by Joe McNally
Eddie looked at Mac. ‘Lisle served under him?’
‘Alongside, I think.’
‘Could the major have recommended Lisle as a replacement for you?’
‘Every chance. The BHA are always careful to listen to the Jockey Club’s point of view on ‘new signings’, as your friend Buley used to call them. Come to think of it, there was talk that the major played a part in recruiting Buley last year.’
‘You’re kidding! I thought you said the major was keen on minimizing risk!’
‘Ha! You detested Buley since the day you met him, didn’t you?’
‘Wouldn’t you have? Do you remember that meeting in that house in Stratford where he seemed to mistake me for the butler?’
Mac laughed. ‘I remember it well! Buley could have featured that in one of his favoured staff training videos…How not to get off on the right foot.’
‘Mac, honestly! Leave aside the fact that he’s an absolute prick…he’s never a chief exec in a million years. Never. Not of anything. He’s a chancer. Always has been, always will be, wherever he’s scuttled off to.’
‘Well, he did have some unusual ideas.’
‘Not the least being sacking you so he could bring a hopeless case to court. That shows you how far up his own arse he was. You wouldn’t even need to have been a cop to realize how poor the odds of a conviction were. One of these bloody what do you call them, community officers, could have told him!’
‘Well, you know my position. You’ll get no argument from me.’
They passed the road sign for the M54. Mac glanced across. Eddie said, ‘I’m going to carry on up and take the fifty-six, stay on the motorway as long as possible. Those back roads up into Wales will be grim.’
They travelled on in silence for a while, then Eddie said. ‘If the BHA checked recruitment decisions with the Jockey Club, wouldn’t Buley have spoken to them before firing you?’
‘Possibly.’
‘Especially if the major had recommended Buley’s recruitment in the first place. If that’s true, there’s no way Buley lets you go on the eve of a huge case without speaking to the major.’
‘He might well have spoken to him, Eddie. But it doesn’t change anything. The major could have taken the view that I was no big loss.’
‘But he then gets Tim Arango to recruit you to try and clear up the JCR mess? It makes no sense, Mac. None at all.’
‘Unless they wanted the case to fail.’
‘Why would the Jockey Club…’ Eddie stopped.
Mac said, ‘Those three jockeys were Ivory’s boys, weren’t they?’
‘Yeehaa!’ Eddie slapped the steering wheel, and reached to grab Mac’s shoulder and shake him. ‘That’s it, Mac! You got it! The missing link. That’s what’s been hovering around the edge of my mind for days. We’d been so taken up by the bond scam, and Nina Raine, and Sonny, we’d forgotten all about Kellagher and Sampson and Blackaby, and the bent races they were organizing for Ivory.’
‘So Ivory got the major to tell Buley to bring the case to court while there was insufficient evidence.’
‘Correct! I knew it! I knew even Buley could not be that fucking stupid! And getting rid of you was part of the plan. The major obviously rated you, and so did Buley. So they couldn’t have you anywhere near the case. Then when things go tits up for JCR, the major wants you on his side.’
‘I’m somewhat torn between logic and flattery, Eddie.’
‘It’s totally logical, Mac. And I’ll bet the major did not rate Broc Lisle.’
‘Well, Lisle did say that they seldom saw eye to eye when serving together.’
‘And Lisle had developed this over-the-top TV persona as a military and security advisor who everyone thought was a clown.’
‘Broc Lisle, is no clown, I can tell you that. I spoke to one or two old friends after Broc came to see me that first day at home. More because I’d found him an entertaining and unusual character than anything else. But he was very highly thought of in his younger days at GCHQ. I think that’s where his skills would have been best used. But he had an appetite for action, apparently, so into the army he went.’
‘But the major told Buley to get Lisle in your place. One, because he didn’t rate him, and, two because Lisle knew nothing about racing.’
‘The trouble with that is, Buley would have known that he himself was unlikely to survive the failed court case. That the pressure on the BHA, the accusations of incompetence and bribery would mean he’d have to go.’
‘Mac. Maybe that was part of the grand plan. A catastrophic failure by the BHA would have let the major argue for the Jockey Club to take back the reins of racing.’
‘A bit drastic.’
