The Malhoa Connection Page 8

  Mentally, I replayed everything Armando had told us as well as his nonverbal cues. I narrowed my eyes and interrupted him describing the security of the church. “Why do you believe Jake is telling the truth about this source?”

  “I’m not lying about this source.” He pointed at his face. “You can read me all you want. I’m telling the truth.”

  “You are telling what you believe to be true.” I tilted my head. “What information did Jake give you that made you trust him?”

  Armando shook his head. “I don’t trust him. Not at all. But I trust that he knows someone who is close to the Collector.”

  “And I want to know what Jake gave you to make you believe that.”

  He closed his eyes, his micro-expressions the same as I’d seen in Daniel’s apartment when the cats were on his lap. He looked at me. “The source told Jake to tell me Jessie and James will be the least of my troubles if the Collector continues on this path.”

  I frowned. “Does that mean Jake didn’t know about your cats before the source told him their names? Yes. Oh. Hmm. You didn’t tell Jake, Inge and Paulo what the Collector had done to your cats?” I nodded at his expression. “You didn’t.”

  “Did they tell you what the Collector did to get them so determined to stop him?” Manny asked.

  “Inge and Jake didn’t.” Armando’s answer was subdued. “Paulo’s story is horrific, but I don’t know if I believe him.”

  “Bloody hellfire.” Manny slumped deeper into his seat, shaking his head.

  Colin sighed heavily. “You’re hoping we’ll get them to open up.”

  “Sounds like nobody is trusting anyone over there.” Vinnie snorted. “Not surprised.”

  I studied Armando’s nonverbal cues. He was feeling exposed and vulnerable. And he was revealing a lot. “They don’t know we’re coming.”

  “Shit.” Armando put both hands on his head and looked out of the window for a few seconds. Then he lowered his arms and looked at me. “Only Inge knows.”

  “Oh, Armando.” The censure in Colin’s tone was softened by the sympathy in his expression. “It’s Paulo, isn’t it?”

  “He’s fucking nuts.” Armando swallowed. “You’re right. I’m a better-than-brilliant thief, but I know my limitations. And dealing with Paulo is on the top of that list.”

  “Then why did you join up with him?” Daniel asked.

  “He approached me before Jessie and James were killed. I’d only heard rumours about the Collector before that.” His expression tightened in grief. “Then the Collector killed my Jessie and James. When Paulo contacted me two weeks after I found them in my living room, I accepted.”

  “You regret that decision.” It was clear on his face.

  “Yes.”

  “Regret and guilt.” I pointed at his face. “Why do you feel guilty for joining Paulo?”

  He stared at me wide-eyed, then shook his head. “I got Inge involved.”

  I lowered my head and stared at him. “There’s more.”

  “Dammit.” He swallowed. “Paulo got Jake on board and said we needed another person. I knew Inge was in town and I asked her.”

  “Are you two involved?” Colin asked.

  “No. Nothing like that. We’ve done a few jobs together and I like her.” A soft smile relaxed the muscles around his mouth and eyes. “I trust her.”

  “And now you’re both in over your heads.” Vinnie’s top lip curled. “Dude.”

  “Doc said there’s more.” Manny scowled at him. “Talk.”

  He closed his eyes and tightened his jaw. It took him a few seconds before he sighed and opened his eyes, his expression resigned. “Paulo didn’t give me the intel about the nuclear access codes to give to you.”

  “And Jake didn’t give you the information about the sports cars to give to us.” I had wondered how he had that information when Jake and Paulo didn’t know we were about to join them.

  “Holy hell.” Manny rubbed his hands over his face. “Where did you get that intel?”

  “Inge got the location of the cars from Jake. He likes her and was mouthing off about those expensive rides.” He swallowed. “Paulo gave me the access codes as a motivation to join him. I never even looked at that cloud folder. You’re the first ones to see what he gave me. He told me I now had something I could use as leverage any time a government wanted to lock me up.”

  “He was right.” Daniel didn’t reveal what had really been in that cloud folder.

