Holy Island Trilogy 03 - The Final Countdown (20 page)

The woman sitting at the table had mid-brown hair tied up at the back with a barrette. Her age was hard to tell, although she was no spring chicken. He guessed she was a well-preserved late fifties, maybes more, maybes less, you couldn’t always tell, but she was still quite attractive.

He reached the table. ‘Hello, I’m--'

‘I know who you are. Please sit down, I don’t need or want a bloody stiff neck.’

Tarasov was quite stunned for a moment, and fell into his past way of thinking. How dare she address me like that!

A moment later, he was stuttering. ‘Me…Mel…Melissa?’ His jaw dropped in shock.

CHAPTER FIFTY

Ella, Mike and Shelly arrived back at the safe house. As they walked in Danny, Smiler and Coral looked up. Having decided to play cards with them, Coral put her hand down on the table. She quickly glanced at the open door, then looked at Ella who shook her head. ‘He didn’t make it, Coral,’ Ella said.

‘Oh, no.’ Coral stood and put her arms around Ella.

Danny, however, was staring at the strange blonde girl. His heart began to beat so loud he could hear it. ‘Shelly!’

It took Shelly all of a few seconds to cross the room, then she was in Danny’s arms.

‘Fancy going for a walk?’ Mike said to Smiler.

Smiler jumped up. ‘Yeah, Tiny needs to stretch his legs as well. Come on.’ Tiny jumped up, and Smiler put the dog's lead on and followed Mike out the door.

‘What happened back there?’ he asked Mike when they were in the street.

‘I guess you could say Mitch was our first casualty of war, Smiler. He was shot through the head.’

‘Shit.’ Smiler sighed. ‘I never met him.’

‘Well, for the short time I knew him, he seemed a decent enough bloke.’

‘If he worked for Aunt May, he would have been.’

Mike smiled. When they reached the end of the road there was a grassed area, and Smiler let Tiny off for a run.

‘You do understand,’ Mike said as they watched the dog revelling in his freedom, ‘that no one is sure of what is going to happen? It's not just the families we have to fight, it’s the agents who have also been living off the fat of the land. Do you think they’re gonna go gracefully? Especially when they probably know more about the family businesses than the families do themselves?’

Smiler shook his head. ’It’s been a fight for centuries, Mike. But never since the time of Boudicca have we been so organised, instead of fighting back by nibbling here and there at them.’

Mike looked at Smiler. He’s got his book head on again, he thought, as Smiler went on.

‘Too many wars down the centuries, probably caused by the families themselves, to suit each other and keep those in the arms business going.’

‘Couldn’t have put it better. So much has become clear since listening to Aunt May.’

‘Where is she now? ’Smiler frowned, as if only just missing her.

‘She slipped out a while back, said she had someone to meet.’

Bending down, Smiler picked up a stick and threw it for Tiny. ‘Do you think she’s told us everything?’

‘I should hope so…Then again, she’s one clever lady. Probably just told us what she thinks we need to know.’

Tiny dropped the stick at Smiler’s feet. For a moment, Smiler ignored Tiny and, turning to Mike, said, ‘I’m ready, Mike. Whatever it takes, I’m up for it.’

Mike nodded. ‘I never doubted it, Smiler… Come on, we best be getting back.’

‘OK.’ Smiler slipped Tiny’s lead on. As they turned to go back, he said, ‘What we were saying before, about Aunt May, I reckon she’s deffo still got some things up her sleeve.’

PART THREE

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Annya was sitting between Robert and Patrick and listening to Patrick’s funny fishing tales. She couldn’t help but smile, the first for months, while Robert was near to tears with laughing. When Aunt May came back, and they all said hello, with Shelly looking sheepish and not meeting Aunt May’s eyes, Annya rose out of her chair.

‘Excuse me, I’m told you’re in charge? I want to go home. My grandfather will be really worried. And I have decided that I am going home. To keep me against my will makes you no better than them.’

Aunt May smiled. ‘You must be Annya.’

‘Yes. Annya Brodzinski.’

‘Not to worry, Annya, you’ll be going back with us up to Holy Island in the morning.’

Annya gasped. She had not expected it to be so easy. ‘But they said...they said I would never be able to go home again, that I would never see my grandfather again!’

