Payne shook her head fiercely. ‘The medical examiner’s preliminary investigation confirmed the presence of bullet holes in the skeleton. She was executed at point blank range. Your hands and clothes were examined for gunshot residue upon your arrival, but nothing was found. If I had to guess, I’d say somebody ran you off the road and executed the Home Secretary.’
‘Someone?’
Payne shrugged again. ‘We have no leads at the moment, unless you can remember what happened?’
White closed his eyes, desperately trying to recall any of what she had said, but he had to give up in frustration. ‘I don’t remember any of that.’
‘I understand. The nurse said you should rest. You’ve been through a traumatic ordeal. Maybe things will become clearer in the morning.’
‘What happens to McManus now, Ma’am? Have we got enough without Partridge’s statement?’
Payne glanced over her shoulder again. ‘He’s no longer in our custody. Two agents from MI5 collected him from us two hours ago. They barged into the station and took him away.’
White’s brow furrowed. ‘What? They can’t do that, man.’
‘In matters of national security they can. I spoke to the Superintendent and it’s all above board. They’ve taken him for questioning about his involvement in a “serious matter”. That’s how they phrased it. I asked them what they knew of The Cadre but they just gave me blank stares.’
‘So that’s it? We’re just supposed to sit back and let him go? That’s bullshit, Ma’am!’
‘Believe me, I share your frustration, but it’s out of our hands now. I made my protest clear to the Superintendent, but he warned me to back off. McManus will get what’s coming to him.’
White’s eyes widened as a thought dawned on him. ‘Where’s Kyle? Is he okay?’ he asked, suddenly aware that his partner was nowhere to be seen. If they’d been in an accident, where was he?
‘I was hoping you might know where he is. He phoned in sick earlier today, but I’ve been unable to reach him since.’
‘So he wasn’t in the car?’
‘No. When we spoke this morning, you were alone.’
‘Does he know I’m in here, like?’
Payne shrugged. ‘I need to get back to the office. If you remember anything, or if you hear from Davies, give me a call. Otherwise, you need to get your rest.’
‘Ma’am, if someone executed the Home Secretary, why didn’t they kill me too? Why leave a loose end?’
‘I’ve been asking myself the same question,’ Payne nodded. ‘I guess the Security Services just want to sweep the whole thing under the carpet. Killing a serving officer would raise too many questions. I’m sure we’ll learn what their intentions are in the coming days. Try not to think about it, and just rest. You were very lucky today, White. There will be other battles for us to fight. I think we just need to accept that this one is now out of our hands.’
*
Kyle looked out through the window. The rain was falling stronger now and his window was a mixture of droplets and condensation as he stared blankly into the darkness. He was now in his own car, and had been sat in the car park of Southampton General Hospital for more than half an hour. He put his hand on the door handle, but as he had done several times already, he pulled it away without opening the door. He banged both fists on the steering wheel as he began to sob again.
He’d abandoned the Land Rover just outside of Bitterne, some twenty miles from where he’d run White off the road. The radio hadn’t announced that the stolen Land Rover had been found yet, but once it was, it wouldn’t take the forensics experts to link it back to the damage inflicted on the Citroen. He was sure black paint flecks would be found on the Citroen, seamlessly linking the stolen car to the crash. He’d carefully wiped the Land Rover’s interior of any finger prints, and he’d been careful to leave the car out of range of any security cameras. To be safe he’d pulled a hood over his head as he’d exited the vehicle, so they’d never know he’d been the driver. He’d caught a bus home and collected his car, but now that he was here, he couldn’t bring himself to go and check on the D.I.
He had no idea how he’d be able to look White in the eye and not breakdown and confess what he’d done. He’d simply had no other option. Kate had phoned him that morning and threatened to show the sex tape to his wife if he didn’t eliminate Partridge. He’d refused at first until they’d sent him a live shot of his wife and daughter shopping at Morrison’s. Kate had said she would kill them both if he didn’t do as instructed. He’d stolen the Land Rover from a house several streets from his own, as he’d seen the advantage of its darkened windows. For all he knew, White had seen him behind the wheel and had already reported him for causing the crash. That was another reason he didn’t want to go into the hospital ward, and why he continued to thump his fists against the steering wheel.