  It was quiet in the cabin for a few moments. The captain’s announcement that we were landing broke the moment and brought new tension to Armando’s posture. He rolled his shoulders once. “The fun is about to start, boys.” He winked at me. “And girl.”

  Chapter EIGHT

  WE TURNED LEFT INTO another narrow street. This time we were going uphill. It was my first time in Lisbon. I’d visited Porto ten years ago. Three hundred kilometres north of Lisbon, it was a popular tourist destination. What had drawn me there was primarily the architecture. The twelfth-century cathedral, baroque churches, numerous museums and breathtaking views still stayed with me.

  Lisbon was different. I had particularly avoided it in my previous trip because of its busier pace and metropolitan atmosphere. It was also much hillier. And larger. I liked the more intimate feel of Porto. I hadn’t travelled outside of the tourist area, so I couldn’t compare the two cities comprehensively.

  Even though in some places neglect was visible here, there was a beauty and charm to the city that made me regret not visiting it sooner. Like Porto, the architecture of Lisbon’s historic buildings was enough to keep me busy for a week, from the eighteenth-century basilica with its gleaming chalk-white dome to the richly embellished interior of the sixteenth-century São Roque church and museum. Then there was the cathedral, tower and monastery that once again made me regret not visiting sooner.

  The area we were currently driving through was clearly not a tourist destination. The buildings lining the streets were badly neglected. Brittle plaster had fallen off the walls to reveal the uneven stonework beneath. Like so many of the old towns in Europe, this part of Lisbon had not been designed for the traffic it had to accommodate today.

  The buildings were in places so close to the street that pedestrians only had place to walk single-file on the sidewalk. The cobblestone streets were uneven, the stones smooth from use first by much more primitive means of transport and now cars.

  There had been two SUVs waiting for us at the airport. Armando had quickly hidden his surprise and had joined Daniel and Manny in one. Daniel was driving and Armando navigating. Colin was driving our SUV and Vinnie was sitting behind us, offering non-stop commentary on our surroundings.

  I’d been immensely relieved when I’d seen the disinfection certificate on the dashboard as Colin had unlocked the SUV. Even before it had become essential, a lot of car rental companies had added that to their services. Being out in public nowadays was a great cause for anxiety. Being in a sanitised vehicle brought some sense of relief.

  I squinted as we turned into yet another side street. Even though it was noon on a weekday, the streets here were relatively quiet. When we’d first left the airport, it had been busy, but this area didn’t have many cars on the streets. There were enough people out and about to prevent this area from feeling deserted.

  Vinnie’s phone pinged right next to my ear. I turned to glare at him. I’d asked him numerous times to sit back, but he insisted on pushing between the two front seats. I leaned heavily against the passenger door, watching him tap his phone’s screen.

  A smile lifted his cheeks. “Franny, Pink and the others are in the hotel. She says it’s very posh. Huh. Okay. She’s working on getting access to the church security. Pink is going to continue their dark web searches for the Collector.”

  Even though I trusted Francine and Pink, I still needed the reassurance. “Are the rooms secured?”

  “Yup.” Vinnie looked up from his phone. “That was Bianca and Thierry’s jo
b. There are no electronic devices emitting any signals from the suite. Those two are now on their way to the church. They’ll have our backs.”

  More questions about security popped into my mind, but I trusted Daniel’s GIPN team. After all, they knew more about running a safe operation than I did. I forced my eyes back on the road to observe our surroundings. And not give in to the panic hovering so close to the surface.

  The SUV in front of us slowed down and turned left. Colin followed and we entered a wider street. To our right was a large open area, foliage growing wild. On the far side of this area were what looked to be small cottages, the types found in allotments in some European cities.

  Colin’s eyes widened and he grunted as he frowned at the large, squat building at the end of the street. “Huh. I expected a beautiful Gothic building or at least something pretty.”

  “Yeah.” Vinnie leaned even further between our seats. “It’s... blergh.”

  I frowned at Vinnie’s description, but had to agree with Colin that the building was not beautiful. The three-storey building filled the block, its buttery-yellow walls stained with green moss, mould and rust running from pipes. I reached into my handbag and found my hand sanitiser in its allocated place. I might need to use this. A lot.

