The Secret Crown (2010) Read Online Free

Was he returning a call of yours?’
    ‘Nope.’
    ‘Then something’s wrong. Kaiser wouldn’t call unless something’s wrong.’
    ‘Not necessarily. Maybe he’s in the States and wants to grab dinner.’
    Jones grimaced. ‘Did he
say
he wants to grab dinner?’
    ‘Not in so many words.’
    ‘Then what did he say?’
    Payne cleared his throat. ‘This is Kaiser. Call me asap.’
    ‘Good Lord! Someone’s dead.’
    Payne couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Relax, princess. We don’t know that.’
    ‘Speak for yourself. I can tell. Someone’s dead.’
    ‘Here’s a thought. Why don’t I call him before you panic?’
    ‘I’m not panicking. I’m predicting.’
    ‘Well, it
sounds
like you’re panicking.’
    ‘Come on, Jon. You know me better than that. If anything, I’m excited about the possibilities. Watching you swim for kitchenware isn’t exactly rousing.’
    ‘That’s funny. I don’t remember you volunteering for the job.’
    ‘That’s because I don’t drink and dive.’
    Payne smiled at the pun. ‘Touche.’
    ‘And even if I did, there’s no way I was going to jump in
that
water. Let’s face it: you’re gonna smell like fish for the rest of the weekend.’
    Payne smelled the towel draped around his neck. ‘Please tell me you’re joking.’
    Jones shook his head. ‘Let’s put it this way. You’re a good-looking billionaire and no women have flirted with you since your return. What does that tell you?’
    ‘It tells me that you think I’m good looking.’
    ‘What? That’s not what I meant.’
    ‘So what are you saying? It was a Freudian slip?’
    ‘No, Jon. My point is that you smell.’
    ‘Compared to normal?’
    ‘Exactly.’
    Payne pressed the issue. ‘In other words, you
usually
like the way I smell.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘You think I’m a good-looking, good-smelling guy.’
    ‘Stop it! Quit putting words in my mouth.’
    ‘Dude, I’m not putting
anything
in your mouth.’
    Jones blushed, worried some of the other guests might have overheard the comment. At first he was going to speak up and defend himself, then he thought better of it. No matter what he said, it was going to be taken out of context and used against him. So he stood silently waiting for Payne to let him off the ropes. But Payne wasn’t done throwing verbal jabs.
    ‘What’s wrong, DJ ? Did I embarrass you? Or are you jealous?’
    ‘
Jealous?
Of what?’
    ‘That another guy phoned me. I swear we’re just friends.’
    Jones laughed to himself, surprised that Payne was still busting his balls. Normally Jones was the childish one in their friendship, always joking at inappropriate times, and Payne was the adult. The sudden role reversal made Jones wonder if his friend had stayed underwater a little too long.
    ‘On that note,’ Jones said, ‘I’m going to get a drink.’
    Payne smiled in victory but couldn’t resist a knockout blow. ‘I think we’re out of daiquiris. But if you’d like, we can probably get a pink umbrella for your beer.’

4

    Despite groans of protest from his guests, Payne lowered the volume on his stereo - low enough to return Kaiser’s call, yet loud enough to prevent eavesdroppers - then strolled to the far end of his boat. Some people might have viewed him as paranoid, but not Jones. Years of experience had taught them the value of secrecy. One of their superiors at the Pentagon used to say, ‘the smallest of leaks can sink the biggest of ships’, and they knew this to be true.
    In their world, small leaks were often plugged with bullets.
    Using his encrypted cell phone, Payne dialled 0-1-1, followed by the country code for Germany, and then Kaiser’s number. A few seconds later, he was chatting with the man who ran the largest black market network in Europe.
    ‘Thanks for getting back to me so quickly,’ Kaiser said. ‘I wasn’t sure if a man of your stature would return a call from someone like me.’
    Payne smiled. ‘Why wouldn’t I? I talk to assholes all the time.