His phone was vibrating on the passenger seat again. He’d missed a dozen calls from Payne, but he was in no fit state to speak to anyone. He’d just have to pretend he’d left his phone unattended at home.
He glanced down at the phone and recognised the number that was calling. He grabbed and answered it. ‘What?’ he growled.
‘Calm down, Kyle,’ Kate replied.
‘Fuck you! How’s that for calm?’
‘I was phoning to congratulate you on a job well done.’
‘Screw you!’ he hissed.
‘You should be pleased with yourself, Kyle. You took care of our little problem and nobody is any the wiser that you were involved. I knew you were a resourceful kind of guy.’
‘Go to hell!’
‘There’s really no need for this resentment, Kyle. If you’re struggling to deal with the guilt of killing the Home Secretary, you should remember exactly what she has done in the past year. She wasn’t a good woman. Don’t feel bad; you didn’t have a choice.’
‘You didn’t give me a choice.’
‘No we didn’t. If you hadn’t acted, you’d now be grieving for your wife and daughter.’
‘You bitch.’
‘Don’t hate the player, Kyle. Hate the game.’
‘Is that supposed to be funny?’
‘No it’s not, and let me tell you something else: this self-pitying attitude of yours isn’t attractive. You need to grow up and move on, Kyle.’
‘Fuck you. Don’t call me again. We’re through.’
‘Far from it, my dear. We’re only just starting. That’s the reason I was calling. To reward your prompt and valiant efforts today, you’re about to get the promotion you’ve been craving. You passed the exam with flying colours and there just so happens to be a position that’s been ear-marked for you.’
‘What are you talking about? My results aren’t due to be posted for at least another week.’
‘We have ways and means of guaranteeing these things, Kyle. And it seems, your work ethic and astuteness has been noticed by those above you. It seems that D.I. John Stead is about to be transferred to a different unit, meaning a new D.I. is needed to head up Operation Fortress.’
‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,’ he replied in utter disbelief.
‘Well, with Eve now out of the picture, we need someone we can trust to pick up the reigns. We can trust you can’t we, Kyle?’ She didn’t wait for an answer. ‘The position comes with a significant pay rise for you. You don’t need to relocate, though your journey time will be considerably more if you choose to remain living in Totton. We’ll leave that decision with you.’
‘You think you can buy me?’
‘Don’t think of it in those terms. We aren’t buying you. We are merely rewarding your loyalty to the cause. We won’t ask you to do anything we wouldn’t ask of our other operatives. If you keep your head down and manage the running of the operation to keep Stratovsky’s competitors out of business, and warn us when a sweep is coming, you’ll do just fine. In return for your support, you’ll be rewarded with a monthly bonus in an untraceable offshore account, in addi
tion to your salary. Think of it as planning for your future early retirement.’
‘You’re unbelievable! You want me to become a spook?’
‘You have a choice this time, Kyle. You can accept our more than generous offer and start your new post, or you can refuse and watch your career, marriage and livelihood disappear down the drain. Besides, who said I was a spook?’
Kyle’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re not MI5?’
‘Let’s just say I work for a man with a keen interest in ensuring that the operation remains stable.’
‘How can you people live like this?’
‘You people? Kyle, whether you like it or not, you’re one of us now. Don’t pretend like your decision to join the force was part of a crusading call. You could just as easily have ended up as a chef in a restaurant. Hey maybe one day you can retire and set up your own restaurant. The world’s your oyster if you make the right decision.’
He didn’t answer. He desperately wanted to scream out, but he didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to himself. ‘What about White?’
