"That doesn't excuse you from not telling me." Jake's voice grew louder.
Wiley grabbed Jake’s arm. “Come work for me, Jake, and you’ll have an understanding of a world beyond anything you’ve ever imagined.” Wiley reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder. “This will be your first assignment.”
“What is it?”
“Come to work for the Fellowship and you can have it. Trust me, you want this assignment. Right now, more than anything else in this world. Accept, and I’ll explain everything.”
He thought about it for a few seconds. Bentley had just dropped two bombs on him, both betrayals in Jake’s eyes. Even if the director hadn’t fired him, he knew he could never work for the man or the agency again…not after covering up his parents’ deaths.
He wasn’t sure why but he extended his hand to Wiley. “I accept.”
Wiley shook his hand then passed him the folder. While Wiley and Bentley watched, Jake read the file. A sinister smile crept across his face.
Once again, the old man was one step ahead of him.
CHAPTER 74
JAKE JUMPED FROM the speedboat and pulled the photo from his coat pocket. While Wiley retrieved his backpack, Jake compared the photo to the hillside as it sloped upward in front of him. He spotted the villa, his destination. The final chapter of the ordeal in Savannah that had plagued him for months was closing forever. When he finished his business here, Ian Collins would be dead.
Twelve hours earlier when Jake accepted Wiley’s offer, the two older men—Wiley and Bentley—returned to their meeting while Jake waited in the luxurious lobby of The Greenbrier Hotel. He talked to his parents on Bentley’s secure phone. He felt like he was getting part of his life back. Afterwards, he took time to memorize every detail in the file Wiley left with him. Two hours later, he and Wiley were in the same black limo on their way to the Greenbrier Valley Airport.
The closest airport to Ios with a runway long enough to accommodate Wiley’s jet was on the Greek island of Thira, thirty-five kilometers south of his destination. Wiley had arranged for a speedboat to pick them up on Thira and take them to Ios.
“How did you find out where Collins was hiding?” Jake started the query as soon as they were wheels up to Thira.
“My intel network was able to trace him from the letter he sent to Bentley. It wasn’t very difficult…which bothers me. This is probably a trap.”
“A trap? Why would he bother?”
“Think about it Jake. He’s taunting you. It’s you he’s been after all along and he’s baiting you to come to him. Otherwise we would never know where he was. He left subtle clues he knew we would find. Clues that led us to Ios. He’ll be waiting for you, rest assured.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to be smarter than him.” Jake fell silent. “What’s with this Fellowship thing?”
“The Greenbrier Fellowship…” Wiley leaned back in his leather chair, interlocked his fingers and rested them on his stomach. “…has seventy members from all over the world. Originally it was much smaller and all the members were Americans but as our arena of operations grew, the need to bring in more members from other parts of the world increased. Our members are people of influence and power, like Scott Bentley, in the fields of business, military, media, politics, banking…the list goes on. We only meet once a year at The Greenbrier Hotel but we have smaller, committee style meetings every quarter at different locales. We discuss a lot of the world’s issues and sometimes, however rare, we decide intervention is necessary.”
“What do you mean by intervention?” Jake asked. “You mean assassination?”
“If necessary, yes.” Wiley pulled a newspaper from his briefcase, drew a circle around a small news clip, and handed the paper to Jake. “A lot of times our intervention is more subtle.”
Wiley told Jake how his ‘emissaries’ technically worked for him but were involved in special projects for the Fellowship. The old man pointed to the newspaper article and explained about the recent uprisings in some Middle Eastern countries such as Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Egypt. The Fellowship had emissaries in place in each of those countries working with the locals to bring about instability. The Fellowship anticipated the domino effect would occur once the first nation had its uprising. Citizens would rally against their leaders and regimes would fall, usually in bloodshed, and hopefully a democratic society would rise in its place.
Jake and Wiley followed the narrow streets of Ios as they wound their way up the hillside toward the villa where the Irishman lived. The arid landscape was cluttered with whitewashed stone houses, churches and local businesses. Tenders were shuttling hundreds of passengers from a cruise ship moored in the harbor to shore. The waterfront had become a beehive of tourists, swarming in and out of every shop. He was glad to escape that madness.
