“I’ll leave you to your breakfast.” He gave her a nod in farewell, stood, and made his way back to the entrance of the restaurant.

Ellie exhaled. She had never been a comfortable liar and always found duplicity stressful. She was relieved that it was over, at least for now. She finished her corn cakes, drank the rest of her lukewarm coffee, and signed the check. She refreshed herself in the bathroom and then asked the concierge to call her a taxi.

15

The US embassy was equipped with a secure briefing room, but they knew that El Centro would have people watching the building on Carrera 45, and the last thing they wanted was to tip them off that something big was being planned. Instead, the DEA had provided premises where they could meet in private. There was a business park next to Avenida El Dorado that accommodated the South American headquarters of several prominent companies. Online businesses, including Google and Amazon, had based their operations there, and a steady flow of gringo visitors was expected. A few more would not raise any alarms.

The taxi delivered her to the drop-off zone outside a building that accommodated an oil and gas exploration company. Ellie paid the driver and got out, collected her bag and made her way inside. The bureau had done a deal with the company, and a large conference room had been reserved for them. Tech staff had attended the previous day to ensure that their discussions would not be eavesdropped on.

Ellie was the second person to arrive. Her boss, Patrick Baker, was the first.

“Ellie,” he said, “all good?”

“All good,” she said.

“Good flight?”

“Long. I got plenty done.”

“Hotel?”

“It’s fine. I had a visitor, though. Valencia came to see me at breakfast.”

“What did he want?”

“He’s suspicious. Wanted to know what I was doing in town without telling him.”

“So we put his nose out of joint. Whatever.”

“I know,” she said. “I’d rather have him on our side, though, if we can.”

“We won’t need him after this. You see the email?”

She sat down on the edge of the table. “I did. We know who this guy is?”

“CHILD? No—won’t give up his name. Says he needs to be sure he’s going to be safe.”

“Can’t blame him,” she said.

“You can’t. It’s a big risk. Not sure I’d do it.”

There was a flask of coffee and a platter of Danishes on a table to the side. Ellie filled a mug and snagged a pastry. “Five million makes it a little easier to take.”

“That it does.”

* * *