Which was your only experience of handling a gun? Sara said.
Exactly. Father Murphy shouted, You know the way out, boys. Dont worry about me. They wouldnt dare to harm a priest. The church door swung open, men burst in, the first one already firing a pistol, Dillon continued. He hit me in the left shoulder. I staggered back, firing blindly, and caught him in the throat. Tod shot the man behind them, driving the others back, then got an arm around me, hustled me into the vestry, Kelly following, down some steps to a cellar. There was a manhole in a corner, they opened it, and we scrambled into a sewage tunnel, big enough to walk along, all the way down to the docks.
And obviously, you got away, Sara said.
That part of the city is an underground network of similar tunnels. I remember us surfacing in some sort of large garage full of trucks and vans, and then I blacked out, so I can only tell you what I was told later.
And what was that?
The Provos had the trick of using ambulances theyd got their hands on, manning them with their own people wearing hospital uniforms. Tod told me they had a real nurse pump me full of morphine, then he and Kelly scrambled in the back wearing hospital scrubs and we were away, sailing through every roadblock.
To where? Sara asked.
Over the border into the Republic, to a charity hospital called St Marys Priory run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, a nursing order.
Strictly speaking, that was illegal.
Of course, but how far do you think theyd get putting nuns in court in Ireland? Tod and Kelly left me to it, then came back three weeks later when I was fit to leave.
An amazing story, the whole business, changing your life like that. You were forced into killing that UVF man, I can see that, but why did you join the PIRA and set foot on such a course?
It was nothing to do with the death of that UVF man, everything to do with what happened to Father Murphy. He and the sexton buried my father as he had promised. A week later, somebody ran him down one night, left him dead in the road.
Sara was distressed. It could have been an accident, Sean.
You dont believe that any more than I did at the time. But never mind. Youve been so gripped by my story that youve lost sight of why I told it to you.
What are you saying? she asked.
He showed her the photo on his phone. She examined it, frowning. Who on earth are these two?
Supposedly their names are Jackson and Hawkins, two Americans visiting Nantucket in a sport-fisherman out of Long Island. I got that photo of them from a nice kid named Henry working out of the harbourmasters office. Remember I went for a walk on the beach down to the harbour? I found Henry checking boats and showed him the Chechen photos. He recognized them as having had a row with Jackson and Hawkins the previous evening, told me he was surprised to find that they had already left in their boat, which was booked to stay until Friday.
Are you trying to say you know these men?
I certainly dont recognize them, but beards and bushy hairdos are a very successful disguise, so Ive always found. But some things cant be disguised. What if I told you that Henrys a jazz enthusiast and heard Hawkins, the one with the white hair, playing the finest clarinet hed ever heard but didnt recognize the music. When he asked what it was, Hawkins told him it was an old Irish folk song called The Lark in the Clear Air, which hed played in the style of George Gershwin.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, stunned. Oh, my God!
Yes, my love, my cousin and Tim Kelly can disguise themselves as much as you like, but no one could disguise that music from me, wouldnt you agree after hearing my story?
But what would they be up to?
Obviously I dont know, but what I do is that they were both released from the Maze Prison during the peace process. I heard some talk of them being in the security business, so called. As we know, that could mean anything. It gave me the greatest shock of my life when Henry spoke to me. It was so strange, brought everything back. My first thought was that Id have to turn them in. I couldnt face that, but Ive got my head round it now. Ill have to tell the General and face the consequences.
There was a stirring up in front of them and Ferguson looked around. No need, Dillon, I heard the whole bloody saga taped it, as a matter of fact. How lucky for me that my pill box was empty so I hadnt been knocked out as I usually am on these flights.
So its the Tower of London, next stop? Dillon said.
You certainly deserve it. Youve given me all sorts of problems now. What do I do about the CIA, what will the Prime Minister have to say? Im going to send it all on for Roper to digest. In the meantime, we have another four hours to Farley. May I suggest we dim the lights and try to get some sleep?
At the Holland Park safe house, Roper, seated in his dressing gown in his wheelchair in the computer room, was ecstatic and laughing to himself as he reached the end of the recording. He reached for the Bushmills Irish whiskey bottle and poured a large one.