“No toys on this one?” He had learned Wiley was much more than just the toymaker; he was a resourceful man and a wise counselor.
“No toys, Jake. This one’s old school.” Jake saw Wiley staring at him. “In a few minutes you’re going to have to make some life and death decisions.” Wiley said.
“ I know.” Jake said. “And I’m going to kill that Irish bastard once and for all.”
“That’s not what I mean. This time it will be harder.” Wiley continued. “You’re going to be tested, conflicted, and possibly disappointed. Use your skills. Listen to what you know and make your decision. Follow your instincts.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jake asked. “Why does everything have to be so cryptic?”
“Jake, I’m putting my faith in you to make the right decision. Like I said earlier, old school.” Wiley paused. “Now let’s get to work.”
Jake listened, not really sure what Wiley was talking about. He’d noticed the man had a flair for dramatics. He just chalked it up to another of the old man’s eccentricities.
Even in early November the weather on Ios Island was warm and sunny. Both men were dressed like tourists in white pants and floral shirts.
Jake was no longer the man he once was. Death had hardened him. Now, he knew Collins had murdered Beth and then tried to execute his parents. His anger fueled his hatred. He realized, as Wiley had forewarned, he was walking into a trap. He’d played it through in his mind dozens of times in the past few hours, thought of every scenario, but he couldn’t help from feeling there was something he was still missing.
The Irishman had lured him to a final showdown, but for what purpose?
Jake and Wiley were halfway to the villa when Wiley stopped. “Jake, give me your gun.”
“What?”
“Give me your gun.” Wiley reiterated. “You have to go in unarmed.”
CHAPTER 75
“UNARMED. ARE YOU crazy?”
Wiley hesitated, then pulled out a photograph and handed it to Jake.
He studied the photograph for a few seconds and the missing piece fell into the puzzle. “Guess I’m the collateral damage this time?”
“She’s my granddaughter.” Wiley said. “She’s all I have left, I’m sorry. He said you have to go in unarmed or he’ll kill her. I had no choice.”
He handed the photograph back to Wiley, reached behind him, pulled out his Glock, and handed the pistol to the old man. “Collins doesn’t leave witnesses, you know. After he kills me, he’ll come after you. Then, when he grows tired of Kyli, he’ll kill her as well.” Jake turned and walked up the hill.
When he reached the villa he peeked in a window, Collins appeared to be asleep in the chair. His face was the same but his hair was full silver, the white blaze against the darker hair gone. His eyes were closed, an e-reader in his lap under his left hand, his right hand to his side.
Jake stepped back and slowly turned the doorknob, unlocked. He assessed the doorway for traps then pushed it open.
The Irishman’s villa was lavishly furnished, pictures of his homeland Ireland dotted the walls. The front door opened into a large living area where Collins had a solid
cherry computer desk, big-screen television, matching leather sofa, and recliner—which he was sitting in. Behind Collins he could see a breakfast nook and a large kitchen.
Jake kept his eyes trained on Collins as he entered the room, not knowing what to expect next. Then it happened.
“Jake Pendleton.” Collins spoke behind closed eyes. “I’ve been expecting you.”
Collins opened his eyes and Jake’s world flashed back. One blue eye, one brown eye. He recalled the man from Savannah and the chamber in Ireland. Collins was the scariest man he’d ever met.
Collins raised his hand, exposing his silenced Beretta. He pointed it at Jake.
“As you requested, I’m unarmed.” Jake raised his arms and turned a full circle. “Now, release Kyli.”
“All in due time.” Collins smiled. “Don’t you want to hear why I killed your fiancée and your parents?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“But you must.” Collins said. “I insist.”
“You killed Beth.” Jake interrupted. “But not my parents. They’re still alive.”
“You’re bluffing.” Collins’ expression changed, brow furrowed, and his cold, mismatched eyes seemed to darken. “I saw the newspapers. I read the reports.”
