Poseidon's Ransom

Chapter Forty One

Washington watched for several minutes as the Salena cleared the harbour and began its voyage south. His mind was racing as he analysed the reasons, the possibilities of why that Limey bastard, Jack Castle was here. He walked slowly back to the carpark, his shadow getting longer, as the crimson fire-ball of sun sank in the West

Yes, the Templari were watching him, but he’d dealt with those two jokers. So why Castle? Did the British know about him? How could they? Were the Templari working with the Brits? No, they didn’t do that…or did they? ‘Fuck, fuck, fuck,’ he said out loud.

By the time he got back to the Audi, the flood-lights, in the huge carpark, had come on. He looked around and then saw the big Range Rover two rows away. The 4x4 in the road. They were there in his villa. ‘Shit,’ he said out loud.

He pressed the key-fob and his car’s lights flashed. As he opened the door he stopped and smiled. ‘Those sneaky fuckers tagged the car!’

He closed the door, took out his smartphone and switched on the torch. Again, he looked around. The odd car arrived and departed, but no threats evident. He dropped to his knees then lay down on the warm concrete. Taking care to cover every inch of the underside, he painstakingly scanned the vehicle’s chassis, wheel arches, suspension and steering. Nothing. He stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes, flicked open the boot and continued the search, nothing in the boot, or spare wheel cavity. He opened the door and reached in to flip the bonnet. The massive engine made him smile for a second.

As he leaned in, a voice said, ‘Ça va, monsieur?’

He turned with a start, to see a security officer standing behind him. ‘Oh. Yes, I’m okay.

‘American?’

‘Yes, American.’

‘This is your automobile?’

‘Yes, it’s mine.’

‘You have problem? You need help, monsieur?’

‘No. No, it’s fine. Thank you. Just checking before I leave. I’ve a long drive.’

‘Bon. This is wise. Okay, bonsoir, monsieur.’

Washington smiled. ‘Bonsoir,’ then continued his search of the engine-bay.

After ten more minutes of searching he’d still found nothing. The inquisitive security guard was now standing by the exit, watching him. ‘Fuck,’ he said under his breath.

He closed the hood and climbed in. The big engine gurgled into life and slowly he pulled away from his parking space. At the barrier he put in the ticket, then realised he hadn’t paid.

The guard came over. ‘Problem, monsieur?’

Washington climbed out. ‘Forgot to pay,’ then went over to the machine.

He quickly inserted the ticket.

The guard walked around the Audi, bent down and looked inside.

‘Shit,’ said Washington quietly, then fed a ten-euro note into the slot.

A few seconds later his ticket popped out. He got back in the car and tried the ticket again. The barrier swung silently upwards. As he drove past the guard he smiled and raised his hand. The expression on the guard’s face was anything but friendly.

The sleek Audi pulled onto the Quai de Maroc and Washington put his foot down. As the big engine growled, his thoughts returned to Castle, the Templari, and his next move.