by Jo Black
The Quartermaster emptied an icebox of its beers. Nish dumped the head in the box and closed it.
‘So what now?’ Nish asked.
‘We need to close this contract out,’ Alex replied.
‘You are going to go and see him?’ The Quartermaster asked.
‘We have markers outstanding, but we’ll need an insurance policy. I’m going to get showered and changed. Get the cargo plane away as soon as she’s loaded. Nish and I’ll take the jet and my vanguard.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘Libya.’
‘Do we have a invite?’ the Quartermaster asked.
‘Not yet. I’ll get you permits once you’ve got wheels up. Just get into international airspace.’
‘And where are you going?’
‘Istanbul.’
‘What’s in Istanbul?’ Nish asked.
‘Our insurance policy...’
16
The Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet climbed through a rough patch of turbulent air before settling into its cruising altitude in the airspace high over Armenia. Inside the passenger cabin, Alex lowered the window blind next to him to shield from the last rays of the setting sun as Nish returned from the galley with a bottle of vintage scotch and a pair of crystal tumblers. He settled back into his seat, poured the drinks, and raised his glass to a toast. ‘Nazdrovya.’ He necked his double shot in one then recharged his glass and reclined his seat.
‘Yes you do.’
‘What?’
‘Owe me an apology.’
‘Ah. Here it is...’ Nish slowly raised his middle index finger.
‘Things would run a lot smoother if you didn’t try and second-guess me. You still always assume you know best.’
‘Perhaps if you shared a little more of what you are thinking, I wouldn’t have to.’
‘All you have to do is ask...’
‘Right then. So what now?’
‘Now I have to clean up your mess.’
‘My mess?’
‘Radic.’
‘You still think that’s what this is about? You don’t think your betrothed sticking her beak in the wrong place has something to do with our swift departure from grace and favour to the naughty list?’
‘I think you are both equally to blame, I certainly didn’t do anything to upset their patronage.’
‘Why would the Kremlin give the slightest shit about Radic? Some relic Serb war criminal from a lost cause.’
‘I’ll assume he was still on their payroll. Perhaps if you’d bothered to do any due-diligence before you acted, you’d have found out.’
‘My fault as usual then...’
‘I’m not looking to pin the blame.’
‘What are you looking for?’
‘Understanding the situation.’
‘So back to the question. Where is this going?’
‘Are you on-board? I can only tolerate so much dissent before it becomes bothersome.’
‘I’m here aren’t I?’
‘To help or annoy?’
Nish smiled. ‘Both as usual. But you’re right. I owe you an apology. You took care of everything, as always. The Butcher is butchered. I’m satisfied.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it.’
‘So I’m at your disposal. Now tell me what needs to be done.’
Alex leaned in; Nish sat back up and moved forwards so they could speak without the rest of their entourage in the cabin overhearing. ‘We have a number of significant problems to deal with. Regardless of the cause, our sponsor has seen fit to revoke our patronage. Once word gets out it’ll be open season on us from every one of our enemies, and we don’t have many neutral places to go.’
‘You have a plan to get us out of this predicament I presume.’
‘We need to find out why Radic caused so much upset, and why they are concerned about my involvement with whatever Zara has dug her nose into. To do that we need to buy time. Keep the jackals at bay until we can get something to barter.’
‘So what’s in Istanbul?’
‘Ludmila.’
‘Are you sure that’s not throwing petrol on a lit fire?’
‘Daddy’s little princess.’
‘You don’t think it will just open up a new front?’
‘He won’t act. If he had the minerals he’d have done it already, and not had Danilov outsource the problem.’
‘Then what?’
‘We need The Company on board. You need to sway the vote in favour of action. They need to trust that we can get through this without repercussions.’
‘You want me to lie to them? You know we can’t.’
‘There is a possibility we can.’
‘I’ll get you the vote, but you better find us a way to The Promised Land.’
