Free Freedom's Promise: Task Force 125 by Lisa Pietsch

I’ll contact you as soon as I get anything.”
    Will sat up and examined Davidson.  "Why are you doing this?  Do you know Vince?"
    Davidson shook his head.  "I've never met the man in my life.  When you get him out, I'll be happy to explain it to him though."
    "Good enough."  Will stood and shook Davidson's hand.  "Thanks for helping us."
    Buffy stood and appeared more of a seasoned operative than the ditzy bimbo she’d been earlier.  "We'll be in touch.  We should have more information for you soon."
    Sarah rose and looked at Buffy.  She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen her before.  "Have we met?"
    Buffy nodded.  "I was a military cop stationed at RAF Lakenheath , too.  A dog handler.   I left a few months after you arrived.  We crossed paths in the armory a few times."
    Sarah smiled.  "That's it."  She shook Buffy's hand and chuckled.  "That explains the well-trained dogs, too.  Thank you."
    "Good luck, Sarah."
    Davidson held his handshake with Will.  "Let me know if you need anything.  I can muster up a few resources if I have to.  We need to get him out of there."
    "Will do.   Thank you, Mark."  
    Sarah and Will practically ran out the door and down the stairs.
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
    Nikolai walked over to the bar and picked up a crystal decanter.  "Would you like a brandy?"
    "Sure.  Might as well."
    Because it may be my last .
    Vince sat back in the comfortable dining chair, full from the big meal he'd just eaten.  He knew it could be a while before his next meal so he ate as much as he could without hurting himself.  He casually took one more of Nikolai's cigarettes.
    Stay cool.   The more time you can buy, the better the chance of the team getting here before he goes Red Mafia and starts trimming your fingers off.
    Vince recalled a young Russian he'd done business with a few years ago.  He'd been missing digits above the top knuckle of three consecutive fingers.  Vince had assumed it was a grenade throw gone bad, but, after a little too much vodka, the Russian explained how the Red Mafia liked to send messages and persuade people to see things their way.
    Vince looked at his hands and then shook off the thought.  "So let's talk about this buy-in opportunity you're offering me."
    Nikolai returned to the table with two crystal brandy snifters.  "Yes, let's talk."  His mood seemed more congenial now that Vince was asking questions and showing interest. 
    The amber liquid sloshed in the wide belly of the glass as Vince accepted it from Nikolai.  "Thank you."
    Nikolai closed his eyes and inhaled deeply from the fat, round glass.  "So what can I tell you?"  He settled back into his chair and appeared ready to talk business.
    Vince took a sip of brandy and let it warm his mouth before swallowing.  "You can start with what you want me to tell you."
    "I want the names and cell phone numbers of the other people involved in killing Victor, and I want to know why you targeted him."
    "Cell phones?   You want to chat with them?"
    "You know very well that people can be tracked by their cell phones."
    Yes, I do.
    "What else do you want?"
    Nikolai shook his head and raised his hands slightly.  "That's all."  He smiled as he sat back in his chair and crossed his legs.  "Then you do business as you have been only you're working for my organization.  You'll continue to maintain your current clients as well as Victor's.  I'll even give you a generous piece of the action.  My organization can also offer you protection you don't currently have.  After all, if you'd had a competent bodyguard, you wouldn't be here, would you?"
    Vince smiled at the irony.  "Well, that goes without saying."
    Damned if I do and damned if I don't.  At least if I don't, the only one who dies is me.
    "I think it is time we say good night.  Ian, would you please escort our guest to his new room?  He has some thinking to do, and I'm sure he'd like his rest."
    The big Aussie answered.  "Right, Niko