by Matthew Dunn
Today, Will knocked on the door of Kay’s coastal house.
She answered.
“I missed you.”
She hugged him, tears running down her face. “I heard what happened. Why didn’t you come sooner?”
Will rubbed her back. “You were away. I was doing stuff. Want to go for a walk?”
Hand in hand, they walked over the coastal footpath adjacent to the top of the dunes. Light was fading but features were still discernible. Kay was in a sweater, fleece, and jeans. Will was similarly dressed. The waves below were crashing against sand, shingle, and rock. They hiked their way over moorland, within which was a tiny route, carved out by human feet.
Will said, “This is where your brother used to walk.”
“And me sometimes.”
“But the groove belongs mostly to your brother.”
“How did you know?”
“He was lost. He’d want to walk to make sense of it all.” He spotted a large stone, two feet wide, smooth as marble. “That’s an unusual feature.”
Kay said nothing.
“Your brother loved the sea.”
She looked out over the huge dune. “He killed himself here.”
Will followed her gaze. He touched the stone. “You planted this in memory of him.” He smoothed a hand over it. “You polished it free of blemishes. Due to its size, it must have once been a boulder.”
Kay placed a hand on his shoulder. “Should I have shot that man in the forest?”
Will gently caressed her fingers with his. “Should you and I have done so much over our careers? Did you want the stone in the water?”
“I did. I didn’t have the strength.”
“With your permission, would you like me to take it down there?”
She looked at the steep incline below. “What would you do? Just throw it down there?”
Will lifted the boulder and secured it in one arm and armpit. Kay watched him. He had no fear, no uncertainty, as he descended using only one arm. When he reached the beach, he lugged the stone to the water’s edge and looked up. She nodded. He hurled the stone into the sea and climbed back up. Breathing fast, he sat next to her. “Now your brother is at peace.”
She placed a hand on his thigh. “How did you manage that?”
“Obstinate willpower.” He took her hand. “Who am I?”
Her eyes were watery as she answered, “Not the person I thought.”
Will looked at the ocean taunting the beach and nodded. “Not the person everyone thought.” He looked at her. “All I’ve wanted is love. Death has instead been my option.”
“For a while?”
“Since I was seventeen.”
Kay rested her head against him. “Twenty-eight years? No one can survive that.”
“Apparently you’re wrong.” Will stared at the ever-darkening sea. “I’ve seen and done things you wouldn’t believe. Time stands still when I think about those moments. My friends are dead. My employers are dead. I tried to rescue them. I failed. People say I’m the great Will Cochrane. But actually, I’m a failure.”
Kay hugged him, emotional and tearful. “No, you’re not. You’re everything we’ve ever needed.”
Will smiled, but it was wistful. He smoothed his hand against hers. “I did what I had to do. You did what you had to do. So did Antaeus, Stein, and Bell. Does it make a difference?”
“Yes, it does. You’ve saved thousands of lives!”
“But I haven’t saved my own life.”
Kay rubbed his arm. “No man, or woman, has done what you’ve done. Hold on to that!” She pointed at her brother’s house. “It’s up for sale. I’ve finally decided to let go. Any notion of you and the twins moving in here is nuts. The coastal path is too dangerous.”
Will closed his eyes. “That makes sense.”
Kay pulled him closer to her. “You’ve been through too much.” She stroked his hair, holding him, her tears dropping onto his head. “Too much.” She kissed his head, just where her tears had dropped. “What are you going to do?”
Will held her. “I have adopted the twins. I have a house. I have a teaching job. All will kick into place in two weeks.”
Kay kept holding his hand. “Do you think some help might be good?”
Will nodded.
She kissed him fully on the lips and murmured, “I can help.”
“You’d move in?”
She nodded.
“The Agency?”
“Gone.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Kay said quietly, “I’ve been waiting for a moment in my life. I’d always known when it would arrive. You understand?”
“Yes.”
She ran a finger over Will’s lips. “Then that’s settled.”
Flail watched his boars in the mud scrum of his farm pen. They were full from the decomposing bodies of his comrades killed by Cochrane and Ash. Soon, he’d slaughter them and sell their flesh to burger joints. It was a living. He had no employer now. Kane was dead. The Pentagon was not an option now. He smiled as he tossed human flesh to the pigs. Cochrane had ruined him. That wouldn’t go unpunished.
Kopański felt normal in a suit and tie, but uncomfortable in the circumstances. He was in an Italian bistro, waiting for his date, feeling nervous. He’d ordered a starter and a nice bottle of red wine. But his palms were sweaty. He was anxious. And he was hoping to make a life-affirming change to his career.
Thyme Painter walked in, her prosthetic limb hurting her. She sat opposite him. “Hello, Joe.”
Joe smiled. “Bad day?”
She rubbed her limb. “Bad day.”
