"Would you look at that now?" he said to Ferguson. "Thank God for modern technology."
"Dillon, I thought I'd lost you. Here, have a drink." Ferguson poured red wine into one of the glasses on the table. "I could do with one myself."
Dillon took it down. "Jesus, that's better. Are you all right, you old sod?"
"Never better. How in the hell did you get here?"
"Gagini flew me in and I parachuted."
Ferguson looked shocked. "I didn't know you could do that."
"There's always a first time." Dillon reached for the bottle and poured another glass.
Ferguson toasted him. "You're a remarkable man."
"To be honest with you, Brigadier, there's those who might think me a bit of a bloody genius, but that could be a subject for debate. What happened to the Covenant?"
Ferguson went to Luca, dropped to one knee, and felt in his inside pocket. He stood up, turned and unfolded the document. "The Chungking Covenant, that's what it was all about."
"And this is how it ends," Dillon said. "Do you have a match and we'll burn the damn thing?"
"No, I don't think so." Ferguson folded it carefully, took out his wallet, and put it inside. "I think we'll leave that to the Prime Minister."
"You old bastard," Dillon said. "It's a Knighthood you're after so it is."
He got up, lit a cigarette, and went out to the terrace and Ferguson joined him. "I wonder where she is? I heard some sort of car leave when I was trying to revive you."
"Long gone, Brigadier," Dillon said.
There was a roar of engines overhead, a dark shadow swooping down to the meadow. "Good God, what's that?" Ferguson said.
"Hannah Bernstein coming to pick up the pieces plus the good Major Gagini. He's been more than helpful on this. You owe him one."
"I shan't forget," Ferguson said.
Hannah Bernstein stood just inside the dining room, Gagini at her side, and surveyed the scene. "Oh, my God," she said, "a butcher's shop."
"Do you have a problem with this, Chief Inspector?" Ferguson asked. "Let me tell you what happened here." Which he did.
She took a deep breath when he was finished, and on impulse went and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm glad to see you in one piece."
"Thanks to Dillon."
"Yes." She looked again at Morgan and Luca. "He doesn't take prisoners, does he?"
"Four more in the grounds, my dear."
She shuddered and Dillon came in through the French windows with Gagini. The Italian stood looking down at Luca and shook his head. "I never thought to see the day. They won't believe he's gone in Palermo."
"You should put him in an open coffin in a shop window like they used to do with outlaws in the Wild West," Dillon told him.
"Dillon, for God's sake," Hannah said.
"You think I was bad, Hannah?" Dillon shrugged. "An animal, this one, who grew fat not only off gambling but on drugs and prostitution. He was responsible for the corruption of thousands. To hell with him," and he turned and walked out.
At Punta Raisi it was raining as they waited in the office. Lacey looked in the door. "Ready when you are."
Gagini came through the hangar with them and walked across the apron. "Strange how it all worked out, Brigadier, I thought I was doing you a favor when I got in touch with you about the Chungking Covenant, and in the end you do me the biggest favor of all. You got rid of Luca for me."
"Ah, but that was Dillon's doing, not mine."
Dillon said sourly, "Don't get too worked up, Major, there'll be someone to take his place by tomorrow morning."
"True," Gagini said. "But some sort of victory." He held out his hand. "Thank you, my friend. Anything I can ever do you only have to ask."
"I'll remember that."
Dillon shook hands, went up the steps into the Lear, and settled in one of the rear seats. Ferguson sat opposite him on the other side and Hannah took the seat behind him. They strapped themselves in and the engines turned over. A few moments later they were moving along the runway and lifting into the air. They climbed steadily until they reached thirty thousand and started to cruise.
Hannah sat there, face grave, and Dillon said belligerently, "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm tired, it's been a long day and I can still smell the cordite and the blood, Dillon, is that so strange? I don't like it." She exploded suddenly, "My God, you just killed six people, six, Dillon. Doesn't that bother you?"
"What am I hearing?" he said. "Some sort of fine interpretation on this? The kind of morality that says let your enemy do it unto you, but don't do it unto him?"
"All right, so I don't know what I mean." There was no doubt that she was genuinely upset.
Dillon said, "Then maybe you're in the wrong job. I'd think about that if I were you."
"And how do you see yourself, as some sort of public executioner?"
"Enough, both of you." Ferguson opened the bar box, took out a half bottle of Scotch, poured some into a plastic cup and handed it to her. "Drink that, it's an order."
She took a deep breath and reached for it. "Thank you, sir."
Ferguson poured a generous measure into another cup and passed it to Dillon. "Try that." Dillon nodded and drank deep and the Brigadier poured himself one.
"It's the business we're in, Chief Inspector, try to remember that. Of course, if you're unhappy and wish to return to normal duty?"
"No, sir," she said. "That won't be necessary."
Dillon reached for the bottle and poured another and Ferguson said, "I wonder what happened to that wretched young woman?"
"God knows," Dillon said.
"Mad as a hatter," Ferguson said, "so much is obvious, but that isn't our problem," and he closed his eyes and lay back in the seat.
It was at about the same time that Asta arrived at the gate of Luca's Villa. She kept her hand on the horn and the guard appeared on the other side. He took one look and hurriedly opened the gate and she drove through and up to the house. When she got out of the station wagon, the door opened at the top of the steps and Luca's houseboy, Giorgio, appeared.
"Signorina. You are alone? The Capo and Signore Morgan come later?"
She could have told him the truth, yet for some reason hesitated and at the same time realized why. If Luca was still alive she could still use his power and she wanted that power.
"Yes," she said, "the Capo and Signore Morgan are staying at Valdini on business. You will get in touch with the chief pilot of the Lear. What is his name?"
"Ruffolo, Signorina."
"Yes, that's right. Find where he is and tell him to get out here as fast as possible and get in touch with our contact at the airport. There is a Lear from England there. It may have already left, but get all the information you can."
"Of course, Signorina." He bowed, ushering her into the house, closed the door, and went to the phone.
She went and poured herself a drink and stood sipping it, staring out across the terrace, and was surprised at how quickly Giorgio returned. "I've found Ruffolo, he is on his way and you were right, Signorina. The English Lear has departed. There were two pilots and three passengers."
She stared at him. "Three, are you sure?"
"Yes, a woman, a stout ageing man, and a small man with very fair hair. Our contact didn't get the names, but saw them boarding."
"I see. Good work, Giorgio. Call me when Ruffolo gets here."
Asta stripped and stood under a hot shower. It was like a bad dream, so difficult to believe that Dillon was still alive. Carl, her beloved Carl, and Luca and it was all Dillon's fault. How could she have ever liked him? Dillon and Ferguson, but especially Dillon. They'd ruined everything and for that they had to pay.
She got out of the shower, toweled herself down, then oiled her body, thinking about it. Finally, she pulled on a robe and started to comb her hair. The phone rang. When she lifted it up it was Giorgio.