The Black Rose Conspiracy

by James McKenna

  “One million pounds.” Aguzzi banged the table. “Where’s the twenty billion?”

  “You have to understand there are thousands of accounts here. When Silverman set this up it was clearly meant for someone with patience.”

  “Go to the next account,” Laura said.

  John complied but with the same result.

  “A million a throw. It all helps.” Laura smiled at Aguzzi.

  “Try one further down the list.” Aguzzi jabbed with his finger.

  John picked an account at random but this time it asked for an additional four figure code.

  “What now?” Aguzzi thumped the desk. “You have not solved it.”

  “Time, time, we must give it time.” Laura calmed him.

  “My men will solve it.” Aguzzi grabbed the paper on which John had written the brooch’s codes then stormed out the room.

  “Looks like I upset him,” John shrugged.

  “I trust you have other copies?” Laura turned to him.

  “Sure, all up here.” He tapped his head. “My guess is, this new code’s personal to Silverman. All we have to do is figure what.”

  “When I recruited you, I knew I did right.” Laura brushed his arm. “Crack this and you will never regret it.”

  “You sure it’s all for the Government?”

  “Absolutely. But via the CIA and DJP. Let’s say it’s their way of having influence over the British Administration. Keep at it and don’t tell anyone but me when you find it.” She stood. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

  Outside in the corridor she found Eleanor and Bunty, the child woman talking.

  “All done?” Laura asked.

  “Both locked in the tower,” Eleanor said. “And no way out.”

  “And Aguzzi?”

  “With his men in the library.” Eleanor raised her hands. “If he wins we have no choice but to play his side.”

  “OK. Bunty, rung along,” Laura told her. “And well done.”

  When she had gone Laura clasped Eleanor’s arm, guiding her along the corridor.

  “We must delay them, somehow distract them.”

  “How?”

  “As far as men go, the oldest and simplest distraction in the world.”

  Five minutes later Laura returned to the drawing room and knocked on the door.

  Aguzzi looked round from the computer.

  “Not now, I’m busy.”

  “We may have found something,” she told him.

  He stood and came across.

  “It better be good.”

  “Judge for yourself.” She clasped his arm and walked him along the corridor towards the front of the house and drawing room. “We found papers in Sarah Anderson’s room with numbers, possibly the code.”

  “Where is she, did she object?”

  “She’s safe and this is our concern, not hers.”

  As they reached the front corridor a faint scream came from the back, followed by men’s shouts and laughter.

  “What’s that?” Aguzzi stopped.

  Laura shrugged. “Sounds like some of your guys are messing with the girls.”

  “Shit, they’re meant to be working.” He pulled free from her hold and returned the way they had come.

  “It’s probably nothing.” Laura hurried after him. “Let them be.”

  When they reached a rear window, both looked out. At least six of Eleanor’s girls stood naked by the pool. Two were on loungers, Aguzzi’s men on top.

  “Bit of skinny dipping.” Laura shrugged.

  “An open invite to my men.” Aguzzi headed for the library.

  “It’s not us,” Laura shouted. “It’s your men who are on top.”

  Sean sat alone before his computer in CAT headquarters. Working with Victoria had proved too distracting. He had virtually covered all the districts of Italy but when he reached Umbria, he found a birth recorded from thirty-three years ago, one which held possibilities. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

  Victoria’s phone rang a half dozen times before she answered.

  “Quick,” she said. “Because I’m driving.”

  “Naughty girl, but listen, I think I might have a lead on Silverman’s son. Where are you?”

  “Driving to the manor house where Laura Manning is staying.”

  “Don’t go in, you might not come out again. Wait for me, I’ll join you. Two of us will be much safer.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Victoria, wait. I’m on my way, now.” He stood and lifted his coat from the chair.

  “OK, OK, I’ll wait. I’ll send you a sat nav location somewhere close, but hurry.”

