"You only got some of the details."
"Si, a few. L. Kahn asks to be connected with an experienced team possessing a broad range of capabilities. He has said that the contract is for a high-risk job, and that the pay will be commensurate to that risk. I am led to believe that the assignment comes from high places. A success here could add great weight to your reputation."
"What's the run involve?"
"It was described to me as being in the nature of a recovery job. Naturally, I thought you would approve."
"What's being recovered?"
"That is for L. Kahn to say."
"Could be a datasnatch."
"It could be many things, my friend,"
"I heard L. Kahn contracted for the Winter Systems job."
"That is only rumor."
"Still…"
Winter Systems had contracts for police services in Manhattan, Union City, and other places around the New York-New Jersey megaplex. The Winter Systems job had involved the kidnapping and murder of several Winter Systems execs, and, incidentally, a conspiracy that had touched practically every major corp in the megaplex.
The murders were what mattered to Rico. He did not do killing for hire. Neither did he do kidnapping. Neither did anyone in his group. "You trust this slag L. Kahn?"
"Can anyone be trusted, my friend?"
"Some can. Some can't."
Mr. Victor paused for a few moments, then said, "As you well know, there are no guarantees in this life. I would say that L. Kahn can be trusted. More than some, less than others. I have not heard that L. Kahn has ever broken a contract or betrayed a trust. You must decide for yourself, my friend. Merely tell me now whether I should arrange a meet."
Rico thought about it, and nodded, "Si."
"Consider it done, my friend."