Encryption Keys and the Duke of York

‘And how exactly do I get my share of the cash?’ I said.
‘Yes! Now that is important!’ He dropped a hammer fist above my knee that hurt like a kick from a mule, though I swear his hand moved less than six inches. ‘How you get paid, that is what you need to think about, Maknazpy! Forget all the other shit!’
Yakov squinted close up into my face searching for my pain but I didn’t flinch.
‘Hamilton has the encryption package for the money exchange that was in Vienna. He gives us the package, it is like having keys to a bank. Simple.’
‘He gives it?’ I said. ‘Simple as that?’
‘He gives, we take. What matters?’ Yakov dismissed my question with a sweep of his palm across his jaw. ‘Look, Maknazpy, I can tell you how it works but what for? With respect, it is too complicated for a man like you to understand.’
Yakov managed to say it so his deep disrespect slapped my face.
‘Try me,’ I said. ‘Maybe I’m not as dumb as you think.’
Yakov sighed and pulled a twisted grin like he was an exasperated parent dredging up the last crumbs of indulgent patience for a lost cause child.
‘This business is done over the Web, yes? It has to be secure so it is encrypted, yes?’ He mouthed the words and his hot breath slowly into my face. ‘Two types of encryption key, public and private. The message is sent from A to B using the public encryption but still only A and B can read it, yes? But A also has his own private encryption key, and B must receive this also so that he confirms the message is really from A.’
‘Okay, so Hamilton is A,’ I said. ‘What about B? He’s still in Vienna? Why don’t your people just pay him a visit? What’s the big deal about Hamilton?’
‘Because Hamilton has locked the door with his code! He has fixed it so the B code is useless without his A code. And the people working the B code isn’t one person,’ Yakov gritted his teeth. ‘This B is a band of disgraced Swiss and Austrian bankers, merely banking apparatchiks, happy to operate outside the rules, they do what they are told. Either way, these bankers with dirty hands will be useful to us in future so they are permitted to continue.’
He meant they were permitted to continue living.
‘So where is Artie’s missing $30 million?’ I said. ‘Back in Vienna?’
Yakov did his couldn’t-care-less shrug.
‘Who knows? It could be in the Vatican Bank, it could be anywhere. But this is no problem, trust me. You will be well rewarded. There is plenty more where that came from. Just bring me Hamilton and I will take care of the rest, no problem.’
‘So what does this encryption key look like? I said. ‘Is it like a password or something?’
‘Fuck!’ Yakov’s patience was blown. ‘It is a piece of software! He will keep it close, so just get him and we get the key.’
‘And how do I get my share?’
Yakov tried the hammer to my thigh again but I snatched his wrist and pinned it to the table.
‘After you bring me Hamilton and we conclude our business with him, I will personally transfer $5 million to any account you want, anywhere in the world,’ he said. ‘You can stand beside me and watch me do it, if you don’t trust me.’
‘That’s before you whack him, right?’
‘What does that matter to you?’ he said. ‘You get your money, we work something out for your priest, what more do you want?’
‘And Michael Leeks won’t think it’s a problem?’ I said.
Yakov blinked like I was speaking backwards.
‘Your colleagues,’ I said. ‘As long as they don’t think I’ll be a problem and decide to take the risk free route.’
‘Don’t worry about them,’ he said. ‘I take care of them. I take care of you. No problem.’
‘That’s what I like about you, Yakov. You’re such a Good News guy, so full of positive energy and goodwill to all men.’
‘Of course, goodwill to all men. All men except your Hamilton.’ He caught me with a hammer fist again. ‘Hamilton I will crush. All his bosses will know. That will be good news!’