The Spear of Destiny (19 page)

  “Move back! I’m going to shoot the glass!” he shouted.

He knew he probably couldn’t be heard so he banged the gun on the window a few times then moved back and pointed it. The faces disappeared and he fired. The first three bullets travelling so fast just punched holes in the tinted glass. The fourth one shattered it into millions of cubes. Dennis knocked as much of the glass in as he could. Desperate hands reached out and Dennis grabbed the child and pulled her to safety as the policeman began pulling people from the wreckage. He carried her to the Lancia and opened the back door and placed her inside. She was crying and he bent down and brushed her long hair away from her face.

  “Shh. Shh. You’re safe now,” he said.

A woman came hysterically running to the car. Dennis moved out of her way and she reached in and scooped the little girl up. She kissed the child repeatedly on the side of her head, the hug so intense.

  “Grazi! Grazi! Signori!” the woman said, then, realising Dennis may be English she said, “Thank you for saving my little Rosa. Thank you.”

  Dennis placed his hand gently on the woman’s shoulder and they exchanged a smile. The sound of another small explosion came across to him and he was running back to the coach. The policeman was still plucking people from the back window and Dennis rushed in and was helping to pull them out. Then his T-shirt was getting wet and he tasted the sweet water on his lips and he couldn’t understand how it could be raining when the sky had been clear all day. Then suddenly the firemen were there and kind hands grabbed Dennis and helped him back, to safety. He saw the hose that was held by two firefighters that was already dousing the flames that now hissed and he realised that this was his rain. The fireman who helped him was checking him over for injuries and Dennis shook his head.

  “I’m all right.”

The fireman nodded and rushed off to help others. Dennis looked at the woman still cradling the small child her eyes never having once left him. He half smiled again and then a dark thought crossed his mind and he walked across the carriageway to see past the coach, to look for the Hummers. The road ahead was completely clear. The Hummers were gone.

                             CHAPTER TWELVE

Peter Dennis sat on the steps of the ambulance while he had his scratches and small burns on his face and hands attended to. He watched in grim silence as firefighters removed bodies in black bags from the overturned coach. A paramedic was dabbing at his face and the cool cloth was soothing. The policeman whose gun he’d used to break the back window was nearby also receiving treatment for burns to his face and hands. The police cars that had crashed into the coach were burnt out shells, their occupants reduced to ash. The front half of the coach was completely destroyed. The stench from it overwhelming.

  A black people carrier pulled up and Dennis smiled as Natalie and Hutchinson with De Luca climbed out. De Luca surveying the aftermath of the chase. Natalie resisted the urge to run to Dennis but the relief of seeing him was plainly clear on her face. He winced as antiseptic liquid was applied to a sponge and dabbed on scratches on his brow causing them to sting. He smiled up at Natalie again as she got to him.

  “Hey,” was all he said quietly.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. Just a few scratches.”

  “Is that a burn?”

  “And a burn.”

De Luca was talking to the police officer in charge of the scene. He gave some instructions  and then came over to the ambulance.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” Dennis replied, “Just superficial wounds.”

  “I understand you saved some of the tourists from the coach. For that I thank you. Do you know how many are dead?”

  “Firefighters have brought fifteen out so far and that includes the driver.”

Natalie put her hand up to her mouth.

  “You’ve also lost seven of your men. Two of which were on motorcycles. You’ll find them back down the motorway.”

  “Their bodies have already been recovered. Bauer’s too.”

Natalie took her hand away from her mouth.

  “Bauer is dead?” she asked.

Dennis nodded.

  “What happened at the church?” De Luca asked.

Dennis told him. When he finished De Luca said.

  “They killed the priests?”

  “Yes every last one of them.”

  “May God have mercy on their souls.”

Dennis didn’t know if De Luca meant the gunmen or the priests. He didn’t bother to ask.

  “I will need you to make a statement if you would please for police records.

Dennis nodded again.

  “How does it end? The police report I mean.”

