Crouch visibly flinched. Alicia went suddenly immobile. Riley opened his jacket to reveal a string of small grenades, their pins all wired to a single pull switch. They were wrapped around his waist.
Crouch whispered. “You crazy son of a—”
“Crazy, yes! Imprisoned, no! They broke me, you fool. The SAS? They broke me and turned me into what you see now. That’s why I left that day and never contacted you. That’s why we stand here now. I couldn’t go on, Michael.”
“But you were already there.”
“Not up here.” Riley tapped at the side of his head. “Not where we truly live, Michael, and in my soul. They destroyed it.”
“So why not just die like a good man?” Crouch played for time. “Or find a bloody normal job?”
Riley blinked at him, genuinely confused. “I did.”
By now Alicia was behind him, with Healey and Caitlyn approaching slowly. Riley allowed them to come nearer.
“We go as one,” he said. “The blast will be exhilarating, to know you are all there with me. Bonded at the end. Shattered together. Mixed together. Are you ready?”
Alicia thrust Beau away. There was no way she could stop Riley from pulling those pins, only put her trust in the only one who held the slightest chance.
Caitlyn Nash.
The inexperience, the fear, the amateurishness she showed in the field. Their world depended on her now.
Riley smiled widely and looked up toward the ceiling’s lion skin motifs as if seeking absolution. His finger tightened on the wire pull.
Caitlyn stepped closer.
Crouch fell away.
Healey caught their enemy’s attention and Alicia said, “Hey!”
Caitlyn’s window opened, both the shortest and longest window of her life. As Riley glanced away she drew the katana Alicia had strapped awkwardly to her back, and swung it all in one fluid movement. The blade whispered through the air, glimmering with reflected light, and chopped clean through Riley’s arm, severing it above the wrist.
The hand struck the floor and bounced, because the katana had also severed the pull cord.
Blood sprayed and Riley screamed. With his other hand he tried to yank at the remainder of the cord but Healey had anticipated that and was close. Carefully, but firmly he held that hand tight, wincing as blood drenched his clothes.
Crouch stepped in and punched Riley on the temple; the man’s body slumped into unconsciousness.
Alicia ran to Caitlyn and caught her in a bear hug. “Nice move, lady. Very nice move.”
Caitlyn threw up down her back.
“Ah shit, I guess that’s what you get when you’re bringing up kids.”
She kept hold of Caitlyn, knowing the woman would be experiencing all kinds of emotions right now. Fear. Hate. Self-loathing. Disgust. The list was endless and likely to alter her forever. After a while she felt a tap on the shoulder and looked up.
Russo’s face blocked out all the light. “Kenzie’s gone.”
“She’ll turn up again. We’ll bag her later.”
Crouch also came over and hugged Caitlyn. His thanks and gratitude went unsaid. “I thought we were all goners.”
Caitlyn bobbed her head. “Me too.”
“I’m thanking my lucky stars you remembered the sword.”
“I didn’t.” Caitlyn shrugged in confusion. “Kenzie mimed it as she left the room.”
Alicia backed away. “Probably best not to admit that. And now I need to change my top. Well, hell, The Ritz restaurant is as good a place as any.”
She changed right there, beckoning a stunned waiter over and taking his jacket to cover herself. Sirens wailed outside in the street and flashing blue lights painted the apricot walls.
“Just what we need.” Crouch smiled. “A bit of authority. Time to start the protocols, guys. The Hercules Tarentum will soon be available to everyone.”
Alicia smiled as the cops walked in, their faces grim. “Calm down, boys. Do we have a tale for you!”
THIRTY EIGHT
Later, Alicia waited alone in her room.
The scene was set to her liking. Sitting in a small wicker chair with her back to the wall and the un-curtained window to her right she leaned forward, always ready to act. This particular hotel was almost the opposite of The Ritz; unimportant, unpretentious and almost unknown it perched among dozens more like it in an area classed as Camden. Her window looked onto a tatty roof and a rubbish-littered courtyard. A brick wall and a sooty chimney formed her best view.