‘What about him? He’s alive and doesn’t remember anything about the accident. You’re in the clear. Of course, if you decide to go out on your own, we can easily let him know exactly what happened on that road. I’ll give you the night to think about it and then I want your decision. I really hope you see that I’m right.’ She paused for a moment, and when she started speaking again, her voice was much calmer; almost playful. ‘I know it might not seem like it, but I’m one of the good guys, Kyle. You and I make a good team…who’s to say we couldn’t be more than that again?’
‘You’re out of your fucking mind!’
‘You’re in shock, so I understand your animosity. Maybe once you’ve calmed down we can talk again, and who knows where it might lead.’
The line went dead. Kyle looked at his reflection in the car’s vanity mirror. His eyes looked swollen from where he’d been crying. He rubbed them with the sleeve of his suit jacket and decided he would need to wash his face in the toilets before he went in to see White. He took several deep breaths. He kept telling himself that he’d tell Kate he wasn’t interested in becoming a cog in The Cadre, but deep down he knew he was already too far gone to stop things. As he walked towards the hospital’s entrance, he stopped and bummed a cigarette from one of the many smokers congregated there. He coughed several times on the first inhale, but by the end he was enjoying the release he was feeling. He knew it was a filthy habit, but if he couldn’t beat them, he might as well join them.
EPILOGUE
LONDON, UK
19:00 (G.M.T.)
Dillinger removed the stopper from the crystal decanter and poured a generous measure of bourbon. He allowed the stopper to roll idly on the table top and raised the glass to his lips. As he looked around the dim operations room, housed in the former City Road tube station, he found it hard to believe just how much The Chairman had managed to coordinate from the area. The super computer continued to flash in the distance, though exactly what operation it was currently performing was beyond him. He was half-tempted to keep the super computer a secret and use it to gain valuable intelligence on UK-based terror cells. Ultimately, he knew he would need to report the find to the other COBRA members. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe that the secret wouldn’t get out sooner or later.
He took a second sip from the glass and glanced around for a bucket of ice. Not finding one, he headed towards the conference room. A booming voice caught his attention.
‘Did he believe you?’
Dillinger turned and saw The Chairman emerging from the living quarters’ area. He nodded. ‘I think so. As far as Dylan Taylor is concerned, you are dead and The Cadre has been disbanded. Of course, we’ll have to make sure certain key individuals from the operation are publicly shamed, just so he continues to believe that I have acted appropriately.’
‘What about the other one?’
‘Cross? I’m sure Taylor has probably already shared the news. I think we should show good faith and have his cousin released from prison. It really was a stupid move by O’Connor’s contact to frame the cousin. Why she thought that would help matters is beyond me.’
The Chairman nodded his agreement. ‘It’s not a mistake she’ll ever make again. Shame, really, she was a useful asset. I hear you had to take McManus out of the picture too?’
‘Someone in his organisation blabbed and he was caught smuggling arms and some Eastern Europeans into the country. I had no choice.’
‘A man with his connections won’t be easy to replace. Where is he now?’
‘Somewhere he won’t be able to run his mouth off. He’ll spend the rest of his days in one of our rendition centres offshore. I’m sure that crazy Russian will be able to find someone to replace him anyway. Speaking of which, don’t you think we should do something about Stratovsky? I don’t trust him.’
‘Leave Victor to me. He’s a man with a unique set of talents and I think he will be valuable in some of our future endeavours.’
Dillinger moved towards the super computer. ‘Speaking of which, I hear this thing can locate anyone anywhere. I mean, it’s the only reason you managed to keep one step ahead of Taylor and Cross, right? Are you going to show me how it works?’
The Chairman watched him cautiously. ‘All in good time.’
‘It’s just, with Partridge now out of the picture, it’s probably a good idea for us to formalise a chain of command,’ Dillinger continued. ‘The operation has been harmed, but not irrecoverably so. Clearly you are the head of the organisation, but who should step up, in the unlikely event that anything happens to you? As things stand at the moment, everyone would be vying for position. If you were to name a rightful successor, should the worst ever happen, I think it would give the group the stability it needs.’