‘Maybe, but not impossible.’
‘No. Not at all.’
‘Then somebody scuppered those plans by killing Ivory’s jockeys, and laying waste to JCR’s business.’
‘Buley?’
‘No way.’
‘Eddie, the trouble all started after Buley disappeared. And if the major was running the bond scam, maybe Buley knew about it. Not even Buley would blindly follow the major’s instructions to ensure the acquittal of those three.’
‘But if Buley knew about the major, he probably knew about Ivory too. It was common gossip that those three were Ivory’s boys. Even a sight of Ivory would have Buley shitting himself, so I’m not buying that. Not Buley. Honestly, can you seem him shooting jockeys? From a skill viewpoint, never mind the guts?’
‘I could see him organizing it.’
‘No way, Mac. He hasn’t the balls for it.’
‘So where is he?’
‘I suspect Jordan Ivory knows the answer to that.’
Jordan Ivory was sitting beside Dalton, who was flying the helicopter. They had just crossed the Welsh border at 15,000ft.
75
As they turned at the end of the headland, Eddie was reassured by seeing light from the windows in the Shack, just over half a mile away. He steered down a narrow shale track to a small car park used by tourists and dog-walkers.
‘Best on-foot from here, Mac, until we know what we’re up against.’
Mac groaned as he pushed himself off the seat out into the frosty air. ‘Glad I brought my coat.’
Eddie took the metal bat from the back seat. ‘And I’m glad I brought this.’
‘And I’ll be glad if you find no need to use it.’
‘Me too.’
They headed for the lights in the Shack. Eddie couldn’t remember being out in such darkness up here. He recalled that right on the cusp of a summer night, the hulk of Mave’s place was easily seen against the sky. But they had only the lights to guide them now.
Mac spoke quietly, ‘Perhaps we should have spent some time discussing what exactly we might do if Jordan Ivory is here.’
‘Well, we’ll skirt the headland. We’ve seen no vehicles on the road up. They’re not easy to hide out here. If it’s only Sonny’s bike at the Shack, there’s every chance he’s alone. But we’ll check all the way round the perimeter before getting closer.’
‘Ivory or his boys could have been dropped off.’
‘True. But if they’re waiting for somebody to come running in panic, they’ll be expecting arrival by car. We’ll be able to get close enough to listen, to check through the windows. The curtains aren’t closed. There’s too much light coming out for that.’
Ten minutes later, they were scouting the Shack, walking quietly, close to its walls. Sonny’s frost-covered bike was in the yard. Eddie edged closer to the living room window. The lawn rose away from the window in a gentle slope. Eddie turned to Mac and pointed to the fence twenty yards back. It was set eighteen inches higher than the grass at window level.
Eddie crept toward the fence. Reaching it, he stood straight and looked through the window. Sonny was inside, asleep, a book resting on his chest. Eddie smiled. He raised a thumb to Mac and hurried quietly toward him. ‘Sonny’s okay,’ he whispered. ‘Let’s just have a
look through these other windows.’
They checked the two other rooms where lights showed on the ground floor. Eddie whispered, ‘Not a sound, not even a snore from Sonny. I think we’re okay.’
‘With respect, if someone is lying in wait, you wouldn’t expect to hear a sound, would you? Why don’t I wait here until you’ve gone in?’
‘Fine. I don’t mind.’
‘Just a precaution.’
‘Of course. It’s a sensible idea. Here, take the car keys.’
Mac took them. Eddie went to the front door, slowly turned the handle, tightened his grip on the metal bat, and opened the door.
The sound of Sonny’s breathing.
Something stopped Eddie from stepping inside. He called out, ‘Sonny!’
Sonny opened his eyes and sat up and Eddie knew immediately that he had not been asleep and Dalton stepped out from behind the door and pointed a Kalashnikov rifle at Eddie’s face. ‘Put down the bat.’
Eddie threw it backwards in a low loop onto the lawn. Dalton took three steps more until he could see Mac. ‘Inside. Both of you.’
Sonny stood as they came in. He was in tears. He opened his arms and Eddie hugged him. ‘I’m sorry, Eddie. So sorry.’
Eddie patted his shoulder. ‘It’s okay.’
