CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Bodie led the way off the train, exiting into Kings Cross station. Another drafty structure, the wind tore at them from the front, whistling down the platform. A bustle of passengers hurried along all around them, legs and heads bent forward and moving with purpose. The rolling thunder of several mini-suitcase wheels filled their ears, making any kind of communication practically impossible.
Bodie headed for the gates, slipped his ticket into the machine, and walked out when the barriers opened. The station opened up into a wide plaza outside, benches, statues and kiosks dotted about. Soon, the rest of the team joined him.
“Knightsbridge,” Jeff said. “Taxi rank is over there.”
Bodie walked alongside the young man. “You have an address?”
Jeff reeled it off.
“All right. Let’s grab the cab to Harrods and then walk. We’re normal tourists then.”
Their taxi had double back-seats so the whole team fitted inside, if a little snugly. The drive took around forty minutes, Gunn fidgeting the entire time and Cassidy warning him to keep his elbows and knees to himself on pain of death. Bodie stared at the London streets, the diligent workers and bustling tourists, the unbreakable chain of cars and buses and vans, the industrious high rises, hospitals and hotels. He was ready for anything here today; and willing to take on a vile enemy to get the mission done and move on.
Another life awaited them all.
The taxi dropped them off outside Harrods, the area merely a non-stop stream of clamor and bodies, helping them blend in. They made their way along the Brompton Road side of the huge store, making a left at Beauchamp Place. This took them toward Pont Street, several quiet mews addresses and private schools. The traffic noise died down and an almost serene calm took over. Every time Bodie snapped a glance down one of the mews streets he saw a curving road and houses with white frontages sitting in small sun traps amid the great city. An interesting contrast, he thought. An exclusive way of life. They passed Pont Street and moved into Chesham Place, an area where foreign embassies were prevalent. Several sleepy mews lay around here, and it was to one of these addresses that Jeff’s GPS pointed.
He halted them at a quiet junction. “A short walk down there—” he nodded ahead “—and it’s the first street on the right. The address covers four numbers so it must be a big place.”
“Quiet area.” Jemma looked around. “Hundreds of windows. Security everywhere, enhanced for the embassies. Yeah, this should be easy.”
Bodie herded them over to a bench. “Seriously, this is where a plan helps. It’s time to earn your keep, kids.”
Cross rubbed his hands. “I say let Gunn do the recce with Jemma. They can pretend they’re married, say, wandering around London, sightseeing or something? Anything else would seem suspicious at this stage.”
“They don’t know we’re coming,” Gunn said, looking a bit perturbed.
Jemma pulled a face. “Gunn as a husband? Even I can’t pull that off.”
“C’mon, Blunt,” Cassidy cajoled. “You’re desperate for a man, right? Well, Gunn’s halfway there.”
“Thanks.” The tech geek ran a hand through his hair, the dry gel keeping it in place. “I’m pretty sure I can do this.”
Jemma exchanged a glance with Cassidy. “Right then,” she said. “Recce, then prep. You might want to find out where we can pick up some equipment,” she told Bodie. “And quick, assuming we’ll be going in tonight.”
Bodie nodded. “I’ll call Heidi right now.”
His phone rang. Bodie stared at it. “Shit.”
Cassidy stood up. “Is it her?”
Bodie stared suspiciously around and into the clouds above. “Yeah, that’s bloody weird.”
“Drone,” Cassidy said with a smirk. “Has to be.”
Bodie laughed and jabbed the green button. “Yeah?”
“It’s me. Can you talk?”
Bodie replied in the affirmative and motioned for Jemma and Gunn to stick around. Cautiously, he switched to speakerphone.
“I’ve been kept apprised of your progress and appreciate the effort. You’ve done the best of jobs so far, but time is still against us. The good part is that it will be impossible for the Illuminati to move the statue and whatever else they have stashed away without weeks and probably months of planning, so again, this is our best chance to locate and catch them. More good news…” She took a breath.
“I’m liking this,” Cassidy said. “She’s just a frizzy little good-luck charm.”
“My side mission was to root out a CIA mole. We got him. We put him down.”
Bodie felt a lift. “That’s great. Anything else?”
“Don’t you want details?” Heidi’s voice held a note of disappointment.
Bodie decided this was the best time to voice his feelings, despite it being over a telephone connection. “Be clear, Agent Moneymaker,” he said. “Once this is done, once we complete this op, we are out. We’re not government agents, lackeys, go-to guys. We’re not consultants. Our association ends with the downfall of the Illuminati.”
“I see,” Heidi said. “You missed out the part where you ask nicely.”
“Believe me, that was nicely.”
“And you seem to forget that I own your ass. Figuratively and literally. It’s mine, Guy Bodie.”
Cassidy flexed an ankle. “You sound like a boyfriend I once had to damage,” she said. “Long time ago.”
“We’ll talk face to face,” Bodie said. “But you know our stance.”
“I do and we will. I’m sorry to hear it, since I thought we were gelling nicely as a team. But I digress. Here’s the bad news… our CIA mole was operational until just an hour ago. Yeah, we rooted the little bastard out, but he gifted you to them. They know you’re in London and why you’re there.”
Bodie stiffened suddenly; Cassidy and Cross didn’t need to be told to get their game heads on and scrutinize the area.
“You fucking kidding me?”
“No, I’m not. And I’m telling you to get the hell out of there. Right now!”
“What?” Bodie stared at the cellphone, suddenly wondering if this really was Heidi Moneymaker. “Why?”
“Why the hell do you think? They know! They’ve known for a while. If the lodge is in danger, if they think you’re going to find the last waypoint, there’s only one thing they will do.”
Bodie experienced a terrifying, sinking feeling inside his chest. “An event?”
“No. The event. They will leave nothing to chance, Bodie. Nothing. Now do as I say and get out of London now.”
“Out of London. Fuck’s sake.”
Bodie was on his feet before he realized what he was doing.
“Wait.” Jemma held her hand out and placed it onto his shoulder. “You pay me to be the thinker, so let me think…”
Even Heidi stayed quiet for about twelve seconds. “Bodie…”
“Wait,” he said. “You forced us into helping you for a reason. And that reason is because we’re the best at what we do. Give Jemma a minute.”
The dark-haired American didn’t need it. “Heidi, please, they’re gonna attack anyway.”
A short silence, then: “Why?”
“You know why. Because they want to make sure, once and for all, that the waypoint is destroyed. They can’t find these waypoints, right? Even if they did they might be scared of missing another. Believe me, they’re gonna strike.”
“You need to leave,” Heidi said more quietly, unsure of herself.
“We need to hit it now. Hard. Fast. Whilst they’re hopefully still planning. We can’t waste any more time.” She stared around at every face, met every pair of eyes.
“We have no choice here. This could be our last chance to strike at the Illuminati and avenge all those innocents. A direct, sudden, forceful attack on that lodge is the best course of action.”