Part 31 (1/2)
”We've got an early start in the morning, Dillon,” Ferguson said. ”Unless you want to stay with Harry.”
”No,” Dillon told him. ”I might as well go with you. I have things to do in London.”
”Right. We might as well have dinner at the Excelsior. Will you join us, Colonel?”
Tony Villiers said, ”Thanks, but no, General. I also have things to do.”
The following morning before they left, Ferguson and Dillon stopped by to see Billy. Harry was already sitting in the lounge, having stayed overnight in a guestroom.
A staff nurse went to check if it was all right for them to go in. At the same moment, Tony Villiers entered. He was in a head cloth and tropical uniform, a Browning belted to his waist. He looked tired, his face finely drawn and covered with dust, as was his uniform.
”Good G.o.d, Tony,” Ferguson said. ”What have you been up to?”
”General mayhem. Have you seen Billy yet?”
”We're hoping to any minute.”
Salter led the way in. Billy was propped up high, a cage over his legs, tubes everywhere. He was obviously very weak but managed a smile. Salter leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.
”Bleeding h.e.l.l,” Billy said. ”What's got into you?” He looked up at Dillon. ”We really screwed them, didn't we? Even when she tried, the b.i.t.c.h still couldn't kill me.”
”Thanks to the Wilkinson Sword Company and their t.i.tanium waistcoats.”
”Yeah, let's invest, Harry, buy a few shares.”
Dillon cut in. ”She's gone, Billy, she and Dauncey, back to London.”
”Good riddance.” Billy winced in pain. ”Let it go, Dillon, she's not worth it.”
The staff nurse, standing at the back, said, ”I think you'd better leave now, gentlemen.”
Villiers said, ”One more moment.” He moved closer to Billy. ”I have a present for you.”
”And what would that be?”
”I missed dinner last night because I went up country with my Scouts, camped at El Hajiz. I took a couple of bags of Semtex with me, left my men, and crossed into the Empty Quarter. Just me and my sergeant, Achmed. The conditions were terrible, with the storm, but we hit Kate Ras.h.i.+d's terrorist camp at Fuad at one in the morning, scattered a few blocks of Semtex around with ten-minute pencil timers, and then blew most of the camp to h.e.l.l-vehicles, ammunition and explosives store, the lot.”
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” Billy said. ”You wonderful b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I'd laugh, but I'd burst my st.i.tches. Oh, that'll give Her Highness something to think about.”
Later, as the Gulfstream climbed to fifty thousand feet, Dillon called to Sergeant Pound for a cup of tea. They sat in silence for a while.
Finally, Ferguson said, ”You were right, absolutely right on this one.”
”What do you mean?”
”When you said there was no time to send in the Marines or the SAS. This one required the Dillon touch.”
”Yes, it worked, but we were lucky. It might not work the next time.”
”Oh, have it your own way, Sean. Just do me a favor.”
”G.o.d help me when you call me Sean. What would the favor be?”
”Let it alone now. I saw what you looked like, back there with Billy. I don't want any vigilante nonsense. There's no profit in it.”
”You're talking in riddles, and me just a simple Irish boy.” Dillon turned and called to Pound. ”A Bushmills down here, Sergeant, so I can drink to the Devil Herself.”
LONDON DAUNCEY PLACE.
16.
THE Gulfstream LANDED AT FARLEY FIELD AT SEVEN IN the evening, London time, and found the Daimler waiting. Dillon and Ferguson said good-bye to Lacey and Parry and drove away.
Ferguson said, ”Drop you home?”
”Yes, then I'd like to see Daniel Quinn.”
”I'll meet you there, after I touch base with Hannah.”
Dillon checked his watch. ”Fine. Let's say nine o'clock?”
”Suits me.”
He dropped Dillon and the Daimler drew away. The Irishman got the front door open. He'd noticed the Telecom van parked a little way up the street and found his Nightstalkers, went upstairs to his bedroom, and focused them on the winds.h.i.+eld. Newton and Cook were clearly visible.
”Jesus,” he said softly. ”Don't they ever learn? You never give up, do you, Kate?”
A phone call had told her about the attack on Fuad and the plane's departure from Hazar and she'd given Dauncey his instructions. He listened to what she had to say.
”Are you sure about this? Don't you think it's better to let things calm down for a little while?”
”On the contrary. I killed Billy Salter and he saw me do it. He'll be after me sooner or later, and I'd prefer to be after him first. To handle it virtually as soon as he's back could catch him off guard.”
”Catch Dillon off guard?” Rupert laughed. ”That'll be the day.”
She was angry, not that it surprised him. Since the events at the bridge, there had been a change in her. There wasn't the control he was used to, the icy calm, but a wildness, and a glitter in her eyes that made him uncomfortable.
”Are you with me on this or not?” she demanded.
”Of course I'm with you. You want him dead. I'll help you.”
”Yes, I want him dead, but only if I can do the job myself. He killed my brothers, he's ruined so much that was important to me. It's time he paid. We'll go down to Dauncey this evening, just you and me. You can drive. I'll phone ahead and give the servants the night off. Those two goons you employ, the so-called security men. They're ex-SAS, aren't they?”
”Yes.”
”Then they should be able to handle a simple s.n.a.t.c.h-and-grab.”