“…but?”
“I can’t help thinking there is something out of place.” “Like the Assassins?”
“Yes.”
Dillon smiled grimly. “If we find who has resurrected this age old society of killers, we find out who is manipulating Kirill, and the Chimera Programme. And we know that the same person is the one who’s been systematically destroying the Scorpion network and killing the assault teams.”
Tatiana merely nodded, and Dillon reached over and stroked her cheek, wiping away the tears. “We’ve got to stay focused, Tats. This conversation has got to keep for later,” he said. “Ezra was a master of deception, How do we know, he might have even faked his own death.” His words just slipped out, even Dillon knew that only a miracle would have saved Ezra from a messy death. But it had to be said, silence was not a good option, and Tatiana had to be looked after. Talking made it easier for her hurt to feel better…
Tatiana remained silent. She simply gazed back out of the window but her fingers took Dillon’s hand and squeezed gently. He said no more but she knew that he was there. There for her…
Dillon smiled inwardly.
I wonder just how lethal this Chimera Programme really is. He thought, as he banked to the right and the A-25M responded to his touch.
And more importantly, who is it wanting to unleash its power to gain world-wide computer dominance? It could be this terrorist, Ramus — or it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility if a government were involved or behind him…
The face of Kirill floated into his mind; he remembered that chilling smile, and the ice cold look in the man’s dark eyes. He had believed; believed in his actions, without a hint of insanity. He would have killed Dillon there and then in Cornwall, and not thought twice about it…
You bastard, Dillon thought.
But then — that was far too easy. Kirill was not in charge; he was merely one of the monkies, dancing to the tune of the organ grinder. Someone much bigger, more powerful and altogether much more intimidating. Somebody who wanted Scorpion out of the way — destroyed… But Scorpion had been almost invisible, only those seconded to Scorpion, a hand full of Ferran & Cardini personnel, and the Prime Minister’s office knew about the special anti-terrorist task force. It’s terrorist clean-up operations had been so successful that the world-wide press had started to ask questions as to who it was behind the termination of some of the worst terrorists of modern times. But security had held and secrecy had remained in place.
Realisation came like a bolt out of the blue.
It had to be somebody on the inside.
It had to be somebody at the top of Scorpion — Ferran & Cardini — the Prime Minister’s office.
Betrayal…
Treason…
Words that went completely against everything Dillon believed in.
Every now and then, he looked over at Tatiana, who was now sleeping, snuggled inside her parka hood, which was pulled up around her face for added warmth. Vince was still snoring loudly in the back of the cabin, and Dillon had never felt so alone in all his life; as he flew the small amphibious aircraft through picturesque vallies. He gazed out of his side window at a clear blue sky, the sun glinting off of the fast moving white water rapids a hundred feet below them. After another mile, Dillon spotted what he had been looking for. A loch, remote enough not to have hoards of sight-seeing tourists, and just long enough to allow him to land safely. He brought the A-25M in at the far end of the loch, skimming over the surface of the water, the aircraft becoming heavier and heavier, until it was able to power through the still water and up onto a small sandy beach.
The others awoke, coming round from their slumber as he touched down. Once he had scuffed the skids up onto the beach, he didn’t waste any time releasing the cabin door and struggling with stiff aching joints and muscles, to descend the ladder. Tatiana and Vince followed. All of them stretching away the tension as they stepped down onto the wet sand, enjoying the fresh mountain air after the staleness of the cabin.
Vince plundered his rucksack, bringing out a small Primus stove and set about boiling a pan of water for a brew of tea. Tatiana sat down on a large rock nearby, gazing out across the expanse of the loch, and Dillon walked up the beach and back again, looking around warily.
“If that tea takes any longer to brew, I’ll die of thirst here mate.”
“You always were an impatient man, Jake Dillon. These aren’t teabags full of floor dust, you know. What I’m brewing here, is the finest Indian leaves that money can buy. And the proof will be in the tasting, mate.” He looked up at Dillon, handing him a steaming hot tin mug of the fresh brew.
Dillon took a sip, and looking over the rim of his mug, “Not bad for an Australian.” The big man smiled good humouredly and handed Dillon another cup, which he took across to where Tatiana was sitting.
“I don’tlike it. Why have we put-down here? We could be spotted from any one of those mountains, sitting ducks for the taking.” Her words were spoken with little emotion, or even a glance up at Dillon.
“To be honest, Tats. I needed a break, I’m not a fucking robot, you know. Have you ever seen what happens to a light aircraft when the pilot nods off. And anyway, anyone could have heard the sound of an aircraft engine for miles around, that’s why I chose this particular loch to land it on. This area is uninhabited. No villages, no crofters, nobody for miles around.”
“How long do we stay here?”
“About an hour and a few more cups of tea. And maybe then I’ll be ready to take on the mountains and valleys again. I only hope that we can make Kirill’s facility in time to meet up with the others.”
“The Priest is with them. They’ll be there, okay.” Tatiana got up off of the rock that she had been sitting on and stood staring directly at Dillon for a moment, and then said, “Coming up here will not have been for nothing, you know, Dillon?”
“I’m glad to hear it, Tats. Because since you arrived back in my life, I’ve been shot at, stabbed, almost blown-up, my home has been trashed, and I’ve never flown so far in such an uncomfortable aircraft. All because of this bastard, Kirill…”
“Kirill is the key to everything that has happened, and he is at the end of all this.”
“Is he really going to have all of the answers?” Asked Vince.
“Only if I ask the right questions and apply just the correct level of pain,” said Dillon. He paced up and down the beach for a while. All the time thoughts about his present situation running freely through his tired mind.
Tatiana went over to where Vince was now watching over his pan of boiling water. “You okay, Tatiana?”
“I’m fine, Vince. Thank you for asking. But it’s Dillon, he’s changed so much. Do you think he’s okay?”
“I could say that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. But like you, I’m seeing a Jake Dillon that I’ve not seen for a while. Of course, it could be that this whole affair is moving along at such a fast pace, and the killing is so prolific, that he’s having to think on his feet — on the run, so to speak. Or, it might be his oldproblem showing itself once again!”
“Old problem?”
“You of all people must know?”
“Haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about. Talk to me, Vince.”
“How do you think he’s stayed alive all these years? Skill, instinct, experience. Well, I suppose you could call it all of those rolled in together. But something changes inside his brain when he’s under extreme pressure.”