  Daniel stopped their SUV in front of the iron gate and Armando got out. Colin pulled in behind Daniel and we watched as Armando walked to a covered box to the side of the gate. It looked like it could be for electrical or gas readings. Armando glanced towards the building and pressed his thumb against the top corner of the box.

  The front opened, but I couldn’t see what was inside this box. Armando moved even closer to the box, his arms tight against his torso. The tension in his body decreased the moment the gate started opening. He stepped away from the box and I managed to get a glimpse of a keypad before he closed it again. He got back in the SUV with Daniel and they slowly entered the property. Colin followed them around the side of the building to the back, away from the view of the street. Away from prying eyes.

  “Hmm.” Vinnie sat back and leaned close to the window to look out. “Lots of cameras here.”

  Daniel parked next to a dark blue panel van that looked like it had been transporting goods for at least two decades. It was dented and scratched, making it easy to overlook as just another delivery vehicle. A Mini Cooper was parked under the only tree covering a small section of the gravel-covered area. The Mini was the complete opposite of the van, its red paint glimmering in the sun and the sporty white stripes making it conspicuous.

  In the sun next to the Mini was an old, silver Toyota. It was the kind of city car suburban families used to transport children and pets. From the preliminary profiles I’d created of the three criminals cooperating with Armando, it was easy for me to match them to their cars.

  Paulo would be arrogant enough to drive around in his red Mini, convinced he would get away with whatever crime he was going to commit. The panel van suited Jake. He would need the extra space to transport parts and tools for his high-end vehicle thefts. Colin had mentioned that Jake was known to sleep in his car. A panel van would be luxurious accommodation compared to the cramped interior of a sedan.

  The silver Toyota was undoubtedly Inge’s. Colin had found three photos taken a few years apart. Each of those photos showed a woman comfortable in oversized sweaters and tunics, wearing the kind of sneakers that would gain Roxy’s approval and Francine’s revulsion.

  Colin parked next to Daniel and we got out. It was a beautifully sunny day, the air crisp, but not so cold that I felt the need to reach for my thicker coat. The blue spring jacket I was wearing offered sufficient warmth.

  Armando was already walking to a heavy steel door in the building. The door appeared to be installed for modern security, contrasting the outdated look of the building.

  Manny was scowling when they reached Armando. “All this security. And now we’re meeting with a bunch of criminals.” He pushed his fists in his trouser pockets. “The world has gone to hell in a handbasket.”

  Armando turned his head to look over his shoulder, his half-smile in full force. “Scared?”

  “Bugger off, criminal.” Manny glared at the door. “Are we going in or are we going to stand here and twiddle our thumbs?”

  Armando winked at Manny and took a step closer to a panel next to the door. My eyebrows rose when he lowered his face to be scanned. Next, he placed his ring finger on the screen. Biometrics. Francine would be very excited about this level of security. I wasn’t. I was concerned. I’d been around Daniel, Vinnie and the others long enough to deduce that this kind of security was only needed when there was something of great value to be safeguarded.

  A soft click sounded and the door slowly swung open. We were about to find out what was of such great value inside.

  I glanced at Manny’s coat and wondered if both he and Daniel had turned on their button cameras. Colin and Vinnie had done that when we’d parked. I wasn’t wearing one and since the men refused to let me go anywhere alone, they hadn’t argued when I hadn’t wanted to change into a different outfit simply to fit a button camera. I was sure Francine and Pink were already monitoring and recording all the footage they were receiving.

  Armando pulled the door completely open and waved his hand towards the interior. “Come on in.”

  “You first.” Manny jerked his chin towards the open door. “We’ll follow.”

  Armando shrugged and walked in.

  Manny turned to me. “You and pretty boy in the middle.”

  Colin nodded and squeezed my hand. Manny took his hands from his pockets and flexed his fingers. His weapon was hidden under his grey coat, but his body language was telling me he was ready to reach for it at any given moment. Daniel unzipped his jacket and nodded at Manny.

