Naturally.
Keep a close eye, just in case anything goes wrong.
The man, Fitzgerald. Do you want anything to happen to him afterwards?
Jesus, no. Hes too valuable. Hell be away out of it. Probably Ibiza. Itll be a big payday for him.
Levin said, Well, well get you back to Ballykelly, then. You wont have trouble at the airfield? Youve served time in the Maze Prison, surely?
I have a false passport. There are people in this town whod love to know what Im up to.
Always the old fox.
Its whats kept me ahead of the game all these years.
So what happens now? Mary Killane had asked after Bell had gone.
Dermot had kissed her boldly, which thrilled her to her toes. Shed known there was something between them, shed felt it.
We could start with that, he said, or we could go around the corner and have a drink and a bit to eat first. Whats your pleasure, lass?
They ended up having the drink first, and then Dermot had bedded her, and the whole thing felt like the most special time in her life.
Now, pushing the trolley up the corridor to Hannahs room, the moment of truth had arrived. She felt surprisingly calm, remembering what had been done to her father and to so many others, and that this woman, this Police Superintendent, had been responsible for so much of it. She opened the door and pushed the trolley in.
Shed checked up on Dazone. It took half an hour to kick in, which was why shed left it to the end of her shift. The curtains were drawn, the small bed light the only illumination. Hannah Bernstein looked pale, almost skeletal, eyes closed. Mary Killane had the pills ready in a small plastic cup, a little water in another one.
Hannahs eyes flickered open. She said drowsily, What is it?
Your medication, the woman said. Surprising how easy it was. There you go. Ill help you drink. And then it was over. Youll sleep now.
Thank you, came the murmur, and Mary Killane pushed the trolley out.
In the staff room, she didnt change out of her uniform, simply pulled on a raincoat, got her handbag from her locker and went out. As she reached the entrance foyer, Maggie Duncan emerged from her office.
Another shift over, Mary.
Thats right, Matron.
Have you given any thought to what I said? Wed like to have you with us full-time. Agency work is no way to live.
Im thinking about it.
You do that. Is the Superintendent all right?
Ive seen to her.
Good. Ill see you tomorrow, then.
Mary Killane hurried across the car park, speaking into her mobile at the same time. Its done.
Good girl, Dermot Fitzgerald replied. Ill be with you as arranged.
She hurried on, excited now, turned a corner and moved along a dark road, a small bridge at the end crossing a canal. There was only a single old-fashioned gas lamp giving any light, but she felt no fear. There was a footfall behind her, and she turned to see him emerging out of the shadows, a smile on his face.
Jesus, Dermot, well have to move it if were to get to the airport in time for the Dublin plane.
He kissed her on the cheek lightly. Dont fret. Everythings fine. Youre sure you gave her the pills?
Absolutely. They kick in in half an hour, but it will be quite a while before anyone twigs theres something wrong. Its her heart theyve been worried about anyway.
Excellent. Youve done an amazing job. Pity it has to end this way.
What are you talking about? she said, bewildered.
His right hand came out of the pocket of his reefer coat clutching a silenced Colt.38 pistol. He rammed it into her, fired twice and pushed with his left hand so that she went backward over the rail into the canal below.
He walked to the end of the street and the lights of a Mercedes switched on. He got into the passenger seat and Igor Levin said, Thats it, then?
Mission accomplished.
Your bag is in the back. Ill drop you at Heathrow.
Ibiza next stop. Fitzgerald lit a cigarette. I cant wait to get in the water.
At Rosedene, Hannah Bernstein sighed gently and stopped breathing. The alarm sounded, a jarring, ugly sound. A young probationer nurse was nearest and got to her first, followed by Maggie Duncan, then Bellamy. Within seconds, the entire crash team was swinging into action, not that it did any kind of good. They finally switched off. Maggie was crying, Bellamys face was bleak.
Time of death, five thirty-five. Agreed, Matron?
Yes, Professor.
Strange the turns of life, he said. So many people loved her, yet at the end not one of them was here. He shook his head. Id better make some phone calls. Im not looking forward to that.
Especially Dillon.
All of them, really.
Time of death, five thirty-five. Agreed, Matron?
Yes, Professor.
Strange the turns of life, he said. So many people loved her, yet at the end not one of them was here. He shook his head. Id better make some phone calls. Im not looking forward to that.
Especially Dillon.
All of them, really.
The Gulfstream was an hour late due to bad headwinds. It was just descending into the lights of Farley Field when Ferguson got the call. He listened, his face grave.
Im desperately sorry. Have you spoken to everybody?
Yes.
