‘I thought you might turn up here, Chase,’ said Alderley. ‘Once we knew you were back in the country after that contretemps with your dad, it seemed likely. I had a couple of spotters looking out for you.’
‘You did? Thought that was MI5’s job on home turf.’ Eddie glanced into the street, but saw no signs of large men moving purposefully towards him.
‘It is, normally. But I’ve got a personal interest in this one.’ He briefly looked in the direction of the departed hearse. ‘My men are hanging back – for the moment. I wanted to talk to you first.’
‘About what?’
‘A few things. First, how you managed to get from Peru back to England when Interpol has a red notice on you for murder.’
Eddie shrugged. ‘I know a few people.’
‘Like Bluey Jackson?’ A half-smile at Eddie’s discomfiture; the Yorkshireman had contacted the Australian, not for the first time, to obtain fake identity documents, which had then been couriered to Lima. ‘I thought so. One of these days, we really should tell the Aussies about his little false-passport factory. But . . . ’ Another humourless crease of his lips. ‘Not today.’
‘So what else is on your mind?’ Eddie asked, not sure where the discussion was leading. Alderley could already have had him arrested – and still might – but clearly wanted something first.
‘Mac. What happened to him?’
‘What did they tell you happened?’
‘That he was killed by Peruvian rebels, who also wounded an Interpol officer – the same man you later killed.’
‘Yeah, that’s what everyone thinks. Even Nina.’ He couldn’t keep bitterness from his voice.
Alderley noticed, but didn’t comment. ‘And you know differently?’ he asked instead.
‘Yeah. It was Kit – Ankit Jindal, the Interpol agent – who killed him. Shot him in the back, and then gave himself a flesh wound to make it look like the rebels did it.’
‘Why?’
‘You know that Alexander Stikes was involved too?’
Alderley nodded. ‘I read the statements Interpol took from everyone. Including Nina. She told them what you told her.’
‘Stikes was in a chopper that was about to take off, with these statues that everybody’s so bloody keen to get hold of. Mac had an RPG lined up on it – and Kit shot him to save Stikes and the statues. They were working together. I don’t know if they were all along, but they definitely were by the time they met up at that gas plant. And there’s something else. Sophia’s involved too.’
Alderley’s eyebrows rose. ‘Sophia Blackwood? I thought she was dead.’
‘So did I. Apparently not. I don’t know what she’s up to or why she wants the statues, but she and Stikes went off with them – and Kit tried to kill me to cover his tracks. If I hadn’t done what I did, I’d be a charcoal fucking briquette right now.’
Alderley rocked on his heels, thinking. ‘So . . . what are you going to do about it?’
‘Find Stikes and kill him, mostly. I hadn’t thought much past that . . . ’ He tailed off as he realised the subtext of the MI6 officer’s words. ‘Wait, what do you mean, me?’
‘I can’t do anything – officially, at least – until I have some actionable evidence. All I have so far is your word, and you’re, well, a wanted fugitive. Your stock isn’t at its highest at the moment. But if you get some proof for me . . . ’
Eddie made a disbelieving face. ‘You’re going to let me go? Why? You can’t stand me!’
‘Just because I don’t like you doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. Mac, God rest his soul, always believed in you, one hundred per cent. And I always believed in Mac.’ His expression became more mournful than ever. ‘You’re not the only person who’s lost a friend, Chase. You say Mac was killed as part of some conspiracy? I’m willing to take you at your word. I want answers as much as you do. So go and get them. Find Stikes, and he should lead you to whoever else is involved.’
‘Me, working for MI6?’ Eddie said dubiously. ‘Christ, and I thought I was already badly off!’
‘Amusing as ever – i.e., not at all,’ said Alderley with a disparaging sigh. ‘But you really should get moving, before my men come looking for me.’
‘So are you going to give me anything to help? An Aston Martin that turns into a helicopter?’
‘Just a head start, I’m afraid. When you run, go right; my men are in a car down the street to the left.’ Alderley took a breath, then braced himself. ‘Make it look convincing. But try not to break my nose again. Oh, and . . . don’t enjoy it too much, will you?’
Eddie managed a faint grin. ‘I’ll do my best.’
It was the second time in as many days that he had punched someone he knew. As Alderley hit the ground, he sprinted out of the alley into the world beyond to begin his hunt.
FB2 document info
Document ID: 8f9dc091-3326-4ce8-9e09-5553cdbe85d5
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 13.6.2012
Created using: calibre 0.8.55, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6.6 software
Document authors :
Andy McDermott
About
This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.
(This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)
Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.
(Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)
http://www.fb2epub.net
https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/
Empire of Gold nwaec-7 Page 55