He straightened the knot on his tie, even though it was unnecessary. They spoke for thirty minutes, before Joe said, “I’m going to quit the Bureau. I’ve got a bit of a pension. I’m thinking of a vacation in New Zealand. Would be great if someone came with me.”
“Quitting the force?”
“Yeah.”
Painter said, “You want this?”
“I do.”
She placed her hand over his. “I’ll come with you to New Zealand. I’d love to.”
“It would mean resigning from the Bureau.”
“So what?”
They stared at each other.
Kopański gently rubbed his huge hand against her face. “A different life.”
Painter nodded and said in a hushed tone, “A different life.”
During their vacation, they got married on a beach. When back in the States, Joe took a job as a janitor at the school that Billy and Tom Koenig attended. He was significantly overqualified for the job. But he reasoned the boys and Will needed looking after. Thyme returned to flying helicopters, running civilian aviation courses. None of her clients knew she was once a special forces Night Stalker pilot. It made her smile when men looked at her in the driver’s seat with an expression that suggested, “Are you sure you should be doing this?”
They lived near Will and Kay and visited Will’s house many times. Faye was also sometimes in attendance. Faye was right. This was family.
During the following months, Joe was able to meet his adult daughter several times. He found a good therapist and persuaded his daughter to attend therapy. The therapist insisted that Joe attend the sessions with his daughter. It worked. Their joint grief was released. Joe and his beautiful girl were back on track as father and daughter. They saw each other often. It meant the world to Joe to have his daughter back and Thyme Painter as his wife.
Kay and Will held hands as they watched Billy and Tom Koenig jump on a trampoline outside the modest house that Will had procured near the boys’ school. He turned to her. “I have never had a moment like this in my life.”
She placed a finger on his lips. “Hush now. You have a new adventure ahead of you. Parenthood.”
Faye turned up with a glass bowl stuffed with shepherd’s pie. Will kissed her on the cheek. “Will you stay for supper? Kay and I aren’t going out.”
Faye laughe
d. “Miss Ash will hate me if I continue to come over with meals. This is my last run. After that, it’s down to you two.”
Will held her. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“The boys are in the best hands.” Faye’s eyes were imploring as she said, “People will come after you. Do you understand?”
“I do.” Will hugged her. “When they do, I’ll kill them. The boys will be safe.”
She stepped back but still held Will. She looked at Kay. “No man is better than this man. You understand?!”
“I do, ma’am,” Kay choked out.
“They broke the mold. They broke the frickin’ mold with this man.” Faye kissed Will on the cheek. “Peace now. Peace.”
She walked to her car.
Kay walked to Will while marveling at the boys jumping on the trampoline. “I don’t know why I’m here, but it makes me happy.”
Will hugged her. Later they had dinner and made love. This was their home now.
Will had the most perfect woman’s arm around him as they lay in bed. Kay whispered to him, “What was this all about?”
Will embraced her, loving the feel of her skin against his. What a magnificent woman she was. He looked at her. “It was about chess. Antaeus, Bell, and I knew that.”
Kay smiled. “And you got checkmate.”
Will didn’t smile. “No. There are two moves to play out yet. One of them is to identify and neutralize the senior White House politician who groomed Kane and Elizabeth Haden. I can’t do anything about that. Bell is our best hope to solve that riddle. But it could take him months, maybe years. But the other chess move is something I can make. Bell called me earlier today. I’m going to be gone for a few days. Can you hold the fort?”
Kay rolled over to look him squarely in the eyes. “Gone where?”
He hesitated.
“Will, where are you going?”
He brushed his hand against her hair. “This will be the last secret I ever keep from you.”
They kissed. Kay whispered, “Come home safe. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter 32
Will entered the lobby of the five-star Schlosshotel Grünewald. It was located on the outskirts of Berlin, near a large nature reserve. Redesigned by Karl Lagerfeld in the 1990s, the restored 1914 villa had fifty-four rooms and twelve suites, a swimming pool, a golf course, tennis courts, and two restaurants. The hotel was a favorite venue for the rich and famous who wanted absolute luxury and discretion.
Will bypassed the front desk and headed down a corridor, rooms on either side of him. Wearing an immaculate suit and overcoat, he looked the part of a wealthy guest of the establishment. He withdrew his cell phone and texted Hessian Bell.
Still in location?
Bell immediately replied.
Yes. Good luck.
Will knocked on the door of one of the suites. In flawless German, he said, “Mr. Müller, sir. Hotel security.”
There was no response.
“Mr. Müller, we have received a call from the police. They asked whether you were staying here. I told them we never reveal details of our guests. What are your instructions?”
The door opened an inch, the lock preventing it from fully opening. A man was there. “The police?”
“Yes, sir. Is there a problem?”
The man looked confused. “There must be some kind of mix-up. I have no quarrel with the police.”
Will looked serious. “Our priority is always our guests. I can legitimately tell the police that you are not staying here if you leave now. Get somewhere safe until this blows over. They are coming for you now.”
