by Jack Higgins
The door was unlocked and opened at last. The Tiger stepped into the glassed-in room, Bannock close behind him. Rich was relieved to see there was no one else with them, and Bannock was not holding a gun. He evidently didn’t think a boy and a nervous little man posed any threat.
He was about to find out he was wrong.
“I trust you enjoyed the show,” the Tiger said. He didn’t seem to have noticed how dark it was, his mind obviously on other things. “Sadly, there will be no encore.” He walked towards the Banker. “And now that you have seen what I am willing to do, I think it’s time to give me what I want.”
“I think he’s right,” Rich said loudly. He saw both Bannock and the Tiger relax slightly at his words – they thought they had won. “Let him have it.”
The Banker brought his hands from behind his back – holding the light Rich had freed from the floor. He shone it directly at the Tiger and Bannock. With the other light reduced, it was even brighter – even more dazzling. The Tiger threw his arms up in front of his face with a cry. Bannock staggered back, blinking. His hand reaching into his jacket.
Bringing the heavy metal telescope from behind his back, and careful not to look at the light the Banker was holding, Rich stepped quickly up to Bannock and swung the telescope like a club. It whumped into the man’s stomach and he doubled over. The next blow came down on the man’s exposed neck and he slumped to the floor.
The Tiger had turned. He too was blinking, unable to make out what was going on. “Bannock?!” he yelled.
“Come any closer and I’ll brain you!” Rich warned.
The Tiger realised what had happened to his henchman and he didn’t move. The Banker dropped the light and ran quickly to join Rich. Together they backed away, out of the door and on to the small landing outside.
“You won’t get away with this,” the Tiger told them angrily.
“Watch us,” Rich said. He pulled the door shut, and locked it. Almost immediately, there was a hammering from the other side. But it was muted and muffled by the thick wood. Rich took the heavy, old-fashioned key out of the lock and stuffed it in his pocket.
“What now?” the Banker asked as they hurried down the stairs.
“Find somewhere to hide. Won’t be long before they’re missed and someone goes looking.”
“But they can’t get out for a while,” the Banker said.
Rich wasn’t sure if it was a question, whether he wanted reassurance that they were safe for the moment. But before he could answer they heard the sound of a gunshot and the splinter of wood.
“Should have taken Bannock’s gun,” he realised. “They’re shooting out the lock or the hinges.”
“We can’t get out of the castle – where can we go? Where can we hide?”
“In the last place they’ll look for us.”
There was another shot from above them. It seemed louder, echoing down the stone staircase.
Floodlights came on, illuminating the castle on its island. Until then, Chance had been unable to see it. He had stared out over the dark expanse of water, but could make out nothing in the moonless night.
“Thoughtful of them,” Ralph remarked. “I wonder why they have done that.”
“Maybe someone’s causing them some trouble and they want to see what’s going on,” Chance suggested. “I can think of a couple of candidates. Actually, three,” he added as he remembered that Dex Halford was with Jade.
“Might make your job a little easier. Remember, you have until dawn. After that…” Ralph clapped his hands together, miming an explosion.
“Thank you,” Chance muttered.
“No problem. And you can drop me just along here, if you wouldn’t mind.”
There was a large black limousine parked in a small lay-by at the side of the narrow lane. Chance brought the Focus to a halt beside it. He could see the skull-like silhouette of a man sitting in the back seat. Scevola.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Ralph said quietly. “Scevola is a dedicated and ruthless man. He cares for nothing but money, I’m afraid. He doesn’t like me very much, when all is said and done. So, if it were up to me…” He shrugged. “Do what you can, my friend. And I will do what I can. That’s all I can offer.”
Chance turned to look the man in the eyes. “It had better be enough. Because if not, if anything happens to Rich, then I’ll be after you. After you both.”
Ralph smiled back grimly. “Then I wish you good luck. If the Tiger gets the money, I can do nothing to help. If you get the money and the Tiger is denied it, then there is a possibility I can persuade Scevola that things are not so bad.” He offered his hand.
Chance did not take it. “Tell me something before you go.”
“Anything.”
“You gave Jade a necklace with a tracker in it.”
“Indeed, I did.”
“You gave Rich a watch with a bomb in it.”
“Sorry.”
“And you gave me a hip flask.”
“You have it with you?”
“No. But tell me – what’s its secret? Is it booby trapped like the watch? Or trackable? Or filled with a slow-acting poison? Or what?”
Ralph opened the car door. “It’s a flask,” he said. He sounded hurt. “Just a flask, nothing more. It’s a present, from one friend to another. I thought you would like it and you don’t even carry it with you.” He climbed out of the car. “Some people are just so ungrateful.” He slammed the door behind him.
Chance didn’t wait to see Ralph get into the limo. He put the Focus into gear and stamped down on the accelerator. Ahead of him the road was a dark ribbon snaking towards the floodlit castle in the sea.
The sea was so cold now that Jade couldn’t feel it. She couldn’t feel anything. She was treading water. When the causeway had dipped away too far for her to stand up any longer, she’d swum on – just for a few metres. Just to see if the causeway started to rise again as it approached the island.
