‘He also has another man at the villa,’ Zane told his temporary partner. ‘There is always at least one man guarding it. The villa itself has surveillance systems covering the main road above it and the jetty at the bottom of the cliff below.’
‘You know a lot about him,’ Eddie noted. ‘Been on Mossad’s radar for a while, has he?’
‘We take an interest in anyone connected to anti-Israeli organisations. But,’ Zane’s gaze flicked towards the broker, ‘so far Leitz has been smart and careful enough not to do anything that would justify direct action against him.’
‘Until now.’
‘That’s what we’re going to find out. If he really is working for these Nazis, then the Mossad will act. But first, we need confirmation.’
Eddie finished his own delicious citrus juice. ‘And how are you planning on getting it?’
‘If I can reach his computer, it doesn’t matter what security it has — I can still access it.’ He touched a small satchel on the table.
‘That’s what the bloke at Naples airport gave you? Some sort of hacking gizmo?’
‘A gift from the Mossad’s friends at the NSA,’ Zane told him. ‘All I have to do is plug it into his PC’s USB port, and it’ll take control of his system through a back door. He won’t even know anything has happened.’
‘So if he’s here, why aren’t you at his place doing this already?’
‘Those surveillance systems I mentioned? They’re very good. We can’t just jump over the fence.’
‘How are we supposed to get inside, then?’
Leitz finished his coffee and tossed some coins on to the table, then got up and left. The two bodyguards followed, smoothly filtering into positions behind him. Zane waited until they reached one of the piazza’s exits before rising. ‘That’s a good question. I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me find an answer. Come on.’
‘I remember this road,’ said Eddie as Zane followed Leitz’s BMW, keeping a few other cars between them. ‘Drove along it with Nina. It’s a bloody nightmare to get past anything.’ He looked out to the left across the glittering sea, then added: ‘Great views, though.’
The main westward route out of Amalfi was a narrow road halfway up the coastal cliffs, steep rock walls above and below. Despite the tight confines, the roadside was still home to numerous parked cars and wheelie bins belonging to locals, making overtaking almost impossible. Inevitably, this resulted in traffic jams; equally inevitably, this being Italy, the jams were accompanied by car horns and emotive gesticulation as arguments erupted over who would be forced to back up first.
Zane slowed the Lancia Delta as another knot of traffic built up ahead. A bus was coming the other way, forcing westbound vehicles to crawl along hard over against the cliff face. ‘Views here are expensive. Leitz paid a million euros for his villa, and that was over ten years ago.’
‘He’s made a few bob from what he does, then.’
The Israeli nodded. ‘His standard fee is twenty per cent. His clients are willing to pay that much, because he is able to keep their secrets.’
‘Even from Mossad? He must be worth the money, then.’
A cacophony of horns broke out as the bus found itself unable to squeeze past a car that had refused to pull all the way over. Zane brought the hatchback to a stop. After several seconds in which the jam remained unmoving, he drew in a slow, deep breath. ‘Sav’lanut, areyh tes’eyer…’ he muttered.
‘What was that?’ Eddie asked.
The younger man hesitated before answering. ‘It was something Benjamin used to say to me. A lot, to begin with. It means “Patience, young lion.”’
‘Young lion? Was that what he called you?’
Zane nodded. ‘I had a nickname for him too. Alter kocker.’
‘What does that mean?’
The younger man appeared almost sheepish. ‘The nearest translation would be… “old fart”.’
‘Kids these days, no respect,’ Eddie said with a grin. ‘Sounds more like he was your dad than your boss.’
‘He was like a father to me,’ said Zane, with an insistence that surprised the Yorkshireman. ‘He trained me, he helped me become who I am today. Without his guidance, I would have been…’ He waved a hand as if trying to pluck the right word from the air. ‘Nobody. Just another aimless kid. He gave me a purpose. But…’ his cheek muscles tightened with barely suppressed emotion, ‘now he is gone.’
‘I’m sorry.’
The Israeli gave a small nod of thanks, then his expression became curious. ‘In the hotel, in Egypt: when I told you Ben had been my mentor, you said that without him, I wouldn’t have been who I am. Not where I am. Why did you phrase it like that?’
‘Because I know what you’re feeling right now.’
‘How?’
‘You said you’d read my file. Figure it out.’
The Israeli’s smooth brow creased slightly in thought. ‘Your commander, in the SAS…’
‘Yeah,’ said Eddie. ‘I know what it’s like to lose someone who… who made you what you are, someone who kicked your arse into line when you needed it most. Especially when they were taken away from you by being shot in the back.’
‘That part wasn’t in your file,’ said Zane.
‘I didn’t get time to do any paperwork afterwards. Seeing as I was wanted for murder.’
‘You went after the man who did it?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Did you kill him?’
‘Yes, but… it wasn’t revenge. I was trying to find out who he was working for, but he pulled a gun on me. I didn’t have a choice.’
‘I already know who Rasche is working for,’ Zane said, his face becoming cold once more. ‘When I find him… I won’t try to capture him. Ayin tachat ayin.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It’s from the Talmud. “An eye for an eye.”’
Eddie nodded. ‘I’m not Jewish, but I can totally get behind that.’
Zane seemed about to say more, but a shrill bleat from the car behind told him the traffic was moving again. ‘Can you see Leitz?’
‘Yeah, whenever I bang my head. No, he’s still there,’ Eddie added, seeing that his companion did not share his sense of humour. ‘In front of that Ape.’
‘What ape?’ Zane scanned the road. ‘I didn’t know they had monkeys here.’
The Englishman laughed. ‘Not a bloody monkey! The little three-wheeler van, there.’ He pointed ahead. Behind Leitz’s black 7 Series was a tiny pickup truck, whining along at the head of a stream of blue smoke from its puny two-stroke engine. The Apes, in both three- and four-wheeled form, had been a constant source of amusement on his previous visit, as the diminutive utility vehicles always seemed laden with far more than they could possibly carry.
‘Then why didn’t you just call it a van?’
‘Because that’s its bloody name, a Piaggio Ape. Anyway, we haven’t lost him. How far to his villa?’
‘About two kilometres.’
Eddie let the rest of the journey pass in silence, watching the beautiful scenery glide by. It only took five minutes, even with stoppages, to reach their destination. ‘There it is,’ Zane announced.
The BMW pulled across to the top of a driveway on the left, an electric gate rolling out of its way. The drive dropped away steeply beyond it, giving Eddie a glimpse of a red-tiled rooftop below. Leitz’s driver went through the barrier the moment he had enough clearance, the gate immediately reversing direction to close behind the car.