PRIMAL Unleashed (2) (46 page)

Rostam’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you, Fischer?”

Bishop ignored the question, placed his submachine gun in the bag with the canister, zipped it up and slung it over his shoulder.

“You did me the courtesy of not killing me in Odessa, so I’ll do you the same. But if our paths cross again, you’re a dead man.”

“I’ll find you, Fischer, and if she’s alive, I will find her too!”

Bishop turned his back on the man and set off down the alley towards the street. In the distance he could hear sirens wailing.

He lifted his phone to his ear. “Vance, any chance you can get a jet to Istanbul. I’ve got something here you might want to take a look at.”

Chapter 75

‘The Facility’

“Listen to me!” Dostiger screamed down the phone. “This operation was compromised from the start. MOIS have been working with those Mossad bastards.”

“Be careful what you’re implying, Dostiger,” the Iranian responded calmly.

“Implying? I don’t have to imply; the evidence is proof enough. Your lack of control over MOIS has killed any chance we had of success.”

“MOIS are toothless dogs, you fool. They don’t have the ability to do this, nor do they work with the Jews. Someone else has compromised every aspect of your security and you have no idea who it is!”

“This is not my fault. I think—”

“THEN WHOSE FAULT IS IT?” the General interrupted. “You have one month to find me a weapon, Dostiger, one month. Fail and I’ll send my men to find YOU. I don’t care what it is, I don’t care where you find it. Just make sure I can kill a million Jews with it.” The Iranian hung up.

“AAAAAAAAAGH!” Dostiger screamed at the top of his lungs, throwing the phone across the room. He limped across to his office bar, and hands shaking, tried to pour himself a whiskey. He spilled the amber liquid all over the polished wood, managing to get a small amount of it in his glass. He dumped a fist full of ice into the tumbler and lifted it to his mouth. “How the hell am I going to find a new weapon in a month?”
He spat and took a swig. “A nuclear warhead,” he mused. “It would cost millions but the effect would be the same. And this time I’ll take care of security personally — no leaks.”

He didn’t know exactly how his security was compromised but he was sure Mossad had played a part in it.

Dostiger savored the whiskey. "I’ll make those Jews pay." he promised himself. I’ll watch Israel burn, Mr Fischer, even if it costs me everything."

Chapter 76

Valencia, Spain. Four days later

On the outskirts of Valencia the sun was shining brightly as laborers toiled amongst the vines. Bishop stood watching as they harvested the grapes. He had a perfect view from the balcony of the private cottage, looking out over the rolling hills and the township of Montemayor. For a moment he was a boy again, exploring the hills with his parents. Then it was gone. He was back in the real world. He took his phone out and dialed.

“Vance, I just wanted to confirm that the package has arrived,” Bishop asked.

“Affirm, buddy. We deep-sixed those nasty little fuckers. They’re seven miles down under two tons of concrete. No one’s gonna get to them there.”

“That ought to do it.”

“So how’s Valencia, buddy? You and Saneh enjoying a little down time?”

“Yeah, we’re doing OK,” Bishop answered. “It’s good to have a couple of days in one place. I think she was getting sick of being on the move.”

“Listen, Bish, you earned this break. You did a great job in Istanbul and Odessa. You came through with flying colors.”

Bishop smiled. “I learnt some hard lessons this time round, Vance.” A sad look replaced his smile. “I just wish we didn’t have to lose Ice.“

“He was a good man, Bish.”

“That he was,” Bishop murmured. “How’s Mirza doing?”

“He’s still beating himself up pretty bad over it. I think he’ll be all right though. He’s a bit like Ice, ya know, all calm and collected ‘n’ shit. Scares the crap out of me. He certainly came through with the goods though.”

“Promise me you’ll look out for him, Vance.”

“Like he’s my brother from another mother.”

Bishop laughed. “How about Miklos and Pavel, they OK?”

