Urban Assassin Read online

  Mitch and Two Moons had leapt to their feet and they quickly checked the rest of the apartment for explosives or a sign of an attacker. There were none.

  The explosion had caused panic throughout Gaz’s apartment block, and his phone was already ringing. Gaz ignored it while he finished making sure the fire was well and truly out. Then the soldiers heard sirens and saw the blue flashing lights of fire engines and the police drawing up in the street outside.

  ‘Someone’s called 999,’ said Mitch.

  Two Moons shook his head. ‘That sure is some fast response,’ he said, suspiciously.

  ‘Exactly,’ agreed Mitch. ‘That call must have been made before the explosion. I think someone is sending us a message.’

  It took a while to deal with the firefighters and police. It looked as if there was going to be a whole load of paperwork for Mitch, Gaz and Two Moons to fill out, but then Gerald the Intelligence officer turned up, flashed a card at the Chief Fire Officer and the police officers, and they all left, no questions asked.

  Nelson arrived soon after.

  The five men stood in Gaz’s flat looking at the smouldering door on the floor.

  ‘This is a warning from Deacon,’ said Gerald.

  ‘You don’t know that!’ snapped Two Moons.

  ‘Who else could it be?’ asked Gerald.

  Two Moons looked angry. ‘Could be anybody!’ he said defensively. ‘We’ve upset a lot of people in our time.’

  ‘I haven’t!’ protested Gaz.

  ‘Anyway, how come you’re here so quickly?’ asked Two Moons suspiciously. ‘You got someone watching us?’

  Gerald shook his head. ‘No,’ he said, ‘but we do monitor all emergency calls. When we spotted that one of the calls was about an explosion at one of Delta Unit’s flats, it seemed obvious that it had to be connected.’

  ‘Jimmy could have killed you, Gaz,’ said Mitch. ‘If you’d been in your room when that bomb went off . . .’

  ‘If it was Jimmy!’ argued Two Moons.

  Nelson was kneeling down beside the burnt door, examining it. ‘I don’t think this was meant to kill you,’ he said. He pointed to the residue on the other side of the door. ‘There was just a tiny amount of plastic stuck there, with some paint thinner sprayed on the door to make the explosion look more spectacular.’ He used a pen to lift up the burnt remains of a small battery fixed to a piece of thin wire. The end of the wire was still stuck to the door.

  ‘Remote control trigger.’ Mitch nodded.

  ‘OK, now I feel better,’ said Two Moons. ‘He set it off, but made sure we weren’t near it when he did.’

  Mitch looked at Two Moons and frowned. ‘You finding excuses for him?’ he asked. ‘He blew up Gaz’s door. It could have set fire to the flat. We could have been killed.’

  Two Moons shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘If it was Jimmy and he’d wanted us dead, we’d be dead. This was just him warning us off, telling us to stay out of his business.’

  ‘So you admit that he’s the assassin,’ said Mitch.

  Two Moons fell silent, but he looked very uncomfortable.

  ‘Get your loyalties straight, Two Moons,’ said Nelson quietly. ‘Stopping the assassination of the leader of one of our countries, that’s our business.’

  Gaz had been looking gloomily at the blackened door, the smashed window, and the scorched areas of carpet.

  ‘Why did he choose my flat to blow up?’ he asked.

  ‘It wouldn’t surprise me to find he’s done the same where the rest of you live as well,’ said Gerald. ‘Then he’d have had all bases covered, wherever you’d gone.’

  ‘If he was watching us, he must have had some sort of surveillance in place,’ said Gaz. He looked around at the room.

  ‘Don’t worry, we’ll have it swept for bugs,’ said Gerald. He looked at Two Moons, Nelson and Mitch. ‘We’d also like permission to check your places.’

  ‘Go ahead.’ Nelson nodded.

  Mitch hesitated. He didn’t like people poking around his flat. But then, what the hell, these were spooks. They’d do it anyway.

  ‘OK,’ he said. Two Moons nodded as well.

  Just then Gerald’s phone rang. ‘Yes?’ he said as he put the phone to his ear. He listened for a few seconds, then said: ‘We’ll be right along.’ He hung up and turned to the soldiers. ‘That intel I mentioned about the rest of Deacon’s team,’ he said. ‘It’s arrived sooner than we expected. They’ve got it at HQ. I suggest we go and see exactly who you’re up against.’

