Double Cross: A gripping political thriller (The Cadre Book 3)

by Stephen Edger

  She paused to wipe a tear from her eye. ‘We grew close and we moved in together. He was a very considerate lover and, although I was still being paid to be with him, it wasn’t about the money. I was sleeping with Troy because I wanted to. I suppose in my head, I figured the money they were paying me was to monitor him and tell them what he was doing.’

  ‘So you were spying on him for them?’ he interrupted.

  She nodded. ‘For the first couple of years everything was great. I wouldn’t see him as much when he had to go away to do a job, but whenever he was back in Italy, we were like young lovers without a care in the world. He was such a romantic. But all good things must come to an end and it was Troy’s meddling that resulted in his death.’

  ‘Did you know they were going to kill him that night? I mean, just how involved are you with their activities?’

  Victoria let out a deep sigh, almost as if she was trying to come to terms with her own confession. ‘You saw from the video call that he stumbled across the group’s plans for the New World Order. The man he spoke of – Dmitri – was one of Lorenzo’s associates, based in the south of France. I didn’t even realise that Troy knew him! Dmitri had one of his men hack into Lorenzo’s server, and that’s where he discovered the documents outlining the plan. Up until that point we had all assumed we were just working as part of a crew. Sure, we knew that we were breaking laws, but the riches we gained blinded us to the truth. Dmitri warned your uncle to get away. Maybe if he had taken that advice, he might still be alive today.’ She wiped a second tear from her eye. ‘Lorenzo’s security team discovered that the firewalls had been breached and it didn’t take them long to figure out who had done it. Lorenzo sent me to question Dmitri about what he had found. He refused to tell me. Even when he knew he was about to die, he still wouldn’t say. I reported back to Lorenzo and he was pleased that I had been decisive, but then he told me that Troy had been making trouble and had been threatening to go to the police and tell them what we had been up to. I refused to believe it, but he convinced me it was true and ordered me to kill Troy. I couldn’t do it…’

  Her voice trailed off as tears began to fall rapidly down her cheeks. When she spoke again, her voice was strained. ‘I was the one who hired The Serpent to visit Troy’s boat. When your uncle called me that night, I was hoping he had already left, but as you saw, he already knew the end was near. Lorenzo later admitted that he had lied about Troy threatening to go to the police, but by then it was too late…I wish to God that I could go back in time and stop what happened, but I can’t.’

  Aaron blinked rapidly as he took in everything she was telling him. He wanted to break free of his restraints and push her head through the window, but he felt conflicted too. She had become mixed up in something that she couldn’t control and had been manipulated into killing the man they both cared for.

  ‘Why kill D’Angelo? I thought he was part of the bigger plan.’

  ‘I told you: D’Angelo isn’t dead. He wasn’t the target.’

  ‘Then who?’

  ‘His shitty campaign manager: Browning.’

  ‘But you knew we were going to speak to him…were you planning to kill him all along?’

  ‘No! The order to take him out came through after you had left. You weren’t supposed to approach him until after he had been executed. I never anticipated Felix or you becoming entangled in it.’

  ‘You expect me to believe that? How were you planning to deal with us? I don’t understand why you’ve been helping us learn the truth about The Cadre.’

  ‘I was told to monitor you, as I did with your uncle. If I’d wanted you dead, you would be by now.’

  ‘But why keep me alive? I know too much.’

  Victoria’s foot brushed the floor gently, as if she was playing with an imaginary piece of string. ‘Isn’t it obvious, Aaron? You can’t tell me you haven’t felt the attraction between us? From the moment we met, there was something between us. I know you’ve felt it too.’

  He was exasperated. ‘What did you think would happen? You were my uncle’s girlfriend, for Christ’s sake! It would never have worked.’

  ‘Don’t act coy, Aaron. That fling you had with the legal secretary was nothing. You tried to make it work but your heart was pining for something else; for someone else. Forget about everything I’ve told you for a moment and just imagine what it could be like.’

  ‘You’re crazy if you think I could ever be with you after everything you’ve done!’

  ‘Am I, Aaron?’ she snapped. ‘Am I? Don’t kid yourself! I’ve seen the way you look at me; is what I have done so different to your own blood thirst?’

  ‘We are nothing alike!’

  ‘I don’t agree. You killed men in Afghanistan; men with families and loved ones.’

  ‘That was war!’

  ‘So is this! You think that because The Cadre have carried out illegal activities, their purpose isn’t pure, but you’re wrong. The New World Order is coming, whether you like it or not. The Cadre just want to be at the front of the queue when it happens. There is a war going on out there. You have a choice to make: join the winning side or become another casualty.’

  ‘Ha! I’ve heard it all now,’ Aaron mocked. ‘You want me to join the men who ordered the death of my uncle and cousin? You’re fucking insane!’

  ‘Don’t be stupid, Aaron! The only reason you are still alive now, is that I told them I could make you see sense. You think this is just about you? It’s not! You think Toby is safe at his Godparents’ home? You think Felix will survive in prison before his trial date is set? What you decide in the next few minutes, affects us all!’