It didn’t. At least, not yet. And in the utter darkness, Jade had no idea where she was. She’d strayed from the path and when she tried to put her feet down, there was no sign of causeway. No way of knowing where it was or which way she should go.
Light washed suddenly across the water as the castle lit up. Jade gasped with relief – she could see it, could see where she was going.
But it didn’t help her find the causeway. The island was too far away for her to swim, even if she could feel her arms and legs and persuade them to do anything more than thrash weakly in the water.
Broken, splintered wood bobbed across between Jade and the island – all that was left of Halford’s boat. Halford himself must be at the bottom of the sea. And seeing the wreckage, Jade knew that it had all been for nothing. And that soon she would be joining him.
23
The Tiger strode into his office in a foul mood. Bannock followed, equally angry. The big man had yelled at the first guards he’d seen and cuffed one round the head. But it hadn’t helped either of them feel any better.
“We still don’t have the account numbers or the access codes,” the Tiger announced to anyone within earshot. “That kid and the Banker are running round doing God knows what and causing all sorts of damage. I can’t even get a sandwich because the kitchen got blown up. What sort of operation are you running here?” he yelled at Bannock.
Bannock looked away, saying nothing.
“Satellite link-up is nearly complete,” a man said nervously. “You can start the transfers from here.” He pointed to the laptop computer set up on the Tiger’s desk.
“Except I have nothing to transfer.” The Tiger shook his head. Then he gave the slightest hint of a smile. “Apart from the Ministry’s own accounts.”
He opened a folder lying beside the laptop. “I got the numbers and codes from that fool Lionel’s own computer. He has no idea about security – even asked me what he should use as his password. Yes, let’s see.” He ran his finger down a list of names and numbers. “Mr Ardman’
s budget for the next eighteen months would be a good start.”
“They’ll see as soon as you move anything,” Bannock said. “They’ll close the accounts down faster than we can get at them.”
“Not all of them. But you’re right. We betray our hand and show we’re into the system too soon and we’ll get next to nothing. They’ll cut the satellite link. Better to wait until the last possible moment and clear out what we can along with the Banker’s accounts.”
“If we ever get to them.”
“We’ll get to them,” the Tiger assured him. “We’ll get to them because you’re going to find the Banker and make him give us the data we need. We’ll get to them because if you don’t, I’ll have you hunted down and slaughtered like the dog you are, Bannock. You got that?”
Bannock stared at the Tiger, his lip curling in fury.
“And when you do get the data,” the Tiger went on, “I’ll increase your cut to ten per cent. At a conservative estimate that will be something like a hundred million. And that’s not dollars. Pounds sterling.” He smiled. “Stick or carrot, whichever gets you motivated. Take your pick.”
Bannock’s eyes narrowed. He licked his dry lips and nodded. Then he hurried to give his men their orders.
“Oh and Bannock,” the Tiger called after him. “I need the Banker alive and able to talk. I really don’t care what happens to the boy.”
The wooden board looked like it had been shattered by the gunfire and explosions at one end. It was the largest surviving bit of the boat that Jade had found and she clung to it with numbed hands as she kicked out, heading for the island. Without the floodlights, she would never have found the wood to use as a float or known where the island was. Maybe, at last, her luck was turning.
Though it was too late for Halford.
Jade bit her lip, trying to stop her teeth chattering, trying to hold back her tears, and watched the castle grow larger and closer…
Rich had crossed his fingers and tried not to think about the previous time he’d headed back to the “last place they’ll think of looking”. But he was confident that Bannock would not bother searching for the Banker in the room he was supposed to be locked up in.
Fairly confident. If only they could get to it.
Huddled in a corridor, they could hear the sounds of men running, of Bannock shouting. Even the occasional gunshot.
“Trying to frighten us,” the Banker said. He sounded like it was working.
“Or taking it out on the seagulls,” said Rich.
He clutched the heavy metal telescope tight. He could probably find a more suitable weapon – they’d even passed a couple of crossed swords and a shield mounted on the corridor wall. But Rich had another use in mind for the telescope. He was going to sort out the Tiger. He’d seen what had happened to the boat – and whether Jade or his dad had been in it or not, the Tiger was going to pay.
With a deep breath to boost his courage and renew his determination Rich set off down the corridor. If they did run into Bannock or any of the guards – well, that would be their problem, not his.
Close to exhaustion, Jade heaved herself up on to the wooden jetty. She barely had the strength to climb up the ladder. She staggered along the wooden boards towards the huge castle gates.
The next problem would be how to get inside. Just so long as no one had seen her arrive – if they had, then getting inside might not be the problem. But first she had to warm up. She could barely stand she was shivering so much. She couldn’t feel her hands, never mind her fingers.
Jade slumped down against the rough stone castle wall beside the wooden gates. As her breathing subsided slightly, she slowly became aware of a dark shape close by. Like Jade, it was out of the main glare of the floodlights that illuminated the castle. A figure – a man. Looming over her.
Jade only had time for a brief startled cry before a hand clamped over her mouth.
