Dillon turned back, staring out over the black waves. He shivered, pulling the collar of his coat tighter around his neck. He lit another cigarette. He heard the footsteps approaching and did not turn. Tatiana came and stood beside him, staring out across the water and Brownsea Island. They remained there in silence and then she looked up at him. “You alright, Dillon?”
He nodded.
“They want you to join them?”
“They?”
“You do know who it was you were just talking to?”
“Haven’t the foggiest. All I know is that my home has been fully restored to its former glory. So who was he?”
“Let’s just say that you’re a very lucky man, who has ingratiated himself with one of the most powerful men in England.” Tatiana took his hand; their fingers entwined and squeezed.
“You are a lucky man, Dillon,” she said. “Lucky to be alive.”
“Listen luv,” said Dillon grinning. “Lucky is my middle name.”
“Come on; let’s get back to the others. We have a party to go to.”
“What. At five o’clock in the morning?”
“Well, it’s the tail end of a party. You know what Alix and Lola are like. They’ll still be drinking.”
“Where are they?”
“Sandbanks. LJ took out a short rental on a place named, Emporio, it’s one of the most amazing properties I’ve ever seen, Dillon. And it has the most breath-taking views overlooking the harbour.”
Dillon nodded. “Yeah, I’m game,” he yawned. “Unless…”
“Yes?”
Their gazes met.
“I thought you would want to drink and sleep, in that order?” Tatiana smiled.
“Oh, I’m not that tired. And the Champagne’s already on ice at my place!”
“Really. But isn’t Scotland just a little too far away?” “What. Oh, not Scotland. Here, out on the peninsula.” “Are you kidding, Dillon. You own property down here.”
“I’ve always loved the place, Tats. Decided to invest about a year ago when I left Ferran & Cardini and the prices hit an all-time low.”
“Oh, well in that case. I’m impressed Dillon.”
She moved away, and Dillon stood staring out across the water as daylight started to break over the harbour. The cold breeze reminded him of Scotland.
From the pocket of his overcoat he removed a small object: a metallic looking disc. It rested in the palm of Dillon’s left hand and he stood staring at it for a moment, wondering at the secrets it held. The only surviving Chimera script in existence, and whoever possessed it, also held the most destructive power on the planet. And he was holding it in the palm of his hand…
“Time you didn’t exist,” he muttered.
Reaching back, he threw the silver disk as far out into the harbour as he could. There was a tiny splash. The last copy of Chimera sank without a trace in the deep water.
Dillon smiled softly.
“Thank God, it’s finally over,” he breathed. He walked back towards the BMW thinking about LJ’s offer of another assignment. Climbing into the warmth of the plush heated interior next to Tatiana, he made a mental note to call his old boss when he returned from a much needed holiday. The gleaming vehicle turned with a crunch of tyres on the gravel and headed smoothly for the Sandbanks Peninsula…