Free The House of Wolfe by James Carlos Blake

The bankers will naturally be most apprehensive about a cash withdrawal of such size, and in American currency. Bankers are not entirely ignorant about these things, and in the absence of a plausible explanation for the withdrawal, they are apt to suspect extortion. It is imperative that you prevent them from acting on such suspicion. This is a crucial point. The best way to ensure that your bankers not contact the authorities is to tell them the truth. But you must impress upon them that your children’s safety depends on their discreet cooperation. Is this understood?
    The men nod. Unsure if they were included in the question, the women do too.
    Excellent, says Galán. Except for the visits to the banks by you gentlemen, the four of you will remain at the Belmonte house until our business is completed. However, other relatives of wedding party members may become concerned about the lengthy absence of the party and the lack of communication from it. You must therefore provide them with an explanation that precludes their concern. I suggest you devise a good one before morning. If you find that you must tell a relative the truth, if only to keep him from worrying to the point of calling the police, it is your responsibility to ensure that this relative also keeps the secret. Understood?
    Everyone nods.
    Very good. Be aware that, thanks to the technological marvels of our age and Mr. Huerta’s expertise with them—and his intimate access to your home, Mr. Belmonte—we have arranged to intercept any communications to or from the house. Landline phone, cell call, text, e-mail, everything, we will hear it or read it. Your communications with us, however, will be solely through a pair of telephones we are going to provide for you. One for each of you gentlemen. Both phones have been programmed so that we will know whenever they are used. We will know the numbers they call and the numbers they receive calls from. We will know if they are in any way connected to a recording device. We will know if either phone’s cover is removed to expose its interior elements or if the instrument’s security system should in any way be compromised. I stress, in any way. Am I clear to everyone?
    All four of them nod.
    The phones will not give you any indication of the numbers you are calling or, should we call you, of the number of the phone from which you receive a call. To call us on either phone, you need only to press zero. Understood?
    The men nod.
    Mr. Belmonte, you will call me at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. At that time you will receive directions for conveying the payment for the first group. When you deliver that payment, you will be detained with that group until the remainder of our business is concluded. You, Mr. Sosa, will then receive instructions for delivering the second payment at the second location. When that payment is received, everyone in both groups will be liberated at the same time. Am I understood?
    The men nod.
    Very good. Now then, it pains me to say what I must say next, but it is important that all of you hear it from me and believe it absolutely. So listen well. . . . If you fail to get the cash by the appointed hour or fail to call me at the appointed hour . . . if we detect any attempt to infringe on the security of the phones we give you . . . if you or a relative or your banker or anyone contacts the police . . . if you in any way jeopardize this transaction at any point . . . if any of these things should happen . . . I promise you that every member of the party in our custody will be killed in a manner more horrible than you can imagine.
    Mrs. Belmonte whimpers.
    The remains of your loved ones will be disposed of where you will never find them, but photographs of those remains will be sent to you and will be distributed to newspapers and television stations around the country. Those pictures—forgive me, but I must be absolutely forthright—those pictures will be