An hour and a half later, he came to Ballykelly, rain driving in, came to the development and airstrip with a huge sign saying Belov International. He paused by the main entrance, got out and looked. A man in a security uniform came out of the gate hut and walked across.
Can I help you?
Blake said, No, Im driving down to Dublin from Belfast. I was surprised to see Belov International. I didnt know they were in Ireland. Back home in Texas, theyre huge. Is Drumore down the road?
It is, sir. Eight or ten minutes.
Blake nodded and drove away. The security guard went back to his hut and phoned Liam Bell.
The Americans just been here. Hes on his way to Drumore now.
Good man. Bell switched off his mobile and turned to Ashimov and Greta as they stood outside Drumore Place. Hes here. What do you want to do?
Ashimov glanced at Greta. He was very worked up. All right, lets see how he behaves.
Greta said, Yuri, let him nose around and then go. Theres no you, no me, and Josef Belov is supposedly a couple of thousand miles away. Hell find nothing and do no harm.
You dont see it, Greta. This is one of our prime targets, the American Presidents right-hand man.
If he dies here, it will send a message, she said.
Ashimov appeared to struggle with himself. All right. He turned to Bell. Well just go and observe him. Greta and I will stay out of the way, see what happens. But if he says or does anything suspicious take care of it.
Good man yourself, Bell said. Leave it to me.
Blake came down in the BMW and there was Drumore Place up on the hill and the village below, the small port, no more than half a dozen fishing boats, perhaps thirty cottages and houses, the pub, the Royal George, and a fine view out to sea and a strong coastline. Blake took the car down, went through the main street and ended up in the car park in front of the Royal George.
He got out of his BMW and went toward the low wall and looked down at the harbor. Behind, up on the hillside in the copse, Ashimov and Greta were watching. He passed her the glasses.
Its him. She looked and Bell came forward. So, what do you want?
Lets see what he does.
Below, Blake went toward the Royal George. There was a strangeness to the village, hed noticed that, a lack of people, which said a great deal. He opened the door and went in.
Patrick Ryan was behind the bar, and over by the window, two of Bells men, Casey and Magee, sat at a window table enjoying Irish stew. Blake went to the bar and Ryan said, And what can I do for you, sir?
Im passing through on my way to Dublin. Blake accentuated his American accent. Lovely harbor. Thought I could have some lunch.
Indeed you can, sir.
Blake turned and glanced at Casey and Magee. Maybe Ill have what those guys are having, and a beer to go with it.
Ryan gave him that, returned from the kitchen and said, Its on its way, sir.
Blake said, You know, Im from Texas and one of our biggest firms is Belov International. I was amazed, when I passed through Ballykelly, up the road, to see they have a branch there.
A girl came through with his stew and put it on a nearby table. Blake sat down and Ryan said, A grand man, Mr. Belov. Done wonders for the community, the village.
Blake said brightly, Oh, he comes here, does he?
Owns the big house, Drumore Place. We see him now and then, but he goes around the world, if you see what I mean. Was here recently, but I believe hes in Russia at the moment.
Blake was already working his way through the Irish stew. He was aware of the two men by the window, lighting up cigarettes, sitting there, staring at him. It occurred to him that he could be in trouble here. He wolfed down the stew, finished his beer and went to the bar.
What do I owe you?
Ryan said, Have it on the house, sir. We dont get many tourists this time of the year. Youre our first.
Well, thats damn nice of you, Blake said, and went out.
When he got into the BMW, however, his keys were missing. When he got out, Casey and Magee were standing there.
Up on the hill, Ashimov and Greta each watched through binoculars and Bell stood by.
Casey said to Blake, What a pity, but thats life. He moved behind him and Magee took a Browning out of his waistband.
Youve made a mistake, my friend.
Casey reached inside Blakes jacket and removed the Walther. Well, would you look at that? Im amazed a tourist would get through security with that. He put it in his pocket.
Oh, it happens, Blake said.
Yes, well, you just come with us and well show you the grand place Drumore is. Mr. Bells orders.
Casey pushed him along and Blake went, Magee in the rear, all the way down to the tiny harbor and those few fishing boats, and not a soul in the place.
They went along the wharf and pushed Blake down to the deck of a fishing boat. Casey followed him, Magee cast off, went in the wheelhouse and turned the engine on and moved through the harbor, turning at the end of the point. Casey presented the Browning and Blake sat down in the stern, took the.25 Colt from the ankle holster and shot Casey between the eyes. He went backward, the Browning flying from one hand, and over the rail into the water.
The boat swerved. Magee killed the engine and came to the entrance of the wheelhouse. Blake shot him in the right thigh, knocking him over.
