The Ben Hope Collection: 6 BOOK SET

by Scott Mariani

  Perhaps it didn’t have to be that way.

  The bottle stood behind him on a low table. The whisky was a fine malt Scotch, ten years old. It had been a full bottle that afternoon. There were just a couple of fingers left in the bottom now.

  Beside the bottle lay a Bible. It was old, leather-bound, worn with use. It was a book he knew well.

  Next to that lay a pistol. A Browning Hi-Power 9mm, well used, clean and oiled, thirteen shiny rounds in the magazine and one in the breech. It had been lying there for hours, cocked and locked, the sleek copper nose of that first round lined up with the barrel and its tail exposed to the striker, ready and waiting for him to make his decision.

  That one bullet was all it would take.

  From somewhere in the shadowy room, the phone rang. Ben didn’t move. He let it ring until whoever was calling him gave up.

  Time passed. The sun slipped down into the sea. The waves darkened as night crept across the sky and he could see only his reflection standing there in the window staring back at him.

  The phone rang again.

  Still, he didn’t move. After half a minute the ringing stopped, and the only sound in the room was the distant roar of the Atlantic.

  He turned from the window and walked across to the low table. He put down his empty glass and reached out for the pistol. He picked it up and weighed the heavy steel in his hand. Stared at the weapon a long moment as the moonlight glimmered down its length. He clicked off the safety.

  Very slowly, he turned the pistol towards himself until he was looking down the barrel, holding it backwards in his hands, thumb on the trigger. He brought it closer. Felt the cold kiss of the muzzle touch against his brow. He closed his eyes. In his mind he could see her face, the way he liked to remember her, smiling, full of life and beauty and happiness, full of love.

  I miss you so much.

  Then he sighed.

  Not today, he thought. Today’s not the day.

  He lowered the pistol to his side and stood there for a while, letting the weapon dangle loosely in his hand. Then he clicked the safety catch back on. He laid the pistol down on the table and walked out of the room.

  Chapter Three

  Corfu

  12.03 a.m. Greek time

  Zoë Bradbury felt the cool wind in her hair as the big Suzuki Burgman scooter carried her up the winding country lane.

  As she rode, she noticed the strong headlamps of a car behind her, lighting up the road ahead. The lights flashed at her. She wondered who it might be. Maybe the last straggler leaving her party?

  Strange, though. She hadn’t noticed any cars left outside as she closed the shutters and locked the place up to leave.

  She rode on, twisting the throttle a little harder. Trees flashed by on either side as she gained speed. The wind tore at her hair and clothes, and the lights shrank away in her mirror.

  She smiled to herself. She was glad that Nikos had taken all her gear away to his place. It was too much to carry on the Suzuki, and this way she could enjoy her last ride before going home to Oxford in the morning. The 400cc scooter was fast enough to scare her – and thrills and risk were things she loved. She opened up the throttle and her grin widened.

  But then the lights reappeared in her mirror. The car had crept up even closer this time, its headlights on full beam, dazzling her. She slowed a little and moved aside to let it pass.

  It didn’t. It just hung back, matching her speed. Irritably, she waved it on. It still hung there behind her. She could hear its engine over the whirr of the Suzuki.

  OK, then, it was some arsehole who wanted to race. That was fine with her. She cracked open the throttle and accelerated hard through the bends, leaning the bike this way and that. The car followed. She pushed harder, widening the gap between them. But not for long. The car came right up behind, and for a terrifying instant she thought it was going to ram her.

  Zoë’s heart was beating fast now, and suddenly the idea of racing along the dark empty road, with trees rushing by on either side, didn’t seem so much fun.

  A farm lane flashed up on the right a little way ahead. She remembered where it led. She’d been walking down that way a couple of times. At the bottom of the lane was a gate that was always padlocked, barring the way – but between the gatepost and the crumbled stone wall there was a gap just big enough to get a bike through.

  The Suzuki hammered down the farm lane, barely in control. The ground was little more than soft earth, loose under her wheels. She skidded and regained control. In the mirror, the lights were coming closer again.

  What did they want?

