King Solomon's Curse

42

‘I don’t suppose he said when he’d call?’ asked Peter Alderley, gazing glumly at the phone on his office desk.

‘Sorry,’ Nina replied. ‘He just said he’d reach us through you.’ She and Eddie had contacted MI6 via the US embassy, getting hold of the official after a long wait. Alderley was still somewhat shell-shocked after witnessing his boss blow his brains out, and his subsequent arrest and interrogation — the security guards who rushed back into the room after hearing the gunshot had leapt to the conclusion that he pulled the trigger — had not done anything to calm him. It was only once news of Quentin Hove’s removal from office and the NSA recording of the conspirators’ phone conversation reached SIS that he was finally released.

‘He said he’s going to be somewhere around Southampton,’ added Eddie. ‘After he told his watchers to get Macy from my dad’s, he must have gone down there to meet them.’

The older man gave him a doleful look. ‘He may well have met them, but we haven’t been able to contact them. I have a horrible feeling that they’re dead.’

‘Why weren’t they called off before Brice could tell them to take Macy?’ said Nina.

‘That’s the problem with intelligence agencies,’ Alderley said with a sigh. ‘Everything’s a secret, even from other departments. Because Brice’s operation had been authorised by C himself, none of the people assigned to it suspected there was anything wrong — and nobody else in SIS knew what they were doing because the whole thing was compartmentalised. It wasn’t until after C killed himself and Brice was named as a suspect in the attack on Parliament that anyone involved started to think, “Wait a minute…”’

Eddie shook his head. ‘Bloody spooks. And Christ, if he killed them in front of Macy… She’s five, she shouldn’t have to see that shit.’

‘I’m fifty-five, and I’m not keen on it either,’ said the SIS officer. ‘I’ve seen death in the field, but I didn’t expect to see it in the office — oh, this could be it.’ His phone rang; he answered. ‘Alderley. Yes, put him through. Trace it, of course.’

He put the phone on speaker. ‘Good evening, Peter,’ said Brice.

‘John,’ Alderley answered warily. ‘You should give yourself up. We know you attacked Parliament with the Shamir, and the Americans know you took down Flight 180 to rescue Mukobo. If you really are the patriot you claim to be, you’d turn yourself in rather than damage the whole country.’

‘It’s certainly an option I’m considering. I am a patriot — more so than cowards like C and Quentin Hove. I’m not going to kill myself to avoid embarrassment or try to worm my way out of it by blaming everyone else. But there’s something I want to do first. Are Chase and his wife there?’

‘We’re here, you arsehole,’ Eddie growled. ‘Where’s Macy? Is she all right?’

‘She’s fine.’

‘I want to talk to her,’ said Nina.

‘She’s a little tied up at the moment, if you’ll excuse my sub-Bondian pun. But you’ll have her back soon if you do as I say. Well, you will, Nina.’

Alderley had been checking his computer during the exchange; he reacted to something on the screen with perturbation, then whispered: ‘We’ve found him.’

Eddie nodded. ‘What do you want us to do, then?’ he said to the phone.

‘I want you both to come to my location, which I’m sure SIS has pinpointed by now. Alone, of course. If the police or security services turn up, your daughter dies. And I can assure you that I’ll know if they come within half a mile of me. We’ll make a straight swap: you for your little girl, Chase. Then, Peter, I’ll give serious consideration to turning myself in to you.’

‘I expected more from you than petty revenge,’ said Alderley.

‘It’s hardly petty. After all the trouble Chase has caused me, it’s actually quite grand. So, get here as soon as you can. I know the traffic out of London is hellish today, but don’t worry, I’ll be patient. See you soon.’ The call ended.

‘Well,’ said Alderley. ‘Now what?’

‘We go and get her, obviously,’ said Nina. ‘And we figure out a way to do it that doesn’t involve Brice killing my husband! Where is he?’

‘That’s the thing. He was using a landline, so we’ve got his exact location — and it’s somewhere I know. You too, Chase.’

‘What do you mean?’ Eddie asked.

Alderley turned the monitor so the couple could see. It showed a partial map of southern England, Southampton on the left of the screen and the city of Portsmouth on the lower right. A crosshair flashed on the countryside north of the M27 motorway connecting the two ports. ‘SIS has a training centre at Fort Monckton near Portsmouth. This,’ he indicated the crosshair, ‘is one of its associated facilities. It’s the Funhouse.’