  She stopped talking when she saw he wasn’t listening, and strode purposefully towards the chair. Aaron closed his eyes as he prepared for her to slap him hard across the face. He wasn’t prepared for her to sit on his lap and wrap her legs around the back of the chair. Unable to move, he was powerless when she took his head in her hands and began to kiss him passionately on the lips. It caught him off guard and he did his best to wriggle his head free, but she held it firm and forced her tongue between his lips. The scent of her perfume filled his nostrils and despite his best efforts, he felt himself become aroused. She sensed it too and reached a hand between his legs, unzipping his trousers and putting him inside her. He tried to think of anything that would kill his natural urges, but he was powerless to resist her.

  46

  Ten minutes later, Victoria climbed off Aaron and disappeared somewhere behind him. He could hear her opening and closing a drawer, and a moment later the glint of a blade appeared before his eyes, causing him to shudder backwards.

  ‘What the fuck?’ he said, pushing his back into the chair. ‘You fuck me, and now you’re going to kill me?’

  Victoria laughed as she pulled the blade back out of sight. He felt his arms loosening as she began to run the knife’s blade against the ropes holding him in place. With his arms loose, she then cut away at the restraints around his ankles. He couldn’t decide whether he should thank her for releasing him or chastise her for tying him up in the first place. He chose neither option and forced his aching muscles to stand. He walked across to the window and peeked behind the blind. The sun was even brighter and he had to squint as his eyes adjusted. The street looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t work out why.

  ‘Where are we?’ he asked.

  ‘This is my place,’ she replied some way behind him. He turned and saw he was in an apartment, with a similar layout to Cruz’s, albeit twice the size. Victoria was in the connected kitchen, returning the knife to the drawer. ‘Do you want some breakfast?’ she asked without looking up.

  He was keen to get away before her sudden change of attitude reverted back to restraint, but he couldn’t ignore the pangs of hunger any longer. He hadn’t eaten since a cheap burger the afternoon before. ‘Sure,’ he called out.

  ‘Take a seat,’ she said. ‘Do you want coffee?’

  ‘Sure,’ he said again, stepping
from the window to the open plan living space. There were two sofas facing a small television set.

  ‘Make yourself at home,’ she said, moving towards him with a steaming mug.

  He thanked her for the coffee and watched her walk back to the kitchen. He sat down on the nearest sofa, as he tried to piece together what was going on. She was like a different person. No, that wasn’t it. She was like the old Victoria he knew. The woman who had had him abducted last night and confessed to hiring an assassin to kill Troy was suddenly gone. If he didn’t know better, he’d have sworn he’d dreamt the whole thing. He pinched his arm just to be sure. He took a sip from the mug, before placing it on a nearby table. He could see Victoria bustling away in the kitchen area, as if cooking him breakfast was a totally normal thing. He stood up and walked over.

  ‘Can I get you something else?’ she asked when she heard him approaching.

  He wasn’t sure how to answer. ‘Well, no, but…the thing is…I’m not sure what to say. Is this not weird for you?’

  She stopped what she was doing and turned around. ‘Why? Because we had sex? No, it’s a perfectly natural thing.’ She smiled as she shrugged her shoulders gently.

  ‘But you work for The Cadre. The group I’ve been hunting for the last six months. I don’t understand why we’re not fighting or trying to kill each other.’

  She tilted her head to one side and frowned. ‘Everything doesn’t have to be black and white you know. Yes, I work for The Cadre, and yes, you want answers, but does that mean we can’t be civilised and eat breakfast together?’

  ‘Well, yeah…I would have said it does.’

  ‘Why? I told you before: we’re not so dissimilar. This notion you have that people are either good or bad is just for the movies. I have done bad things in my life. Some of those things I regret, and some of those things were done with a good intention. Does that make me good or bad?’

  ‘You hired someone to murder my uncle. I think that makes you pretty bad.’

  She looked hurt by the retort. ‘You just fucked the woman who hired the man to kill your uncle. Does that make you good or bad?’

  He didn’t know how to answer.

  ‘You need to change your perspective, Aaron. The Cadre want to bring an end to extremist terrorism. Does that make them good or bad? They want to see the world powers unite under one banner and work together to advance technology. Is that a good or bad thing? What if The Cadre’s actions one day lead to a cure for cancer or AIDS? That would be a good thing surely? I don’t think it’s smart having nations competing to develop the latest weapons or medical advancements, not when working collaboratively could produce quicker and better results.’

  She passed him a glass of orange juice, taking a sip from her own.

  ‘You’re wrong, well, not wrong, maybe misguided. You speak of The Cadre as if they are a political movement. They are a group of wealthy, narcissists, hell-bent on making themselves richer.’

  ‘You’re wrong, Aaron. I’m sorry, but you are.’

  ‘Don’t be so naïve! These people would kill you as soon as help you.’

  ‘The world is already in a bad state. Correcting those wrong behaviours is going to take time and it’s going to be painful, but it has to happen. If someone doesn’t take the lead with this, how long do you think it’ll be before nuclear war breaks out? And then what? Nations will destroy nations and all we’ll be left with is a radioactive and lifeless planet. Is that what you want?’

  ‘I don’t need to hear your sales pitch, Victoria.’

