He managed to keep the pain at bay, but only because, unconscious, he was forced to let himself go.
Just before he passed out he heard Billie screaming his name.
Adam. Adam
Help her, Marcus. Help her till I come back.
Ch. 67
'You're absolutely certain about this?'
'Yes, sir.'
The DDA sat back and waited for the Exec Director to continue. The news he had just imparted had had the effect he expected. His superior was baffled, unsure of the validity and import of what he had just been told.
'How the hell did you find out?' the Exec Director asked suspiciously. There was bad blood between the two men, something he had himself nurtured. Divide and rule had always been his style.
'I decided to run a check on all personnel involved in this matter.'
'All personnel?' questioned the Exec Director.
'Up to the level of Deputy Directors.' There was no way the DDA was going to run a check on his superior.
'Why?'
'This thing's taken so many damn twists and turns…that I just believe we should question every angle. I also ran a check on my own records, I should add. There could've been something there, someone I'd met in the past that might open another door.'
'Wasn't your door you opened,' cut back the Exec Director sharply.
'I can only report what we found. We just threw all the names into a big data base and sat back to see what the computer threw up.'
The Exec Director rose from his desk and crossed to the window, stared out on the cold, snow filled landscape that filtered down to Langley. He didn't speak for nearly a minute; the DDA sat quietly, knowing this was not the time to interrupt his thoughts.
'Was a time when we played these games and enjoyed it. We knew who our fucking enemies were,' reminisced the Exec Director. 'Now we're all on the same side. Trouble is…' he went on, coming back to his desk, '…you don't know whose side you're on, including your own. I tell you, pork and sardines just don't mix on the same plate.' He sat down. 'How close were they?'
'The Englishman or the Russian?'
'All three.'
'They just all happened to be in Washington at the same time. Guess they mixed in the same diplomatic circles, got to know each other. That's not unusual. Even in the cloak and dagger community. A good source of information.'
'They ever communicate now?'
The DDA shrugged. 'A few letters, cards. Nothing unusual. The DDI's met Coy a couple of times. As would be expected. They worked closely during Desert Storm. This visit to Coy in London was logged as gathering information on Nicholson.'
'Did he discover anything?'
'We've had no report, sir.'
'I can live with Coy. But the Russian worries me. Shit, Rostov's the number two in the KGB. They say he's going to be the next Director.'
'They were friends a long time ago. Rostov was only a military attache…'
'Fuck the title. He was a spy. They all were.'
'Our people knew that. They still had friendships. There's nothing to suggest any different.'
'I hope not.' The Exec Director paused for a good twenty seconds before continuing. 'Did they share any women, anything like that?'
'No. Nothing like that.'
'Happened in England. That scandal in the Sixties. War Minister, John Profumo. He was porking this hooker who was also in bed with a Russian spy.'
'Ivanov.'
'That's the guy. Brought the whole damn government down. These things happen.'
'I don't think that's the case here. They just went out for dinner, that sort of thing.'
'Chase it, anyway. I'd hate for it to rebound from another direction.'
The DDA knew he meant from above. The Exec Director was no different from the rest of them. They all spent time covering their asses. 'I'll keep an eye on it, sir.'
'The German police come up with anything on Bonnie and Clyde?'
'Not a smell.'
'I guess we got Nicholson's picture from the Brits?'
'If we did, then no-one's admitting to it. They've been on to us. Want to know if we released it.'
'How the hell would we…? Coy. Is that where it came from?'
'You'll have to ask the DDI.'
'That'll have to wait. His first responsibility's looking after this Berlin trip. Let's just hope the German cops get hold of Bonny and Clyde before they cause any more trouble. Shit, I'd like to know what the hell they're up to. I really would.'
So would the rest of us, reflected the DDA. So would the rest of us.
Ch. 68
The pain brought him out of his unconsciousness. It was a sharp pain, on his left side and below his ribs.
It wasn't long before that pain merged with the others that covered his body.
Adam lay still, his eyes closed, not wanting to alert whoever was in the room. He listened intently, heard nothing immediate, only the muffled sound of a radio or television from another room.
He opened his eyes slightly.
Curly Top sat watching him from a chair, a mischievous grin on his face.
'Welcome to Dresden,' he said in English, the accent heavy but clear. When Adam didn't respond, he scraped the chair back and stood up. 'I know you can hear me. I can either kick you hard or you can open your eyes and save the hurt. It's up to you.' As he spoke he moved menacingly forward.
No point, Marcus. I need the strength for later. Adam opened his eyes and looked up at Curly Top.
'Good. We understand each other. We're both professionals,' stated Kaas.
Adam didn't reply, was more concerned about working out where he was being held. His hands were behind his back and he felt the sharp metallic bite of the handcuffs on his wrists. His feet were unshackled; he still had his shoes on.
The room was of medium size, a bare room, probably an attic. The snowclad tops of the trees outside the window confirmed that. Where the hell was Billie? He suddenly realised she could've died, that something awful could have taken place before he passed out.
Kaas turned and walked to the door, pulled it open and shouted in German. 'Get Kragan.'
Adam lay still as Kaas came back and sat in the chair once again. Where was Billie?
Kaas stretched his right foot out and prodded Adam's thigh with it, grinning as he did so. Adam jerked his leg back as the pain seared up his muscled. They must've kicked him very hard for it to be so tender.
'So, Englishman. Mister Nicholson. Adam Nicholson. You are a famous person now.' As he spoke, Kaas pulled a newspaper from his jacket pocket and held up its front page for Adam to see. He looked at his own face staring back, with Billie's face next to it. The headline in German screamed 'SEARCH FOR MURDER SUSPECTS'.
'Where is she?' Adam asked Curly Top.
'Your girlfriend? In good hands.' The German grinned as he put the paper back in his pocket. 'You like being famous, Mr Adam Nicholson. Your photograph is also on television. All this…such a famous person, and no-one to ask for your autograph.'
As Curly Top laughed, Adam saw the door open and Kragan enter. Curly Top stood up as his superior came into the room.
'Has he said anything?' asked Kragan in German.
'Only wanted to know where the girl was.'
'Good.' Kragan knelt down in front of Adam and looked at him as a butcher would appraise a cut of meat. 'We know you speak German, Mr Nicholson,' he said, still in German.
Adam didn't respond, just stared warily at Kragan.