Eddie was shocked. ‘He’s taken Macy to the bloody Funhouse?’

‘What’s the Funhouse?’ Nina demanded. ‘I’m guessing it doesn’t live up to its name.’

‘It definitely does not,’ Alderley told her. ‘It’s a testing ground for SIS field officers and potential recruits to “E” Squadron, with mock-ups of different locations. Like a paintball ranch — except with live ammo.’

‘Well, now that you know where he is, can’t you just send in snipers or something to take him out before he can hurt Macy?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s indoors — and it’s on a secure compound with three-sixty-degree surveillance. Brice wasn’t kidding when he said he’d know if anyone came within half a mile. There’s no way into the grounds, never mind the building, without being detected. And if he was using the landline, that means… he’s probably killed the guard staff,’ he said with crestfallen realisation, reaching for the phone again.

‘What’re you doing?’ asked Nina.

‘I’ve got to call my superiors,’ he replied. ‘Brice is the most wanted man in Britain — in the world — right now. We’ve got to catch him before he has a chance to slip away.’

‘But if you send anyone in there, he’ll kill Macy!’

‘I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but that’s a risk we might have to take.’ He started to tap in a number.

Eddie put his hand down firmly on the phone. ‘You’re right, I don’t want to hear it. And if I hear it again, you know how I’ve broken your nose twice? It’ll be three times, and it won’t be the only fucking thing.’

Alderley reflexively touched the crooked lump on the bridge of his nose, a permanent souvenir of prior encounters with the SAS man. ‘What else can I do? The country’s in chaos, Parliament’s been destroyed — and the man responsible,’ he pointed at the screen again, ‘is there.’

‘And he’ll still be there until we arrive,’ Nina said, almost pleading. ‘You heard him.’

‘He’s not exactly the most trustworthy person!’

‘You’re not fucking gambling with my daughter’s life,’ said Eddie firmly, his hand still covering the phone. ‘Look, you’re a high-up at MI6 — you must have some sway. You can tell MI5 and Special Branch and whoever else where Brice is, let them surround the place so he can’t get out… but get us in there first. I’ll do whatever I have to do to rescue Macy. And if he kills me,’ he added, ‘put a bullet in his head the moment he shows himself so I can meet him at the Pearly Gates and kick his arse!’

‘You really think you’re going upwards?’ Alderley asked with the faintest of wry smiles.

‘Tchah! I can do your nose four times if you want.’

‘I’d really rather you didn’t.’ But the SIS officer’s expression had become thoughtful. ‘You’re right that we can pen Brice in if we move quickly — assuming he hasn’t already left the Funhouse, of course. This whole thing could be a diversion to keep us occupied while he escapes somewhere else.’

‘My daughter’s life is not a “diversion”, Peter,’ Nina said frostily.

He nodded. ‘Not my meaning, but sorry. If you’ll take your hand off my phone, though, I can call in forces to surround the grounds. Not to go in,’ he quickly added on Eddie’s glare. ‘Not yet. After what you’ve done for the country today, I think you really do deserve the chance to rescue your little girl.’

‘Okay, so what do we do?’ Eddie asked.

‘I may be able to get us down there by air, which will save a lot of time,’ Alderley replied. ‘As you said, I have some sway as a section head — and I doubt departmental budgets will be a priority today.’

‘The quicker you can get us there, the better,’ said the Yorkshireman, before doing a double-take. ‘Hold on. “Us”?’

‘John Brice is — was — an SIS officer,’ Alderley said, steel entering his voice. ‘He not only betrayed his country, he betrayed us. There’s no way I’m not going with you. I want to see that bastard taken down — one way or another. Besides,’ he continued, ‘I can use my authority to make sure no police or jobsworth officials mess us around.’

‘Okay, if you can help us, then good,’ said Nina. She gave Eddie a look; he begrudgingly lifted his hand from the phone. ‘Let’s get started.’

Ninety minutes later, a helicopter carrying Nina, Eddie and Alderley touched down at Southampton airport. A car waited for them; the SIS officer took the wheel. ‘The Funhouse isn’t far,’ he said as they headed down the M27 into the night. ‘About nine miles.’