He tossed it back, broke into laughter, and said, God bless you, Sean Dillon. When my day is dull, I can always rely on you to brighten it up.
Tony Doyle, the military police sergeant on night duty, had just pushed in a trolley with bacon sandwiches and a tea urn, his bomb-devastated boss being unable to drink coffee any longer.
Youre a happy man, Major, whats caused that? Have there been developments?
He had been in the computer room the previous night with Roper when Ferguson had come on screen from Nantucket to mention the assassination attempt and Dillon and Saras part in it. The Holland Park safe house operated outside the normal security services such as MI5 and 6, who hated the fact that, thanks to Ropers genius, a great deal that passed through his coded computers stayed private except to Ferguson and his people, all sworn to secrecy.
Roper said, Youve got to hear this, Tony, fresh from the Gulfstream. Pass me a bacon sandwich and a mug of tea. No pictures, just audio.
When it was finished, Tony Doyle shook his head. That was a bad thing some bastard did to Father Murphy.
Roper, taking a more sober attitude now, agreed. The Troubles were not only hell on earth, they were disgusting morally.
Yes, but you only realized that by being there, Doyle said. Take me. A Jamaican Cockney born and bred in London. I wanted to see the world, so I joined the British Army, and what did I get?
Seven tours of duty in Northern Ireland. Roper took another sandwich. And what did I get out of it? This wheelchair. He switched on multiple screens. Let me see if theres anything interesting I can find about the Flynn clan.
Doyle said, Yes, Major, you really are a casualty of war.
So are you, Roper told him, not looking at him but scanning the screens. And so were Dillon and Tod Flynn and Tim Kelly, who marched to the beat of the wrong drum. Hmm. Apparently, the only person in this affair who showed good sense was Tods elder brother by ten years, Peter. He avoided the Troubles by moving to the Republic to work for a distant relative on his horse farm and stud at a place called Drumgoole.
A sensible option, Id say.
Id agree, especially as seven years later, the relative died of a heart attack and left the farm to Peter and his wife, on the condition that they gave a home to his widowed sister, Margaret Flynn, known to the family as Aunt Meg.
Some people have all the luck, Doyle said.
Especially when Tod and Kelly were released from the Maze and he was able to offer them a home.
To work on the farm?
Some of the time. Its also the address of a security firm. Obviously, it didnt take them long to get down to business.
So you think Nantucket was part of their agenda?
I dont know. Roper was frowning, manipulating his control. Not good, he said. That was unfortunate. Theres a daughter, Hannah, who was eighteen in June. Four years ago, on a trip to Belfast, she lost her parents to a car bomb. She was badly injured and in hospital for months. Her father died intestate.
What does that mean?
No will. She inherited everything, but as she was only fourteen, the court appointed Tod and Aunt Meg as joint guardians.
Well, as I wouldnt trust that Provo bastard an inch, Im happy the aunts around to keep an eye on him, Doyle said.
Theres some personal stuff here on her Facebook page, Roper said. Good news. She must be a real hotshot on the piano. Shes just been accepted as a student at the Royal College of Music.
Sounds like youre taking a personal interest.
Roper switched off most of the screens, leaving only one, the emergency cover. Enough already. I could do with a steam, shower and shave and fresh clothes, then Ill doze until our lord and master appears. He was very cheerful. Can you assist me, Sergeant?
Thats what Im here for, Major, Doyle told him, and followed as Roper switched on his wheelchair and led the way out.
And in Ireland, high on a hill that loomed above Drumgoole Place, Hannah Flynn reined in a mare named Fancy as she saw the Land Rover approaching the house in the far distance. It was raining lightly, evening drawing in, and she wore an Australian drovers coat, a broad-brimmed hat pulled down over auburn hair that framed a calm and serious face. She spoke into a cell phone.
Theyre here, Aunt Meg.
Margaret Flynn took the call in the kitchen. At seventy-six, she was a handsome woman still, in jerkin and riding breeches, hair white, face tanned. There was still a hint of the actress she had been in her youth.