  Joe parked in a discrete layby on one side of the manor house. Quickly he changed into camouflage fatigues then carefully removed the sniper rifle and automatic from the cello case. After pulling on balaclava and face mask, he crossed to the manor house grounds. Leaping several times, he finally grasped the wall top, pulling himself up and over to land in thick vegetation. He adjusted the rifle on his shoulder then called Head of Surveillance.

  “I’m East side of the estate,” he told him.

  “OK. I’ll warn the others. We’re watching from four sides of the house.”

  “My position will be the forward treeline with a full view of the front. Hopefully I won’t need to move until mission over. I’ll contact then.”

  “OK. Roger and out.”

  Joe set off through the woods, dusk rapidly closing. When he reached the treeline, he picked a spot allowing him to lay concealed beneath bushes while still having a clear vision of the house. Lights shone from several rooms and peering through field-glasses he saw into most, and in one bedroom, what looked like Aguzzi.

  “Spot on,” he whispered and began to settle himself, lining his weapon for the perfect shot.

  When Laura entered the library, Eleanor stood by the open French doors, hand over mouth as she watched her girls devour Aguzzi’s men. For a moment Laura stood beside her.

  “They don’t mess, do they?” she said.

  “Ex-marines. When they engage the enemy, it’s full on.”

  “Will you get those bitches off my men,” Aguzzi shouted.

  Eleanor smirked, “Will you get your men off my girls. Though I think no-one’s going no place ’til they’re done.”

  Aguzzi drew an automatic and fired upwards. Four shots cracking the air before his men scrambled for cover.

  “What the fuck are you doing? You’re supposed to be working, not shagging.”

  Guided by Satnav co-ordinates sent to his phone, Sean found Victoria waiting in a public carpark South of Richmond.

  “You know who’s at that house?” Sean asked as he got into her car. The smile for him was warm.

  “Laura Manning.”

  “Aguzzi is with her. And she wants him dead. Bad things are going to happen because Aguzzi won’t be alone. He’ll have armed men with him.”

  “Then we better break it up, get Laura out of there.”

  “That might not be so easy. CAT also have armed men in the grounds. There could well be a shoot-out.”

  “So, I’ve got my hero with me.”

  He placed his hand on her knee to have it knocked away.

  “Who,” she emphasised, “is coming as my assistant to do as I instruct him. Understand?”

  “Yes, Madam.” He smiled showing all his teeth.

  They arrived at the Manor House as dusk closed in. Flood lights came on to illuminate the gate. Victoria left the car and rang the bell.”

  “Yes?” a female voice enquired.

  “My name’s Victoria Lawless from MI5. I’ve come to talk with Laura Manning.”

  “No-one here of that name.”

  “Tell her, as she’s an MP, MI5 have a tracker on her phone. It’s for security so we know where she is, and it’s here.”

  The voice hesitated. “Wait, I’ll check with my boss.”

  Minutes later the gates opened and Victoria returned to the car.<
br />
  “They swallowed it,” she said after climbing in.

  When they arrived in front of the Manor, six women stood by the door. Victoria recognised them as some of the blonde angels from Paxos.

  “Let me do the talking. Don’t speak unless spoken to.” Both left the car.

  “Miss Manning was not expecting you.” Marilyn stepped forward.

  “Urgent security situation. You know how it is.” Victoria shrugged. “I believe we met in Paxos.”

  Marilyn nodded and looked to Sean.

  “Sean Fagan, my assistant.”

  “I remember you both. What is the emergency?”

  “I can only tell that to Laura but it’s a matter which could place her in danger and she is an MP.”

  “Understood.” Marilyn gestured to the front door which opened on her signal.

  Sean followed, keeping one step behind as they were led down the corridor. Sitting at a desk in a small office, Laura looked up from her smartphone.

  “You really track my phone?” she asked, standing to shake their hands.

  “The phones of every MP in the House. MI5 always have done, at least since the available technology.”

  “Didn’t we meet on Paxos?”

