'Ben. What. Have. You. DONE?'
'You need to arrange a team to get to the farm ASAP, fully equipped for dealing with the aftermath of a chemical strike. They will know what to do far more than I ever will.'
'You didn't…'
'No one is leaving this place with Apex - at least none they can do any harm with.'
'What have you done?'
'What I thought was right. I know how convoluted that sounds, given whatever it is you know about me. But letting those sons of bitches in there have any chance of doing the kind of evil that that substance was capable of, well... I just could’t allow it'.
'Ben, you have elevated a situation that was being resolved, albeit unsatisfactorily, in a way that was non-violent to one that could spark all out war. If I’m following, you have killed some of the most important world figures with your little spur of conscience! Where do you think their financiers will come knocking for answers? On whose soil did this happen on? OURS. '
I keep pressing through the undergrowth, hoping to leave it all behind. A distant, despicable memory.
'I know, but this will be covered up. We both know that. Do you think the Ministry of Defense will allow any word of this to get out? No chance! And with no suspects to hand, this will go down as a tragic accident. I workplace mishap, if your place of work happens to include the trading of illegal chemical weapons. And who do you think is more to blame, the team who put the event on, the party who initiated the sale, or the country it just so happened to take place on? I bet you anything you like it won't be the third.'
'Jesus,' Jeremiah says, partially conceding the point.
'It's not about that. It's about justice and good. You can only do a finite amount of either of those things from the legal, bureaucratic handcuffs you are restricted by. The same goes for Grosvenor. I am autonomous. I've made my choice, and I'm prepared to die executing it. I was given an option today to wipe out a lot of evil, and make a statement to those that are smart enough to listen. That statement is: not on my watch. Not if I can help it. You come to this country with the intention to do harm, or you betray your country's people like Kirsten Sweetmore, then you are entering another domain entirely. My domain. They wanted Apex, I gave them apex, at the hands of evil's apex predator. You fuck around in this country, you will pay for it. I can promise that. I have set my stall out. I repeat. Not on my watch.'
Jeremiah is stunned into silence.
'Like I said Jeremiah, I admire and respect you. I hope we can have that pint one day, and I hope you can forgive me for my actions and see the reasons behind what I have done. I have to hope that the world will be a better place because of it.'
I shut the phone off, and crush it under my foot. Goodbye my trusty smartphone. It's time to start from scratch. Whoever was backing Sweetmore, will have known about me. It won't be long before questions are asked after my body doesn't turn up. And they'll come running for sure. I need a head start. I wish Amina had come with me, but I understand why she felt she couldn't. Goddamn it.
Mentally, I feel defeated and flayed, splayed on the rocks at the bottom of a dark pit. My instincts and duty have again dragged me to places I couldn't think possible. But my abiding memory of this will be that I have to trust them, if I want to keep surviving.
THE END
Author Acknowledgements and Notes
Dr Helen Turrell, Dr Lewis Collins and my sister in law Dr Susie Parker. The smartest people I know. We had a lovely chat one day about botulism, and how fascinatingly awful it is. If the NSA had only heard us. Helen’s assistance in the factual accuracy of the book has been invaluable, fascinating and extremely generous. Thank you all!
The wreck Ben finds off Morte Point, is a genuine vessel that sadly sank and was never recovered. All that is known is that on May 23rd 1868, The Seabird came into difficulties off the coastline during a storm, and the entire crew was sadly lost. The Seabird might still be down there, off Morte Point.
The main man, Wayne, at The Jube, in Woolacombe, and Dougal. Always keeping the beers cold and tasty - thanks for looking after us all these years on our hols!
Zach Dischner, awesome photographer, who allowed me to adapt his amazing photograph ‘Now All I Need Is A Cape’ for the cover of the book. Thanks for being so generous with your excellent work!
Mum and Dad, Jonny, Susie and Charlotte, Lauren and Matt, Graham and Dru - thanks for all the love and support. Mum, thanks especially for always being the first to read my work and letting me know what’s what. Thanks to each and every wonderful person in my extended family.
And, of course, to Becky and Ava, always. Luvvies xxx
FOLLOW BEN BRACKEN ONLINE
Twitter: @IAmBenBracken
Web: www.whoisbenbracken.com
FOLLOW ROBERT PARKER ONLINE
Twitter: @RobertRParker45
Web: www.robertrparker.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robertparkerauthor
NEED MORE BEN BRACKEN?
Visit Robert Parker’s Amazon Author Page! Thank you very much for reading!
Ben Bracken is back in:
THE PENNY BLACK
Coming Soon
Apex (Ben Bracken 2) Page 24