  The gate was coming up fast. Thirty yards. Twenty. She squeezed the brakes, wobbled, but hit the gap. The Suzuki scraped through with a grinding of plastic. The car skidded to a halt behind her, and suddenly she was leaving the lights behind again.

  She whooped. She’d made it.

  But then she looked back in the mirror and saw the figures in the lights of the stationary car. Figures running. Figures with guns.

  There was a loud crack from behind her. She felt the machine judder violently. The rear tyre was blown.

  She lost control of the bike, and suddenly it had slipped out from under her. She felt herself falling. The ground rushed up to meet her.

  That was all Zoë Bradbury remembered for a long time.

  Chapter Four

  Thames Ditton, Surrey, England

  The second day

  The high gilded gates were open, and Ben Hope drove on through the archway. The private road carved its way through a long woodland tunnel, cool and verdant in the heat of the afternoon. Round a bend, the trees parted and he saw the late-Georgian country house in the distance, across sculpted lawns that looked like velvet. Gravel crunched under the tyres of the rented Audi Quattro as he pulled up in the car-park alongside the Bentleys and Rollses and Jaguars.

  Stepping out of the car Ben straightened his tie and slipped on the jacket of the expensive suit he’d bought for the occasion and was pretty sure he’d never wear again. He could hear the sound of the big band drifting on the breeze. He followed the sound, cutting across the lawns towards the back of the house. The sweeping acres of the estate opened up in front of him.

  Guests were clustered around a striped marquee on the lawn. Laughter and chatter. Long tables with canapés, waiters carrying trays of drinks. Women in summer dresses and big flowery hats. The wedding reception was a lot more opulent than Ben had expected.

  Charlie had done well for himself, he thought. Not bad for the practical, down-to-earth Londoner who’d started out driving supply trucks with the Royal Engineers. He’d been in the service since leaving school. In 22 SAS he’d never gone higher than trooper. Never wanted to. His only ambition was to be the best. It was strange to imagine him marrying into wealth. Ben wondered if he’d be happy surrounded by all this.

  Charlie and his new bride were among the dancing couples on the lawn. Ben smiled as he recognised him. He didn’t seem to have changed a lot, apart from the tuxedo. The band had struck up an old jazz number he vaguely remembered, Glenn Miller or Benny Goodman. Their trombones and saxes glittered in the sunshine.

  Ben kept his distance, stood listening to the music and watching the people, taking in the scene. Thoughts came back to him of the day he’d got married, just a few months before. His hand instinctively went to the gold wedding ring that he wore on a thin leather thong around his neck. He fingered it through the cotton shirt, trying to stop the other memories that bubbled up, the bad ones, the ones of the day it had all ended.

  For an instant he was there again, seeing it unfold. He blinked the images away, battled them back into the shadows. He knew they’d return.

  The dance ended. There was applause and more laughter. Charlie spotted Ben and waved. He kissed his bride and she went off with a chattering bunch of friends towards the marquee as the band started up another number. Charlie trotted over to Ben, visibly buzzing with excitement, unable to repress the broad grin
on his face.

  ‘You look a little different in that outfit,’ Ben said.

  ‘I didn’t think you’d come, sir. Glad you could make it. I’ve been calling you for days.’

  ‘I got your message,’ Ben said. ‘And it’s Ben, not sir.’

  ‘It’s good to see you, Ben.’

  ‘Good to see you too.’ Ben clapped Charlie affectionately on the shoulder.

  ‘So how’ve you been?’ Charlie asked. ‘How are things?’

  ‘It’s been a while,’ Ben replied, evading the question.

  ‘Five years, give or take.’

  ‘Congratulations on your marriage. I’m pleased for you.’

  ‘Thanks. We’re very happy.’

  ‘Nice place you’ve got here.’

  ‘This?’ Charlie swept his arm across the horizon, at the house and the neatly tended acres. ‘You must be kidding. This belongs to Rhonda’s folks. They’re the ones paying for this do. You know how it is – only daughter and all. A bit over the top, between us. All about flaunting their money. If it was up to Rhonda and me, it would have been the local registry office and then off to the nearest pub.’ He smiled warmly. ‘So what about you, Ben? Did you ever take the plunge?’

