Rain on the Dead

He fainted, and Ferguson said, ‘Rosedene’s alerting Professor Bellamy. Let’s get Saif into the Land Rover and get him up there.’

A couple of hours later, the matron at Rosedene, Margaret Duncan, approached the group, still in theatre scrubs and looking tired. ‘My goodness, General, another one. When will somebody say enough is enough?’

‘Not in the world as it is today, I’m afraid. How is he?’

Professor Charles Bellamy walked in and answered for her. ‘Alive, and that is one good thing. The vest did exactly what it was supposed to and stopped a heart shot.’

‘Which, if successful, would have killed instantly, but Ali started thrashing around, so the shooter put a random round into him and cleared off,’ Dillon said. ‘What’s the verdict?’

‘A serious wound in the left thigh, damage to bone and sinew,’ Bellamy told him.

‘Just how bad?’ Ferguson asked.

‘He’ll be here for several weeks, and recovery and therapy will take some time.’ He smiled at Sara. ‘As you know only too well, Captain, better than anyone else here, including myself.’

‘God help him,’ Sara said. ‘While I’m here, can I ask how Declan is?’

‘He’s asleep. You can see him tomorrow.’

‘We’ll leave them both in your good hands.’ Ferguson turned to the others. ‘Back to Holland Park, I think, and may I point out that we still haven’t had any supper.’

It was much later that they rejoined Roper in the computer room and discussed the attack.

‘Takes me back to Afghanistan,’ Sara said. ‘All the trappings of high security mean nothing once you step outside base where some fifteen-year-old with an AK can take a pop at you at any moment.’

‘And get away with it,’ Dillon said. ‘Though I’d say in this case whoever was responsible tonight was aware of Ali’s habit of walking to Tenby Street after visiting us. It’s not much more than a mile. Lots of trees on the other side of the road.’

‘I agree,’ Roper said. ‘Looks like the work of a silenced AK with a folding stock, probably carried in an ordinary supermarket shopping bag.’

‘A reinforcement of Ali’s warning earlier about Al Qaeda’s Grand Council seeking revenge, and that means full alert, people,’ Ferguson said.

There were a few moments of silence as they all thought about it, and it was Sara who spoke first. ‘There is the business of Flynn and Kelly, sir. What are we going to do about that?’

‘Yes, you left it hanging,’ Roper pointed out.

‘Perhaps somebody should go and see them,’ Sara said.

‘Maybe we all should.’ Ferguson laughed out loud. ‘That could be fun.’

‘You mean just turn up at Drumgoole out of the blue?’ she asked.

‘It’s a thought.’ Ferguson was considering it, a slightly wicked smile on his face. He looked at his watch. ‘Just after eleven. A man like Flynn’s bound to be up. Find the number, Major. I’ll leave it to you what to say, Dillon.’

In the parlour at Drumgoole Place, they were sitting by a log fire, Tod Flynn and Kelly, Aunt Meg and Hannah, a film just finishing on television. Hannah was nearest to the house phone when it rang, and she answered.

‘Drumgoole Place.’

‘Put me on to Tod,’ Dillon said.

She bridled. ‘And who the hell are you, mister?’

Dillon laughed. ‘From the sound of you, you’d be Hannah.’

‘Aren’t you the cheeky one.’ Meg had turned off the television and they were staring at Hannah. ‘I’ll only ask you once more, then I’m putting the phone down. Who are you?’ She put it on speaker so they could all hear.

‘Your second cousin, girl dear, Sean Dillon. Now, put him on.’

The look of incredulity on her face was quite something as she held out the phone to her uncle. ‘He says he’s Sean Dillon.’

There was silence for a moment, Kelly in immediate shock, but Tod took a deep breath and the phone. ‘Is this a joke?’

‘No, it is me, you old sod. How did you enjoy Nantucket?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Stop being stupid, it doesn’t suit you. Tell Kelly if he’d not been noticed playing “The Lark in the Clear Air” on his clarinet, I’d never have known you were there. I work for Charles Ferguson these days, but I’m sure you know that.’

‘Sold out to the Brits, Sean, didn’t you?’ Tod said.

‘Oh, we all sold out to somebody, in your case the Master and Al Qaeda. We’ll be over to see you in a few days, and don’t try to run away. There’s nowhere to go.’

He cut off the call, leaving Tod sitting by the fire, numb with shock, the others staring at him. It was Meg who shook her head and spoke first. ‘The Lord help us, Tod, what have you done now?’

But Hannah was already on her feet, leaning on her walking stick. ‘The glory days are back, is that it, Uncle Tod? Well, you and the damn IRA and Al Qaeda can go to hell,’ and she limped out of the room, banging the door shut behind her.

In the computer room, it was all smiles. ‘Good work, Sean, you’ve stirred the pot there,’ Roper said.

‘Excellent, Dillon, you really put the boot in,’ Ferguson told him. ‘I would judge he’s in a state of total shock, but we must strike while he’s still off balance, give him time to get really worried, then we’ll take the Gulfstream to Ireland and descend on him.’

‘On them, sir,’ Sara said. ‘I thought the young girl was pretty feisty. I liked the sound of her.’

‘Well, just remember she might be the enemy, Captain, but I’m for bed. It’s been a rough old week.’

‘Tomorrow is always another day,’ Sara said. ‘Hang on to that thought.’ They filed out, leaving Roper to doze in his wheelchair, his screens still on.

4 (#ulink_ad87aaf5-d94a-5816-93b2-bbe3c119cea0)

Half past midnight, Hannah sat on a stool in Fancy’s stall in the stud stable at Drumgoole, a horse blanket over her shoulders, the mare content with an occasional glance at her. It had been a refuge during four years of pain from the car bomb – the dim lights, the stable smell of fourteen horses, always had a deeply calming effect. She leaned back and closed her eyes, allowing her rage to ebb away, heard the door open at the other end of the stables, then voices.

Kelly said, ‘What happens now?’

‘You’re forgetting he presented us with one of his coded mobile phones.’ Tod’s smile was mirthless. ‘I’m going to call him right now.’

‘At this time in the morning?’

‘He boasts that he can operate from anywhere, doesn’t he? Let’s see if he does.’

Kelly laughed harshly. ‘Put it on speaker, I don’t want to lose a word.’