‘That’s the way we had to do it before, child, to save the lives of the victims and their families. But things have bloody changed now all right, and I feel you will be as safe at home as you will be anywhere. A friend is now on her way to inform your grandfather. There is an empty cottage close to mine. It is to be used as a new safe house. I feel you and your grandfather will fit in nicely, and both of you will be a big help.’

‘Oh, thank you, thank you so much!’ Annya burst into tears, and Coral jumped up to comfort her.

‘I have something to say.’ Shelly let go of Danny’s hand.

Aunt May looked expectantly at her.’ Yes, you bloody do.’

Shelly swallowed hard, and glanced at Danny before saying, ‘I’m sorry, but I nicked a twenty pound note from your purse… I…I had to do it, I needed money for the bar.’

‘It’s all right, I knew it was you. Needs must…We can forget about it now you’ve done the decent thing.’

‘But I’ll pay you back, promise, as soon as--’

‘Forget it, Shelly. It served its purpose all right. Only, the next time, just bloody ask, OK?’

‘Oh I will, I will… Sorry again.’ Relieved, Shelly sat back down and gripped Danny’s hand. He gave her a wink and squeezed back. She had been adamant that she wanted to confess to taking the money, though Danny had said to do it privately. She had not been able to wait, and felt much better now that it was all over.

A knock on the door startled Aunt May, but jumping up, Ella said, ‘It's OK, it’ll be the pizza man. What, you think I was gonna cook for you lot? No way...’

An hour later, with everyone fed and watered, Aunt May told them where they would all be living from now on, and what their new roles consisted of. After most had gone to bed, Mike and Kristina sat with Aunt May.

‘I met with a man today, Mike. Your father.’

‘What?’ Mike was shocked. ‘How the hell--?’

‘I’ve known Tarasov for a long time, Mike. He has over the last year been very helpful, and has now totally thrown his lot in with ours. Especially… Never mind.’

Mike shook his head. Never mind what? he thought. So much has happened these last few weeks, it's damn hard to get a grip on things, and remember what’s what.

Having already told Aunt May about Tarasov and what had happened to him, he said, ‘Did you know that he’s my father?’

‘Yes… There’s something else I have to tell you.’

What the fuck now? Mike thought, when they were suddenly interrupted by the sound of the back door opening.

‘Hello there.’ Tony grinned at them as he walked in.

‘You’re bloody early,’ Aunt May said, lifting her face for a kiss.

Tony kissed her cheek and put his arm around her. ‘The traffic was good. So, have you explained everything?’ He gave Kristina a smile. ‘Nice to see you, Kristina. Back where you belong, eh?’

Kristina returned the smile with a small wave. She had always liked Tony, and remembered picking out a blue tie for him the last Christmas she and Mike were together. She nodded. ‘Hopefully for good this time, Tony.’

 He turned back to Aunt May and raised an eyebrow, obviously wanting an answer to his question.

‘Just about,’ she replied.

Mike frowned, not missing the look that had passed between them when Tony asked if she’d explained everything. You’re good, Aunt May, he thought, but not good enough to fool me. There’s something else going on here, which obviously concerns me.

Standing up, he greeted Tony with a hug, saying, ‘Everyone else is in bed.’

‘Thought they would be.’

Mike sat back down. ‘OK, out with it, both of you. What the hell else is going on?’

Tony hesitated for a moment, then said, ‘I take it Aunt May hasn’t got round to telling you about the water poisoning business that the families have planned?’

‘New one on me,’ Mike said, again catching a strange but relieved look that Aunt May threw at Tony.

‘What?’ asked Kristina, who had pretty much been quiet up until now. ‘Water poisoning?’

‘It’s the latest plan to cut the population down. That and a few others,’ Tony said.

‘I was going to bloody well tell you all about it when we get home and start the planning. Everything has to be done right, and there are only so many bloody shocks a person can take.’

‘OK, we’ll leave it till then.’ Mike stood up. ‘Time for bed.’

‘Yes, me too.’ Kristina rose, her hand in Mike's.

‘See you in the morning, then,’ Tony said.

‘Night, lovelies.’ Aunt May smiled at them both, then patted Mike's arm as he passed.

Nodding, Mike and Kristina headed for the stairs. Although a very large house, the bedrooms were not endless, and with so many people there the sleeping arrangements had to be shared. Mike was in with Dave and Smiler, while Kristina shared a room with Annya and Shelly. They kissed on the landing and said their goodnights. A very disappointed Kristina opened the door of her room, to hear Shelly snoring her head off.