  ‘Plunge?’

  ‘You know – normal life, marriage, kids, all that kind of stuff.’

  ‘Oh.’ Ben hesitated. What the hell. There was no point pretending. ‘I did get married,’ he said quietly.

  Charlie’s eyes lit up. ‘Great, man. Fantastic. When did that happen?’

  Ben paused again. ‘January.’

  Charlie looked around. ‘Have you brought her with you?’

  ‘She’s not here,’ Ben said.

  ‘That’s a real shame,’ Charlie said, disappointed. ‘I’d love to meet her.’

  ‘She’s gone,’ Ben said.

  Charlie frowned, confused. ‘You mean she was here, but she left?’

  ‘No. I mean she’s dead.’ It came out more abruptly than Ben had meant. Still hard to say it.

  Charlie blanched. He looked down at his feet and was quiet for a few seconds. ‘When?’ he breathed.

  ‘Five months ago. Not long after we married.’

  ‘Jesus. I don’t know what to say.’

  ‘You don’t have to say anything.’

  ‘How are you?’ Charlie said awkwardly. ‘I mean, how are you handling it?’

  Ben shrugged. ‘I have good days and bad days.’ The cold touch of the Browning’s muzzle against his brow was still a fresh memory.

  ‘What happened?’ Charlie asked after another long silence.

  ‘I don’t really want to talk about it.’

  Charlie looked pained. ‘Let me get you a drink. Shit, this is terrible. I was going to ask you something, but now I don’t –’

  ‘It’s fine. Ask. What is it?’

  ‘Let’s talk in private. See if we can find somewhere quiet.’

  Ben followed him across the lawn to the marquee, through the crowds of people talking and sipping champagne. ‘A lot of guests,’ he commented.

  ‘Mostly Rhonda’s side,’ Charlie said. ‘I hardly know anybody, outside of the regiment. And Rhonda didn’t want army people here.’ He rolled his eyes.

  ‘That’s your brother over there, isn’t it?’

  Charlie stared at him in amazement. ‘It must be seven years since you last saw Vince. And he doesn’t even look anything like me. How the hell did you recognise him?’

  ‘I never forget a face,’ Ben said with a smile.

  ‘You certainly don’t.’

  By the marquee, a waiter was offering drinks from a silver tray on a table. He handed Ben and Charlie a glass of champagne each.

  Ben shook his head and pointed. ‘The bottle.’

  The waiter stared for a second, then set down the glasses, took a fresh bottle from the ice and passed it over. Ben grabbed it with one hand and scooped up a couple of crystal champagne flutes with the other. He and Charlie walked away from the throng and the chatter. He sensed that Charlie didn’t want anyone listening to what he had to say.

  They sat on the steps of a gazebo, a little way from the reception. Ben popped open the bottle and poured them each a glass.

  ‘You’re sure you’re OK with this?’ Charlie said nervously. ‘I mean, under the circumstances –’

  Ben handed him a glass and took a long drink from his own. ‘I’m listening,’ he said. ‘Go ahead.’

  Charlie nodded. He took a deep breath and then came straight out with it. ‘I’ve got some problems, Ben.’

  ‘What kind of problems?’

  ‘Nothing like that,’ Charlie said, catching his look. ‘Like I said, Rhonda and I are happy together, everything’s cool in that department.’

  ‘So is it money?’

  In the distance, the band started up a version of String of Pearls.

  Charlie made a resigned gesture. ‘What else? I’m out of work.’

  ‘You left the regiment?’

  ‘Just over a year ago. Fourteen months. Rhonda wanted me out. She was scared I’d get myself killed in Afghanistan or somewhere.’

  ‘That’s fairly understandable.’

  ‘Well, it nearly did happen. More than once. So, what the hell, it’s civvy street for me now. Problem is, I’m no damn use in it. I can’t hold down a job. I’ve had four since I left.’

  ‘It’s a common problem,’ Ben said. ‘Hard to adapt, after the things we’ve seen and done.’

