did not seem pleased. “You said it, wilderness. More like primitive.”
“But here is like home. Russia used to own Alaska. Big mistake selling it.”
“Where’s Susan?”
“Inside,” Hammond said, and Gina and Novikov left.
Next up were Toni Lama and her wife, Lisa, Broadway producers whose last seven plays were sold-out massive hits, four of which were still playing. Toni stood six foot three and was slender, almost the twin of Tommy Tune, while Lisa was just five feet and chubby. But she wrote the music and was a genius at it.
They air-kissed with Hammond.
“Glad we could get away,” Lisa said, grinning. “If there could possibly be an opposite to New York City, this place is it,” she said. “You and Susie always have the best parties.”
“We try. Did anyone else come out with you?”
“The Taiwanese movie couple,” Toni said. “First time we met them. Absolutely exotic.”
“You guys have good taste,” Lisa said.
For a brief moment, Hammond had no idea who they were talking about, but all of a sudden, it dawned on him who the Taiwanese couple were, and he managed a weak smile to hide his discomfiture.
“That’s why we always want you and Toni with us,” he said. “The others are inside. Drinks now and a surprise for late lunch.”
The last up the boarding ladder were Taio and Li, beautiful people, both of them, dressed casually expensive in designer leather jeans, white shirts, and matching leather jackets, bright red silk scarves around their necks, and jaunty narrow-brimmed hats.
“Mr. Hammond, it was so nice of you to invite us,” Taio said, offering his hand. “I’m Kuang Wei, and this is my wife, Kuang Fan.”
They shook hands around, Hammond at a loss for words. If these were the Scorpions Tarasov had sent, then their appearance and personas were perfect disguises. They looked more like poets or perhaps small-school teachers than movie people or assassins.
“I’m very pleased to meet you. I’m sure my companion will have a million questions about the film business in Taiwan.”
Li, who was so tiny and perfect in Hammond’s eyes that she didn’t look real, smiled diffidently and nodded. “Unfortunately, there isn’t much to tell. Even though we’re an independent nation, we still find that in some endeavors we bow to Beijing’s style.”
Hammond couldn’t help but return her smile. “We must talk.”
“Yes, please,” Taio said. “Unfortunately, we cannot stay for your party. We are flying back yet today. Pressing business.”
“Take over for me, Kathy,” Hammond said. “I shouldn’t be long.”
Hammond brought the two Chinese contractors below to his office midships. In addition to a hand-carved teak desk and four flat-screen monitors on the walls, the room was equipped with an Italian leather couch, Lexan coffee table, and two leather chairs.
When they were seated, Taio and Li on the chairs and Hammond on the couch, Taio began.
“We have done our research on you. What we wish to know is your target and your reasons.”
“First, I need to know your fee,” Hammond said, trying to be the one in charge. It was his yacht, his money, and his project.
“Our fee will depend on your target and your motive,” Li said.
“Tell me.”
“You can afford us.”
“I said, tell me your fee.”
Taio and Li exchanged a glance, then got to their feet. “I’m sorry that we could not come to an accord, Mr. Hammond,” Li said.
“We’ll just see ourselves out,” Taio added.
“Wait, goddamnit,” Hammond said. “I have a right to know what I’ll have to pay for your services.” He’d been in charge just about all of his life, but right now, he felt that he had jumped into something way over his head.
Taio and Li just looked at him.
“His name is Kirk McGarvey. He used to work for the CIA.”
Taio smiled. “A formidable man,” he said, and he and Li sat down.
“Just a man,” Hammond said, though he didn’t know why.
“Why do you wish us to kill him?”
“Personal reasons.”
“Our time is limited, Mr. Hammond.”
“It was a business deal that went bad.”
Taio said nothing.
“It involved a considerable position in bitcoins.”
“How much did you lose?” Li asked. She was obviously the money manager in the partnership. Hammond couldn’t imagine her as an assassin.
“Nothing.”
“Then why go to the expense?”
“Because it’s what I want.”
The two just waited.
“No reason,” Hammond said at length. “Look. Maybe you’d best go.”
“Is it merely a game to you? A rich man’s sport?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“But it’s exactly our business, Mr. Hammond,” Li said. “We will kill Mr. McGarvey, for sport as you wish.”
“When?”
“Soon,” Taio said.
“How much?”
“Twenty-five million euros in gold,” Li said.
Hammond started to object, but Li continued.
“We will send you instructions for deposit at a location in Switzerland. Our work is guaranteed. That means if we fail, your gold will be returned to you within twenty-four hours.”
“Is that satisfactory?” Taio asked.
Hammond had no idea what to say. But he nodded.