  6

  They were back at the MI6 HQ within the hour. Tug and Benny were already there, waiting. Tug seemed very amused when Nelson told them about the explosion at Gaz’s.

  ‘A burning door!’ He grinned. ‘That sounds pretty dramatic! Wish I’d seen it!’

  ‘I don’t see how it’s funny,’ protested Gaz. ‘It’s my door!’

  Mitch steered Benny away out of earshot. ‘You seem to be the only one who doesn’t have a lot of time for Jimmy Deacon,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Right,’ agreed Benny. He shot a glance at the rest of Delta Unit, who were still talking. ‘Even after what happened, and even though they got to admit that he’s our assassin, Two Moons is still defending him. And Gaz is more upset about his burnt door than the fact that Deacon nearly killed him.’

  ‘They reckon that Deacon wasn’t trying to kill us, just send a warning,’ said Mitch.

  Benny shook his head. ‘Those guys are great, but they can be fools as well,’ he said. ‘Yeah, Deacon saved their lives. I accept that. But, hell, that’s what we all do for one another. You want my opinion?’

  Mitch nodded.

  ‘OK. If you ask me, Jimmy Deacon was a selfish show-off who pretended to be a loyal member of the team, but he wasn’t. He fooled ’em. He was always a loner rather than a team player – that’s why I’m not surprised to find out what he’s been doing since he left us. Working as a hit man is much more his style.’

  Mitch shot another look at his pals, still talking, then asked Benny quietly, ‘You think the debt they feel they owe Jimmy will affect how they handle this operation?’

  Benny looked uncertain. ‘I hope not,’ he said. ‘But there’s always that sense of loyalty to someone who saved your life in battle. You can’t shake it off easy. Know what I mean?’

  ‘I do,’ said Mitch, looking at the members of Delta Unit who had become like brothers to him. ‘Anyway, you won’t have any objections if I kill Deacon?’

  ‘None at all,’ agreed Benny. ‘We’re on one side, he’s on the other. And he chose to be on that side. In my opinion, if we don’t kill him, he’s gonna kill us.’

  A voice came from across the room. ‘Gentlemen!’

  It was Gerald, calling their attention. ‘If you will join me in the briefing room, we can show you what we have learnt in the last few hours.’

  The soldiers of Delta Unit sat around the table as before. Gerald stood by the laptop overseeing the display, and another man stood guarding the door.

  ‘There are three of them,’ announced Gerald. ‘All known mercenaries. Two recently arrived in the UK and the third is due to arrive at Heathrow today. As far as we know, none of them have worked on an operation with Deacon before, but we have sightings of all of them meeting with Deacon in France within the last month.’

  He clicked a key and a man’s face appeared on the screen. His head was shaved, his nose had been broken at some point, and there was a chunk missing from one of his ears. He looked like a very tough rugby player.

  ‘This is Dmitri Pavel,’ announced Gerald. ‘Ex-Russian Special Forces, Spetsnatz. He arrived in Britain last week. He escaped the Russian forces and vanished before he could be court-martialled.’

  ‘For what?’ asked Tug.

  Gerald glanced down at his notes. ‘He seems to have quite a list of allegations against him: murder, assault, theft, robbery, treason.’ He looked up at the screen. ‘Mr Pavel is quite the hard case.’ He looked around the table. ‘You’ll
each be getting a more detailed file on these men after this meeting.’

  The picture of the Russian vanished to be replaced by another equally tough-looking man.

  ‘Jan der Smitt: South African,’ announced Gerald. ‘Former Special Forces, lately working as mercenary to anyone who’ll hire him. He’s wanted in South Africa and Australia for murder. He’s the one due to arrive later today.’

  The picture of Smitt vanished, and now a very different one filled the screen. This man had the same shaven head as the previous two, but he was smiling, instead of glaring at the camera. There was something cocky about him.

  ‘Pierre Lavall, ex-French Special Forces,’ said Gerald. ‘Specialist in explosives. Like Pavel he’s been here for just under a week. He can rig a mammoth explosion that’ll demolish a building, or a very small one designed to take out a security system. It seems likely that he was the one who rigged your bedroom door, Mr Graham.’

  ‘In that case I’ve got a score to settle with him,’ muttered Gaz.