  “Yes. Both Sean, my assistant, and I attended two of your parties.”

  She smiled for Sean and nodded.

  “So, what is this danger?”

  “Since the attacks and shootings at Silverman’s apartment, we have been keeping close watch on various characters. One of them is a gentleman called Aguzzi. A surveillance photo was taken outside a London depositary and you were next to him. You have association?”

  “Yes, he runs West Coast Casinos in America and is advising us on setting up our British casinos to help NHS.” Laura shrugged.

  “Do you know he’s a high-profile Mafia?”

  “No, he’s a perfectly legitimate businessman.”

  “Is he here, may I speak with him?”

  “No, I believe he’s gone back to America.”

  “Not certain then?”

  Laura shrugged. “He went to London, hence to Heathrow.”

  “Plus his men?” Sean asked.

  “I think so. Though some were canoodling with our girls.”

  “But would that have kept them here?”

  “I didn’t do a head count.”

  “Under the circumstances and in case any of his men are still lingering, mind if we stay the night?” Sean asked.

  Victoria looked at him, eyes ablaze, a gesture not lost on Laura.

  “Sure you can. But with the girls here plus a few friends, we have a full house. On Paxos I saw you were an item. So you don’t mind sharing a room?”

  “Not at all.” Sean smiled at Victoria who looked back with her lips compressed.

  “I’ll get Marilyn to show you upstairs. Dinner is at 7.30.”

  John Kirkwell found Bunty staring down with angry disapproval on the activities around the floodlit pool.

  “Bunty my friend, I need a favour.”

  She looked at him, eyes ablaze. “No!”

  “Not that,” he smiled. “Your friend Grace, I need to talk with her.”

  “She’s hiding.”

  “Where?”

  “Can’t tell you.”

  John pulled a small sheath of twenty-pound notes from his pocket and held them out.

  “I have something important to give her. And for helpful girls there’s a lot more where these came from.”

  “Can’t say, but I call it the Knights Tower. It’s in the garden.” She grabbed the notes.

  John smiled for her. “I won’t tell anyone. Knights Tower is just a story. Which way?”

  She pointed and then stared back out the window, carefully pushing the notes into her pocket.

  A few minutes later John had collected a torch from his room and left the Manor by a backdoor.

  Laura used her mobile to contact Eleanor.

  “I need to talk immediately. The situation has changed.”

  They met a few minutes later in the corridor.

  “My mobile’s been hacked. MI5 are here. As of now we have to appear the good guys, that means getting Sarah back on our side. If they send operatives to search the house and grounds she’ll be found. We also need to get Aguzzi out the house.”

  “Aguzzi will be difficult,” Eleanor answered. “Sarah, yes, we can do something so she thinks we’re on her side. We don’t free her, she needs a night in that cold tower to loosen her tongue. But we can still fool her into believing we want to help. Providing nobody knows she is there, it’s possible to turn this situation to our advantage. We’ll rescue her in the morning, then to gain our help and save her daughter, she’ll tell us what Silverman’s secret bank code is. She had the brooch so she must know, even if she doesn’t realise its significance.”

  John did not shine his torch and moved slowly through the trees in case others prowled the grounds. After searching the dark forest for fifteen minutes, he heard female voices shouting.

  “Sarah, Grace, where are you?”

  He heard no reply but made his way towards them. Torch lights flickered and the two shouted again. This time he heard a faint but distinct reply.

  “Here, in the Tower. Help us,” Sarah called.

  Both the searchers, whose voices he recognised as Laura and Eleanor, ignored her. They stood outside the Tower for several minutes, shouting then slowly moved away. John waited before going back to the Tower wall. When he could hear no one shouting nor see any torch light, he switched on his own, carefully shading the beam. Minutes later he found the tiny Tower door. Carefully and quietly he drew back the bolt. The door jammed a little but then swung open.

  “Sarah,” he called in a loud whisper. “It’s me, John Kirkwell, I’ve come to help you.”

  “Oh, thank God.”