* * *
The door was shut and the key was in the lock. Rich locked the door behind them. If Bannock did think of looking for them back in the rooms where the Banker and Rich had been imprisoned earlier, then maybe the locked door would be enough to put him off. Or if not, Rich would get some warning they were trying to get in before they knocked down the door. And for what he had in mind, he would need a warning. He could not afford to let the Tiger or Bannock or anyone else see what he was doing.
There was a bright lamp on the desk, which would be useful. A pen in one of the desk drawers, and Rich found he had a piece of notepaper in his pocket along with the diamond. The hardest part was dismantling the telescope.
“What are you planning to do?” the Banker asked. “Write a letter of complaint? Maybe a message to go in an old whisky bottle?” He seemed less nervous now they were back in the familiar room, with the door locked behind them.
Rich was feeling a sense of relief too. They were safe, at least for the moment, and he had a plan – of sorts. He explained it to the Banker.
“Insurance,” the Banker said thoughtfully.
“It doesn’t really solve anything,” Rich admitted. “But it maybe gives us something to bargain with if we need it. If only I can get this telescope apart.”
The metal was chipped and rusted – dented slightly where Rich had hit Bannock over the head. But there was a tiny screw holding the cap at one end in place. If he could get the screw undone, maybe the telescope would come apart.
“This any good?” The Banker held up a slim wooden letter opener from another of the desk drawers. “A bit blunt and flimsy to be any use as a weapon. But it might prise apart the telescope.”
It took a while – longer than Rich would have liked. But eventually the telescope was in several pieces. The cylindrical metal housing, and the lenses from either end were spread on the blotter on the desk. Rich turned on the lamp.
“Right,” he said. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Sorry,” Halford said.
“Creeping up and grabbing me like that? Yeah,” Jade said. “Good to see you though.”
They were huddled together in the shelter of the wall and out of the light. Both were shivering. Halford didn’t seem as bad as Jade, who could barely talk.
“I got out of that boat as soon as they started shooting. The shockwave from the grenade almost knocked me cold though. And I mean cold.” He chuckled. “Managed to get ashore. Even managed to keep my leg on, otherwise I’d be hopping to the rescue.”
“I’m too cold for rescues,” Jade admitted.
“We need to get coats or something or we’ll catch our deaths out here.”
“And be no help at all to Rich. If he’s in there.”
“He’s in there,” Halford said confidently. “I had a warning. Too late to be much use, but someone was trying to signal to me, I’m sure.”
“Rich?”
“He’s certainly resourceful enough.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“We get nice warm coats, then we get Rich and this Banker out of there.”
“And where do we get coats?”
“Ask a couple of guards politely.”
“And where do we find a couple of guards? We need to be inside that castle.”
“Yes,” Halford agreed. “I thought we’d knock on the door.”
A dark red oblong was heading across the map on the LCD screen.
“Looks like a car,” one of the two guards on duty said. “Heading this way.”
“He’ll have to stop at the cliff,” the other guard pointed out.
“Wouldn’t bet on it. Look at the speed he’s going.”
“Perhaps he’ll swim for it.”
“Freeze to death if he does. Not that we’d know. The infrared won’t pick up anything in the water – too cold for that.”
“Probably just a joyrider or a boy racer. Better warn the boss though.”
“Yes,” the first guard agreed. “You never know.”
Once he reached the cliff a couple of miles ahead of him, Chanc
e’s options became rather limited. The road he was on turned to run along the coast close to the cliff edge. But how he was going to get from cliff to island was a problem he could worry about when he got there.
In less than two minutes.
* * *
Doing her best to look pathetic, Jade waited for an answer. She had knocked hard on the wooden gates to the castle. Now she was standing in front of a smaller door set into one of the main gates. She was cold and shivering, wet through, hair all over the place. Pathetic was about right.
The little door opened and a guard appeared. He was dressed in a dark uniform with a soft camouflage cap and had a rifle slung over his shoulder. He looked at Jade with surprise and suspicion.
“It’s some girl,” he called over his shoulder. “Scott – come and look at this.”
“Never mind look at this,” Jade told him. “I had an accident. Ended up in the water. Look at me – I need some help here.”
A second guard joined the first. Both were grinning as they stepped through the doorway.
“We’ll help you, love,” the first guard said. “Need warming up do you?”
“I could do with a coat,” Jade said. “And one for my friend too.”
The second guard – Scott – looked like he thought it was Christmas. “You got a friend?”
“Better believe it,” Halford said stepping out from the shadows beside the door.
“Oh, now, hang on,” Scott started to say. But his words ended with a muffled yelp as Halford’s fist connected with his jaw.
The first guard was struggling to pull the rifle off his shoulder. Jade thumped him hard and he blinked with surprise more than pain.
“Give me your coat,” Jade said and punched him again.
The guard swayed, still fumbling for the gun.
Until Halford decked him. “So much for asking nicely,” he said. “Come on – let’s get the coats and then we’re inside.”
“So long as no one notices,” Jade said. “We really need a diversion.”
