The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

our meeting, I would appreciate that. Make sure we are not disturbed, will you? Thank you, Charles.”

“Yes, sir.” Charles nodded, took the money, shoved it into his white apron, filled each glass with a good pour, and went out the door, making sure it was closed behind him.

Bridger raised his wine glass high. Chapel followed. Peter hesitated, then raised his glass in confusion. Gilbert did not move a muscle.

“A toast. To Hell. May the stay there be as enjoyable as the way there.” Bridger smiled and sipped. Bridger savored his sip and nodded his approval to Chapel, then he looked at the duffel bag.

“I assume, Gilbert, being the patriot that you are and despite pressure and instructions,” he continued as he picked up a cracker, “you were not pleased with giving away classified government projects. So, you didn’t. Consequently, MacLean’s case was empty when we opened it.”

Gilbert un-coiled in elation.

“Yes. Yes. Exactly!” He was so excited he accidentally bumped his wine glass with his gesticulating hands. The white table cloth went purple. He started to sop it up with a napkin.

“A waste of fine Chianti,” Chapel said. He had already finished his glass and was pouring himself another full glass.

“Go on, Gilbert,” Bridger said as he picked up a warm dinner roll.

“The woman called and said it was alright. It was important government work that Kirkwood had approved. I still wasn’t sure, then Mr. Chapel came.”

“Gilbert. Does this actually contain—whatever it is?”

“Yes.” Gilbert’s eyes darted in a circuit from Bridger, Peter, the bag, Chapel, then to his lap. He took a sip of wine.

“What is in it, Gilbert?” Peter asked.

Gilbert shifted in his chair, avoiding eye contact.

“Gilbert, I think you should go now and enjoy the rest of your evening. Oh, and leave the duffel,” Bridger said politely, leaning his smiling face in the man’s direction.

Hesitant at first, Gilbert looked at Chapel for approval, and when he received the nod, he said his goodbyes and left as quickly as he could.

“Such a nice man, that Gilbert. Loyal. A patriot.” Bridger sipped his wine. “I am sorry if losing the Bondar account cuts into your business in Ukraine.”

“On the contrary! I want to thank you. Poor Olek is in way over his head and has already reached out for my support—which I happily gave with a twenty percent increase in my fee.” Chapel raised his wine glass toward Bridger, took a drink of chianti, and smiled.

“Well, I didn’t expect that, but congratulations, Danny.” It was Bridger’s turn to toast and drink.

“What is your objective, Bridger? Does this intrusion have, well, have a point?”

Bridger took a bite of a roll and relished the moment. Then he continued.

“Man, I could use a steak. I think I have most of it, but I need you to explain one thing, Chapel.”

“How can I help?” Chapel finished another glass of wine.

“I understand that Chen didn’t get the case because Bondar stepped in, but why not just give it to Chen in the first place? What was the need for all the Kirkwood melodrama, and getting poor Peter here caught in the cross-hairs?” Bridger looked at Peter, who was nodding.

“I’m kind of interested myself,” Peter said as he twirled the stem of his wine glass between his fingers.

Chapel sat back, brushed his tie, and looked from Bridger to Peter.

“I am sorry to say, Peter, that your entire escapade was just, well, a futile act by your management. We had a confluence of semi-separate events that needed addressing. First, May had arranged for Chen to receive Hillcrest—with senior corporate approval. Next, you had Kirkwood International in some quite stressful financial situations and needed the Mourning Dove relationship to continue. Plus, they needed Viktor Bondar to make payments on the LeonidOre deal. That was a bad deal by MacLean.”

“For the company. Not for him,” Peter added.

“Exactly, Peter. You were exactly correct in your analysis,” Chapel said.

Chapel poured the last drops of wine into his glass and set the bottle aside. He looked at the door expecting a waiter to be ready with another bottle. He looked away when he realized Charles was not returning.

“Then there is Viktor Bondar, who had his own financial situation with the Chinese and who mistakenly believed he could hold Hillcrest hostage for more contracts. On this point, Ira was correct. Viktor was past his prime. Finally, we had George McLean—who was recruited by Chen several years ago—and who was going to cause some significant disruption by exposing his connection with Chinese intelligence. That would hurt Kirkwood’s businesses. Most critically, the driving force was the potential exposure of Chen by MacLean. That would destroy any chance of promotion to the head of MSS. A lot of hard work would be ruined.”

“And May would not be happy,” Bridger said.

“And May would not be happy,” Chapel repeated.

Chapel took a drink of water and frowned.

“All those separate events were connected by Chen, you, and May, of course,” Bridger concluded.

“Yes, indeed. By eliminating George and getting the case to Chen, that would solve three, as Chen could make certain the Mourning Dove deals continued without fear of exposure.”

“And we take out Viktor for Ira, with some agreement brokered by you that she pays on the contracts.”

“Exactly. As it has turned out, once this case gets to Chen, everything will have worked out for everyone.”

“Everyone except Beast.” Bridger corrected Chapel with a statement of fact.

“Yes. That was unfortunate.”

Peter raised a finger to get their attention.

“So, MacBride, Kirkwood, and Jessup know about this? That Hillcrest was being taken to the Chinese? They allowed that?”

“Allowed? They were ecstatic when presented with this as a way to appease their Chinese partners and get paid. They just did not want to know all the details.” Chapel took a larger sip of water. “It is most interesting to see what supposedly very intelligent people will do when faced with the ruin of their fortune, reputation, or both.”

Imp spoke into Bridger and Peter’s comm.

“We have something on the Chapel comm system. Cars coming. More security. Three