In his room, Mike undressed in the dark then sat on the edge of his single bed. Danny and Smiler slept silently, apart from an odd mutter from Danny, in the double bed facing him.

What the hell is going on now?

There’s something. If those two think they can fool me... He shook his head.

 Something definitely not right.

He swung his legs onto the bed and pulled the quilt up.

Tomorrow, I’ll find out. One way or another.

Downstairs, Tony said, 'Why haven’t you told him yet?'

‘Has there been any bloody time?’

Tony shrugged. ‘He has to know, Aunt May, you know this. You can’t keep putting it off. The longer you take, the harder it will be, for both of you.’

She nodded. ‘You’re right, I know. Just stop bloody harassing me, it's been a hard day.’

Tony took hold of her shoulders. ‘Look at me, Aunt May.’ She lifted her head. ‘Promise me you’ll tell him. He deserves the truth.’

‘I will, promise...as soon as the time is right.’

‘No, Aunt May, that could take forever, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he thinks there’s something up already. He misses nothing, our Michael Yorke.’

Aunt May smiled. ‘It’s been so hard, Tony.’

Tony put his arm around her and squeezed. ‘Without you, none of this would have happened. It’s you who worked so hard to bring everything together, Aunt May. The whole world owes you.’

She nodded. ‘And the others before me, let's not forget them.’

‘I know.’

‘I’m going up to bed now. Goodnight, Tony.’ She left him and headed for the stairs.

Tony went into the kitchen and made himself a ham sandwich. Coming back into the sitting room, he switched the television on and loosened his tie before he sat down. He flicked through the numerous channels before deciding on the BBC news.

He smiled at an announcement he’d been expecting, and slowly nodded. A helicopter had crashed over the French border, killing all on board.

‘And so it begins,’ he muttered.

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Having arrived home three hours earlier, Prince Carl, his Siberian husky dog, Bess, in tow, walked down from his castle to the town. As usual, he stopped outside of Chartres Cathedral to stare in wonder at the magnificent building. His peace was disturbed after a few minutes, however, by the ringing of his mobile phone.

Checking who the call was from, he answered immediately. ‘Slone?’

‘Yes, the job's done.’

‘Good, very good.’ Prince Carl quickly hung up. Although the lines were secure, Prince Carl still didn’t trust them. A bit like helicopters, he thought, with a smile.

He turned his head in the direction of Count Rene’s town house, seeing in his mind’s eye a 'For Sale' sign going up outside of it.

‘Just might put a bid in for it,’ he muttered, pulling on Bess’s lead. ‘Come on, girl. This way.’

Five minutes later he was sitting outside a coffee house.

As he sipped his coffee, he thought of the American, Slone, and just how good an actor the man was. His performance at the gathering deserved an Oscar at the very least. So many of the families he had fooled into thinking he was against Tarasov.

He patted Bess, as she garnered admiring looks from the people passing by. Bess was his baby. Probably the only baby he would ever have, although even that could be sorted if he wanted it. Or perhaps it would be better to let his line die out.

Plenty of babies in the world to help, he smiled, as he decided he sort of liked this helping business. His smile widened when he saw the young man he had come to meet, walking to his table.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Mr Brodzinski walked past the water treatment factory. Outside the gates, he stopped to light a cigarette.

His grand-daughter had returned home a few days ago. Since then, they had moved to live on the fantastic Holy Island. He had never been happier, especially as the lady May had told him the whole long story, and asked if he would like to be a part of it.

Would he!

The only downside had been leaving Annya to sort out the house while he jumped on the train to London.

But it was part of the job, and he would do his very best. This was not a war between countries. This was a war against evil and greed, and he was proud to be part of it. His cigarette lit, he strolled slowly on, dragging his left foot behind him, and pulling on the lead of the tiny Jack Russell which the Lady May had got for him as part of his cover, out of the local dogs' home.

Whoever would suspect an old man and his dog of being a spy?

Brodzinski had never, as they put it, been a dog lover, but this little creature had already wrapped its paws around his heart on the journey here. He was seriously thinking of keeping her when he got home. Annya had always wanted a dog. She would be over the moon with this little brown-and-white thing.