Page 63 of Licence To Howl
‘Did he though? It seemed that way at the time but Vissier said Alina had him wrapped around her little finger. I had the impression from the Dutchman that there were a lot of other things she persuaded Solentino to do.’ He paused. ‘And get this - before Alina was with Solentino, she was shacked up with Vissier. It was Alina who wanted Vissier to follow us. When he left the Colosseum, he headed to my hotel room to check it out. It might be a coincidence that it meant he was absent from the massacre at Solentino’s apartment and therefore didn’t die. Or it might be that she still had feelings for him and wanted to spare him by waiting until he was safely out of the way. Not to mention that leaving him alive means there was somebody left to point the finger at Avanopoulos. A man who’s already been described asdangerously malleable.’
Scarlett considered what he’d said. ‘That’s a lot of ifs. Avanopoulos can’t be ignored. He has to be a serious contender.’
‘I’m not discounting him,’ Devereau said. ‘But he came into the game late and he seems too … convenient. There may well be other players involved who we haven’t met yet. But my gut is telling me that Alina Bonnet is looking like the most likely candidate for terrorist of the year. There was something about her. Something in her eyes.’ He sighed. ‘There’s no real proof. It’s only speculation and we don’t know where she is or how to find her though so we can’t do much about it anyway. Berlin is next and Avanopoulos is involved in at least some regard. Despite my theories about Alina, we have a better chance of finding him and –’ He broke off in mid-sentence.
‘What is it?’
The hairs on the back of Devereau’s neck were standing up. ‘That fucking embassy guy. The young one. Mark something. He’s over there.’
Scarlett followed his gaze, stiffening when she saw him flanked by two security guards. He marched up to one of the more senior police officers who was directing the continuing operation to secure the disaster site and make it safe. From the way he began to gesticulate, it looked as if he was asking a question.
‘He’s looking for you,’ Scarlett commented.
‘And you,’ Devereau replied.
They both watched for another moment. ‘It’s the million pound question,’ Scarlett said softly. ‘Now that Solentino’s operation is underway, do we fall into line and let the real professionals take over?’
‘The circumstances might have changed but my answer hasn’t. I’m not stepping back. I can’t.’
‘In that case,’ she said, as the police officer glanced round, searching for them to point out to Mark, ‘we’d better move.’
‘We have to speak to Moretti before we go.’
She waved her phone at him. ‘I’ll call him and get him to meet us somewhere safely away from here.’
They both got to their feet. In the distance, Devereau saw Mark look over in their direction. He shouted towards them and began striding over, with the guards also moving at double speed by his side. Devereau flashed Scarlett a quick, humourless grin. And then they both turned and quickly walked off in the opposite direction. Sarah Greensmith would be incandescent, Devereau thought. He shrugged. Oh well.
* * *
Nicolo Morettino longer looked like the suave, arrogant alpha of clan Lupo with designer clothes and an unruffled façade. It wasn’t only his now ragged and dirty attire. There was a weariness behind his eyes and considerable pain etched into the lines on his face.
‘I am sorry for what has happened,’ Devereau said.
Moretti’s jaw tightened. ‘Do not be sorry,’ he hissed in an undertone that was far more intimidating than shouting would have been. ‘Be furious.’ He drew himself up. ‘I am.’
‘We will find the people responsible for this, Nicolo,’ Scarlett said. ‘All of them.’
‘I know you will. But can you find them before they repeat this in Berlin? In Paris? In London?’
‘We will do our best.’
Moretti’s gaze was hard. ‘Do better than that.’ He folded his arms across his chest. ‘I had a phone call from Athens twenty minutes ago. Avanopoulos left on a private flight for Berlin ten minutes after the Pantheon exploded.’ He passed Devereau a piece of paper. ‘The flight details are there but there’s no information about where he went after he landed. I’ve already contacted the three clan alphas in Berlin and they’re passing word around the entire supe community. Everyone is on the alert for him.’
All three of them exchanged grim looks.
‘If they spot him,’ Devereau said, ‘they can’t approach him. We don’t want to spook him, especially when he might not be the mastermind.’
Moretti’s eyes narrowed. ‘You think there’s someone else pulling the strings?’
‘Yeah.’ He grimaced. ‘I do.’
‘Very well. I will pass your request along. I cannot promise, however, that the Germans will abide by it. Not after what has happened here.’
Devereau nodded. He could understand that. He’d have to hope that cooler heads prevailed. ‘Is there any way you can help us get to Berlin without using our own passports?’
‘Not Berlin,’ he answered, ‘but I have a private plane that can get you to an airfield fifty miles out of the city.’
That would have to do. ‘Thank you.’