The Chairman narrowed his eyes. ‘Did you have someone in mind?’
‘Houseman is a good candidate, but he’s so busy debating in The Commons. Then, of course, there’s General Greig, but we both know his answer to everything is blunt force and ignorance. No, what we need is someone who is level-headed, with a good eye for detail, and who understands the bigger picture.’
‘Spit it out, man,’ The Chairman urged.
‘Okay, in short, yes, I’d like to put my own name forward for the duty. I’ve been with you since the start, I have the necessary contacts across the globe to help The Cadre achieve its goals, and I have the means to limit our exposure. I think I’ve more than proved myself already.’
‘Let me ask you a question: what do you think of me?’
Dillinger frowned. ‘What does that have to do with anything?’
‘Humour me.’
Dillinger sipped his drink. ‘You’re a patriot.’
‘And what about my plan to fake my own death so I can continue to drive our goals in the shadows?’
‘It’s inspired. When Taylor and Cross see your death reported in the press, they’ll think they’ve won. The same for that pair of detectives down South. It’s time we took the spotlight off everything that’s happened.’
The Chairman looked surprised. ‘I didn’t think you liked me, Dillinger. I mean, I only invited you to join the group as a means to an end.’
It was Dillinger’s turn to look surprised.
‘If truth be told,’ The Chairman continued, ‘I don’t particularly like you, Dillinger. I’ve always thought you had your own agenda, and I’ve never quite trusted you. Greig feels the same way. He said “how can we trust a spook?”, but I told him it was a necessary risk. Tell me now, Dillinger, what do you really think of me and my plans?’
Dillinger placed his glass down on the workstation next to the super computer and scratched his forehead. He eventually looked up, and a smile broke out across his face. ‘You got me. I think you’re a crazed narcissist with an inferiority complex. Maybe your parents didn’t show you enough attention as a child, I don’t know.’
The Chairman didn’t return th
e smile. ‘Finally some honesty. It’s good to get these kinds of things off your chest.’
‘In the spirit of honesty, there’s something else I should tell you,’ Dillinger said, reaching his right hand inside his jacket. ‘The thing is, I wasn’t lying to Taylor.’ He removed a small handgun and pointed it at The Chairman. ‘I admire what you have done thus far, and maybe in a different time you might have been successful, but I really cannot allow your hare-brained plotting to continue. The world remains on the brink of nuclear war. Did you really think General Greig would be able to tiptoe into the Middle East with no reprisals? I’m afraid, it’s time for me to tie up the remaining loose end.’
The Chairman laughed raucously. ‘So you’re just going to shoot me? You don’t have it in you. Even if you do, if I’m gone, someone else will come to the fore and take my place.’
Dillinger shook his head. ‘I disagree. I have enough on the other members of the inner sanctum to keep them in line. You can’t really have thought you’d ever get away with this, surely? A New World Order with Britain leading the way? Oh, please.’
The smile melted from The Chairman’s face. ‘Don’t be silly, Dillinger. You want to be my number two? Fine, you can be. Don’t do something you’ll regret. You’re throwing all of our hard work away.’
Dillinger squeezed the trigger and watched The Chairman drop to his knees as a bloody hole appeared in the larger man’s chest. The Chairman’s mouth began to open, but Dillinger fired again, and The Chairman’s face hit the floor. Dillinger picked up his glass and tossed the rest of the drink into his mouth. He placed the gun down where the glass had been and moved back to the drinks trolley for a top-up. He didn’t notice Victor Stratovsky staring at him, from the door to the living quarters, until it was too late.
‘Stratovsky? What the fuck are you doing here?’
‘I was in meeting with him when you arrived. He is dead?’
Dillinger shrugged. ‘What can I say? He was a lunatic. He needed stopping. You should be pleased. Did you know what he had planned for your Mother Russia?’
Double Cross: A gripping political thriller (The Cadre Book 3) Page 34