“Somewhere safe?”
“I can help you. Trust me, things like this have happened before in our hotel. We can get you relocated in five minutes. I will give you a courtesy limousine. I have a very trusted hotel I can recommend. Then leave me to speak to the police. I’ll give them nothing. Get an attorney to find out what’s going on. Only answer your cell if it’s your lawyer.”
Müller opened the door fully. “I have so many things to pack.”
“We can do this.” Will entered the suite. “I don’t want the bellboys to be involved, so let’s do this together. Empty suitcases on the bed. We move fast.”
Müller grabbed expensive clothes from the wardrobe and crushed them into his case. “This is crazy!”
Will entered the marble bathroom, ripped down the shower curtain, withdrew a silenced pistol, and wrapped the curtain around his hand and the gun. He reentered the main suite and pointed the gun at the man.
He shot Otto Raeder twice in the head.
One day later, Will was back at his home in Virginia. Kay hadn’t asked him where he’d been, but she knew he’d been tying up loose ends. And she could tell by the look in his eyes that it had involved death. She made him coffee while the twins played outside. Within ten minutes of Will being home, his expression completely softened. He smiled as he swigged the brew. There was a look in his eyes that said he was at peace. That look made Ash’s heart pump faster with joy.
“This is all I’ve wanted,” he said as he finished his drink.
“Peace and love?”
“Peace and love. Will you help hold this future together?”
“I’ll never leave you and the boys.” Ash ran her fingers through the big man’s hair. “It’s time to hand over the baton. You’ve done enough. Our future together is all that matters. You’ll make an excellent teacher at the boys’ school. But never tell the pupils who you really are. Some things are better left unsaid.”
Will walked into the yard alone. He looked to the sky and involuntarily dropped to his knees. His beloved Kay was right—he’d done this too long, with too many deaths, too much isolation, no time for himself, no time for love, no chance of redemption.
Now, finally, he was where he wanted to be.
As he continued looking at the sky, he said, “I don’t believe in you. But if you do exist, thank you, God. Thank you.” Tears ran down his cheeks. “By the way, why did it take you so long to give me this?”
He wiped his tears from his face and looked back at the house. Kay was in the kitchen, watching him, a warm smile on her face. She knew what was happening. She was going through it as well.
For both of them, it was a massive step into the realm of humanity. And it was a damn fine place to be.
Will got to his feet and went to the twins. The eleven-year-old boys squealed with delight as they ran around the yard, chased by Will. The former special operative had his arms outstretched and was pretending to be a lumbering zombie. The boys were laughing so much they thought their tummies would burst. Later, Will cooked for them and told them that he and Kay were engaged. Kay had held his hand as he explained to the twins what that meant.
The twins smiled. For the first time in years, they felt like they were in heaven.
Will Cochrane was a hero of the finest pedigree. But beneath that hallowed accolade, there were layers of disagreement.
Some people thought he was a murderer.
Others, a killing machine.
Most thought he was the smartest man one could ever encounter.
All who knew him agreed on one thing: there was no other man you’d want by your side if the shit hit the fan.
Will wasn’t a devil. He was an angel. And he walked on the earth, roaring like a lion who devoured every devil in his wake.
He was British.
American.
A spy.
A soldier.
A parent.
A lover to a brilliant woman.
He was Will Cochrane.
Nothing more, nothing less.
From his office in the White House, Deep Throat made a call. “Kane is dead. Elizabeth Haden is dead. Sapper is dead. Fox is dead. Colonel Haden is dead. With Kane’s departure, you are next in line to the throne. Kane failed. You won’t. I will ensure that. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t fail
me.” Deep Throat added, “There is a man called Will Cochrane. He could spoil matters. Get experts. Track him down. Kill him and anyone around him. Show no mercy.”
Acknowledgments
With thanks to my two brilliant mentors, David Highfill and Luigi Bonomi, and their second-to-none teams at William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers and LBA Literary Agency, respectively.
About the Author
As an MI6 field officer, MATTHEW DUNN recruited and ran agents, coordinated and participated in special operations, and acted in deep-cover roles throughout the world. He operated in environments where, if captured, he would have been executed. Dunn was trained in all aspects of intelligence collection, deep-cover deployments, small arms, explosives, military unarmed combat, surveillance, and infiltration. Medals are never awarded to modern MI6 officers, but Dunn was the recipient of a rare personal commendation from the secretary of state for the work he did on one mission, which was deemed so significant that it directly influenced the success of a major international incident. During his time in MI6, Matthew conducted approximately seventy missions. All of them were successful. He currently lives in England, where he is at work on his next novel.
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Also by Matthew Dunn
A Soldier’s Revenge
The Spy House
Dark Spies
Slingshot
Sentinel
Spycatcher
Novellas
Spy Trade
Counterspy
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
act of betrayal. Copyright © 2017 by Matthew Dunn. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
