“What the hell happened?” yelled Senator Snyder into the scramble phone in his study as Senator Rolander looked on.
“We acquired the target, but there was another interested party already present,” replied the hired killer.
“Another interested party? Who were they?”
“We have no idea. They made their move before we had a chance, so we hung back.”
“What happened?” asked Rolander.
Snyder cupped the mouthpiece and addressed Rolander. “The girl led the team right to him, but someone else made a move before they had a chance to take him out.”
“Shit. Then they know about him.”
“They must know something,” said Snyder as he turned his attention back to the phone. “What happened then?”
“The target evaded the shooters, and we followed him. When we tried to close out the contract, he managed to get away.”
“He got away? Maybe I haven’t been clear. You and your associates are not being paid for him to get away. You are being paid to take him out! I can’t believe this. That’s the third time. Harvath must be eliminated.”
“He will be.”
“Do you have any idea where he is now?”
“No, but we’re working on it.”
“What about the girl?”
“She disappeared. We had to stick with our target. She shouldn’t be too hard to find, though.”
“She’d better not be. And I’d better not hear about any more failed attempts. You get that slippery son of a bitch and you take him out once and for all. Do you understand me?”
The killer didn’t have a chance to respond. Snyder had already slammed down the phone.