Pearce, Deni and Rasul were in a study that overlooked the lake. French doors, closed against the weather, looked onto a terraced garden that was abundant and beautiful. The room was lined with packed bookshelves and at its heart were two Chesterfield leather couches that faced each other. There were no signs of Deni’s heritage anywhere. The room could have belonged to any moneyed American. Pearce sat next to Abbas, opposite the Chechen gang boss and his son, and told them what he knew about the Red Wolves. He didn’t mention that the fentanyl they were smuggling was actually a chemical weapon.
‘So this has been about taking our business?’ Abbas asked.
Pearce nodded.
‘I know these bikers you speak of. They used to be called the Reapers,’ Deni said. ‘They’re fucking amateurs. Village pushers. And that cop, Hill, he’s a nickel and dimer. He came to me years ago, offering protection. I have his fucking bosses in my pocket. They’re gonna put the hurt on him.’
‘This is being run by the Red Wolves,’ Pearce said. ‘They’re well-financed and highly organized.’
‘And Ziad?’ Rasul asked. ‘I saw him with them at the community centre. He betrayed us.’
‘Looks like it,’ Pearce replied.
‘Why?’ Deni said. ‘I treated him like a son. He was dating my daughter. It broke my heart when he was arrested in Cairo.’
‘Maybe he blames you for the arrest,’ Pearce suggested.
‘Bullshit!’ Deni exclaimed. ‘Why would we do that? We sent him to Egypt to open a new supply route. It was supposed to cut our costs if we could bring product through Suez and Panama.’
‘Why would we betray him?’ Rasul asked. ‘It broke my sister.’
‘We treated Ziad Malek like family,’ Abbas confirmed.
‘Who arranged the trip?’ Pearce asked, studying the two men.
Were they telling the truth?
‘We did,’ Deni responded.
‘True,’ Rasul said. ‘But Jack Gray suggested it.’
‘Jack Gray?’ Pearce asked.
‘Our attorney. My sister’s new boyfriend. He said we could save a lot of money using the Suez route. He and Essi started dating after Ziad . . .’ Rasul tailed off. He and his father shared a look of disbelief. ‘He was the one who suggested we send Ziad.’
Pearce followed the two men upstairs. He could feel their fury radiating in hot pulses that seemed to grow more intense with each hurried step. They raced through the house and Rasul tried a closed door, which was locked. He stepped back and barged it open, and he and Deni spilled into what looked like a teenager’s bedroom. Pearce followed and saw Essi naked. She was straddling Jack Gray. She screamed and grabbed the bedspread.
‘Get out!’ she yelled as she wrapped herself in the cover.
But Deni and Rasul ignored Essi and bore down on Jack, who scrabbled for his clothes.
‘What the hell is going on?’ he demanded.
‘You’re coming with us,’ Rasul snarled, before punching the man and knocking him cold.