Authors: Ken McClure
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Medical, #Suspense, #Thrillers
The Trojan Boy (28 page)
'Hire one, you mean?' asked Kathleen.
'I've got a credit card.’
'Aren't we taking the same risk? A man with a British
accent hiring a car?'
accent hiring a car?'
'We have to do something.’
'First thing in the morning?'
'Second. I have to go to the bank first.’
'The bank?' asked Kathleen in astonishment.
'I have to open an account,’ said Avedissian.
'You're not making sense.’
'When I left you at the hotel for a few minutes, I went back
to Jarvis's room and took the tapes from the recording
machine.’
to Jarvis's room and took the tapes from the recording
machine.’
'Why?' asked Kathleen.
'Because somewhere on the tapes is the voice of Roker
saying "Archimedes". That's what I meant when I said that I
was securing the boy's future.’
saying "Archimedes". That's what I meant when I said that I
was securing the boy's future.’
It took a few moments for Kathleen to see the full imp
lication of what Avedissian had said, but when it did dawn
on her she exclaimed, 'Of course, that's brilliant! The password with the correct voice print! You can get the money!'
lication of what Avedissian had said, but when it did dawn
on her she exclaimed, 'Of course, that's brilliant! The password with the correct voice print! You can get the money!'
'I hope so,’ said Avedissian.
'NORAID
are not going to let the money lie in that account for ever but I think the deaths
of both Roker and Shelby might slow them up with
alternative arrangements. That and the fact that they must know by now that the money was not transferred after the exchange. They probably feel that there is no danger of
anyone getting to it.’
'NORAID
are not going to let the money lie in that account for ever but I think the deaths
of both Roker and Shelby might slow them up with
alternative arrangements. That and the fact that they must know by now that the money was not transferred after the exchange. They probably feel that there is no danger of
anyone getting to it.’
'Sheer genius,’ said Kathleen quietly but Avedissian got the impression that her thoughts were elsewhere.
'You know what?' she said.
'What?'
'I'm starving!'
Avedissian had to admit that he was hungry too. He could
not remember when they had last eaten properly. ‘I’ll nip out
and see what I can get,’ he said, putting on his jacket. Before
he left he removed the pistol from the pocket and handed it to
Kathleen, asking if she knew how to use it. 'Lock the door
behind me,’ he said. 'If anyone insists on entering, shoot
first, we'll discuss your options later.’
not remember when they had last eaten properly. ‘I’ll nip out
and see what I can get,’ he said, putting on his jacket. Before
he left he removed the pistol from the pocket and handed it to
Kathleen, asking if she knew how to use it. 'Lock the door
behind me,’ he said. 'If anyone insists on entering, shoot
first, we'll discuss your options later.’
Avedissian was gone for about fifteen minutes. He re
turned with a selection of take-away food from a McDonald's
restaurant to appreciative sounds from Kathleen. He could
not help but notice the change in her mood in the past hour.
For some reason she seemed to have been instilled with new
hope.
turned with a selection of take-away food from a McDonald's
restaurant to appreciative sounds from Kathleen. He could
not help but notice the change in her mood in the past hour.
For some reason she seemed to have been instilled with new
hope.
'The coffee's a bit cold,’ she said.
'I should have run faster,’ said Avedissian quietly watching
her.
her.
Kathleen stopped eating and looked up. 'Oh, what a stupid
thing to say!' she exclaimed. 'My mind was miles away.
Forgive me?'
thing to say!' she exclaimed. 'My mind was miles away.
Forgive me?'
'You're forgiven.'
Kathleen came round to Avedissian's side of the table and
sat down on his knee. She traced her finger-tips along his forehead and said softly, 'Whatever happens now, you are
the most wonderful man I've ever known. It's the wrong
time and the wrong place to say it but that is the plain
unvarnished truth.' She kissed him lightly on the lips.
sat down on his knee. She traced her finger-tips along his forehead and said softly, 'Whatever happens now, you are
the most wonderful man I've ever known. It's the wrong
time and the wrong place to say it but that is the plain
unvarnished truth.' She kissed him lightly on the lips.