  John eased through the door as he heard a dog bark, then shone his torch beam to guide them down the stairs. Holding Grace by one hand Sarah threw the other around him, hugging him close.

  “I heard them shouting but they never heard when I shouted back. What was that little bitch doing to lock us in here?”

  “A long story. Not all are as they seem. But I’m here and together we’ll get out of it. Grace, are you OK?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “But I’m scared, I don’t like it in here. Neither does Scamp.” She held him in one arm.

  “Then let’s get you out. Follow me. But don’t make a noise.”

  He switched off his torch and crawled back through the hole, followed by Grace, then Sarah. Once outside he closed and bolted the door.

  “Now nobody will know you’ve escaped unless they look. I need to get you back to the house and hide you in my room until help arrives.” He took Grace’s hand. “Quietly now, quietly.”

  “I’m hungry,” Grace told him. “So is Scamp.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll soon fix that.”

  After passing through the silent woods he led them in through the door he had left by, checking the corridors before leading them up a back servants’ stairway. Once in his room he gave Sarah another hug, then one to Grace.

  “We must call the Police,” Sarah said. “Then see Laura.”

  “No, Laura is not on your side, no one is.”

  “But I heard her calling, looking for us.”

  “A trick. I’m your only friend here and I’m here to help. But first I need something from you. Other than the ones in your brooch, did your father ever give you another bank code?”

  “No, I only met him once, and then only for minutes. He wanted to get us into the wardrobe, not talk. Gunmen were coming.”

  “Did he say anything?”

  “Only the day I was born became the happiest in his life. So sweet, yet so dramatic.

  “Of course,” John banged his head. “I should have realised. “What’s your birthday?”

  “6th July, 1987.”

  “I’m hungry,” Grace said.

  John looked at her, har
dly able to contain his excitement them switched on his computer before pressing the bell on his room intercom.

  “Kitchen,” a female voice answered.

  “John Kirkwell here. I’m uncertain if I’ll make it down to dinner due to work. Could you please send the full dinner plus supper up to my room? I’m very hungry.”

  “No problem, sir. It’s just about ready. Give us ten minutes.”

  “Cheers.” He switched off. “So,” he turned to Grace. “When they knock, hide in the bathroom. I don’t know what’s coming but I’m sure it will fill a stomach or two. Will you give some to Mum?”

  Grace nodded and smiled at her mother.

  “Listen, we must call the Police,” Sarah said.

  “It’s OK I called them earlier. They’re already here but playing it down. They don’t want their cover blown or another shoot out. Let me check my computer. I’ll explain in a minute.” He nodded, lifted his hand for silence then started tapping on his keyboard. Silverman’s accounts came on screen, plus space for the missing code. Carefully he typed in the date of Sarah’s birthday and pressed continue. Teeth clenched he waited, then smiled as an account came up showing fifty million. To transfer twenty billion at fifty million a transaction would take time and patience. Also, such money into his own account would alert the bank and possibly the Police. He cursed himself for not having created offshore accounts in preparation. But he had the secret and no longer required Sarah. For moments he stared at the screen and in those seconds greed overwhelmed caution and sense. Fast as the technology allowed, he transferred fifty million to his own account.

  Now he needed to be sure no one else had found the code. Looking up he watched Sarah cradling her daughter, the dog at their feet. Let them enjoy their meal, he thought, probably their last.

  “I said not to speak unless spoken to.” Victoria sat on the bed, arms folded.

  Sean sat beside and placed a hand on her thigh.

  “Yeah, well you know what men are like, can’t keep their mouths shut. Besides, this is where we want to be, amongst the enemy.”

  “I decided that.” She removed his hand.

  “Too late, I decided for you, but don’t worry, the best is yet to come. I know two things you don’t.”

  “Oh yeah, smart pants, what?” She screwed up her face at him.

  “I don’t think Aguzzi has gone and neither do I believe he’ll be alive by midday tomorrow.”