The Nostradamus prophecies

61

Calque dropped into the front seat of the control car beside Villada. Villada briefly acknowledged him with his eyes and then continued his scanning of the railway line and surrounding buildings.

When he was satisfied that nothing was moving, he put down his night glasses and turned towards Calque. ‘I thought you were staking out the hillside?’

‘I left Macron doing that.’ He squatted down in the car-well and lit a cigarette, cupping it between his two hands. ‘Want one?’

Villada shook his head.

‘The eye-man. He’s here.’

Villada raise an eyebrow.

‘Our people botched it. He used his tracker four hours ago, up near Manresa. He also killed a man back at Rocamadour. Last night. A security guard. Got his dog, too. This man is no lightweight, Villada. I’d even go so far as to say he was trained in assassination. Both the gypsy, in Paris and the security guard at Rocamadour had their necks broken. And that diversionary scene he set-up on the N20. With the man and the woman. That was masterfully done.’

‘You almost sound as if you admire him.’

‘No. I hate his guts. But he’s efficient. Like a machine. I only wish I knew what he was really after.’

Villada flashed him a smile. ‘Perhaps he’s after you?’ He reached down for the radio transceiver, as if to defuse the import of his words. ‘Dorada to Mallorquin. Dorada to Mallorquin. Do you receive me?’

The transceiver crackled and shot out a brief burst of static. Then a measured voice came through. ‘Mallorquin to Dorada. Receiving.’

‘The mark is close by. There’s a chance he may be coming in over the Sierra. Adjust your position if you have to. And shoot to kill. He murdered a French security guard last night. And that wasn’t his first. I don’t want any of our men to be next on his list.’

Calque reached across and took Villada’s arm. ‘What do you mean, coming in over the Sierra?’

‘It’s simple. If your people noted him four hours ago in Manresa and we haven’t picked up any sign of him since, I will give you odds of fifty to one that he’s coming in across the ridge. It’s what I’d do in his place. If he finds no one waiting for him, then he just sneaks in and hijacks the Virgin, hops on a train or steals a car and he’s out again. If he finds we’re here, he simply hikes back over the Sierra and we’re none the wiser.’

‘But I’ve left Macron out there. Like a sitting duck.’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll send one of my men back for him.’

‘I’d appreciate that, Captain Villada. Thank you. Thank you very much.’