  Without looking at us again, Manny walked into the building, Vinnie right behind him. I studied the hallway and couldn’t see where someone could lie in wait to ambush us. But I wasn’t a trained professional like Daniel and Manny.

  So I allowed Colin to step out in front of me. I followed him, my focus on Armando’s nonverbal cues. I could tell that he was nervous, but not fearful. It was easy to suppose he didn’t know what reaction our presence would elicit from Paulo.

  There was only one door to the left of the hallway and it was closed. To our right were two doors. The one immediately after the entrance was open and revealed a large open room. A steel table was standing in the centre and nothing else. The room looked and felt abandoned.

  Our footsteps rang hollow in the hallway as we followed Armando to the second door. This one was different to the other two. Whereas they were old and wooden, this was of the same calibre as the external steel door. Next to the frame was a panel similar to the one outside.

  I looked behind us and saw Daniel scanning the area, his eyes narrowing as a soft ping came from the external door. It had closed automatically and a red light was shining above the frame. Excessive security.

  “More biometrics.” Vinnie nodded at the panel while Armando leaned closer to have his face scanned. “Interesting setup you guys have here.”

  “Hmm.” Armando raised one shoulder in a half-shrug and opened the door. He winked at Vinnie. “Promise you won’t shove me down the stairs?”

  “If he doesn’t, I might.” Manny leaned to his left to look past Armando. “We’re going to the basement?”

  “Spooky, right?” Armando’s half-smile held genuine humour. “The perfect setting for a horror flick.”

  “Dude.” Vinnie’s top lip curled. “No one with any manliness says ‘flick’. I mean, seriously.”

  “And no one above the age of twenty-five says, ‘I mean, seriously’.” Armando chuckled when Vinnie raised his middle finger. He shook his head and turned to the stairs. “Let’s go meet the rest of the gang.”

  My expertise was in nonverbal cues, not tone. But the tension in his vocal cords caused his voice to wobble. He was nervous. Justifiably so. He was bringing strangers�
�law-enforcing strangers—into a secure hiding place of wanted criminals. He gave one more half-shrug and started down the stairs.

  Manny looked back at the men. “Heads on a swivel.”

  Daniel and Colin nodded. Vinnie merely grunted a response and rested his palm on Manny’s shoulder. I’d learned this was a signal Daniel’s team used to indicate their readiness to proceed. Manny opened his coat and rested his hand on his holster. I glanced back at Daniel to see he’d done the same.

  I swallowed and focused on my breathing. Nothing in Armando’s nonverbal cues had given me cause to consider our lives to be in danger. Yet I appreciated the caution Manny and the others were taking as we went down the well-lit staircase.

  The stairs led into a very large open-plan basement. I hadn’t taken the time to properly study this building when we’d arrived, but I would risk guessing this room took up at least half the footprint of the building above us. Immediately I wondered if there was a basement room that covered the other half. And if there were, what we would find in there.

  I looked around some more, mentally recoiling at the poor state of this space. The paint was peeling from the walls, the ceiling unfinished in most places. I struggled to control my shudder of revulsion at the scuffed beige linoleum flooring, torn badly in some places, revealing the raw concrete floor underneath.

  I forced my eyes away from the flooring and tried to see past the many stacks of crates and boxes. On the far side of the room, I caught a glimpse of a door similar to the one we’d just used. To the right of that door was a now familiar-looking security panel. Would that lead to another basement room? And why was such security needed for that space?

  Armando was walking to the first stack of crates, but our small group had stopped at the bottom of the staircase. Manny and the others were scanning the area, undoubtedly looking for threats. Not me. I was looking for anything that could give me more insight into the people we were about to meet.

  A longer inspection made me estimate the area to be at least a hundred and eighty square metres. Numerous boxes and crates were stacked in what at first appeared to be random places. I narrowed my eyes. The placement of the boxes and crates wasn’t random. From our vantage point at the bottom of the stairs, they blocked the view to the far left and centre of the space. This was a defensible area.