Ivory came down the stairs. ‘Very touching, gentlemen.’ He walked, in that graceful way he had, to where Mac stood, and he offered his hand. ‘Mister McCarthy. Nice to meet you.’ Mac reached slowly and shook his hand.
Ivory walked to the window, resting his elbow on the deep ledge. ‘Sit down, please. Sit beside your friend.’
Mac and Eddie sat on the long couch with Sonny. Ivory smiled. ‘The three unwise men.’
Sonny stared at the floor, tears dripping onto the rug. ‘Why are you crying, Mister Beltrami? You’ll be no worse off than before Dalton and I arrived, isn’t that correct? Come, get your note and show your friends.’
Sonny, red-eyed, looked across at Ivory. ‘Get the note!’
Sonny pushed himself to his feet and went to the fireplace. He lifted the note from the mantelpiece.
‘Let them read it.’
Sonny walked in baby steps back toward the couch and held the note out to Eddie. He took it, and read it. Mac read it. Ivory crossed his arms and said, ‘It’s the only thing that mitigates this inconvenience. Considerable inconvenience. Mister Beltrami’s dawn suicide plan is the only silver lining on this very dark cloud, gentlemen. That, and his call that brought you running. That brought us running too, or should I say flying? And that was no coincidence. It was the result of the usual excellent planning by Dalton here. I wouldn’t like you to think we simply got lucky.’
Eddie read the note again, and shook his head then looked at Sonny.
Ivory said, ‘Indeed, Mister Malloy. Indeed. But the note, along with your call to Mister Beltrami earlier, does simplify matters. Mister Beltrami will, of course, go ahead with the planned suicide, and, unfortunately, you two knights of mercy, will plunge to your death trying to save him. The note will make a fine postscript for the police.’
Eddie tore it twice and threw the pieces on the floor.
Ivory didn’t move. He smiled, and shook his head. ‘Defiant to the end, Malloy. Childish, but defiant.’ He walked over and picked up the four pieces. ‘They add pathetically to the others Mister Beltrami wrote and then dispensed with. Your silly act has simply increased the credibility of the scenario.’
‘You’re a fuckwit, Ivory,’ Eddie said.
Ivory smiled again, shaking his head slowly, ‘Dear oh dear, Malloy, more juvenile by the minute. I-’
Ivory stopped mid-stride and came alert. He turned to Dalton. ‘Did you hear that?’
Dalton shook his head, narrowing his eyes and watching Ivory, who said, ‘You sure? Did you check it was just these two?’
Dalton looked doubtful. ‘Go and check, now,’ Ivory said.
Dalton hurried outside, Eddie rose quickly and went for Ivory, then stopped as the tall man pulled a pistol from an under-arm holster. ‘Despite all you’ve seen tonight, despite all that’s happened, you still think I’m a fool, Malloy? You believed I’d panic and send Dalton out with the only weapon?’
Eddie retraced his steps and sat down. Ivory said, ‘You know what really upsets me? Anyone who knows me would confirm this…the waste of time. I detest wasted time. I understand your perfectly sensible wish to do the job properly, Mister Beltrami, but to wait three hours for daylight would make me very angry.’
Dalton came in, ‘All clear,’ he said. Ivory nodded. ‘Go and check those coordinates.’
Dalton left.
Ivory settled again at the window, pistol hanging from his right hand. He slipped it off and placed it carefully on the ledge, then he put his hands behind him and leaned against the wall. He said, ‘Dalton is utilizing some of the equipment he always carries. Night glasses and a GPS. If he can get safe access to the beach, he will take the GPS coordinates of the largest rocks, and he will return to the cliff and match those coordinates with an exit point. Two hundred feet below that exit point, will be where you gentlemen might be found. Might. Much depends on the vagaries of the tide.’
He checked his watch. ‘You know, I detest giving up even the twenty minutes or so it will take Dalton to measure things out. But it’s much better than three hours. Wouldn’t you agree?’
Eddie glared at him. Mac looked afraid and exhausted. Sonny began weeping again.
76
At 4.47, all five men left the shack and walked westward toward the cliff edge, Dalton checking their heading every ten paces. Eddie had been battling with the decision whether to make a go of it and risk being shot.