  Charlie took a long drink of champagne. Ben reached for the bottle and topped up his glass. ‘We bought a house a while ago,’ Charlie went on. ‘Just a small place, but you know what property prices are, and this is hardly the cheapest part of the country. Even a bloody cottage is worth half a mil these days. Rhonda’s folks put up a deposit for us as an engagement gift, but we still can hardly keep up with the mortgage payments. It’s killing me. I’m just drowning. I don’t know what I’m going to do.’

  ‘What about Rhonda? Does she work?’

  ‘For an aid charity. It doesn’t pay much.’

  ‘Plenty of desk jobs in the army. Why don’t you apply?’

  Charlie shook his head. ‘They’d go crazy if I went anywhere near that again. Scared I’d be tempted back into active service. God knows I probably would be, too. Rhonda’s dad made his money selling mobile ringtones. Wants me to go and work for him. He’s putting a lot of pressure on me. The whole family is. I mean, fucking ringtones. Can you imagine?’

  Ben smiled. ‘Maybe you should go for it. Sounds cushy – and lucrative. And safer than getting shot at.’

  ‘I wouldn’t last long,’ Charlie said. ‘It would put a strain on the marriage.’ He took another long gulp of champagne.

  ‘I didn’t bring you a wedding present,’ Ben said. ‘If it’ll help, I can give you some money instead. I could write you a cheque today.’

  ‘No way. That’s not what I want.’

  ‘Then you could consider it a loan. Until you get on your feet.’

  ‘No. I wanted to ask you something else.’

  Ben nodded. ‘I think I know what. You want to ask me about working together.’

  Charlie let out a long sigh. ‘OK, I’ll be frank with you. How is the kidnap and ransom business doing these days?’

  ‘Better than ever,’ Ben said. ‘Snatching people and holding them for ransom is a growth industry.’

  ‘I was talking about your end of the business.’

  ‘There’s always call for people like me,’ Ben said. ‘Involving the police is nearly always a bad move. K and R insurance agents and most of the official negotiators are just nerds in suits. People in trouble need an extra option.’

  ‘And you’re it.’

  ‘And you want to be part of it?’

  ‘You know I’d be good,’ Charlie said. ‘But I can’t just set up on my own. I don’t know anything about it. I’d need some training. You’re the best teacher I ever had. If I was going into something like that, I’d want to work for you.’

>   ‘From what you tell me, I don’t think your new family would approve.’

  ‘I’d tell them I was a security consultant. It can’t be as dangerous as what we’ve seen in the regiment, can it?’

  Ben said nothing. Both their glasses were empty, and the sun was beating down. He poured out the last of the champagne and set the bottle down with a heavy clunk of glass on concrete. ‘Problem is, I can’t help you,’ he said. ‘If I could, I would. But I’m out. Retired. I’m sorry.’

  ‘Retired? Really?’

  Ben nodded. It had been his promise to her, the day she’d said she would marry him. ‘Since the end of last year. It’s all over for me.’

  Charlie sank back against the steps of the gazebo, deflating. ‘You have any contacts?’

  Ben shook his head. ‘I never did. I always worked alone. Everything was strictly word of mouth.’ He finished his drink. ‘Like I said. If it’s money I can help.’

  ‘I can’t take money from you,’ Charlie said. ‘Rhonda can ask her folks to bail us out any time, and they probably would. But we see this as our responsibility. Our problem. We need to deal with it ourselves. I was just hoping –’

  ‘I’m sorry. There’s really no way.’

  Charlie grimaced with disappointment. ‘But if you hear of anything going, you’ll let me know?’

  ‘I would, but it won’t happen. I told you, I’m out of it.’

  Charlie sighed again. ‘I’m sorry I brought this up.’ He paused a long time, watching the people dancing and having fun in the distance. ‘So what are you going to do next?’

  ‘I’m going back to Oxford. I’m heading there right after this. I’ve already rented a flat there.’

  ‘What’s in Oxford?’

  ‘The University,’ Ben said. ‘I’m going there to study.’

  ‘You, a student? To do what?’

  ‘To finish what I started before I went crazy and joined the army almost twenty years ago. Theology.’

  Charlie’s eyes opened wide. ‘Theology? You want to be a priest?’