How awful for her father and grandfather. And Dillon? How was he?
I dont think he could take it in. He was at the Dark Man with Roper and the others. He passed the phone to Roper and apparently rushed out. Roper said he and the Salters would go after him. Hes probably gone to Rosedene.
You know her religion will have an impact here. Im not sure theyll allow an autopsy. Find out, would you? Thank you, Doctor, and well talk again.
Ferguson sat there, face grave as the Gulfstream rolled to a halt, then told Blake the bad news.
Blake was shocked. How terrible. He raised the inevitable question. You mentioned an autopsy?
Thats not certain. Generally, theyre not allowed. The Jewish body is considered sacred, and the corpse must be buried within twenty-four hours. However, if it can be argued that an autopsy could save another life, for instance by helping to apprehend a killer and prevent him killing again, then there are exceptions. Youd need an expert rabbi to determine that.
Sounds complicated.
Particularly as she worked for me under the Official Secrets Act.
They disembarked, and as they walked toward the small terminal, Fergusons Daimler drew up and Dillon got out from behind the wheel. He leaned against the Daimler and lit a Marlboro. His face was curiously expressionless.
Blake, Charles. Good flight? Thought Id come myself.
Ferguson said, Im damn sorry, Sean, damn sorry.
Youll be sorry yourself when you hear my news. Get in and well move out.
They did, sitting in the rear while Dillon drove. What have you got for me, then? Ferguson asked.
The last person to see Hannah alive was a Dublin girl, an agency nurse named Mary Killane. Maggie Duncan spoke to her when she finished her shift. Half an hour later, the alarm went off in Hannahs room and she died in spite of the crash team.
Whats your point, Sean? Ferguson was gentle.
An hour and a half ago, a man walking his dog by the canal some ten minutes from Rosedene found a dead woman half-in, half-out of the water. Her handbag was still caught around one wrist. It was Mary Killane.
My God, Blake said. Thats a strange coincidence. And you know I dont believe in coincidences.
Especially with two bullets in her, Dillon told him. George Langleys going to do the autopsy tonight. Hes at the scene of the crime now.
They traveled in silence for a while, and it was Blake who said, It smells to high heaven. Hannah dies, and then someone wastes the last nurse to deal with her.
And somehow a dead Belov is walking around in Siberia, Ferguson said. Ive got an uneasy feeling theyre all related.
But like Billy said earlier, Dillon told him, if theres one certainty in the matter, its that Belov is dead.
And what if he isnt? Blake put in.
I know what I did.
Maybe something else happened, something you werent aware of.
In your dreams, Dillon told him.
Maybe. But Ill tell you what I think. I was with the FBI for a long time, and any good cop will tell you that experience tells you to go with your instincts. And my instincts tell me that everything is linked to what happened at Drumore Place. Thats where weve got to begin.
And he was right, of course.
DRUMORE PLACE DUBLIN MOSCOW
3
Three weeks earlier, Sean Dillon and Billy Salter were at Drumore Place, that great house that was Josef Belovs pride and joy, engaged in a desperate firefight while the villagers kept their heads down inside their cottages.
At the Royal George, Patrick Ryan had the shutters up while his mother, who was the cook at Drumore Place, and old Hamilton, the butler, cowered in the kitchen, where Ryan joined them.
Mother Mary, its just like the old days, she moaned.
Sure, and they never went away, he told her, which was true, for this was still Provisional IRA country to the core. He splashed whiskey into three glasses. Get that down you and shut up. Its none of our affair. The nearest police are twenty miles up the coast. One sergeant and three men, and theyd drive the other way if they knew. God save the good work. He swallowed his whiskey down and crossed himself as sporadic shooting continued.
There was silence for a while and then they heard a boat engine start in to life down in the harbor. It increased in power, and Ryan hurried through the bar, opened the door and peered out. It had left the tiny harbor and moved beyond the point when the explosion took place. There was a momentary ball of fire, and as it cleared, he saw the boat half under the water, the stern raised, and it looked as if someone was scrambling over, but he could not be certain for a cloud passed over the moon.
Hamilton appeared beside him and the old lady. What is it?
Some sort of explosion on the Kathleen. I cant be sure, but I think I saw someone. Im going to check.
Youll need some help. Get some of the men.
Dont be daft. Theyll all stay close to home this night.
He hurried out to his old Land Rover, got behind the wheel and drove away, down through the village, following the narrow road toward the point, no more than five minutes away, got out and ran toward the top of the steps leading down to the small beach below. It was very dark down there, only the waves dashing in, and then the cloud moved away and the moon shone through and he saw something, head and shoulders perhaps, and started down.