He was helping himself to a whiskey from the sideboard. She said,
I d say you d had strong drink in abundance, from the state of you. What s this all about?
Well, your good friend Owen Rashid could make a better story of it than I can. Not that he s available to tell you anything, as he s out there in the wild blue yonder flying to Rubat in his Learjet.
He s what? She was not pleased, and it showed. I think you d better explain what you re talking about, or Talbot Place will be needing a new estate manager.
Kelly was helping himself to another whiskey. You wouldn t want to know what lover boy got us all into.
She was furiously angry now. Tell me what all this is about, damn you.
Why not? He held his glass high. To Owen Rashid, the Real IRA, and Ali Selim and Al Qaeda, may they all rot in hell. I was in over my head, I was so stupid, but I can t go to prison again. I d rather die.
So he took a deep breath, tried to pull himself together, and told her everything.
Five minutes was all it took and her life changed totally. She sat there, looking at him gravely and rather sadly.
So you ve told me the truth, Jack? They ve flown off with the young woman and are on their way to Rubat right now?
Absolutely, Jean, you ve hit the nail right on the head.
If you ll excuse me for a minute, I ve just got something to do. Have another drink if you want.
She walked out, crossed the hall into the study. There was no way she could leave Sara Gideon to her fate. How strange then that the man she needed to do the right thing now was the man she had threatened to have killed. She had put Sean Dillon s mobile number into her phone from the card he d given her at the luncheon, called him now, and he answered at once.
Who is this?
Jean Talbot. I believe you might still be in the vicinity of Shepherd Market?
How the hell did you know that?
I think you should know that Henri Legrande and Owen Rashid have kidnapped and drugged your friend Sara Gideon and are en route to Rubat with her, acting under the orders of Ali Selim. Jack Kelly s at my house now, drunk out of his wits, and has confessed everything to me.
Kelly appeared in the doorway of her study in time to hear, and pulled a Colt. 38 semi-automatic from his pocket and aimed at her, hand shaking.
Stop that, he bellowed.
You can go to hell, she replied.
He fired, bouncing her back against the wall. He stood there staring at her, shocked at what he had done. There was the roar of the Mini Cooper arriving outside, and Holley, first out, came through the front door, already ajar, and flung himself down, firing blindly. Kelly appeared from the study, gun raised, and it was Sean Dillon who shot him twice in the heart.
He stepped across Kelly as Holley picked himself up. Jean Talbot was trying to stand, blood seeping from her sleeve and soaking her blouse.
Oh, dear, she said, as he raised her, then eased her into a chair. I m stuck with having to thank you for saving my life instead of making plans to end yours.
I ll expect you learn to live with it, he said, as Holley came in with some kitchen towels. Good man, Daniel. I ll see to Jean, you call Roper, tell him what s happened and what she said about Sara. Also, a disposal team will be needed for Kelly. We ll leave the front door unlocked.
A disposal team? Jean inquired, as Dillon padded a towel and slipped it inside her blouse.
We have our own funeral people. They ll clean the place up, take the body away and deal with it.
And what happens to me?
We re going to take you to Rosedene, our own private hospital.
How kind. She smiled, but winced. It s beginning to hurt.
Don t worry, they re the best in London for gunshot wounds. They also do a great cup of tea.
That s comforting, she told him and fainted. He caught her, held her close, and called Holley, who had been in the hall, talking to Roper, then trying to contact Sara.
Holley s face was hard and set. Dillon said, You look like the devil himself, Daniel.
I feel like him. Roper said we must get Talbot to Rosedene as soon as possible. Professor Bellamy s been notified and is on his way over from Guy s Hospital to receive her. I ve been trying to reach Sara on her Codex. Only got her recorded message. Roper has sent Tony Doyle straight round to Highfield Court to do a proper search.
Bring Talbot, put her in the back seat, and let s get moving. We have to pass Sara s place on the way. Tony is bound to be there. He ll do the full police search, he s very methodical.
Holley carried Jean Talbot out, Dillon put the front door on the latch so that the disposal team would get entry, and a few moments later, the Mini Cooper was on its way.
Doyle s van was in the drive of Highfield Court, so Dillon dropped Holley off and carried on, with Jean Talbot still unconscious in the back. Holley tried the doorbell, and Doyle appeared, his face somber.
He held up a Codex. This is Sara s. I found it beside the bed, and from the state of that, I d say she d not been between the sheets. But it did look as if it had been slept on.
She was absolutely exhausted when I left her, Holley said. I think she probably flung herself on the bed fully dressed and just crashed.
No sign of a struggle. Whatever happened must have been slick and quick.
According to Kelly, she was to be drugged with Seconal.
Now that would really put you to sleep, Tony said. Anyway, there s nothing more that we can do here, so let s get back to Holland Park.
They left, Doyle locking the door, and as they went down the steps, Holley s Codex sounded. Roper said, Are you still at Sara s?
Just leaving.
Well, get here fast. I ve just had confirmation of where Ali Selim may be from Greg Slay. Quick as you can, Daniel. I think time is of the essence now. I ll contact Sean.
Anything interesting? Doyle asked.
Oh yes, Holley said as he got into the van.
I ll explain as we go. Holland Park and fast as you can.
At Rosedene, Dillon walked behind the wheeled stretcher on which Jean Talbot lay, all prepped up for her operation, drowsy from drugs already. They paused at the entrance to the operating room, where Charles Bellamy and his team waited. Dillon stood to one side, gazing down at her.
You know, I used to be an actor before the IRA got its hands on me, and actors never say good luck.
So what do they say?
Break a leg.
There s an old Irish saying: When you ve sinned, a devil is waiting. She smiled faintly and touched his hand with some difficulty. God knows, I ve sinned enough in my time, so you must be my devil. May I say break a leg to you?
And why would I need that?
Oh, I think you know, my friend. Another performance, I m sure. You ll never leave that woman in such dire straits. It s not in your nature. Give them hell. They deserve it, all of them.
Her eyes closed, and the nurse pushed her through into the operating room. Bellamy nodded, and Dillon nodded back and went out to reception, where he found Maggie Duncan.
A lovely lady, she said.
She s certainly that, Dillon said.
Can I see Harry Miller?
I wouldn t suggest it. The operation was fine, but he s had a secondary infection. Lots of penicillin will make it right, but at this moment in time he has a fever.
Well, tell him I was asking for him.
Try again tomorrow, she said.
I ve a strong suspicion I m needed elsewhere right now, so I won t be here tomorrow.
She sighed and shook her head. How many times have we patched you up, Sean? You ll never stop until
He cut in. They bring me in inside a body bag.
She crossed herself. God forgive you for saying such a wicked thing.