“Hell yeah, tough boys, both of ‘em. They shipped home from Dubai yesterday. I’ve been thinking about putting together a regular team for shock-‘n’-awe-type jobs. All firepower and muscle. Those two are good candidates.”

“I think Aleks and Kurtz would be even more suitable. That bloody Kraut’s a loose cannon.”

“Bit like someone else I used to know.”

“Tell me I was never that bad.”

“You were never that bad,” chuckled Vance. “It’s OK, Bish, you came good and so will Kurtz. In fact Chua’s already got him and Aleks ready to tie up some loose ends.”

“Dostiger?”

“Yeah, the boys are ready to meet you in Moldova, Chua tells me the situation in Odessa has calmed down so you shouldn’t have any problem crossing the border.” Vance paused. “You know you don’t have to do this.”

“Yes I do, Vance. I owe it to my parents, I owe it to Ice and I owe to everyone else. That evil fucker needs to die!”

“There’s no doubt of that Bish, but you know it won’t bring them back, and that big Russian buddy of yours and that manic Kraut could take care of it.”

“What’s wrong, Vance. You think if I kill him and find peace, I’m going to lose my edge?”

Vance chuckled. “About as much hope of that as Chua giving up Red Bull! Alright, buddy, I’ll let Aleks know you’ll meet him and have Chua send the details to you. Hey, that reminds me, the Iranians have reported Saneh KIA, unknown location and unknown circumstances.”

“That’s good news. Does that mean what I think it does?” Bishop asked.

“Yeah, you guessed it. Chua is pretty happy that you two have eluded any possible follow up. You’re good to bring her home anytime from now.”

“I’ll send her on by herself, but don’t worry. I won’t be far behind.”

“OK, good luck, buddy. Bunker out!”

Bishop dropped his phone back in his pocket and crossed the marble-tiled balcony to an outdoor setting. The table was laid with breakfast and he sat in one of the wicker chairs and poured himself a coffee.

“Everything alright?” Saneh asked as she stepped out onto the balcony in a yellow summer dress.

“Yeah, everything’s good. Perfect in fact.”

She sat down in the chair opposite Bishop and he poured her a coffee.

“So when are we leaving, Aden?” she asked. “We’ve been here for a whole two days now.” Before arriving in Spain the pair had moved through no less than five international airports, changing their appearance and documentation each time.

“What, you don’t like it here? I thought it was an improvement on the safe house in Kiev,” Bishop joked.

Saneh smiled as she thought back to that night in Kiev when they had escaped the nightclub together. It seemed so long ago now. “It’s beautiful here. I just get the feeling it’s not where we are going to stay.”

“You’re right, but I wanted you to come here.” Bishop gazed out over the rolling vineyards, settling on a distant cemetery atop a bare hill. “This is where it all started for me.” He turned back to Saneh. “Not so long ago my life changed here. I lost something dear to me but found something else. Something I’ve now committed my life to.”

Saneh sensed the tension in Bishop’s voice and slid her chair around next to him, laying her hand on his.

He continued. “It’s a little sentimental, I guess, but I wanted your journey to start here as well.”

“I think I meet the criteria. I mean I’ve lost everything. I don’t have a home; I don’t have a job. I can never talk to my friends again.” She paused as Bishop grasped her hand. “I guess I’m as ready as I ever will be. So where to from here, Mr Aden Bishop?”

“Do you trust me?”

Saneh arched one of her eyebrows. “After what we’ve been through, are you kidding? I would follow you to the ends of the earth.”

He laughed. “You’re not far off. How about a tropical island in the Pacific?”

“Sounds terribly romantic.”

“Well, I’m not sure that’s how Vance would describe it, but hey, we can roll with that!” Bishop leaned forward and kissed Saneh on the lips.

“Pack your bags, girl, you’re going on a holiday!”

“Just me?”

“I’ll be joining you. There’s just something I need to take care of first.”

Chapter 77

‘The Facility’

“You’ll have your weapon by the end of the month.” Dostiger’s voice was edgy as he hunched over the phone at his desk. He hadn’t left the office in four days, his scarred face was covered in stubble and he was still wearing the same combat-stained fatigues.