‘I, ah, thought the speed limit in England was seventy,’ Nina said in alarm as they rocketed past the handful of other vehicles on the motorway. She had seen from the air that all the roads out of London were jammed, but once beyond the city they became unnaturally quiet, people staying at home out of fear and uncertainty about what might happen next.

‘It is — for civilians,’ Alderley told her, almost smugly. ‘As an intelligence officer carrying out my duty, I’m exempt from speeding tickets.’

‘Bet you wish you’d brought your Capri, huh?’

‘I doubt that thing’d even do seventy,’ Eddie said mockingly. Their driver gave him an annoyed look.

It was not long before Alderley exited the motorway, taking the car down ever-narrower roads on to a nondescript country lane. They soon reached an area of land enclosed by a high chain-link fence, with signs warning that the compound beyond was government property and that trespassers would be prosecuted. ‘Don’t see any cameras,’ Eddie said.

‘You’re not supposed to,’ Alderley replied. ‘But trust me, they’re there. If Brice is still inside, he knows we’re coming. Which reminds me…’ He made a brief phone call. ‘As far as we know, he is. Nobody’s left the building since we started surveillance.’

‘Do you know if Macy’s okay?’ Nina asked.

‘We tried using thermographics to see inside, but it looks like he switched on the Funhouse’s climate control. There was too much waste heat venting out to spot anyone.’

‘What about ground units?’ Eddie asked.

‘They’re holding back about a mile away. When I give the word, they’ll be here in under two minutes.’

‘Two minutes is a long time in a hostage situation.’

‘Yeah. I know.’ He glanced into the mirror. ‘Eddie, trust me. I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get your daughter back — preferably while keeping you alive as well.’

‘You actually called him Eddie,’ Nina noted. If the situation had not been so tense, she would have smiled. ‘It must be love at last.’

Both men made hurried sounds of denial, Alderley’s a disapproving ‘uh-uh’ while Eddie’s was more of a retch. ‘Anyway, this is it,’ said the spy. The car neared a gate in the tall fence.

Eddie stared through the chain-link. They were in open countryside, their surroundings cloaked in darkness, but around half a mile away across scrubby fields he saw a large warehouse-like building illuminated by spotlights above its entrance. It was windowless, painted a neutral khaki shade to blend into its environment. ‘So that’s what it looks like from outside?’ he said. ‘I only saw a side door when I was being bundled out of a van.’

‘It’s the inside that’s interesting.’

‘Hopefully not in the Chinese saying’s sense,’ said Nina as they approached the gate.

Alderley stopped short of it. ‘Ah. That’s not good.’

‘What isn’t?’

‘It should be shut.’ The barrier was wide open.

A gatepost to one side bore an intercom and a bulbous camera lens. The car’s occupants reacted with alarm as a voice barked from it. ‘What part of “come alone” was so hard to understand?’ demanded Brice.

Alderley hurriedly lowered his window to reply. ‘I only came with them so they could get here as quickly as possible, John,’ he said. ‘I’ll drop them off and turn around if you want.’

‘Or you could get out and let us drive the rest of the way,’ Eddie suggested sarcastically.

‘No… no, bring them to the building,’ Brice said. ‘But stay in the car. This is between me and Chase, and his wife.’

‘And our daughter,’ Nina snapped. ‘Is she okay?’

‘She’s fine… for now. Macy? Would you like to talk to your mummy and daddy?’ The question was asked with an audible sneer.

‘Mommy? Daddy?’ Macy asked a moment later. ‘Where are you?’

She sounded terrified, on the verge of tears. ‘Macy!’ Eddie shouted through his own window. ‘It’s okay, love, we’re here. We’re coming to get you.’

‘Did he hurt you?’ demanded Nina.

‘He… no?’ came the reply, tremulous enough that it was obvious Brice was intimidating her. Eddie clenched his fists.

‘There,’ said Brice. ‘She’s alive. Whether she remains so is now entirely up to you, Chase. Peter, drive up to the car park. Once you’re here, Chase and his wife will come inside. I’ll tell them what to do from then.’

