The Landrover drifted across the white line, a sitting duck for any oncoming vehicles. Dillon swerved violently back to the correct lane as horns blared and headlights flashed. He wasn’t sure, but he must have dozed off, just for a split second, and cursed himself for doing so. Snow had turned to heavy persistent rain and sleet the further south they drove. The windscreen was awash. Thunder clapped overhead in the dark brooding sky; he re-adjusted his rear-view mirror and saw the Xenon headlights glowing white behind him. The driver of the car, horn blaring, impatient to overtake.
“Okay, Okay,” Dillon said quietly. He increased the speed of the wipers to cope with the deluge of water falling out of the sky, eased up on the accelerator and then took the Landrover around the roundabout and out the other side towards the east and Edinburgh. The Highlands were now just a bad memory, left behind until this mess was sorted out… He drove on bitterly through the inclement weather.
It was just before dusk when Dillon pulled the Landrover into the lay-by. Half an hour earlier had seen him in a Tesco-Express store buying supplies — everything from biscuits and crisps to tinned Tuna and Diet-Cola through to basic travel medical kits, T-shirts and hoodies that weren’t covered in blood and a number of mysterious items which he kept hidden in one of his holdalls. Now they were both cleaned up and wearing a fresh change of clothing, they looked at one another and Tatiana ran a hand through her hair. She’d just taken some pain-killers — the maximum dose — but was still obviously in considerable pain…
“What now, Dillon?”
“We steal a plane. Or anything else that will get us airborne.” “Steal a plane… are you out of your mind?”
“Now there’s the question. But, no, I am not, and the reason for stealing a plane, is that if we just strolled onto an airfield and asked to hire one; we would immediately give our location away, because it would be immediately logged with the authorities. And, for another, whoever it is attempting to track us would know exactly where we were the minute we log a flight plan. I do not intend to bring attention to our whereabouts. So it’s lucky for us that privately owned small aircraft are stolen all the time, and that they only ever call in the local plod. Now, we need to get to the next village where there is a small private grass strip; they have a few single prop aircraft, but mostly gliders. However I do know that there will be a twin turbo-prop towplane in one of the Nissan hangers, which will do us nicely.” “Dillon,” said Tatiana slowly, “Surely there will be security patrols and possibly dogs?”
“The only security they have is a padlocked gate at the entrance to the field, and every member has a key to let themselves in and out whenever they want. A lock pick should do the trick…”
“And assuming we get onto the airfield and manage to steal an aircraft. Do you know how to fly… whatever it is you’re going to steal?”
“Cut my teeth on single and twin engine Cessnas. Admittedly, it’s been a few years, since I last flew a fixed wing plane. But they’re all the same. Joy-stick. Rudder. Flaps. Landing gear. Hey, come on, don’t look so sceptical — after all said and done, it could be a lot worse. That weirdo Assassin could have murdered us both back at the castle. So why the grim smile?”
“You’re barking mad,” said Tatiana slowly. “And tell me you don’t still plan to visit Ezra?”
“Yes, I’m sorry Tats — but I do need to see Ezra. He is the only one who can possibly help us.”
“He will most likely try to kill us. Well you,” she corrected. “Your perception of him as a war-mongering butcher is completely exaggerated. The giant geek is a monumental softy, with a heart of gold…”
“Yes,” said Tatiana slowly. “But don’t forget you shot him in the ass and almost destroyed his right hip. He won’t forget that in a hurry.
Surely you haven’t forgotten…”
Dillon shrugged nonchalantly. “I saved his life by shooting him in the ass. Remember why I shot him? Anyway, he’ll understand,” came the simple reply. “He’s still alive, isn’t he?”
Tatiana rolled her eyes. “Christ, Dillon. You’ve still got that bloody death-wish, haven’t you?” She looked sternly at him, and rubbed at her tired pain-filled eyes. “Where is he living these days? Do you know if he’s still playing havoc with his little computer games?” “I’m not falling into your trap Tatiana. And I’m not going to divulge where he is,” said Dillon with a boyish grin.
“You are completely off your trolley,” Tatiana said with feeling. “It helps in this business. That’s why I’ve stayed alive for so long.” He coughed. “But I’m a realist, Tats. And, it’s one of the many reasons why I decided to opt for the quiet life for a while up in the
Highlands.”
“You like the thrill of danger to much. The possibility that the next assignment might be the one that takes you out. Permanently…” “Perhaps. You know me better than most.”
“No perhaps about it. And these Assassins are being used to take out Scorpion units and anybody who poses a threat to Ramus and Kirill’s ‘New World Order’. That means you, Dillon.” She said the words without emotion.
“You said that these Assassins were originally a secret society that disappeared into obscurity. But Ramus and Kirill have somehow resurrected their modern day equivalent? Well, surely that means they had access to the Scorpion network, and that was how they managed to track each unit down and terminate them. But, it also means that they have access to the Ferran & Cardini secure network as well.” “So why not contact Vince Sharp. Get him to look into it?” said
Tatiana simply.
“Definitely not.” Dillon’s words were spoken softly. “No contact.
We do it my way; if Ferran & Cardini have been compromised, and the bastards are waiting to lock onto our signal. The moment we try to make contact the lights on their tracking screens will light up like a
Christmas tree.”
“Maybe you’re right. But isn’t it worth taking the risk? After all
Ferran & Cardini could help us.”
“I can do without their help,” Dillon said without humour. “I’m better off on my own — and that’s how it’s always worked best.” Tatiana shook her head slowly and ran a hand through her blond hair.
“So, when are we going to break the law and embark on this mad scheme of theft from a private airfield?”
“Theft? No, I’m only going to borrow an aircraft from my old friend Lord Roth.”
“Oh, you didn’t mention that you knew the owner of the airfield.
But what about the police? Won’t they be notified, when the plane is found to be missing?”
“There you go again, thinking about the negatives of this little enterprise. I’ll tell you what; I will leave him a note. How does that sound?”
“Cavalier, to say the least.”
“Well, unless you hadn’t noticed. We don’t really have the time to sign the hire agreement in triplicate.” Dillon said sarcastically. He pulled out the battered Glock from its shoulder holster, and stared at it lovingly. “I’m sure if we run into any bother, my old friend here… Well you know what I mean.” His smile was without humour.
Night fell. With it came a bitterly cold wind and sleet. Dillon slammed the Landrover’s door shut. The Assassin would find the 4x4 soon enough, of that he was sure — but then, hopefully, the couple would be far away from this place. Far away from the violence and pain they had already suffered.
Dillon supported Tatiana as they moved carefully around the edge of the wood. Before long they came to a pair of heavy-duty high metal gates, a customary notice board nailed to one of the gate-posts, clearly stating that ‘trespassers will be prosecuted’. Dillon produced a small leather pouch from his jacket pocket. “This is where we start breaking the law. But don’t worry — this is such a small airfield that noone will discover anything adrift until the weekend, when the gliders start turning up.”