'We've not really had much say about times and places,’
said Avedissian.
said Avedissian.
'No, but for what it's worth, I'm so glad I met you.'
'And I you.'
Kathleen crawled into bed beside the child in case he should
wake up and panic during the night. Avedissian took the
other bed and fell into a fitful sleep after savouring the quiet
darkness for some minutes. His fear that he might not be able
to sleep at all was overcome by sheer exhaustion. He had a
great deal to think and worry about but his mind protested at
any more anxiety in one day and insisted on rest. His sleep
was, however, shallow and he woke at three a.m, puzzled by
the sound of scratching.
wake up and panic during the night. Avedissian took the
other bed and fell into a fitful sleep after savouring the quiet
darkness for some minutes. His fear that he might not be able
to sleep at all was overcome by sheer exhaustion. He had a
great deal to think and worry about but his mind protested at
any more anxiety in one day and insisted on rest. His sleep
was, however, shallow and he woke at three a.m, puzzled by
the sound of scratching.
The sound was not being made by an animal, he decided. It
was too regular. Mice noises were intermittent. What was it?
was too regular. Mice noises were intermittent. What was it?
Where was it coming from? Avedissian raised himself on one
elbow to listen more intently. The noise changed to a gentle
tapping. It was coming from somewhere near the door . . .
elbow to listen more intently. The noise changed to a gentle
tapping. It was coming from somewhere near the door . . .
Silently Avedissian swung himself out of bed and found his
jacket in the darkness. The gun was not in the pocket. He
remembered that he had given it to Kathleen but he didn’t
know where she’d put it.
jacket in the darkness. The gun was not in the pocket. He
remembered that he had given it to Kathleen but he didn’t
know where she’d put it.
Another change in the noise and, all at once, Avedissian realised what it was. Someone had been etching the glass
panel beside the door of the chalet with a glass cutter. The
tapping had been to remove the etched area and allow access
to the interior!
panel beside the door of the chalet with a glass cutter. The
tapping had been to remove the etched area and allow access
to the interior!
As the piece of glass was being removed Avedissian flung
himself across the room, picking up the only weapon he
could find on the way – the forceps he had used earlier when
suturing the child's wound. A hand came through the
opening beside the door to fumble for the lock, and
Avedissian plunged the tips of the forceps into the back of it.
He felt them go right through and heard the intruder grunt in pain before cursing him in an accent that he realised was not
American.
himself across the room, picking up the only weapon he
could find on the way – the forceps he had used earlier when
suturing the child's wound. A hand came through the
opening beside the door to fumble for the lock, and
Avedissian plunged the tips of the forceps into the back of it.
He felt them go right through and heard the intruder grunt in pain before cursing him in an accent that he realised was not
American.
Avedissian tried to capitalise on his advantage by letting go
of the forceps to grip two fingers of the man's hand and pull
them apart. His aim was to break one or other or both,
knowing that the pain from such an injury might be
sufficient to induce unconsciousness. He heard Kathleen at his back and shouted, The gun! For God's sake get the gun!'
of the forceps to grip two fingers of the man's hand and pull
them apart. His aim was to break one or other or both,
knowing that the pain from such an injury might be
sufficient to induce unconsciousness. He heard Kathleen at his back and shouted, The gun! For God's sake get the gun!'
As Avedissian struggled to get a better grip on the in
truder's fingers the man suddenly smashed the remainder of
the glass door panel with his other hand, sending a shower of glass into Avedissian's face and making him release his grip.
The door was forced open and it hit Avedissian, who had
been temporarily blinded by blood coming from the cuts on
his forehead, and sent him reeling backwards across the
room.
truder's fingers the man suddenly smashed the remainder of
the glass door panel with his other hand, sending a shower of glass into Avedissian's face and making him release his grip.