Alderley drove through the gate, making another phone call as he brought the car down a long driveway. ‘Alderley here. Brice still appears to be on-site, with his hostage. We’re going in. Wait for my signal before making any move, though. Remember, the hostage is a child.’

They soon reached a small car park by the building, the bushes surrounding it the tallest vegetation in the compound. An awning stood out above a set of security doors — which were open. ‘Well, here we are,’ said Alderley awkwardly as he stopped outside the entrance. ‘Look, whatever happens, we’ll get Brice and make him pay for what he’s done. So try not to be the last two people he kills, okay?’

‘You’re goddamn right we will,’ said Nina.

‘And, Chase?’

The Yorkshireman smiled slightly. ‘Back to being formal, are we? Just a one-night stand?’

‘Very funny. But here.’ The SIS officer took a handgun from his jacket and passed it to him. ‘I know that some people in London want Brice taken alive so they can turn him over to the Americans as a sacrificial offering. But if you get the opportunity to save yourself as well as your daughter… don’t hesitate to take it.’

‘Oh, I won’t,’ Eddie assured him. He quickly checked the gun, then slipped it into a pocket before opening the door. Nina followed him to the entrance. ‘Just be ready to get Macy out of here, okay?’

‘I will,’ said Alderley. ‘Good luck.’

‘Thank you, Peter,’ said Nina as she and Eddie entered. ‘For everything.’

Her first sight of the Funhouse’s interior revealed a disappointingly mundane reception area, which apart from the preponderance of security cameras could have been that of a hospital or government office. A glass-fronted cubicle adjoined the front doors. The man inside would normally have controlled access to the building — but now he was slumped in his seat with a bullet wound to his face, ghastly crimson rivulets on the wall behind him. The feet of another dead man poked out from a doorway. ‘Shit,’ muttered Eddie, raising the gun. Brice could be anywhere…

The agent’s voice echoed from ceiling speakers. ‘Ah, Chase. Welcome back to the Funhouse!’

Eddie snapped his gun between all the exits, but there was no sign of movement. ‘Where’s Macy?’ Nina demanded.

‘She’s fine. She’s just chilling.’

Eddie glared at the nearest camera. ‘Where?’

‘Inside the test zone, of course. I thought I’d give you a second chance. If you rescue her, you win.’

‘I thought you wanted an exchange? Me for her!’

‘Oh, I still want you dead, Chase. But if you want your daughter back, you’ll have to work for it. I’d recommend that you start straight away — you don’t want to leave her in there for too long. Go through the red door ahead of you, then turn right and enter the first room you come to. See you soon.’

‘What do we do?’ Nina asked as the speaker cut out.

‘We’ve got to go in,’ Eddie replied, even knowing they would be walking into a trap. ‘I have to, anyway. You should stay here.’

‘I’m not leaving Macy, and I’m not leaving you,’ she said firmly. ‘Besides, you don’t know what’s in there. You might need an extra set of eyes.’

He didn’t bother arguing; not only would it be futile, but they couldn’t waste any time. ‘Okay. Then stick close.’ He went to the red door, Nina following.

Beyond was a bland white-painted corridor. Another camera silently observed them. Both directions looked equally unassuming, but Eddie went right as instructed to reach a door a short distance away. He gestured for Nina to hold back, then readied the gun and warily opened the door.

The space beyond was a changing room with benches, clothes hooks and banks of metal lockers. He realised he had been there before. ‘This is where I got ready for the test,’ he said, crossing to the only other exit.

‘What’s through there?’ said Nina.

‘Could be anything. I had an Iraqi village; Alderley said his was a submarine.’ He yanked the door open and pointed his gun through it. A short grey-walled passage led to another door, this one metal.

‘He’s still watching us,’ she warned, seeing another camera covering the exit tilt to track them. ‘He probably isn’t with Macy, then. He must be in a control room somewhere.’

‘Maybe, but I don’t know where it is, and we don’t have time to go looking for it.’ He reached the door, leaning closer to listen for any noises beyond it — and twitched in surprise as his ear touched the metal.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s cold. Really cold.’

‘And Macy’s in there,’ Nina said in alarm.

‘“She’s just chilling” — that fucker! Shit puns are my department! Okay, stay back.’ He threw open the door—

A freezing blizzard hit them.