But if he made that choice, to rush them, Mac might die too. And there was still the slim chance that the fall might not kill them. Ivory had mentioned tides. Did the water sweep over those rocks? How high did it come? Was the tide on ebb or flow? Might the sea save them? Maybe Dalton’s coordinates would be out and they would land on the beach?
Eddie flinched. Two hundred feet onto the softest of surfaces could still kill them, or leave them paralyzed.
A deep flowing tide was the best chance. High waves. A hundred metres from the edge, he knew he should at least be hearing the crash of them by now. Nothing…
They reached the cliff edge…the sound of the sea was distant. The tide was out. Eddie raised his eyes to the clear sky, the sliver of moon away out over the water, the stars, sharp and glinting here on the tip of Britain, far from the city lights. This big stage, he thought. This final curtain call…
The five stood. Dalton said, ‘There’s a fair margin of error, Mister Ivory.’
‘Good. Mister Beltrami? Only fair for me to say, after you?’
Eddie reached to turn Sonny away from the sea. ‘It was good knowing you, Sonny.’
Sonny could not speak for weeping. Eddie looked at Mac, ‘You’ve been a fine friend to me. I’m proud to have known you. Very proud. Maybe I should have dropped you off at home, eh?’ Eddie smiled.
Mac did too, as he shook Eddie’s hand. ‘At least I’ll be with Jean again.’
Three hundred metres behind them, on the flat roof to the rear of the Shack, the gunman was not as confident as he’d been at Sandown, or at Haydock. The wind was down. That was good. But the nightscope’s efficiency was blunted at this distance. A kill shot would be best, but he might have to compromise.
The likely trajectory was measured by the ancillary equipment he carried, but the final judgement would be his. That equipment suggested nine inches up and three and a half to the right for Ivory. The swing to take Dalton would have to come from experience. A touch of artistry was required, but the gunman’s well-worn motto had seldom failed him, and it was always in his mind at the squeeze point: aim high.
Ivory said, ‘Mister Beltrami, please!’ and as he reached toward Sonny, a bullet entered Ivory’s rib cage halfway down his left side, the impact carrying him off the cliff. The gunman anticipated that Dalton wo
uld turn toward the sound of the shot. He did, and his bullet took him in the throat, the peak of the gunman’s core-mass area…but every one counted.
Mac’s knees gave way, and he folded to the ground as Eddie grabbed Sonny and hauled him away from the edge. ‘Down, Sonny! On the ground. Stay low!’ Eddie crawled to Mac, felt for a pulse. Had a shot ricocheted and hit him?
His pulse was strong. Eddie edged upwards to listen to Mac’s breathing. It was level and easy. Poor Mac, must have fainted with shock, he thought. Sonny tried getting to his knees, crying loud now, sobbing, out of control. Eddie gripped his collar from behind. ‘Down! Stay off the skyline! Don’t even move, and you need to shut up, Sonny! He’ll pinpoint the sound! Shut up!’
But Sonny could not, and he lay crying until shivering took over. Eddie did not know how much time had passed. Mac had come to, only to be pushed flat again by Eddie. ‘Down, Mac. You’re okay. It didn’t happen. They’re dead. They went over the cliff.’
When the cold grew unbearable, Eddie got to his feet and stood shivering for a minute before he’d let the others rise.
77
It took the police an hour to get there. Firearms officers had to be flown from Liverpool. They landed on the beach beside Ivory’s helicopter. Eddie counted nine vehicles with flashing lights. While waiting for them, Eddie had told Sonny they’d need to be honest with police from start to finish. The attempted suicide could not be covered up.
‘My fault, Eddie. I’m glad to still be here to take responsibility.’
Mac had argued weakly for a chance to warn Tim Arango, to at least try to manage the PR side. Eddie had stopped him. ‘This is way too serious, now, Mac, to be doing anything even close to breaking the rules. And who’s to say Arango isn’t in on it? He could warn the major.’
On the Shack roof, the police found only a body length mark in the white frost, already turning pale once more.
The major was not warned. He was arrested before he finished breakfast. From the combined hours of repeated statements from Sonny, Eddie and Mac, the police asked Interpol to try to find Nina Raine. They never did.