“You still have the resources for this?” the Iranian General asked coldly. He knew the Ukrainian arms dealer had invested heavily in the failed recovery of the chemical weapon.

 “You will get your weapon. This time there will be no mistakes.“

“I should hope not.” The Iranian paused. “Be very careful, Dostiger. Nuclear weapons come with a greater level of risk. There will be many more eyes watching.”

“Leave that to me. You will have your weapon. Use it. I want the Jews to burn for what they did to me.” Dostiger spat his words with pure hatred.

“That I can promise you, my friend. Deliver the weapon and I will turn one of their cities to ash. Fail me and my men will come.”

“I will not fail. Fischer must pay.”

“Excellent. Contact me when you are ready to deliver.” The Iranian terminated the call.

Dostiger placed the phone down and reached for the glass on his desk with a shaking hand. It was empty. He snatched up a bottle and pulled the stopper from it, splashing the liquid into his glass. As he lifted it toward his lips, his eyes fixed in a distant stare and he smiled. It had all become so clear. He leaned forward and pressed the intercom.

“Get me Yuri.” Despite the Security Chief’s failures, Dostiger had kept him. Loyal men were a scarce commodity these days.

Five minutes later there was a soft knock on the office door. The arms dealer put down his second whiskey. “Yuri! About fucking time.”

The door opened and a man entered the room. It wasn’t Yuri; it was another man. A broad-shouldered brute of a man with a shaved head.

“Hello, comrade,” Aleks said in a thick Russian accent.

The Ukrainian’s eyes were fixed on the shotgun in the man’s hands. He looked up as another voice spoke from behind the Russian.

“We meet again, Dostiger.”

As the second man entered the room, Dostiger’s ugly features contorted in rage. “You! Fischer!”

“Actually, the name’s Bishop.”

“I don’t care what name you use, you piece of shit. Where is it? Where is my chemical!”

Bishop smiled. “Long gone, and you’re not getting it back.”

Dostiger glared back at him and spoke slowly. “Listen to me. I will give you millions. I will make you richer that you could imagine.”

“Your money won’t save you now, Dostiger. Your fate was sealed when your men shot down an Israeli passenger jet in 2004.”

“So you are Mossad then.”

Bishop laughed. “No, I’m just a concerned citizen of the world.” He nodded at Aleks who raised his shotgun.

Dostiger’s eyes narrowed, and for a second, fearlessness flashed over his tired features. “Fuck yourself.“

The shotgun boomed in the confines of the office, the round slamming into Dostiger’s chest. The
taser projectile
buried its probes into his skin and delivered a high voltage shock, causing the arms dealer to spasm in his chair.

“How do you like it, Dostiger?” asked Aleks. “Does it burn? Do you like having no control?”

Bishop moved around the convulsing body and pulled a syringe from his pocket. He twisted off the protective cover and jammed the long needle against Dostiger’s neck. It punched deep into his flesh, delivering its toxic load.

The PRIMAL operative whispered into the dying man’s ear, “Thats for my parents, my friends, and anyone else who’s died at your hands, you evil son of a bitch! I’ve just given you a dose of something not unlike your Novichok. I hope you enjoy it.”

Bishop left the needle sticking out of Dostiger’s neck and followed Aleks out the door. They didn’t wait to watch the last few minutes of the arms dealer’s life. Nothing could save him now.

Yuri was waiting in the corridor and Bishop handed him a small envelope as he passed. The Ukrainian began to open it when a guttural moan emitted from Dostiger’s office. With trepidation, he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Dostiger was still sitting in the chair, head tipped back in an endless, silent scream. He looked to be frozen in excruciating pain, as if every muscle in his body had convulsed until his heart exploded. Blood and mucus had run from his mouth and nose, mixing into a putrid mess on the front of his shirt.

Yuri turned away in disgust, and with shaking hands, carefully opened the envelope Bishop had given him. The card inside read: