Page 23 of Licence To Howl
‘I don’t enjoy being stuck in a tiny room while everyone waits for me to take a dump.’
‘That’s on you. You didn’t have to swallow that stupid ring.’ She sniffed. ‘The part you enjoy is already over for you. You nicked the ring. The only reason we’re here trying to sell it on is so you can finance your next job. You’re a wolf now. You could retire from these sorts of activities if you wanted to. You simply don’t want to.’
Devereau touched the spot on the wall with his fingertips. It was barely noticeable but there was definitely a faint electronic buzz coming from underneath the plaster. Both their instincts were correct. There was no sign of any camera but their words were definitely being recorded. He would have expected nothing less, especially given what Greensmith had told him about MI5’s own failure to bug places like this. Solentino knew what he was doing where tech like this was concerned and was probably listening in at this very moment.
‘You don’t have to be here, Scarlett. You chose to come along. You want the pay-off as much as I do.’
‘If I hadn’t come along,’ she drawled, ‘then I wouldn’t have met Signore Solentino. Danger is a thrill for you. Men like him are a thrill for me.’
Devereau gave her a long, irritated look. In return, Scarlett shrugged and pulled a face to indicate she found her own words as distasteful as he did.
‘I’m really not all that different to you, Dev,’ she said aloud. ‘You like the thrill of the chase. So do I. It’s simply that we both chase different things.’
‘Don’t forget whose side you’re supposed to be on.’
‘Yeah, yeah.’ She made a show of dropping her voice to a whisper although any reasonable listening equipment would have no difficult still picking up her words. ‘I’m not sure he trusts you, you know.’
‘That’s a shame,’ Devereau said. ‘You might be trying to make me jealous of him but he seems like a decent guy to me. You can get a good sense of someone by the way they speak to you and the manner in which they approach things. Solentino might not like or trust me but I think we could work well together.’
‘Assuming he doesn’t put a bullet in your head in the next couple of hours.’
‘He’s too smart to try something like that.’
‘I hope you’re right. I like Signore Solentino. I know I had my doubts about him before but now I’ve met him I’d like to do more business with him in the future.’
Devereau gave her a pleased nod. ‘So would I.’ He winked at her and she smirked. They’d set their lure and used enough amateur dramatics to please any audience. Now they’d have to see if they could reel their prey in.
Chapter Ten
Devereau had estimatedthat it would take Solentino around three hours to return to them. In the end it was less than two. He’d obviously not wasted any time in finding out all he could about his two visitors. Devereau had to trust that Scarlett had been circumspect indeed about the reasons for her appearance in Rome, and that there was no obvious trace of his own involvement with MI5 despite what Scarlett herself had managed to uncover by following him around London.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Solentino declared, when he opened the door to the little room and reappeared in front of them, ‘that I’m not giving you a very positive view of Italian hospitality. It’s almost lunch time. Some friends of mine have dropped by. Why don’t you come through and join us for something to eat?’
‘How thoughtful of you,’ Scarlett cooed. She rose elegantly from her chair. ‘I was beginning to feel a bit peckish.’
Solentino smiled at them both but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Devereau felt a chill in the pit of his stomach. Despite the show they’d put on earlier, they were still being tested. He hoped Scarlett realised that.
‘Then, Miss Cook,’ Solentino said, using Scarlett’s surname although she’d not told him it herself, ‘come with me. I’m sure you’ll appreciate what I have to offer.’ He stepped back and held the door open for them.
Devereau and Scarlett exchanged quick looks. Solentino was deliberately letting them know that he’d been looking deeper at both of their identities. Devereau wasn’t surprised that he’d done so, but he was mildly taken aback that he was being so open about it.
They walked out, following Solentino’s lead. Devereau noted a closed door behind them, at the far end of the apartment, plus what looked like two bedrooms as well as the lounge and the kitchen. Solentino bypassed them all and took them to a sunlit room towards the front of the apartment. There was a long table which was already set. Hunks of bread and a platter of various cheeses, olives and meats sat in the centre, and four unfriendly looking men were seated along the far side. Solentino indicated towards two of the vacant chairs. Scarlett and Devereau did as they were bade and sat down, just as Alina herself wafted in through another door.
‘Well!’ she said, clapping her hands. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here, Mr Webb!’
He smiled at her. ‘It’s good to get the opportunity to talk to you again.’
‘Indeed.’ Her eyes flicked to Scarlett. ‘Hello.’
Solentino lifted up his chin. ‘Alina,’ he murmured. There was obviously some kind of unspoken command in his voice.
She nodded at him and began unbuttoning her pretty white blouse. Devereau was baffled. Was she about to strip off? Was this some kind of kinky side-show as a prelude to lunch?
Alina walked over to Scarlett’s chair and knelt down, leaning her head to the side and exposing her bare neck and shoulder. ‘Please.’
Identical expressions of eagerness lit the faces of the four men opposite. Devereau concealed his disgust and snuck a quick look at Solentino. He was watching Alina’s every move but his expression was giving nothing away. Scarlett hesitated for a moment. Then she dipped her head towards Alina’s neck.
Alina let out a tiny moan as Scarlett’s single fang pierced her skin. Her hand reached out, grabbing Scarlett’s wrist and encircling it, her knuckles turning pure white as she tightened her grip. The four seated men leaned forward. Devereau thought he saw a trickle of drool in the corner of the mouth of the nearest one. He tried desperately hard not to let his disgust show. After several painfully long seconds, Scarlett pulled back, her mouth stained red with Alina’s blood.