The door was forced open and it hit Avedissian, who had
been temporarily blinded by blood coming from the cuts on
his forehead, and sent him reeling backwards across the
room.
The door was closed and the lights went on. Avedissian
managed to clear the blood from his eyes and opened them to
see a thick-set man standing over him holding a gun pointing
at his face. The man was sucking the wound in the back of his
hand and staring at Avedissian with anger burning in his eyes.
managed to clear the blood from his eyes and opened them to
see a thick-set man standing over him holding a gun pointing
at his face. The man was sucking the wound in the back of his
hand and staring at Avedissian with anger burning in his eyes.
Assuming him to be from
NORAID
Avedissian said, 'You
don't understand! The boy isn't who you think he is! It was a
trick!'
NORAID
Avedissian said, 'You
don't understand! The boy isn't who you think he is! It was a
trick!'
'Screw the brat,’ rasped the man. 'Where are the tapes?'
Avedissian was stunned. From where he lay on the floor he stared at the man in blank astonishment. Again, the fact
that the man did not have an American accent registered
with Avedissian, but this time it meant more. The man did
not have an American accent because he was Irish! 'Who the
hell are you?' he asked.
that the man did not have an American accent registered
with Avedissian, but this time it meant more. The man did
not have an American accent because he was Irish! 'Who the
hell are you?' he asked.
‘
I’ll not ask you again,' threatened the man. 'Where are the
tapes?'
I’ll not ask you again,' threatened the man. 'Where are the
tapes?'
Avedissian's one hope lay in the fact that Kathleen was still
in the bedroom and she had access to his gun. He knew that she must be listening and waiting for her chance. It was his
job to stall as long as possible. 'What tapes?' he asked.
in the bedroom and she had access to his gun. He knew that she must be listening and waiting for her chance. It was his
job to stall as long as possible. 'What tapes?' he asked.
The man responded with a vicious kick at Avedissian's
stomach which made him retch in agony. 'Don't give me that
crap,’ the man hissed. 'Kathleen! Get out here!'
stomach which made him retch in agony. 'Don't give me that
crap,’ the man hissed. 'Kathleen! Get out here!'
Through his pain Avedissian heard the man call Kathleen
by name and felt his anguish double. He saw Kathleen appear
in the doorway and heard her say angrily to the man, 'I told
you I would get them for you. Why did you have to come
here?'
by name and felt his anguish double. He saw Kathleen appear
in the doorway and heard her say angrily to the man, 'I told
you I would get them for you. Why did you have to come
here?'
'Just get me the tapes!' rasped the man.
'I don't know where they are,’ replied Kathleen. She came towards Avedissian and knelt down beside him, withering
under the bitter accusation in his eyes. 'I'm sorry,’ she
whispered, 'More sorry than I can ever tell you, but you had
better tell him where the tapes are.’
under the bitter accusation in his eyes. 'I'm sorry,’ she
whispered, 'More sorry than I can ever tell you, but you had
better tell him where the tapes are.’
Avedissian looked at her long and hard then said with
resignation, 'They're in the bedroom, in the cabinet by the bed.'
resignation, 'They're in the bedroom, in the cabinet by the bed.'
'Get them!' said the man to Kathleen and she got up.
As Kathleen left the room the man levelled his pistol at
Avedissian and said, 'I win, you lose. I can't say it's been nice.'
Avedissian and said, 'I win, you lose. I can't say it's been nice.'
Avedissian closed his eyes and waited for the end but it did
not come. Instead he heard the full, flat sound of two silenced shots being fired. He opened his eyes to see the man slump to
the floor in a motionless heap. Kathleen was standing in the
doorway with the gun in her hand. She stared at the corpse.
not come. Instead he heard the full, flat sound of two silenced shots being fired. He opened his eyes to see the man slump to
the floor in a motionless heap. Kathleen was standing in the
doorway with the gun in her hand. She stared at the corpse.
'Who was he?' asked Avedissian quietly.