  “They made it to Tarquinia airfield and made their escape by a Hercules transporter plane. By the time we managed to get the airforce to scramble jets it was too late. They turned out to sea almost immediately and dropped to an altitude low enough for radar to be unable to detect them. We had police on the ground but they were unable to stop them. The Hummers drove into the back of the plane and it took off.”

  “I hate to say it,” Dennis said, “But I think we widely underestimated our enemy.”

  “Yes.”

Then De Luca reached into his jacket pocket and took out his phone. He opened images and showed Dennis a grainy picture.

  “What is it?” Dennis asked not able to make out the shapes. Natalie craned her neck to see.

  “It’s the tail of the Hercules. A news helicopter caught it on camera earlier today. It has a very interesting mark on it. I wondered if you would be able to identify it.”

  The image was blurred and was worse when Dennis used the touch screen to enlarge the pic.

  “It looks like the SS death’s head emblem,” Natalie said.

  “You think?” Dennis said turning the screen around for a better view.

  “Yes. Look take the pic back to its original size. Now that looks like the same skull that was painted on the wavecrest!”

  “I think you’re right.”

  “What’s that?” De Luca asked.

  “Three months ago we encountered Von Werner for the first time. He had a ship called the wave crest and that skull was painted on the side of it. It’s the death’s head symbol from Nazi Germany. It’s also his trademark.”

  “So it was definitely him?”

  “It would seem so.”

  “In that case I think you’re right about our underestimating him,” De Luca said studying the burnt out coach again.

  “Where does this leave us?” Dennis asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well we came here to help you catch Von Werner. Bauer, some of your men and innocent people have died. What do you want us….” Dennis gestured at Natalie and Hutchinson , “To do now?”

  “There’s nothing you can do. They’ve gone. We’re trying to find out where that plane was headed. The flight number was false. We have no leads. The items stolen will most likely not turn up for sale. They will go into a private collection no doubt or be disposed of once their worth is finished with. I don’t really think there is anything left for you to do. If you could give me that report as soon as possible and then I guess you’ll want to return to London.”

  “So that’s it? Goodbye.”

  “Pete,” Hutchinson said, ”Come on. You’re tired. We all are. We’ve had one hell of a day.”

  “A hell of a day? You’re not wrong. A car bomb. I’ve been shot at, nearly killed many times. There must be something we can do.”

  De Luca shook his head.

  “We continue to appreciate everything that you’ve done for us but there is no need to risk yourselves any further. Listen Mr Hutchinson is right. It’s been a hell of a day as he put it. Why don’t you get yourselves back to your hotel, get cleaned up and go out for dinner. The report can wait until tomorrow.”

  Dennis looked at Natalie.

  “Why not,” she said.

Dennis looked at Hutchinson.

  “Jim?”

  “No. You kids run along. Have a nice night out. I’ve got computer work to do. It’ll be building up. I‘d better telephone my wife too.”

  The paramedic finished her work and closed her medical bag. Dennis thanked her. De Luca clicked his fingers at a uniformed officer who rushed over to him. He quickly gave the policeman some instructions in Italian. Then he turned to the group.

  “This officer will drive you back to your hotel. Enjoy your evening. I will see you tomorrow. Sonnenburg will also want to talk to you before you go back to your country.”

  Dennis was the last to get into the people carrier. At the door he stopped.

  “Cesare?”

De Luca, realising whatever Dennis wanted to say was obviously private, leaned in close to the journalist. Dennis quietly closed the car door so those inside wouldn’t overhear.

  “If there was something more that could be done to catch these criminals!”

  “The trail is cold. We have nothing more to go on. But surely you wouldn’t risk your friends any further. This has become an extremely dangerous situation. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to Mr Hutchinson or Natalie.”

  “No of course not. But then theoretically I was referring only to myself.”

De Luca looked into Dennis’ eyes. He read what was behind them.

  “You’re serious aren’t you?” 

  “Deadly.”

  “We would welcome any help you can give.”

When Natalie came out of the bathroom of their hotel room she had a long towel round her body and knotted at her chest. She saw Dennis in his black dinner suit and wolf whistled at him. He was standing by the window with a large whiskey in his hand.

