She didn’t need to say more. Eddie shared her grim look, then guided their vessel towards the yacht.
23
‘So they got away?’ Eddie barked at the speakerphone.
‘I am afraid so, yes,’ came the voice of Oswald Seretse. It was now dusk; Tom Harkaway had brought the Flirty Lady into the nearer port of Nelson’s Dockyard rather than returning to Jolly Harbour. He had alerted the authorities about the events on Elliot Island by radio after Eddie and Nina boarded, but by the time word reached the airport, a private jet had already taken off. ‘The aircraft filed a flight plan to Geneva, but it now seems unlikely it is actually going there.’
Eddie shook his head. ‘Black flights. Fucking CIA.’ He turned to Nina. ‘That must be how they got you out of the States without anyone asking questions. The CIA’s got a whole fleet of planes they use to whip people around the world, as passengers — or prisoners. Cross and Dalton must still have mates there.’
‘But we know where they’re going,’ she replied. ‘Israel. It’ll take them at least twelve hours to arrive, so that gives us plenty of time to alert the Israelis and get them to arrest them when they land.’
Even over the phone, Seretse was clearly uncomfortable. ‘There are two problems, Nina. The first is that we have no proof of Victor Dalton’s involvement other than your word. He was not seen by customs officials at Antigua airport, and there is so far no evidence to suggest that he was even on the island. Without such proof, making direct accusations against him would be… unwise. He may have been forced out of office, but he still has supporters.’
‘I didn’t imagine seeing him, Oswald,’ she snapped.
‘I am sure you did not. But the second is that when he was president, Dalton was a great supporter of the Israeli government; the US representative on the United Nations Security Council while he was in office had a one hundred per cent record of voting in favour of Israel or vetoing resolutions that were against its interests. If he really is going there, he will have many friends in high places.’
The couple had been brought by helicopter to Government House in St John’s; in the room with them were the island’s Governor General, and the Prime Minister, James Jefferson, the latter responding with a burst of indignation. ‘Whether President Dalton was here or not, the man who owned Elliot Island, this Ezekiel Cross, has committed an act of terrorism against my country!’ he snapped. ‘He released a chemical weapon! We don’t know how long it will be before the island is safe to visit, and even though the gas cloud has gone, the sea has been poisoned — we have already had reports of dead fish and birds.’ He glared at his companion. ‘You have to do something, Calvin. You’re the Queen’s representative here. Even if the British government is too afraid of the Americans to act, we must still issue a formal protest to the United States, and tell them to find this CIA plane!’
The Governor General, an elderly Antiguan named Sir Calvin Woodman, had the expression of someone who had expected a relaxing day in paradise only to find the beach littered with landmines. ‘We cannot do anything until we know exactly what has happened,’ he protested. ‘The Americans are sending experts to check the island.’
‘And when will they be here?’ Nina demanded.
Seretse gave her the answer. ‘Both USAMRICD and the CDC have been alerted about the release of a possible chemical agent. Specialists will be arriving overnight.’
‘Yeah, but they won’t be able to do anything until morning,’ said Eddie. ‘And the people who caused it’ll be halfway around the world!’
‘I have done all I can,’ Woodman offered feebly. ‘The experts are on their way, and we must wait to see what they find. As for this allegation about President Dalton, I find it extremely hard to believe.’ Ignoring Nina’s angry look, he went on: ‘We must wait for absolute proof of his involvement before demanding further action.’
‘So fuck-all’s going to get done, then,’ said Eddie. It was now the Governor General’s turn to look indignant.
There was a quiet rap on the door. An Antiguan woman entered at the Prime Minister’s response to announce that the chief of the country’s defence forces had arrived. ‘I’ll see him in my office,’ the politician told her. Woodman left with him.
‘Mr Chase?’ the woman added. ‘Professor Rothschild is here.’
Eddie nodded. ‘Show her in, thanks.’
Nina gave her husband an unhappy look. ‘Professor Rothschild?’
‘Yeah.’
‘As in Professor Maureen Rothschild?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘The bane of my professional existence? The woman who spent years undermining my career? The miserable old bag I absolutely cannot stand?’
‘That’s the one. Unless there’s another Professor Maureen Rothschild who decided to drop in for no particular reason.’
‘God damn it, Eddie!’ cried Nina, jumping up — then whirling as the door opened again. ‘Maureen,’ she said, with a fixed, icy smile of greeting. ‘What an unexpected surprise.’
‘Surprises usually are, Nina,’ Rothschild replied as she entered.
‘Hey, Prof,’ said Eddie, standing. ‘No trouble getting here, then?’
‘Your friend Tom arranged a cab for me. I’m glad you made it back in one piece, Eddie.’
Nina eyed him. ‘You two are on first-name terms now, huh?’
‘He saved my life,’ Rothschild told her. ‘That is usually something of an ice-breaker. Although unlike you, I don’t intend to marry him.’
Eddie clapped a hand to his chest. ‘Ow! I’m heartbroken.’
‘We needed someone with extensive archaeological knowledge to find the angel statue in Berlin,’ Seretse said over the speakerphone. ‘Maureen kindly agreed to help us.’
Rothschild smiled. ‘In return for some IHA consultancy work.’
‘What?’ demanded Nina.
‘Now, love,’ Eddie said, putting his hands on her shoulders, ‘you remember that you don’t even work for the IHA any more, right?’
‘That’s not the… Oh, shut up.’ She huffed and pouted.
‘I did overhear what you said just before I arrived,’ revealed the elderly woman, to Nina’s slight mortification, ‘and while I would never be so rude as to voice my own feelings about you in public, I have to admit it’s not exactly a dream reunion. But I’m honestly relieved that you’re still here to be as charming as ever. And,’ she added, ‘I understand congratulations are in order. Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?’
‘Uh… no, no, not yet,’ Nina mumbled, caught off guard. Eddie gave her a curious look.
‘Well, I’m happy for you both. But anyway, what happened to you?’
It took several minutes to describe everything that had transpired, and by the time Nina and Eddie finished, Rothschild’s face was pale. ‘My God,’ she said quietly. ‘Nearly a hundred people dead? That’s… that’s appalling.’
‘There’ll be a lot more joining them if these arseholes get what they’re after,’ Eddie reminded her.
‘Victor Dalton, though? I’ve met the man; I can’t believe he’s involved in this.’
‘He’ll do whatever it takes to get back into power,’ said Nina. ‘And I was dragged into this specifically because he wanted revenge on me and Eddie. He made it personal — and so did Cross when he threatened my baby.’
Seretse broke the uncomfortable silence. ‘Nina, you said Cross will be going to Israel to search for the angel near a sinkhole. Do you know exactly where?’