'His name was Reagan. He was one of Kell's men.'
Avedissian shook his head in confusion. 'But why?' he
asked. 'Why did you do it?'
asked. 'Why did you do it?'
'I lied to you. My brother is not dead,’ said Kathleen. 'Kell is
holding him prisoner. Kell planted me on the British because he suspected that they were up to something. Originally I was
just to confirm that a man called Bryant was involved in the
child kidnap operation and find out anything else about it I
could, but when Bryant himself saw that I could be useful in
finding out even more about the
IRA
and
NORAID,
Kell in
structed me to go along with it. I was to keep Reagan informed
about Innes's progress and keep them in touch.'
holding him prisoner. Kell planted me on the British because he suspected that they were up to something. Originally I was
just to confirm that a man called Bryant was involved in the
child kidnap operation and find out anything else about it I
could, but when Bryant himself saw that I could be useful in
finding out even more about the
IRA
and
NORAID,
Kell in
structed me to go along with it. I was to keep Reagan informed
about Innes's progress and keep them in touch.'
'But the information you gave to Bryant was real,’ said
Avedissian. The
INLA
in Belfast were all but wiped out.'
Avedissian. The
INLA
in Belfast were all but wiped out.'
That was Kell's doing. He loathed the McGlynns. He saw his
chance to set them up and convince Bryant at the same time
that I was genuine.'
chance to set them up and convince Bryant at the same time
that I was genuine.'
'How does Kell know Bryant?'
'Kell knows Bryant, Bryant knows Kell. That's the way
things are at the top. They've probably never met each other
but they know each other well enough. At that level it's like a big game. People's lives don't enter into it. The game is all
important.’
things are at the top. They've probably never met each other
but they know each other well enough. At that level it's like a big game. People's lives don't enter into it. The game is all
important.’
'So Kell saw through Bryant's plan from the beginning?'
'More than that. He saw it as the perfect time to set up a
scheme of his own.'
scheme of his own.'
To get the money, you mean?'
Kathleen shook her head. 'Not just that,’ she said. 'Kell
wanted Bryant to think that he had swallowed the royal child
story for some other reason.'
wanted Bryant to think that he had swallowed the royal child
story for some other reason.'
'What reason?'
'I don't know, but the suggestion was that the operation
might be even bigger than Bryant's.'
might be even bigger than Bryant's.'
'You said that Kell was holding your brother?' said
Avedissian.
Avedissian.
Kathleen shrugged. 'Kell will kill him now,' she said. 'He was
going to kill both of us until he saw how I could be useful. The
bargain was that Kell would let Martin go if this operation was a
success and he got the money. I thought the chance had gone
until you told me about the tapes and I saw that I could still save
Martin. I called Innes and Reagan when you were out getting
the food and said that I would get the tapes if they would tell
Kell not to harm my brother.'
going to kill both of us until he saw how I could be useful. The
bargain was that Kell would let Martin go if this operation was a
success and he got the money. I thought the chance had gone
until you told me about the tapes and I saw that I could still save
Martin. I called Innes and Reagan when you were out getting
the food and said that I would get the tapes if they would tell
Kell not to harm my brother.'
'But Reagan decided to speed things up?'
'I foolishly told him where we were staying,' admitted
Kathleen. 'And I nearly got you killed . . .' Tears came and
Kathleen put her head against Avedissian's shoulder. 'Oh my
darling,’ she murmured.
Kathleen. 'And I nearly got you killed . . .' Tears came and
Kathleen put her head against Avedissian's shoulder. 'Oh my
darling,’ she murmured.
Avedissian held her close, oblivious to the blood that was still
running down his face from the cuts and said softly,
'Sshh,
you
were the one who pointed out that you lived your life as a
victim of circumstance. Let's say that this one was beyond your
control.’
running down his face from the cuts and said softly,
'Sshh,
you
were the one who pointed out that you lived your life as a
victim of circumstance. Let's say that this one was beyond your
control.’
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