“Lake City,” Frank said. “In the past, in some communications intercepts, that’s meant Geneva.” Rafe looked at Frank. He had not known that. And this was not the first time Frank had known something he didn’t. Frank had been assigned to work with Rafe when he arrived in Switzerland, but it had never been made exactly clear to Rafe where Frank had been assigned from.

“Yes,” Sykes said. “Geneva has been called Lake City. That’s why we’re all gathered here looking at this. Us, here, in Geneva.”

Ah. A moment of silent consideration. Then Rafe again: “So who is Homeboy and what is he connecting?”

“I think we should try to find out, don’t you? How are things going on the Pleski front?”

“Progressing,” said Rafe. “Slowly.”

“Wonderful,” said Helen Sykes. “Then maybe you can spare some time to help us look for Homeboy.”

News

NEWS

In the offices of Sterling Wealth Management, Majid and his partner, Ron, were looking at a screen, too. It was a CNN newscast with a report about the bombing of an offshore oil pipeline in West Africa. There was video of flames at an oceanside oil storage facility. Oil workers had been killed along with nearby villagers swamped by a wave caused by the blast. “Local officials are investigating the cause of the explosion,” the newscaster said. “They said it would cause major delays in the exploitation of newly discovered oil reserves.”

“Which were being exploited,” said Ron, “by Sahel Hydrocarbon?”

“Yes,” said Majid.

“The company you shorted?” Ron didn’t say this to Majid. He said it to Stavro, their new client, who was watching the newscast with them. Stavro looked bored.

“Yes,” he replied, in the same tone he would have used if Ron had asked if he owned any socks. “What has this done to the company’s share price?”

“Down twenty percent,” said Majid. “And falling.”

“So you’ll buy shares to close out my position?”

“Yes,” said Majid. “You shorted the stock just in time to benefit from this.” He looked again at the screen. Flames burning steadily. Occasionally some bursting high into the sky, like fireworks.

Stavro shrugged. “These things happen. Especially in that part of the world. The safety protocols for an industrial facility there are not like those in Switzerland, or the US, or the UK.” With a look at Ron, he added, “Some of your former colonies do not share your fastidious concern for risk avoidance.”

“They weren’t actually my colonies personally,” said Ron.

“Born too late,” said Stavro.

Majid changed the subject. “What shall we do with the proceeds?” he asked.

“Hold them in cash,” said Stavro. “I’ll have further instructions.” And he left.

Ron turned to Majid. “Not much one for small talk, is he?”

“How much longer did you want to discuss the legacy of colonialism?”

Ron shrugged. “How much did his prescient investment make?”

“Two million and change.”