CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 39: NEGOTIATION

"We have a layout of the prison," the lynx said, pulling out a large rolled up piece of paper and spreading it across the table.

We moved our dishes to the end of the table to make room for it.

"This is where the power degenerator is," the lynx said, pointing to the center. "In the basement."

"They have a basement?" Uncle Blade asked.

"There are five floors," Marceau explained. "The ground level has the least dangerous criminals. The level of dangerous criminals goes up with each floor, but there's a floor underground with the most lethal criminals. There's a hidden basement under that floor that only law enforcement can access."

"But they never do," the dog said. "They have no reason to, so we don't know where the key to access it is. We need someone to act as law enforcement and find the key."

"I know just the guy for that," Rockie said, looking at me. "Crypto knows all about the law enforcement world."

"I don't think I can be very convincing as a French cop when I can't speak French."

"You won't need to speak fluent French," the lynx said. "There are only a few words you might need to use, but you probably won't need to speak to many others while you're there."

"Seems risky," I said.

"We have a badge and uniform you can borrow," Marceau told me. "No one will question you if you bring in a prisoner."

"I can be the prisoner," Rockie volunteered.

"Okay," I said. "So I bring Rockie in as my prisoner. Then what?"

"You bring him to the bottom floor," Marceau said, "and you take your time finding a cell for him. You'll want to wait for the corrections administrator to take his lunch break which should be at 11:30. You'll place Rockie in his cell and go to the desk to find the key that fits the hole to the basement which should be in the floor."

"My cell will be unlocked, right?" Rockie asked.

"Correct," he said.

"What if the guards see me?" I asked.

"They won't question you. You'll look like an officer. You will be their supervisor. They'll be too busy doing their jobs."

"Assuming I get the key and manage to turn the power degenerator off, then what?" I asked.

"Vous libérerez tous les prisonniers," Bastien said.

"Nous mettrons le numéro dix en charge de ce travail," Marceau responded. "Je ne pense pas qu'on puisse faire confiance à ce gamin."

"Translation?" I asked.

"After you turn the degenerator off, you will need a quick escape," Marceau said. "Blade will take care of the fence on the outside. You will take care of the walls from the inside."

"Where will your friends be located?" Rockie asked.

"According to their schedule, they should be in the yard at that time. We'll have a getaway helicopter waiting for you outside the fence."

"Does this sound like something you can do?" the dog asked us.

"It definitely sounds risky," Uncle Blade said, "but I trust you will have our backs."

"It seems like a good plan to me," Rockie said. "Crypto?"

"What if it doesn't work?" I asked.

"It's going to work," Marceau said.

"But what if it doesn't?"

"Then you will probably spend your life in prison."

"And what will happen to you?"

"Nothing."

"So what's in it for us?" I asked.

"They're paying us a lot of money to do this job," Rockie told me.

"How much?" I asked.

"1.2 million US dollars," Marceau said.

"Make it two million," I said.

"Hey, who put you in charge of negotiations?" Rockie asked me. "We're trying to make friends, not enemies."

"Two million or I'm not doing it," I told Marceau.

Marceau looked at his buddies and then laughed. "How about this? You do the job for the price your boss agreed upon or we put you at the bottom of the Seine River."

"Okay. Good luck finding my replacement," I said, standing up to leave.

"Pour qui ce gamin se prend-il ?" Bastien asked.

"Il a besoin qu'on lui donne une leçon!" the lynx said.

"Nous avons besoin de lui, Marceau," the dog said.

"Fine," Marceau said to me. "Have it your way. Two million dollars it is."

Rockie and Uncle Blade both looked shocked. I gave them a smug smile and sat back down.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're a genius!" Rockie said when we got back to our hotel. "Was all the negativity just for show? So you'd be more believable?"

I shrugged. "I learned a few things about manipulation while I was in the police academy."

"I can't believe you convinced him to give us two million dollars," my uncle said. "That's insane!"

"You've gotta know your worth," I said.

"The boss will be pleased. I'll be sure to give you due credit," Rockie told me. "I guess you're not a joker after all."

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I was one step closer to my goal.