  The Intelligence officer pushed a key on the laptop and the screen cleared. ‘As we’ve said, Deacon is very elusive, exceptionally hard to pin down. However, we know where these three are and they’re under surveillance. It’s our hope that one of them will lead us to Deacon.

  ‘So, we have arranged for you to work in three teams of two. Colonel Nelson will sort out who goes with who. As this is an MI6 operation, each team will be accompanied by an MI6 operative; and that MI6 operative will be in charge of the team out in the field.’

  The members of Delta Unit turned to look at Colonel Nelson to see how he would react to this. All of them were thinking the same thing: we’re soldiers, not spies. We don’t want spies giving us orders when it’s a matter of life and death.

  Nelson looked back at them. ‘Sorry, guys,’ he said. ‘This one’s out of my hands. When Gerald here told me what he had in mind, I got straight on to Washington to register a protest. But they say the authority for this operation comes from the very highest. We’re talking White House and Whitehall here, and they take precedence over the military. They’re our Commanders in Chief. What they say, goes.’

  ‘I assume we’ll have control over what weapons we can use in the field?’ asked Tug.

  ‘Yes,’ said Gerald. ‘But within reason. We have to think of the safety of the public. We have to make sure that any weapons you use are . . . proportionate.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I was thinking of using a nuclear warhead,’ growled Two Moons.

  Gerald gave him a short scowl, not amused.

  ‘I don’t think you have any need to worry about us and our weapons,’ Nelson assured the spy. ‘We’ve all been on missions in civilian situations, so we’re aware of what’s appropriate and what isn’t.’

  ‘Good.’ Gerald nodded curtly. ‘In that case, please follow me to the canteen, where you will meet your team leaders.’

  7

  As they left the briefing room, Nelson tapped Mitch and Benny on the shoulders. Two Moons, Gaz and Tug walked on, following Gerald towards the canteen.

  ‘Mitch, I’m putting you with Two Moons. Benny, you’ll be with Gaz,’ Nelson said quickly and quietly. ‘You can guess the reason. I’m worried that Two Moons and Gaz still seem unconvinced about Jimmy. If there are any issues, report back to me immediately. If you get a shot at Jimmy you take it. In this business, it only takes a second and you’re dead.’ He gestured along the corridor. ‘OK, let’s go meet our team leaders.’

  In the canteen, three spooks – two men and a woman – stood with Two Moons, Gaz, Tug and Gerald. All three were dressed immaculately in dark suits and had the same grim expression.

  ‘This MI6 lot sure dress up nicely,’ said Mitch quietly.

  ‘You should see our CIA people,’ whispered back Benny. ‘They are fashion personified. Always clean well-cut outfits.’

  ‘There must be good money in spying,’ said Mitch, grinning.

  ‘Either that, or they know some really good tailors,’ said Benny.

  ‘Let me introduce you to your team leaders,’ announced Gerald. ‘This is Miranda Jackson. She’s one of our most experienced operatives in the field.’

  The woman nodded politely. No smile.

  ‘She will be with you, Colonel Nelson, and . . .’

  ‘And Tug,’ said Nelson. ‘Captain Tait, to give him his full title.’ Before Gerald could continue, Nelson added: ‘Lieutenant Jaurez will be doubled with Trooper Graham, and Sergeant Two Moons and Trooper Mitchell will work as a team.’

  Gerald nodded. ‘Andrew Barnes will be with Jaurez and Graham, and John Sparks with Two Moons and Mitchell,’ he told them.

  From the expressions on the faces of the four MI6 operatives, it didn’t look as if they were interested in chit-chat.

  ‘So,’ said Sparks walking over. ‘You are familiar with the target, James Deacon.’

  ‘Not me,’ Mitch corrected him. ‘Two Moons and the others are, but I joined Delta Unit after Deacon left.’

  Sparks nodded, but so dismissively it was as if he hadn’t even heard what Mitch said. It was obvious to Mitch the MI6 agent had something to say to them. Sparks looked around to make sure he couldn’t be overheard, then he dropped his voice and snapped at them, ‘Right, listen to me. I’m the one in charge. Got that? I know what you SAS types are like. Going off on your own, taking matters into your own hands. Well while you’re with me, you do what I say. Understood?’