  She scrunched her nose slightly. ‘Is that what you think I am doing?’

  ‘Aren’t you? I mean, cooking me breakfast, speaking so positively about the men I despise…I’m half expecting you to offer to throw in a second-hand car to firm up the deal.’

  She frowned, puzzled by the analogy.

  ‘My point is: there is nothing you can say to me that will change my opinion of The Cadre. They have to be stopped.’

  ‘The Chairman would like you, I think,’ she said, smiling. ‘He would admire your determination to stand by your beliefs.’

  ‘He’s the one in charge, right? Do you know him?’

  ‘I haven’t met him personally, but Lorenzo always speaks very highly of him. He likes people who aren’t afraid to speak up for what they believe in. People who can get the job done at any cost.’

  ‘Now you sound like you’re trying to offer me a job.’

  She shrugged again. ‘Would that be so bad? If you stopped to think about all the advantages the New World Order will bring, you’d realise that fighting against it is a waste of time. The group is financially well-backed. Someone with your unique skill-set could do very well. Who knows: maybe one day you could rise to be part of the inner sanctum?’

  ‘The bacon’s burning,’ he said nodding his head towards the black smoke emanating from the pan. She turned quickly and moved the pan from the flame before turning the rashers over. Aaron sipped from his glass again. He was surprised by how strongly Victoria had spoken. When he had been tied to the chair, he had assumed she was a mercenary; just in it for the money. Now, though, she was acting like she’d been brain-washed. She seemed so keen to coerce him that he worried how she might react if he continued to refuse the advances.

  ‘Do you want white or brown bread?’ she asked, opening a tall cupboard.

  ‘White’s fine,’ he said. ‘I’d like to meet The Chairman. Is that something you could arrange?’

  She looked back over her shoulder, a little smile starting to grow. ‘I’m sure that could be arranged, but first you would need to prove yourself.’

  ‘What do you mean? I thought you said he’d like me.’

  ‘You’d need to demonstrate your loyalty to the cause?’

  ‘My loyalty? How would I do that?’

  She pulled a face as she thought about whether to continue. She turned off the gas hob and placed the bacon rashers on the slices of bread, before dropping the frying pan in the sink. ‘Come with me,’ she said, suddenly grabbing his hand and leading him out of the kitchen. They headed for the front door and, as they did, she snatched a set of keys hanging from a nail in the wall. She opened the front door and marched him to the adjoining apartment. She used the second set of keys to open the door.

  ‘Where are we going?’ he asked. ‘How many apartments do you have?’

  She ignored the question and pulled him through the door. They crossed through the living room to a closed door. She unlocked it and stopped. ‘I want you to see what’s beyond that door.’

  ‘What’s in there?’ he asked, suddenly feeling unprepared.

  She pulled the handle down and swung the door open. He was shocked to see two pairs of frightened eyes staring back at him. Tied to two chairs, not dissimilar to the chair he’d been strapped to earlier, was a young woman with dark hair and tear stains on her cheeks. Tied to the chair directly behind her was a young girl, who looked like she was about to start crying again.

  ‘What the hell is this?’ he demanded. ‘Who are they?’

  ‘They’re a loose end that needs tying up.’

  He backed away from the door in disbelief. ‘You’ve got to do better than that. Who are they? Why have you got a woman and child tied up in your apartment? Do you not see how crazy that is?’

  Victoria closed the door again and shut out the woman’s muffled moans. ‘I don’t know who they are. I was told to dispose of them.’

  ‘By whom?’

  ‘Lorenzo told me they had been causing trouble for the cause.’

  ‘What are their names? Where are they from?’

  ‘I told you: I don’t know. I tracked them to a hotel in Florida and I was about to intercept them when they bolted. I eventually caught up with them in Texas and have been holding them here ever since.’

  ‘You’ve abducted two people and you still think your cause is so good?’

  ‘I don’t know who they are, but I do know that their elimination serves the greater good.
’

  Aaron could feel his temper growing. ‘And who gets to decide what is for the greater good? You’re not God!’

  ‘Is it really any different to you killing in Afghanistan? You don’t know who you are fighting against or where they are from, but you receive an order to shoot and you follow it!’

  ‘That’s totally different!’

  ‘Oh really? How so?’

  ‘Because that’s war! Every soldier on both sides knows they are risking their life for a good cause.’

  ‘This is a war too! Just because I’m not dressed in camouflage, it doesn’t mean that our cause is any less worthy.’

  ‘Why don’t you just let them go? Do you really want to kill them? Have you ever killed someone? And I mean really killed somebody: looked into their eyes as they pleaded with you not to do it; smelt their sweat as they panic? Are you really ready to cross that line Victoria? Once you do, there’s no return. Their faces will be burned onto your psyche forever more. Every time you close your eyes, you’ll see their faces. They will haunt your dreams. Believe me!’

  Victoria moved across to a unit several metres away and opened a small drawer. She reached inside and pulled out a small calibre gun. Aaron instinctively began to raise his hands.

  She walked back towards him. ‘If you want to meet The Chairman, you need to prove yourself, Aaron. Either kill the two of them or I will have to kill you.’ She took a couple of steps backwards and raised the weapon.