  “Where did you get that?” she nodded at the glass.

  “I went down to the bar for it.”

  “Dressed like that?”

He looked down at himself and then back at her.

  “Yes. Oh and I think the barmaid fancied me.”

  “Well I’m not surprised with you looking like that.”

She went over to him and kissed him on the lips. She pulled away.

  “You look very sexy darling.”

Then, to tease him, she dropped the towel and naked, turned and walked back to the bathroom. He followed and while she was at the basin he pressed himself against her back and kissed her neck. He undid his bow tie and the top button of his shirt. She was watching him in the mirror.

  “Um what are you doing?”

He kissed her on the neck again.

  “Why don’t we uh, head into the bedroom.”

She pushed against him to move him away.

  “We haven’t got time for that. I’m hungry and you’ve got whiskey breath.”

  “We’ve got all evening to eat.”

  “I’m hungry now.”

  “No chance then?”

  “No chance.”

Then she burst out laughing.

  “Your face. You look like a schoolboy who’s had his football confiscated.”

She came forward.

  “Make yourself useful. Go and see if Jim’s all right and if he wants anything while we’re out. Be patient,” she said kissing him gently on the lips again, “And you might get what you want when we get back.”

  Dennis smiled at her and left. He went to the next room and knocked the door.

  “Just a second,” he heard the American call.

Dennis heard the lock on the other side release. Then the door opened.

  “Pete come in,” Hutchinson said going back to his laptop, leaving Dennis to close the door.

  “Nat is just getting ready and I thought I should check to see if you want anything.”

  “No I’m fine thanks. I’m getting some sandwiches brought up to the room.”

  “Sandwiches. Are you sure you won’t come to dinner?”

  “What? Oh no! You guys run along. It’ll be nice, just the two of you. Get some time together.”

  Hutchinson noted the tuxedo and bow tie.

  “Where are you going?”

  “She wants to find a posh restaurant. Thought I’d better look the part.”

  “Well I’ve got nothing to compete with that here anyway. No really, you run along. Have a great time. I’ve got to call my wife.”

  “Ok. Well enjoy your evening.”

  “You too.”

Hutchinson picked up his mobile phone.

  “Oh Pete.”

Dennis stopped at the door.

  “Have you got that old journal here with you?”

  “Von Brest’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have. Why?”

  “Just thought we might take a look through it tomorrow. See if there are any more clues.”

  “Do you want it tonight? I can go and get it.”

  “No. Tomorrow will do. I’ve got enough here to keep me up ‘til late.”

Dennis put his hand on the door handle. He paused and looked over his shoulder.

  “You know it hit me earlier, sitting on the steps of the ambulance, just how dangerous this has become. As much as I would love to help further I wouldn’t want to see you or Nat in any more danger.”

  “Nor would I.”

  “I knew she was safe with you. Thanks Jim.”

  “She is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a daughter. That’s why I’m glad we’re out of this now. Nothing would make me decide to stay in the fight after what’s happened.”

  Dennis opened the door.

  “Me neither. Goodnight Jim.”

It was just after eleven o’clock when a very tired Natalie and Dennis arrived back at their hotel in Rome. Dennis had left their room key with reception and while he went to get it Natalie went over to the lifts to wait for him. The male receptionist was watching the highlights of the evening’s champions league match on a small hand held television. He put the TV down onto its screen when he saw Dennis approaching.

  “How was your evening sir?” he asked the journalist.

  “Very nice thank you. How was the game?” Dennis gestured to the upturned TV. The receptionist gave an embarrassed smile.

  “Forgive me sir. It is my beloved Roma. We won 3-2.”

  “That’s good,” Dennis said, “Room 408 please.”

The receptionist turned for the key. There was a large brown envelope in the pigeon hole.

  “There seems to be a package for you.”

  “A package. Who from?” Dennis asked, turning the envelope over.

  “My colleague accepted it for you. Carla,” he called.

A glamorous brunette came from the office.