police.
His fears were justified. I wouldn't have called you.
Why not?
I've got my reasons. But it's the other question that intrigues me more: Why does the kidnapper want the FBI involved?
This tells us that he wants some level of notoriety. The guy's not a media hound who plays to the newspapers, but he wants to be noticed and respected by law enforcement. And he's probably trying to make a statement of some kind through his ransom demands - kidnapping the wife and then telling the husband to pay what she's worth. At least that's the psychological profile we've constructed so far.
That scares me, he said.
That's understandable.
People with motives other than money always scare me, he said, his expression deadpan.
It does complicate the equation.
He looked away, staring at nothing. As if the situation weren't complicated enough already.
She sensed that he was finally ready to open up a little. Mr. Salazar, is there something you should be telling me?
He stepped away from the window and turned toward the fireplace. A large painted portrait of Mia hung over the mantel, but he didn't look at it. The other day you asked about delivering a proof-of-life payment to the kidnapper. You obviously didn't realize it, but I was being somewhat facetious when I told you to call Jack Swyteck.
He did act rather puzzled when I talked with him. He didn't even seem to know whether he was actually your attorney.
That's because he's not my attorney.
What is he then?
My wife's lover.
Andie caught her breath. When you told me Mia was having an affair, I didn't realize it was with Swyteck. Are you sure about this?
No question about it.
That explains a few things. I thought Swyteck was acting strange, but I figured it was because he suspected or maybe even knew about Mia's affair. Never did he let on that it was him.
I don't think it's something he's particularly proud of.
There's no room for pride here. Your wife has been kidnapped. I need to know everything there is to know. That goes for you as well as him.
I think that's finally been resolved. Swyteck and I talked after you met with him. We agreed that you should know the whole story, and that I should be the one to tell you.
That's fine and dandy, Ernesto. But damn it, why are you just now getting around to it?
I needed time to think it over.
Think what over?
Whether I still want Swyteck to deliver the proof-of-life payment.
Andie scoffed. Do you seriously think that's still on the table after telling me that he slept with your wife?
It actually makes perfect sense. Swyteck feels like he owes me something, so I'll let him be the delivery boy. If he succeeds, he can have the peace of mind that comes with making amends for his indiscretion. If he fails and ends up on a slab in the morgue - well, it's not like I've lost a friend. It's a classic win-win situation.
In your mind, perhaps. But from my standpoint, it changes everything.
I'm not doing your plan any other way.
What are you saying, it's Swyteck or nobody?
Precisely, said Salazar. I'm certainly not going to put one of my friends in danger.
We'll use an FBI agent. That's the safest way.
I thought we already dismissed that idea.
No question, the kidnapper is more likely to go along with the plan if it's obvious to him that the delivery person is not law enforcement. That's how Swyteck's name came up in the first place. But we have convincing undercover agents.
I don't want the FBI. Like I said: Swyteck or nobody.
Then I say nobody. I don't like the personal history here.
That's really too damn bad, said Salazar, his voice taking on an edge. I'm in control, not you.
Excuse me? she said.
When that kidnapper calls, I'll be doing the talking. And I'm going to tell him that my attorney, Jack Swyteck, will deliver ten thousand dollars in exchange for some proof that Mia is alive. It can be my ten thousand dollars, and you can stay out of it. Or it can be the FBI's ten grand, and you can have your finger right
His fears were justified. I wouldn't have called you.
Why not?
I've got my reasons. But it's the other question that intrigues me more: Why does the kidnapper want the FBI involved?
This tells us that he wants some level of notoriety. The guy's not a media hound who plays to the newspapers, but he wants to be noticed and respected by law enforcement. And he's probably trying to make a statement of some kind through his ransom demands - kidnapping the wife and then telling the husband to pay what she's worth. At least that's the psychological profile we've constructed so far.
That scares me, he said.
That's understandable.
People with motives other than money always scare me, he said, his expression deadpan.
It does complicate the equation.
He looked away, staring at nothing. As if the situation weren't complicated enough already.
She sensed that he was finally ready to open up a little. Mr. Salazar, is there something you should be telling me?
He stepped away from the window and turned toward the fireplace. A large painted portrait of Mia hung over the mantel, but he didn't look at it. The other day you asked about delivering a proof-of-life payment to the kidnapper. You obviously didn't realize it, but I was being somewhat facetious when I told you to call Jack Swyteck.
He did act rather puzzled when I talked with him. He didn't even seem to know whether he was actually your attorney.
That's because he's not my attorney.
What is he then?
My wife's lover.
Andie caught her breath. When you told me Mia was having an affair, I didn't realize it was with Swyteck. Are you sure about this?
No question about it.
That explains a few things. I thought Swyteck was acting strange, but I figured it was because he suspected or maybe even knew about Mia's affair. Never did he let on that it was him.
I don't think it's something he's particularly proud of.
There's no room for pride here. Your wife has been kidnapped. I need to know everything there is to know. That goes for you as well as him.
I think that's finally been resolved. Swyteck and I talked after you met with him. We agreed that you should know the whole story, and that I should be the one to tell you.
That's fine and dandy, Ernesto. But damn it, why are you just now getting around to it?
I needed time to think it over.
Think what over?
Whether I still want Swyteck to deliver the proof-of-life payment.
Andie scoffed. Do you seriously think that's still on the table after telling me that he slept with your wife?
It actually makes perfect sense. Swyteck feels like he owes me something, so I'll let him be the delivery boy. If he succeeds, he can have the peace of mind that comes with making amends for his indiscretion. If he fails and ends up on a slab in the morgue - well, it's not like I've lost a friend. It's a classic win-win situation.
In your mind, perhaps. But from my standpoint, it changes everything.
I'm not doing your plan any other way.
What are you saying, it's Swyteck or nobody?
Precisely, said Salazar. I'm certainly not going to put one of my friends in danger.
We'll use an FBI agent. That's the safest way.
I thought we already dismissed that idea.
No question, the kidnapper is more likely to go along with the plan if it's obvious to him that the delivery person is not law enforcement. That's how Swyteck's name came up in the first place. But we have convincing undercover agents.
I don't want the FBI. Like I said: Swyteck or nobody.
Then I say nobody. I don't like the personal history here.
That's really too damn bad, said Salazar, his voice taking on an edge. I'm in control, not you.
Excuse me? she said.
When that kidnapper calls, I'll be doing the talking. And I'm going to tell him that my attorney, Jack Swyteck, will deliver ten thousand dollars in exchange for some proof that Mia is alive. It can be my ten thousand dollars, and you can stay out of it. Or it can be the FBI's ten grand, and you can have your finger right
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