The cabin intercom bonged. ‘We’re in Turkish airspace,’ the pilot announced.
‘If the Americans want to shoot us down, now’s their chance.’
Nish nodded as Alex necked his drink and swallowed nervously. Nish peered out of the window for any sign of fighter jets then looked at Alex and smiled. ‘Just checking...’
17
From behind her oversized black Dior glasses, Ludmila stared out the window with a look of sulky displeasure as the car pulled up to Alex’s business jet, engines now running, waiting for take off. Alex got out, he walked round and opened the door. ‘Get out.’ Ludmila refused to move. ‘Get the fuck out.’
‘Fuck you! Where are your manners! You’re a fucking animal!’
‘Get the fuck out of the car.’
‘No.’
‘Nish.’
‘No chance. I’d lose an arm. You deal with it.’
‘Get out of the car.’
‘It is too early. I am tired. I want sleep. I do not want to get on plane.’
‘You can sleep on the plane.’
‘I do not want to sleep on plane. I want to sleep in a bed.’
Alex leaned into the car. ‘You’re embarrassing me.’
‘You are embarrassing yourself.’
Alex stepped away from the car and drew a deep breath. He looked at Nish. Nish looked back, shook his head, and walked away with a “don’t look at me for help, your bed you lie in it”, expression.
Alex walked over to Samir. ‘We don’t have time for this Alex, you’ll miss your flight.’
‘You have an idea?’ Samir handed him a loaded syringe.
Alex took it discretely. He walked back over to the car and leant in. ‘Look at me.’
‘What?’ she scowled as she stared at him.
‘Goodnight princess, don’t have nightmares.’ He jabbed the needle into her neck, she screamed briefly before he covered her mouth as he injected the syringe contents into her. He held her momentarily before her eyes drooped and she fell unconscious. He lay her head back down and put two fingers in his mouth and let out a whistle. ‘Gary, Sooty. Baggage to load.’ He pointed at the car. Two of his men walked over from the jet, dragged Ludmila out from the back seat and carried her onto the plane. Alex handed the used syringe back to Samir. ‘You might want to restrain her for your own safety; she’s going to be more than displeased when that wears off. Don’t forget her baggage or you’ll make it even worse.’ Alex handed Ludmila’s handbag to Samir. ‘Good luck.’ Alex walked back to the car with Nish. ‘You’ll need it...’
18
The convoy of black 7-Series BMW’s swept around the ornate waterfall on the forecourt of the Tsarist-era summer palace. Black-suited security guards immediately descended from the front steps to open the passenger doors and escort the unexpected visitors out of their cars. Alex and Nish walked briskly up the steps to the large double doors and through them into the ornate marble and gilt grand reception hall. The head of security greeted them. ‘Mister Green. You were not expected...’
‘He’ll see me,’ Alex replied without suggestion that a negative response would be accepted. The head of security nodded his head with deference.
‘G
entlemen, if you please.’ He gestured at the table. Alex drew a deep breath and nodded at his guard and Nish. All of them removed their pistols, de-chambered the rounds, removed the magazines, and placed them down on the table. The head of security looked at Alex expectantly. Alex looked blankly back as if the suggestion was completely out of the question. ‘I’m afraid I have to insist on this occasion.’
‘Are we unwelcome guests?’ Alex inquired sharply.
‘New security protocols. No exceptions. In the light of Danilov’s sudden absence.’
Alex removed his pistol. He looked at each of the house guards in turn. ‘I don’t need it. None of you have got the balls,’ he hissed with vitriol. He pushed the pistol into the head of security’s chest, flat, forcing him to take it. ‘You’ll take personal responsibility for that. It has sentimental value. If I don’t get it back, I know who to blame.’
The head of security swallowed nervously. He gestured towards the french doors leading out onto the back garden. ‘He is waiting on the terrace. Would you like tea or coffee?’
‘Tea.’