He leaned down. Ive been good to you. I could have killed you. Instead, Ive crippled you. Im sure your IRA chums will see to you when Ive gone. He reached in Magees jacket and found an old Smith amp; Wesson.38. Ill see you in hell, son.
The boat had bounced back against the wharf. He went over the rail and up to the pub, a gun in each hand, and high on the hill, Greta said, You got it wrong, Yuri, and you, Liam.
At the Royal George, Blake burst in the front door and discovered Ryan turning from the bar. Hold it right there. My keys. Id say youre the most likely to have them.
He held up the weapons like a gunfighter and Ryan was terrified. All right, Ive got them.
He handed them over and Blake said, So, Belovs in Russia and youve got a new boss since Mr. Kelly passed on, a Mr. Bell. He smiled, on a high. Ive got a friend named Sean Dillon. He says he has an excellent remedy for people like you. He rammed the Colt.25 against Ryans left ear and fired. Ryan cried out and went down.
Youre lucky, you bastard, Blake said. Youre still alive.
He left Ryan writhing on the floor, went out, got in the BMW and drove off.
On the hill, Greta lowered her binoculars. Well, I dont know what were going to find inside the Royal George, but Id say the whole thing has been a monumental cock-up.
On his way back over the Atlantic, Blake called Ferguson and went over the experience.
My God, youve been in the wars, Ferguson told him. You say one of the men mentioned someone called Bell as being in charge?
Thats it. See if that strikes a chord with Dillon, and Id give it to Roper as well. He usually comes up with someone.
Ill see to it. Safe journey, Blake, regards to the President.
My God, youve been in the wars, Ferguson told him. You say one of the men mentioned someone called Bell as being in charge?
Thats it. See if that strikes a chord with Dillon, and Id give it to Roper as well. He usually comes up with someone.
Ill see to it. Safe journey, Blake, regards to the President.
Blake switched off and leaned back. He felt great. Mary said, Can I get you anything, sir?
Actually, you can, Mary. He smiled. You can get me a Horses Neck.
The carnage in the village was immediately apparent. Greta, Ashimov and Bell stood on the wharf while two of his men assisted Magee over the rail of the boat and into a Land Rover. Shall we pick up Pat Ryan at the pub as well? Hes lost half an ear, Mr. Bell.
What else would you do with him? Take them to the convent at Ballykelly. Theyre in safe hands with Sister Teresa.
The men drove away. Beyond, by the harbor entrance, the body of Jack Casey floated up and was swept out to sea.
What happens to him? Greta said.
This is my patch, Bell said. Everybody keeps their head down, nobody sees a thing. None of this happened. As for Casey, just on the other side of the jetty where the bodys drifting now, theres a ten-knot bore running because the tides turning. Itll take Casey out into the Irish Sea fast, food for fishes.
Really? How interesting.
She left him talking to Ashimov and walked back to the pub and onward to Drumore Place. She went into the Great Hall, got herself a vodka, went and stood by the fire thinking about it, then phoned Levin, who was in the Piano Bar at the Dorchester, having a late lunch.
Why, Greta, darling girl.
None of that nonsense. Blake Johnson arrived at Drumore posing as an American tourist. Igor, hes so old he was in Vietnam. Hes fifty-five at least. He should have been in his box by now.
You know, my mother was English, but her mother was Irish. And whenever there was bad news, that old Irish lady would say to me, It was as certain as the coffin lid closing.
Well, the coffin lids closed tight.
Really? He was laughing. Tell me the worst.
When she was finished, he said, So he sends one corpse drifting out to sea, cripples another and disposes of half the ear of Ryan, the publican at the Royal George?
Theres more to it than that. Ryan said that when threatening him, Johnson mentioned Bell having taken over from Kelly. He also mentioned his friend Sean Dillon.
Oh, dear. Whats happening to the walking wounded?
Taken to the convent hospital at Ballykelly. The Little Sisters of Pity. Theyll keep quiet enough.
I should hope so.
Ashimov should have let Johnson nose around, have lunch and move on.
Well, he didnt. Hes on a holy crusade to get the lot of them, and the chance of stiffing Blake Johnson was too good to miss.
What happens now?
I should imagine Blake has already phoned Ferguson, who will ask Dillon and the good Major Roper if the name Bell means anything to them in connection with the IRA.
Its a mess, she said.
Its a can of worms, my love. However, Ill handle it. Ill phone Volkov in Moscow, give him the bad news and cover your back as well as my own. But thats only because I like you.
She thought about it for only a second. He had something about him, this young man, she recognized that and took it on board.