Wonderful, but when your uncle Tod called from Dublin Airport, he said they wanted to change as soon as possible.
More cloak and dagger again, Hannah said. When are they going to learn that the IRA is past its prime and nobody wants to know any more?
Of course, love, Tod and Kelly know that. Its just security work they do these days. Anyway, Ive given the stable hands the night off, so you get here when you can. Well have dinner a little later.
There had long been a dark suspicion that the car bomb which had killed Hannahs parents and injured her so badly had been meant for Tod. Perhaps someone was settling an old score? Hannah frequently remembered that possibility with some bitterness.
She sat there for a moment longer, stroking and patting the mare. Thats men for you, Fancy, still playing games in the schoolyard and then never seeming to learn that sometimes people get hurt. She shook her head. Security, my arse, and she rode away.
Tod and Kelly showered in the wet room on the ground floor of Drumgoole Place, then set about shaving their beards, which took quite some time. After that, they sat side by side and Meg cut their hair in turn.
Will ye watch what youre doing, woman? Tod said.
She cuffed him. Youre in good hands. I learned everything there is to know about hairdressing in my theatre days. Ill see to the cuts first, then use the right solvents to treat the colour.
Hannah moved in from the corridor, limping, a walking stick in her right hand. What a couple of beauties.
You show some respect, girl, Tod told her. Weve been away earning a crust. Takes money to run this place.
Where to this time?
Kelly looked hunted, but Tod said, Nothing much, just inspecting the security system for the company that runs the ferries from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. No big deal.
A pity. She tossed some matches into Tods lap. I found those in the kitchen. They advertise a café in Nantucket. That would have been much more exciting.
She went out, and Meg picked up the matches.
I wonder where these came from?
Dont ask me, Tod said. I dont know.
She said, You told me you were dressing up to put one over on a rival firm for someone you were working for?
So we were, he said. Just business, Meg. Is she pleased about the Royal College of Music?
Im not really sure. Its not residential, so accommodation is going to be a problem with it being London.
Dont worry, these days weve got plenty of money. Just keep on cutting and bring back my auburn hair.
Which she did, cut Kellys very short and darkened the white to grey.
Marvellous, Tod said. I feel human again. Lets have dinner.
Fergusons Daimler and driver were waiting when the Gulfstream landed at Farley. Dillon had left his Mini Cooper there, but Sara had nothing.
Ive decided not to go home tonight, Ferguson said. Id like to have words with Roper sooner rather than later, so Ill stay in the guest wing at Holland Park.
Dillon often did the same, and said, Id like to join you.
Thats fine by me, but I expect youll be wanting a lift to Highfield Court to see your grandfather? he said to Sara.
He wont be there, hes touring the lecture circuit. God and the Mind of Man, his favourite topic. Everyone wants Rabbi Nathan Gideon these days.
And so they should, Dillon told her. Hes a great man.
Actually, Id welcome your input, Captain, Ferguson said, So jump in and well be on our way. Well see you there, Dillon.
When Roper returned from the shower, it was to find that Ferguson and the others had arrived and had gone upstairs to unpack, but he had another visitor waiting.
Dr Ali Saif was an Egyptian with an English grandmother whod not only sent him to Eton but supplied him with a UK passport under filial law. A brilliant scholar, a senior lecturer in archaeology at London University, he had initially found Osamas message attractive enough for him to offer his services to the Army of God charity. As with others, one could be drawn into the activities of Al Qaeda without realizing it, especially with the hypnotic tones of the Master on the telephone to guide you.
Hed been caught in a bad situation, however, and his decision to act on the side of right had not only saved lives but impressed Ferguson enough to save him from prison and find a use for his talents as an interrogator of Muslims suspected of terrorism, at Tenby Street safe house run by MI5.
Have they arrived? Ali enquired, and before Roper could answer him, Ferguson, Sara, and Dillon walked in.
Ali, its you, Ferguson said in surprise.
We were talking earlier, Roper told him. Hes been fully informed about the latest development. After his past services to us, I felt he could be trusted to keep it to himself.