Alex walked off. Nish stopped as he passed. ‘Tea. Earl Grey. Not Russian.’
‘As you wish.’
‘Milk two sugars. No polonium.’ A brief smile of embarrassment from the head of security as Nish followed Alex outside escorted by Alex’s two guards.
Alex walked down to the table on the rear stone terrace overlooking the perfectly pruned feature English garden. ‘This is an unexpected visit Aleksei,’ The Sponsor said.
‘I’m sure it is,’ Alex replied. He walked over to the table. ‘I assume Danilov didn’t update you on the outcome.’
‘No, regrettably he didn’t. He seems to have disappeared.’
‘Perhaps he missed his flight. I’m sure he’ll turn up.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ The Sponsor said. ‘Please. Take a seat.’ Alex sat down at the table opposite The Sponsor. ‘Beautiful day, isn’t it?’
‘We didn’t come to talk about the weather.’
‘No, forgive me. I sometimes forget your partial British ancestry’s delight at small talk has long since been replaced by your Cossack’s greater directness.’
‘You know Mikhail, I can accept the betrayal. We’re Russians. It is our nature. What I can’t stand is the cowardice.’
‘I’m not sure I follow...’
‘If you wanted to betray me, have the balls to do it yourself, don’t send some second-rate rabble to do it. It’s an insult.’
Mikhail placed his papers on the table. ‘I can see in hindsight it was a mistake. We’re not all gifted with your tactician’s intellect Aleksei. That is why we pay you so handsomely to do our work. So. It seems we underestimated you.’
‘You. Just you. They know exactly. You tried to do it on the cheap. You always were so fucking cheap Mikhail.’
‘The economic situation. A cut too far perhaps.’ Mikhail’s eyes darted to Nish then Alex’s other men then across to the tree lines surrounding the garden. ‘Sniper?’ He asked then looked up at the sky. ‘Or something more dramatic?’
‘I’m not here to kill you.’
‘I’m relieved to hear that.’
‘You should be.’
‘So what is it? What brings you here?’
‘Questions. Many questions.’
A young woman arrived with the tea and served it. ‘Thank you my dear. That will be all.’ Alex stared at the tea. ‘No polonium. Too expensive. Even for you.’ Alex sipped his tea. ‘Your questions?’
‘Why?’
‘Radic. That was not prudent Aleksei. If you had spoken to me first, I could have prevented it, but you acted without authority. There are some things even I cannot smooth over.’
‘What’s so special about Radic? He’s a relic.’
‘There are situations inside the Kremlin even I’m not privy to. Suffice to say, it came from the highest level. I argued for you, reminded them of your contributions, but they were quite insistent.’
‘I had no hand in it. I was in Azerbaijan dealing with your Chechen problem. Did you tell them that?’
‘I did, but your colleague-’ Mikhail looked at Nish. ‘You are still accountable for. As is The Company. There can be no exceptions. You must run an orderly shop; they don’t have latitude for digression. Your next question?’
‘Can it be fixed?’
‘I understand he’s facing quite serious allegations, if they went away, he was freed at the earliest opportunity, there is some room for clemency, but I cannot see this will be possible. It is a little too public now.’
‘I see. I don’t believe it.’
‘I have no reason to lie to you Aleksei. You put me in a very difficult position. I could tell you that I would take the blame to protect you, but we both know that isn’t going to happen. It would be a lie.’
‘No, there’s more to this. If Radic was untouchable I’d have been told. This is about her, isn’t it?’
‘I can’t answer that, I’m sorry. I have told you what I was instructed to tell you.’
‘What you were instructed to tell me?’
‘Yes.’
‘So it is about her...’ Alex and Mikhail stared at each other. Alex’s eyes dotted at the half dozen of Mikhail’s security guards in earshot.
‘I would advise you to think carefully Alex. Your options here are very limited.’
‘How limited?’