  Mitch looked at Sparks for a moment, then said in disgust: ‘That’s it? That’s the pep-talk?’ As Sparks opened his mouth to reply, Mitch reached out and poked him hard in the chest. Keeping his voice low, he went on. ‘Listen, we’re trained to keep on our toes and survive. We take orders, but we take them from those who’ve proved to us we can trust them. I don’t know you from Adam.

  ‘You can give me orders, and I’ll obey them because Colonel Nelson tells me I have to. But if you try playing smart and one of us gets killed because of it, then I’m gonna kill you.’ Mitch smiled at Sparks. ‘I think you ought to know that.’

  Sparks glowered angrily, but before he could respond, the sound of hands clapping made them all look round.

  Gerald was standing, smiling at them all. ‘Now, I suggest we all return to the briefing room and prepare for the next phase of this operation.’

  Sparks got up, threw one last angry glare at Mitch and Two Moons, and headed for the door. Mitch began walking after him, but Two Moons stopped him.

  ‘Mitch,’ said Two Moons quietly. ‘I’m no fool. I know why Nelson’s put me with you and Gaz with Benny. He thinks we’re not up to it.’

  ‘That’s not true,’ said Mitch.

  ‘Don’t try and snow me, Mitch,’ said Two Moons. ‘He’s worried that I won’t take Jimmy out if I need to. Well, I got to admit, I don’t like the idea. Like I say, Jimmy saved my life, and we were buddies out in the field. That makes for a strong tie. If you want my opinion, I think something happened to Jimmy after he left us and he’s gone in the wrong direction. Maybe all he needs is some help and he can get put right.’

  ‘Rehabilitation?’ Mitch murmured. ‘After six assassinations? If he got caught in some countries he’d be executed.’

  ‘But this ain’t one of those countries,’ said Two Moons.

  Mitch hesitated, then he asked, ‘But you’re accepting that Deacon’s involved in this?’

  ‘Yeah. I guess I am,’ admitted Two Moons awkwardly after a brief silence. ‘But, like I say, I hate the idea of killing him.’

  ‘So you want us to try and take him alive?’

  ‘I’d do it for you,’ said Two Moons. ‘If I thought you needed help.’

  ‘Yes, but I ain’t Jimmy Deacon,’ said Mitch.

  ‘You’re my buddy,’ said Two Moons. ‘So are all the rest of the unit.’

  Mitch thought it over. Then he nodded. ‘OK, Two Moons,’ he said. ‘Let’s see what we can do. If we can take him alive, we will.’

  Two Moons smiled. ‘Thanks, Mitch,’ he said.
<
br />   As Two Moons walked over to the coffee machine, Mitch scowled to himself. He’d just lied to Two Moons. If it came down to it, he was going to kill Jimmy Deacon, and he’d do it without a second’s hesitation. But there was no sense in saying that – he needed Two Moons on his side, especially with that idiot Sparks trying to take over.

  8

  In the next room, a pile of electronic hardware sat on the table. Mitch picked a tiny piece up.

  ‘Mini-headsets,’ he muttered.

  ‘Exactly.’ Gerald nodded. ‘State of the art communication. And to avoid problems with crossed lines, they’re set to different frequencies. You, Sergeant Two Moons and Trooper Mitchell, are on the same frequency as your team leader, Mr Sparks. You will be able to communicate freely in a three-way conversation at all times.’

  Mitch put on the headset, which would look to any casual observer like a small hands-free mobile phone earpiece.

  ‘In normal circumstances we’d hope to have a trace on the mobile phones these men are using, so we could track them,’ Gerald continued. ‘However, we haven’t yet been able to get hold of the numbers. So, for now, we are going to be tracking them the old-fashioned way: human surveillance, using these devices.

  ‘If you need to change frequencies’ – and here Gerald indicated a small dial on the earpiece – ‘this will do the job. It can switch over to one of the other teams or bring everyone in – in which case, it has a list of pre-set numbers which will dial back here. To avoid confusion in the field, I would ask that you only change frequencies and talk to the other teams on the orders of your own team leader.’

  Yet another thing we have to take Sparks’ lead on, thought Mitch grimly.

  Also on the table, beside the headsets, was a thin paper file for each team. Mitch and Two Moons picked up theirs and opened it. The photo of the ex-Spatsnatz soldier, Dmitri Pavel, stared out at them.