“All fabricated for your benefit and you fell for it.” Jake said. “Bentley had been waiting for you to make your move for months. That’s why he had guards watching my parents.”
Collins fell silent. A man who abhors failure, especially his own. “Now, I’m going to kill you.” Jake said.
“Unlikely, Mr. Pendleton, as I am the one holding the gun. I allowed you to find me. And you should ask yourself, why?”
“Let Kyli go first, then you can explain it to me.”
“That is not going to happen.” Collins walked over and tapped the spacebar on his computer keyboard. “You see, Jake. I don’t trust you.”
When the side-by-side monitors came to life, Jake saw the two live video feeds, one of Kyli and one of a timer. The monitor on the left showed Kyli, bound and gagged in a small room. The reflection of sunlight danced back and forth along the wall behind her. The monitor on the right displayed a timer attached to explosives attached to a boiler. The room was dim and shadowy and the timer was set at forty-five seconds.
“Insurance.” Collins said.
“Let her go. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“No, Jake, it’s not going to be that easy. You see she has feelings for you. I could tell at the funeral when she—”
“You’re a sick bastard, you know that?”
“Like I was saying, the young woman obviously has feelings for you but that’s a life from which you will deprived…by me.”
“Where is she?”
“In the basement, behind that door.” Collins pointed to a door in the hall. “When I leave here, you’ll have to get to her and deactivate the explosives. It will be a race against the clock. Quite frankly, I think you're too coward to try to save her.”
Years of playing chess had taught him to analyze every move, strategize attacks, anticipate counterattacks, and think at least four moves ahead. But most of all, learn your opponent’s weaknesses. Jake stared at the monitors assessing the rooms in the video feeds for options.
“You left your fiancée alone in the hospital and because of that she’s dead. Are you man enough to try to save this one…or will you run to save yourself?” Collins pointed to the basement door with his pistol. “What will it be, Mr. Pendleton?”
Jake said nothing.
“Decision time.” Collins pointed his Beretta at Jake’s head.
“Drop the gun.” Wiley shouted. The old man was pointing Jake’s gun at Collins.
“Mr. Wiley, get out of here. He has Kyli. He’ll kill her. Look at the monitor.” While Collins was focusing on Wiley, Jake slipped his hand into his front pocket.
“Let her go.” Wiley moved closer to Jake while keeping his gun trained on the assassin. “I agreed to your terms, I met my end of the bargain. I delivered Jake to you, as you demanded, unarmed. Now release my granddaughter.”
“Dammit. Get out of here.” Jake said.
“She’s all I have left, Jake.” Jake noticed sweat running down the old man’s forehead. His voice cracked. “Let her go Mr. Collins.”
Collins laughed.
“We had a deal.”
“Sorry, old man. I just cancelled it.” Collins pressed the Enter key, the counter started. He turned and fired at Wiley.
Wiley fell to floor grasping his shoulder, his gun tumbled in front of Jake’s feet. Before Collins could move, Jake dropped to a knee, flipped open his knife, and hurled it at the assassin.
Collins fired and missed.
Like a spear, the razor-sharp blade impaled Collins’ left leg. He dropped his gun and clutched his wound with both hands.
Jake grabbed Wiley’s gun and glanced at the timer. 30 seconds left. Jake reached down and pulled Wiley to his feet.
“Must…save…Kyli.” Wiley said.
Collins moved for his gun.
Jake focused on the Irishman as he reached his long arm toward the Beretta. Jake fired and the bullet pierced Collins’ hand. “Decision time, Shamrock.”
“Jake.” Wiley interrupted. “Kyli. Save Kyli.”
20 seconds.
Jake saw Collins’ face twitch. The Irishman’s plan had backfired and the big man looked worried. “Only a few more seconds and none of this will ever matter again.”
“Jake.” Wiley shouted.
“Mr. Wiley, get out of here…now.” Jake noticed Collins was sweating. “Ian, you killed the woman I loved, now I’m going to kill you.”
15 seconds.
“I can stop it.” Collins said. “All I have to do is hit the escape key.”
