“If you had a buyer, the guns would be gone, and Darko would have no play to jam you. You need a buyer, but you don’t know anything about the arms market. I want to buy them, and I can eliminate Darko. I can kill him for you, or I can give him to you, let you make an example of him, whatever you like.”

Milos Jakovich cleared his throat. He rubbed at his eye, then cleared his throat again.

“This isn’t what I expected.”

“No. I probably know more about the guns than you. They were stolen by Indonesian pirates from a container ship bound for Pyongyang from Kowloon. They’re new, fully automatic weapons, still in their wrappers, but they won’t be easy to sell because of how they came to the market.”

Jakovich looked irritated.

“How do you know these things?”

“You’re an amateur at this. I’m a professional. The North Koreans still want the guns, but won’t pay for them—they would consider that a ransom. The Chinese want them back, but they’re going to kill the people who stole them, and they’ve let out word that they will view anyone who buys them as an accomplice to the crime. You don’t want the Chinese coming here to the marina.”

Jakovich pooched out his lips, probably imagining a Chinese invasion.

Pike said, “I want to buy them. If you agree, I’ll throw in Darko and your grandson as an incentive.”

“What kind of money are we talking about?”

“Three thousand rifles, five hundred per, that’s one-point-five million, but only if they’re fully automatic and free of rust and corrosion. I will check each weapon—not three or four, but all three thousand. If they’re missing bolts or receivers, I’ll still buy them, but at a reduced price.”

Pike never once looked away, and made his offer as businesslike as he could.

“That isn’t enough.”

“It’s more than you’ll get. And with me, you’ll get Darko.”

Jakovich wet his lips again, and Pike could see he was thinking. He was convinced Pike knew what he was talking about, but afraid. Pike’s offer had surprised him, but he was desperate enough to consider it.

“You have the cash?”

“I can have it by this time tomorrow. I will show you half the money up front. You’ll get the other half at the time I take delivery.”

Jakovich crossed his arms, resisting, but trying to talk himself into it.

“And how will you give me Michael?”

“He wants the rifles, too. If you make a deal with me, I’ll bring Darko when I pick up the guns. I will need one of the rifles to convince him, but I won’t tell him your people are waiting. Then he’s yours, and your problems are over.”

Jakovich slowly decided.