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Marc had instantly agreed

Noalked over to the nearby bench and sat at the edge, legs spread apart, hands gripping his knees, ready to snap into action at the first sign of Danijel and his CI He breathed deeply, watching his exhales ee in clouds of icy mist As always, he was outwardly calm, internally coiled to strike It was the Navy SEAL in hi

“Your guests have arrived,” Philip announced

“So I see” Marc had spotted the he’d worn his daiven what Danijel had said, there was no way Marc was shoving his hands into the pockets of his parka Toofor a weapon He just turned to face the on his let’s-do-business rather than his inti expression

“Good evening,” Danijel greeted hi the mention of his name

“Chief Inspector Horvat,” Marc replied with a nod “Thank you for ht And please thank your contact”

While Danijel was doing just that, Marc gave the anony a heavy work coat with the hood pulled as far over his face as possible All Marc could e nose, and a stubble of beard And the guy was a nervous wreck, shifting fro furtively around as if he expected to be shot dead at any given moment

Marc was glad he’d listened to Danijel about the weapon

“In English, tell me exactly what you want hi other than you’re American, that you’re trustworthy and in trouble, and that you require his help I want to be sure I convey as much or as little as you choose But be as detailed as you’re able It’s the only e can find out how much help he can and will offer you”

Marc cleared his throat, keeping his gaze on Danijel as he spoke—and not only because it would be Danijel who did the interpreting but because a direct stare could freak this quaking CI out and send hi Marc wanted, not when his gut instincts were telling him that this liaison could yield major results

“Please let hient,” he responded to Danijel’s request “We’re looking for a kidnapped young woe student and we have reason to believe she’s being held in Croatia by an Albanian cri to help us—and fast—we’d be very grateful Assure hieht infore cash payment”

Danijel turned and spoke to thea whole lot more than Marc’s tersely worded stateround when the name Sallaku was introduced

Derica spoke up in Marc’s ear “Chief Inspector Horvat is saying that he is certain the Sallaku fa and that he knows about this ainst them,” she said “He expressed sympathy about the murder of his brother He also assured him that this conversation would be completely confidential on the law enforces raised And he gave his word that you can be trusted and talked to”

The man hesitated for a few seconds, and then fired back a reply to Danijel

“He’s frightened,” Derica translated “He says they’ll slit his throat if they find out he talked to you at all,information He wants certain reassurances in advance—more than just Danijel’s word that you can be trusted”