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two hands. “Violet’s ID key card works only tonight and this mask is worn once then replaced.”
    Margaux held her hand out.
    Snake Eyes eyed her with contempt. “If you force me to come over there, I won’t forget.”
    She held her spot, willing to take her chances by pissing him off.  
    He stuck the card in the satin bag and tossed the bag to her.
    She snagged it from the wind and looked inside. Gold mask with decorative carving. Black, red, and gold feathers poofed out the top. She pulled the drawstring on the satin bag that weighed nothing and dropped it next to the parapet.
    Margaux asked, “What about Violet?”
    “She’s tied up neat as a Thanksgiving turkey. The men I sent were covered head to toe.”
    Margaux let an edge of steel cut through her quiet voice. “Did they hurt her?”
    “No. She’s fine. The police will be alerted at daylight about strange noises coming from her apartment. Her employer will have no reason to think she was in on this, as we agreed.”
    Nodding, Margaux went on. “Now, about this merc meeting the Banker.” 
    “Dragan Stoli. A Russian who’s built a name for himself rather quickly over the past year. He runs a team of elite operators, no tie to any one political group. Explosives and tactical experts.”
    “What’s he doing here if he’s out of Russia?”
    “As I understand it, the Banker doesn’t recruit until right before an operation. As this is supposed to be his first venture in the US, he’s clearly wanting to meet with those who can insert without detection. He has something planned on the West Coast and soon. My new contact in New York indicated the Banker would be interviewing more than one group. It’s a shame I’ll miss the opportunity to work with him.”
    This butt wipe didn’t give a piss about the danger the Banker presented to thousands of innocent people in this country. And it would be thousands, because this terrorist only got involved with large-scale destruction. If she tossed Snake Eyes over the edge she’d be doing the gene pool a favor.
    She asked, “What kind of mercs is he looking for?”  There were thugs then there were deadly operators .
    “The kind that keeps the Navy training SEALs.”
    This got more complicated by the minute. There would be no time to follow a tracker to the Banker. The minute she had the tracking chip in place on Dragan, she’d have to risk calling Sabrina. With a major operation in play, there was too much at stake now to take any chance of losing the Banker or Dragan.
    Who do I have to kill to get a real break?
    She hated seat-of-the-pants ops, but it wouldn’t be the first time. At least, the Trophy Room rules worked in her favor with the masks. “Did you come up with any description of the Banker?”
    “ If I had that, it would cost you far more than is in that bag.”
    “I shouldn’t be paying for anything considering this is our problem to solve and I’ve paid you plenty for him already.”
    He waved that off as insignificant. “I gave you a deal. Appreciate that and don’t quibble.”
    “What do you know on the Russian?”
    Snake Eyes ran a finger over his bony chin that had a patch of beard the size of a silver dollar. “I don’t have a lot on Dragan, but he was behind that commando assault that went down at a hotel in Pakistan four months back, and he delivered a stolen load of missiles to Abri A’duazam nine months ago.”
    This Dragan character needed to burn, too. If Margaux had a team with her, she could bring him in. “What else?”
    “Dragan is almost as hard to find information on as the Banker. But I did get something personal on him. He doesn’t go anywhere without his bodyguard. Big sucker. Dragan will be known as Mr. D at the club tonight and Dragan’s got a thing for women.”
    “ That’s intel on someone with a dick?” she asked in a wry tone.
    “You have a point, but what I’m saying is that he has an insatiable appetite, so you should get an opportunity to get close