Page 52 of Licence To Howl
‘Yes.’
‘We tracked him to Berlin. He was found dead two weeks ago. His throat was slit. There are no suspects and it appears that the German police aren’t looking very hard. Bartan was well known to them and had his own ties with various minor terrorist organisations. That information cements our concerns about what Solentino was up to. What you’ve done is provide us with the confirmation we need to proceed. You should feel pleased with what you’ve accomplished.’
Maybe. But it wasn’t enough. He counted to five in his head then bit out a nod. ‘Very well.’
‘I’ll see you in person soon,’ Greensmith said. ‘Take care.’ Then the screen went blank.
Devereau ground his teeth. He was invested now. Personally. It wasn’t easy to follow orders and take a step back.
‘So,’ Scarlett said, ‘it appears my career as a spy is over before it’s even really begun. And,’ she added, ‘my head remains thankfully on my shoulders.’ Then she glanced at him and murmured sotto voce, ‘you didn’t tell her that your belongings will no longer be at the hotel.’
Devereau flicked her a look. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I didn’t.’ He paused. ‘But then I didn’t get the chance.’
‘Uh huh.’
He shrugged at her, ignoring the brief ripple of pain which ran through his body as a result of that simple action.
Scarlett smiled slightly. ‘I’ll get Simon to pack my own things and send them to London. I might as well come to the airport with you now. I’m sure I can nab another seat on that same flight.’ Their eyes met. Devereau knew instantly that they were on the same page.
‘Sure,’ he said. ‘No problem.’
Chapter Twenty
The young manwith the tablet was tasked with escorting them to Fiumicino airport. It was likely his last task before he went home to sleep for the day.
‘This really would be easier,’ he muttered, from the middle seat in the back seat of the embassy car, ‘if you had your passports with you. It’s bad enough that we have to side-step the police. You’ll have to go through the diplomatic channels. It’s being arranged already with Roman immigration but it’s really not supposed to happen this way.’
Devereau had the sense that the man was mostly annoyed about the paperwork he’d be forced to do as a result of their supposedly illegal, albeit MI5 sanctioned, travel. Not to mention their sudden disappearance when they were both wanted for questioning by the Italian police. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked. He might as well butter the poor fellow up.
‘Mark.’
‘Well, Mark,’ Devereau said. ‘I appreciate all that you’re doing to help us. Your country called and you answered.’ Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Scarlett’s mouth twitch.
‘Devereau is right,’ she agreed. ‘You’re performing a vital service and we will ensure you are rewarded. I don’t imagine this sort of thing usually happens on the night shift.’
Mark’s cheeks had taken on a faint flush. It was clear the praise was making him both uncomfortable and pleased all at the same time. ‘Not normally, no. Most of my work,’ he said grudgingly, ‘involves drunk tourists who are banged by the Roma polis. It’s not very glamorous.’
‘I bet your parents are proud though,’ Scarlett said. ‘Mine would be.’
He looked down. ‘Yeah. They’re impressed. I’m just another civil servant as far the government is concerned but my mum and dad are thrilled.’
‘As they should be.’
‘Mark,’ Devereau said, ‘does the acronym RBPL mean anything to you?’
He pursed his lips and thought about it. ‘The Royal Borough of Parks in London?’ he guessed.
‘Is that a thing?’
‘Not that I know of. It could be though.’ His fingers twitched at the shiny material of his trousers. Then he fell silent and didn’t say anything until the car pulled up outside Terminal 3. ‘Wait here. I’ll go and find our escort through immigration.’ He exited the car although the driver remained in the front seat. And as soon as Mark had left, there was a click as the car doors were locked. Hmm.
‘Did you text Moretti?’ Devereau asked casually.
‘Yep.’ She looked him up and down. ‘How are you feeling now?’
‘Sore,’ Devereau admitted. ‘But I’m getting better.’
‘Better enough to go for a run?’
