Far from gratitude, Brice’s only response was contempt. ‘Which proves exactly why he’s unsuited to run the country. In a time like this, we need strong leadership, not limp-wristed cowards. If he had any balls, he would have had me executed for treason, rather than throwing me in a hole to rot.’
‘I’ll tell Alderley. Seeing as he’s the new boss of MI6, I’m sure he’ll pass it on. Maybe the PM’ll change his mind, then we’ll both be happy.’
A flash of shock before contempt returned, even stronger. ‘Peter Alderley is the new C?’
‘Yeah, I think he was surprised too. But he was the only person who stood up to the old one while he was plotting to kill the entire British Parliament, so he got the nod.’
Brice shook his head. ‘Then the country’s in a worse state than I thought.’
‘I dunno, it seems to be bouncing back pretty quickly. They’re going to rebuild Big Ben, for a start. And it’s not a good time to be a paranoid racist shitmonger, now that everyone knows a rogue MI6 agent blew it up, and why — they look like arseholes by association. Maybe it won’t last, but looks to me like the country’s going in a new direction.’
‘The wrong direction. All those lovey-dovey feelings won’t last. But by then, it’ll be too late to turn back.’ The former agent finally sat up. ‘You’re the true traitor here, Chase. You sold out your country’s only hope for a strong future, and now you’re going to jet off to New York with your family and turn your back on the disaster you’ve caused.’
Eddie unfolded his arms, making a show of flexing his fists. ‘Speaking of my family, that brings me to why I’m here. Wanted to let you know that I’ve got permission from the new head of MI6 to come and see you whenever I want.’
‘No need to put yourself out on my account,’ Brice said with a humourless smile.
‘Oh, it’ll be no trouble. I’ll enjoy it.’ He cracked his knuckles. ‘And I’ll be over if, say, I get wind that you’ve asked any of your mates to come to New York looking for a bit of revenge.’
‘And how would I arrange that from in here?’
‘You’re a top secret agent, I’m sure you’ve got a plan. But you’re not going to carry it out, are you?’ The Yorkshireman stepped closer, his expression becoming more threatening. ‘’Cause if I have to come back here, I’ll be the last person you ever see.’
‘And I thought Britain had a ban on extra-judicial killings.’
‘We just do it under other names. In this case, it’ll be “cleaning up a piece of shit”.’
‘That’s something I miss about SIS,’ Brice sniffed, unimpressed. ‘The repartee is so much more witty—’
Eddie lunged, punching him hard in the face and slamming his head back against the cell wall. Before the shocked prisoner could react, his attacker had grabbed him by the throat, driving his other fist into his stomach. Brice convulsed, choking, as the prosthetic larynx ground into his ruined neck. ‘This is one thing I’m not going to fucking joke about,’ the Yorkshireman snarled. ‘You kidnapped my daughter. Last bloke who touched my little girl got thrown from a seventh-floor window, but you got off easy by just being shot in the throat. Anything happens to my family, though, I will fucking kill you. And it will fucking hurt.’
He bashed Brice’s skull against the wall again, then stepped back. Blood dripping from his nose, the ex-agent gasped for air. ‘You’re… you’re not much of a father if you let it happen twice,’ he croaked.
‘It won’t happen a third time, trust me,’ Eddie assured him. ‘Anyway, I was in London for another debrief, and Alderley let me swing by on the way home so I could let you know the score. Now I’ve done that, like I said: you’d better pray you never see me again.’ He rapped on the door. ‘Okay, I’m finished.’
Still reeling from the attack, Brice nevertheless managed to stand. ‘Chase!’ he barked as the door opened. ‘History will prove me right. I was Britain’s best hope to return to greatness — Britain’s last hope!’
‘If you’re the best we’ve got,’ Eddie said as a parting shot, ‘the country really is up shit creek.’
‘What do we say to Daddy, Macy?’ Nina prompted as Eddie entered the apartment to find his family waiting in the hall.
Macy held up a picture she had drawn of a round-headed, pink-faced figure with elongated arms and legs. ‘Welcome home, Daddy!’ she cried before running to hug him.
‘Is this me?’ he asked, kissing her before examining the picture. ‘It’s very good! You got my head just right.’
‘Yeah, not a hair on it,’ said Nina with a smile as she embraced her husband. ‘How did things go in England?’
‘Pretty well. Hopefully MI6 is done with me now. Oh, Alderley told me the IHA’ll be looking after the Shamir until everyone decides what to do with it.’
‘You know you can call him Peter now that you’re Where Eagles Dare buddies?’ He made a mocking face. ‘Yeah, I suggested it to Oswald Seretse at the UN, and he passed it on to the White House — and let’s face it, the British government wasn’t really in any position to refuse President Schilling anything.’
‘Not after one of their agents took down an American airliner, no.’
‘Oswald asked if I’d be willing to help out with their initial research, since I had first-hand experience of where it was found — and what it can do.’
‘Are you going to?’ Eddie’s question was pointed, but not disapproving.
‘I haven’t decided yet,’ she answered. ‘I’m certainly not going to do anything that will take me away from home, though. I even told the producers that if they need me to do any pick-up shooting for the Ark of the Covenant documentary, I’ll do it here in New York rather than LA. They’re going to dedicate the series to Steven, Howie and the others who died, by the way. After I told them I was donating my fee to their families, I suppose they felt they had to make some gesture.’
They went into the living room. ‘So, you’re staying home for now?’
‘Absolutely. Even after two months back in New York, I can safely say I haven’t got itchy feet.’ She sat, patting the cushion to invite Macy up beside her, then regarded her husband curiously. ‘What about you?’
‘About what?’
‘How itchy are your feet? For England, I mean. You decided where you belong — there or here?’
‘Where do I belong?’ He smiled and sat with his wife and daughter. ‘Right here with the two of you. Wherever here might be.’