When the knock came she was ready.
“Door’s open.”
Slowly, it eased inwards. A shadowy figure crossed the threshold and closed it gently behind him. Then he paused and stared in Alicia’s direction. “Is there a problem?”
“How did Daniel Riley capture you?”
Beauregard to his credit stared down at the floor. “It is a sad, sad story.”
Alicia lifted the barrel of her gun. “One I want to hear.”
“You don’t first want to . . .”
“No, Beau. I don’t first want to. Maybe later, if I let you live.”
The Frenchman came a little closer, his facial features now picked out by the dull light. Even that slight movement was full of sinuous grace and deceptive calm. Alicia gave him a warning nod.
“Come no closer. Do not underestimate me, Beauregard.”
“Ah, it is so sad that we have to live our lives this way. Either we fight or we quarrel or we fight or we hold weapons on each other. Is this the entirety of our relationship?”
“It’s what we are. Now I want to know what happened today, who the hell you really are and who you’re working for.”
“It is a long story.”
“I’ve ordered pizza.”
Beauregard blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Money’s on the table, tip included. When they knock just take it.”
Beau eyed the bed. “May I—”
“No you may not. Now start talking.”
Beauregard held up his hands. “Okay, okay. Riley conned me and it is not a proud moment. One I will not repeat. The man lured me here because he knew I was keeping tabs on Michael through a tracker, a final resort. When I entered the restaurant he showed me the grenades and threatened to detonate right then and there. I am sorry, Alicia. I really am, but I had confidence you and Michael would find a way.”
Alicia carefully kept her surprise hidden. Beauregard never apologized for anything. This was a first. Is he apologizing for making a clearly human decision or for letting me down? An interesting quandary. “Go on.”
“I am exactly who you think I am. An assassin, created by the French government long ago and then let go. What else could I do? Instead of fading away I honed my craft and came back deadlier. After dispatching those who wronged me I offered my services to the highest bidder. When that choice started to lead me down even darker paths I ran into Michael. It took some time but we agreed to work together. The rest as they say . . .” he spread his arms apart.
“And your agenda?”
Beauregard paused as the expected knock came and he paid for the pizza. When he turned back to the room Alicia was on her feet, gun leveled at his chest.
“What?”
“If you try even a slice I’ll shoot you where you stand.”
“Fine. My agenda, you say? Michael and I recognized the Pythian threat very early. Tyler Webb didn’t just appear overnight you know, he’s been soliciting people for years. When he finally pulled together his cabal we acted. I infiltrated their group and Crouch stayed close to your Drake.”
“My Drake?”
“The Yorkshireman.”
“Yes, I know who he is. Does he know about you?”
“Of course not.”
“And now? Do you think your cover’s blown?”
Beauregard chewed his bottom lip. “I don’t know. Only Kenzie can expose me and it’s difficult to predict what she will do. I think it is worth the risk.”
; “She could run straight to the Pythians.”
Beauregard shrugged.
Alicia kept the pistol directed at his chest. “Hand me a slice. Oh, and take your clothes off.”
She watched him, keeping hold of the weapon until he complied. Then she took a small bite of the cheese-covered dough bread. “You are right about what you said earlier. We are always fighting, sometimes literally, always arguing. What to do?”
Beauregard approached carefully. “Well if it leads to moments like this.” He took her in his arms. “Perhaps it is not so bad.”
Alicia pretended to struggle. “Now this is the kind of fight I like.”
“And am I better than your newly discovered treasure?”
“Mmmm, I prefer my treasure naked, Beau.”
THE END
Alicia Myles will return in Matt Drake 11—The Ghost Ships of Arizona—due for release early December 2015. Her third and probably final solo adventure for a while will be released mid to late 2016 and will offer an ending for the Gold team, of sorts.
Alicia Myles 2 - Crusader's Gold Page 20