"Don't worry, no one else knows about this place here…yet. I wouldn't have been able to trace you if not for your old friend van der Beck. My God, what have you gotten yourself into, Michael?"

"Something immensely profitable, but it takes careful handling."

" I hear both the Russians and South Africans are after you."

"True. But there's always a chance they'll trip over each other trying to get to me."

" I wouldn't count on it. You take too many risks."

"The pot calling the kettle black. Is that what you came to tell me?"

"I came to tell you the CIA has traced you to Amsterdam."

Travis stiffened. "Oh, have they?"

"I told you to leave the kid and get out of Vasaro before Andreas got there."

"That wasn't an option."

"Any more than it was an option not to go to Vasaro."

"You never know when you need a favor from the President."

"Bull. You knew it would be trouble."

"You came along."

"I owed you. I still owe you. You had the good taste to save my neck that time in Rome and I value my life highly. But I didn't hobnob with Andreas. We were lucky to get you out. The place was crawling with Secret Service and French police, and none of them were pleased that they'd screwed up on the job."

" But you did get me out."

"And then you ran straight to Moscow and into the lion's mouth."

Travis smiled. "But he has such bright, sparkling teeth."

" I think you have a death wish."

"No, I have a life wish, the life I want, exactly the way I want it." He added, "It's going to be a beautiful bonanza, Galen. I wouldn't mind sharing it with you."

Galen raised his brows. "And what do I have to do?"

"Nothing that you haven't already done. Van der Beck is taking care of the negotiations. I'd just like you along on the gravy train. You've always been a good friend to me."

"Damn straight I have." He shook his head. "I don't want to profit from just sitting on my ass, and I don't get a thrill out of walking tightropes anymore."