‘There is a way back, the situation with Radic, perhaps you can find a way to make things right and this can be forgiven as an oversight. The greater question they are concerned about is what you may do. You need to find a way to show them you will act in their interests, not your own. Then maybe we can forget this and do business again.’
‘Is that the truth?’
‘As I stated, I have no reason to lie to you. It would merely stall the inevitable, because we both know you will always find the truth.’
‘So it is the truth.’
‘It is an unfortunate business.’
‘There is another matter. We had an agreement. The Company has fulfilled your contract, we expect it to be honoured.’
‘That will be difficult...’
‘I can’t operate without The Company; The Company needs to be funded to operate. You do understand that?’
‘I understand, but regrettably I am in no position to negotiate.’
‘That is regrettable. For you.’
‘And how?’
‘I had assumed your response would be such, so I took certain precautionary measures, so that we could find out how much you can negotiate. It’s a personal matter. Perhaps you would wish to discuss it in more privacy.’
‘Very well,’ Mikhail got up. ‘Have you see the rose garden? The blooms are quite lovely this time of year. It is said that Churchill gifted the stems to Stalin when he visited. Of course that could simply be an invented provenance to drive the price of the property up. I’d value your opinion on them.’
‘That would be lovely. I do like a good flower.’
They got up. Mikhail’s men went to follow him. ‘You will stay here. This matter does not concern you.’ Mikhail and Alex walked down the steps and across the lawn to the walled garden. Mikhail closed the gate behind him. ‘This is dangerous. You better have good reason for it.’
‘They really do have you on a short leash don’t they? What the fuck did you do to piss them off so much.’
‘Not me, not even you, or that idiot Nish.’ Mikhail put His hands in his pockets. ‘Zara.’
‘So I was right. What’s going on?’
‘I don’t know Alex. Whatever it is, he’s dealing with it personally, and his little lapdog Lavarov. Nobody else knows.’
‘What do you think it is?’
‘I don’t know. But they are not buying a missile defence system. From us or from the Americans. Besides, why would they? They got a Patriot system off the shelf from the Americans years ago. They don’t need to do all this cloak and dagger for something they have legi
timate need for. It is a defensive system, it’s not embargoed. All I know is that Zara got in too close.’
‘Is she alive?’
‘Yes, last I heard. Whatever she has on them, they don’t want it leaked or her talking until whatever they are doing is done. Then, well, she may end up in a shallow grave in the desert.’
‘So why keep her alive?’
‘To see who else she told. Who will come for her.’
‘They know who will come for her.’
‘It would not be wise Alex, you will have no place to hide.’
‘Who says I want to hide? Mikhail, before you go any further, you need to know something.’
‘What?’
‘Ludmila. I took her.’
‘From where?’
‘Where she usually is. Partying with Turks.’
‘Then maybe you did me a favour, all these idiots at my disposal and I cannot stop her. I assume sex was involved.’
‘You know Ludmila.’
‘Yes, I know Ludmila. Everyone knows Ludmila. Too well. She is safe?’
‘Well, again, you know Ludmila. I’m more concerned about my men’s wellbeing than hers. It’s like trying to keep a cat on crack caged.’
‘Good luck...’
‘You know I won’t hurt her.’
‘I would like to make the same assurance that she would not hurt you, but she’d happily cut your balls off and put them in your mouth. So it would be a lie.’
‘Well, I needed leverage.’
‘We must keep up appearances, must we not? The great deception of smiling at our enemies.’
‘I just need time. You can tell them I gave you no choice.’
‘If you have to take a finger from her, do the one she uses to enter the credit card number first. Save me some money.’
‘I don’t need that much time.’
‘We should go back. Too long and it will look suspicious.’
‘You should think about getting out.’
‘And go where? Return to that Ukrainian shit-hole village and live in a tin roof dacha? We are all prisoners Alex. You just cannot see the walls and bars.’
Alex and Mikhail returned to the terrace. ‘Is everything okay?’ The head of security asked Mikhail.
