Friedrich still had the case with him.
Sparrow easily manages to make it over to the alley, and check it out. The black Ford is still parked there, but things have changed somewhat. The entire vehicle is riddled with bullets, all the windows shattered from gunfire and the tires flattened, and the four men inside are quite obviously dead. They've got guns in their hands, but obviously didn't have time to open fire before they were killed. Shell casings and empty magazines litter the area. Given that no gunfire was heard, surpressed weapons must have been used. The killers aren't in sight.
Just slighty before this discovery, the transmission from the audio bug begins to come in. Staticy and grainy, as per usual of models of this make, its nonetheless quite clear. Obviously, no counter-measures are in place.
"Mr Friedrich," says an unknown voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Do you have it?"
"Yes," replied Friedrich. "And is money ready to be transfered into the account we discused?"
"Of course. The funds are ready to be transfered to your Swiss bank account."
"If you don't mind my asking, why exactly is a Mafia family interested in this item? It doesn't seem to relate to your sort of business."
"It's really none of your business," the voice said.
"Fair enough. Let me tell you how we're going to do this," Friedrich continued. "First, you are going to transfer the first two and a half million into my account. Then, I will leave the case with you, and leave. After a short while, I will contact you with the instructions on how to open the case, and you will transfer the remainder of my fee to my account. The lock is quite complicated, and will destroy the case if not opened properly."
"A sound plan," agreed the voice. "With just one, slight flaw. What if my employer was the original owner of the case."
"But it wasn't stolen from-" Friedrich started, sounding confused. "Wait. You're not Jack Lombardi."
"No, I'm not," said the man, pleasently. Then came the sound of three loud gunshots, and then a man started screaming in pain. This was abruptly cut off by a fourth gunshot.
"Frank," said the voice. "This is Black. I have the case, we're leaving now."
And the three man seated at the table stood up abruptly.