Jake aimed his Glock at Collins. “Stop it then.”
Collins pressed the escape key. The counter kept counting down.
10 seconds.
Collins pounded the keyboard. “I don’t know what’s wrong. It’s not stopping. We must get out of here now.”
Collins started to move and Jake fired.
Ian Collins’ head exploded, his lifeless body fell to the floor.
Jake glanced at the monitor.
5 seconds.
Wiley fell to his knees. “Oh my god. What have you done? What have I done?”
Jake grabbed the old man, threw him over his shoulder, and ran for the door. As he crossed through the threshold, the villa exploded.
EPILOGUE
3 Days later
Athens Medical Center
Athens, Greece
JAKE WAS TALKING to Kyli when The Toymaker regained consciousness.
The blast had hurled Jake and the old man thirty feet in the air before they crashed into the stone villa across the narrow street. The thick exterior stone walls of Collins’ villa remained intact after the explosion. Windows blew outward, glass and debris covered the streets. When Jake came to, smoke was billowing from the windows. He heard the firefighters say that the floor had collapsed and crumbled into the basement where everything soon engulfed in flames.
The old man suffered first and second-degree burns, a concussion, broken left wrist, left clavicle fracture, and multiple contusions. Jake escaped with only minor burns, bruises and a knot on the back of his head when he was thrown into a bicycle parked in front of the adjacent villa.
Kyli leaned down and kissed Wiley on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re okay, Grandpa.”
“Kyli? Is it really you?” Wiley tried to rise up but Kyli pushed him back down. His voice weak and strained, almost faltering. “I thought you were dead. What happened? Where’s Jake?”
“He’s right here.” She said. “He’s fine. He saved your life…and mine.”
“Jake…come here.” Wiley said.
Jake stood and walked to Wiley’s bedside. “How are you feeling?” Across the bed from him, Jake saw tears well up in Kyli’s eyes.
“Blown up.” Wiley grabbed Jake’s arm. �
��How did you know Collins was lying?”
“Simple, it was exactly as you said, a trap. Collins was trying to trick me into the basement.”
“Obviously…Kyli wasn’t in the basement.”
“He had her locked up.” Jake paused. “Just not in the basement.”
“How did you know that?” Wiley asked.
“From the data you gave me and what I gleaned from Collins’ villa.” Jake said. “The information was all there, all I had to do was put the pieces together.”
“I don’t understand.” Wiley said.
Jake glanced across at Kyli, then back to her grandfather. “At first, I was shocked when I saw Kyli on the monitor and was ready to comply with Collins' dare. Then I remembered what you said as we arrived on Ios. I knew the only way Collins could be found was if he wanted to be found. It all made sense to me then.”
“Jake, who’s talking cryptic now?” Wiley lifted his head from his pillow. “How did you know Kyli wasn’t in his basement?”
Jake smiled. “My first dealing with Collins goes back eight months. I studied everything I could about that man. One thing he always does, is keep women for his own pleasure. After you and I were out of the way, he was planning to have Kyli to himself.” Jake glanced at Kyli. “You’re lucky. When Collins doesn’t kill a woman, he makes them wish they were dead.”
“He was a scary bastard.” She said.
Jake turned back at Wiley. “The video feed was the biggest give away. He used the video to try to lure me into the basement, where I would have been blown up. Then he would have killed you and left you in the rubble.”
“But you couldn’t be sure.” Wiley said.
“I was one hundred percent certain she wasn’t in that basement. I spent a lot of time on boats and ships when I was at Annapolis, and then again in the Navy. First time, for several weeks on one of the Academy’s forty-four foot sloops. Then for several months on the USS Mount Whitney. When I saw the video feed of Kyli, I knew she was on a boat. The sun’s reflection off the water is unmistakable, the way it shimmers and dances across a room. I realized then Collins’ plan was to kill both of us, get to his boat, and sail away with Kyli onboard.” Jake looked at Kyli. “Eventually, he would have killed you too. Probably dumped your body at sea.”
The Toymaker Page 29