The Covenant of Genesis

of the President of the United States not only committing adultery, but doing so with . . . well, you know my reputation. Only eight minutes long - Victor was another short-term politician - but it should be more than enough to have 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue sending out change-of-occupier cards.’

‘And . . . the other item?’

Ribbsley nudged the bag with his foot. ‘Physical proof of the true nature of the Veteres, ready for DNA testing. Or incineration. As long as you agree to our terms, I don’t care which.’

‘Your terms,’ said di Bonaventura with distaste. ‘Ten million euros, a new identity for her, and the Covenant’s . . . protection. ’

‘We won’t need your protection if you use this,’ Sophia said, turning the flash drive in her hand. ‘It’s the only copy - but I’m willing to give it to you. It’ll take down Dalton, and all his cronies like Callum will go down with him.’

‘Actually, Callum’s dead,’ said a new voice.

All three whirled to see Nina emerging from the nearby trees. ‘Oh, for God’s sake!’ said Sophia in exasperation as she raised her gun. ‘She’s more resilient than a bloody cockroach!’

‘Ah-ah,’ Nina warned, waving a finger. ‘Try anything and Eddie’ll blow your head off. He’s in the trees with a sniper rifle.’ Sophia reluctantly returned the pistol to her pocket, but her hand remained hanging over it like a Wild West gunslinger. Ribbsley raised his hands.

‘I’m surprised to see you again, Dr Wilde,’ said di Bonaventura. ‘I’d been told you were dead.’

‘Your man Vogler saved us. He wanted to save Eden too - he decided that its value to the faithful, to the world, would outweigh any damage that the truth about the Veteres might cause. As long as that truth was revealed gradually.’

He nodded. ‘I would probably have reached the same conclusion.’

Nina came to a stop facing the trio. ‘It was kind of a least-worst option, but I agreed to go along with him. Until Callum decided to blow up Eden on Dalton’s orders. And then Ribbsley took the opportunity for a little blackmail. So here we all are.’

‘How did you find us?’ Ribbsley asked.

‘Because Eddie knew Sophia,’ she replied with a small smile. ‘When she “died” and he got all her paperwork, he saw she had a Swiss deposit box. After she told us about the recording,’ she glanced at the flash drive, ‘we figured that must be what she kept in it. So we got out of Sudan by persuading the head of the UN relief effort in El Obeid to fly us to Egypt, then came here, and staked out the bank until you turned up. Then we followed you and waited to see what happened. As Eddie would say, doddle.’

‘So now, what does happen?’ said di Bonaventura. He indicated the bag. ‘I assume you want that.’

‘That depends on you. You said you would probably have done the same as Vogler - is that still the case now Eden’s been destroyed? Because if it is, I’m willing to make the same deal with you that I did with Vogler.’

‘How very mercenary of you,’ Sophia sneered.

‘I’m not asking for money,’ said Nina. ‘I just want the truth to be revealed . . . however long it takes. And, y’know, I’d prefer to be alive when it happens.’

‘And President Dalton?’ asked di Bonaventura.

‘Screw him,’ said Nina after a moment. ‘Although not in the way that Sophia did. But he betrayed everyone - including the Covenant - and tried to kill us. Callum’s dead, but I bet there’s a dozen more like him. The only way Eddie and I can be safe is if Dalton’s removed from office.’

The Cardinal stood in thoughtful silence for several seconds before speaking again. ‘Until now, it was easy for the Covenant to suppress any discoveries of the Veteres. But now that we know the scale of their civilization . . . sooner or later, they will be revealed, and the Covenant will not be able to stop it.’ He looked at the bag, then back at Nina. ‘Vogler was right. If this is to become known, then it should be on our terms. We have to prepare the world for it. Dr Wilde . . . if you agree to work with us towards that goal, then I will grant you protection.’

‘And Eddie, too,’ Nina said.

‘And Mr Chase, yes. What do you say?’

‘Excuse me,’ Sophia snapped, ‘but we were here first.’

‘Sophia,’ Ribbsley said tersely, ‘we’re not arguing over a parking space here. Your ex-husband has us in his gunsights.’

Sophia gave Nina a suspicious look. ‘Does he, though?’

‘You want to find out the hard way?’ said Nina.

‘I think I might. Gabriel, take out your gun.’

‘You must be joking!’ Ribbsley protested. ‘You know that I’d do almost anything for you - but getting shot is definitely one of the exceptions.’

‘You won’t get shot. I’m sure Eddie’s here somewhere, but he doesn’t have a gun. And nor does she.’ Sophia fixed her eyes on Nina’s, calculating. ‘You can’t have arrived in Switzerland much before we did - we didn’t come directly from Khartoum, but we weren’t stopping for picnics en route either. I know Eddie has friends all over the world, but I find it hard to believe they could furnish him with a sniper rifle - but not get you a gun as well.’

Nina put a hand in one pocket. ‘I assure you, I’m armed.’

‘Then Gabriel won’t have to feel guilty about shooting a defenceless woman, will he?’ She turned to Ribbsley. ‘Gabriel, take out your gun. Nothing will happen, I promise. I know Eddie - and I know Nina as well.’

‘Your call,’ Nina said.

‘Your bluff,’ Sophia replied. ‘Do it, Gabriel. Now!’

Ribbsley hesitated, eyes scanning the dark forest - then pulled out his gun and pointed it at Nina.

Nothing happened. No gunshot came from the trees, the only sound the endless thunder of the waterfall.

‘Well,’ said Sophia, ‘I told you.’

Ribbsley let out a relieved breath. ‘I wish you could have found a less stressful way of proving it.’

Sophia nudged the bag. ‘Cardinal, our original offer still stands. I recommend that you take it. Otherwise we’ll have to fall back on Plan B - blackmailing the President of the United States. Which would be messy for everyone. As for you, Nina . . . I think it’s time we said goodbye, once and for all. Gabriel, shoot her.’

Nina tensed. ‘Don’t you want to know where Eddie is?’

The question was enough to give Ribbsley pause, though the gun remained locked on Nina’s heart. ‘All right,’ Sophia sighed impatiently, ‘where’s Eddie?’

‘Right behind you.’

Sophia looked annoyed at the attempted distraction, but Ribbsley turned his head—

To see Chase vault over the railing and smash a fist into his face.

Ribbsley crashed nervelessly to the ground, the gun spinning away. Soaked by the waterfall’s spray while he climbed round the viewing platform’s supports, Chase whirled to face Sophia—

She shot him.

‘Eddie!’ Nina screamed as he fell, blood splashed across his chest. He let out a strangled moan, convulsing before falling still.

‘Hold it!’ said Sophia as Nina ran to him, pointing the smoking .38 at her. Nina stopped. ‘Gabriel, are you all right?’ Her concern went unanswered. ‘Gabriel!’

Nina was unable to take her eyes from Chase’s motionless body. ‘Oh, Jesus, Eddie!’ she gasped, shocked tears streaming down her cheeks. ‘Oh, please, get up, get up . . .’

Sophia cast a dismissive sidelong glance at him. ‘I think,’ she said, ‘that marks the end of the Chase.’

Hatred exploded inside Nina. ‘You fucking bitch,’ she snarled, all fear vanishing in her fury, ‘I’m gonna fucking kill you!’

‘No,’ said Sophia, with a smile of malicious pleasure, ‘you’re not.’

Di Bonaventura jumped forward, arms held wide as if pleading. ‘No! You don’t have to—’

Sophia fired just as the Cardinal moved in front of Nina. The bullet caught him high on his chest. Sophia froze as he collapsed, realising she had just shot the only person with whom she could make a deal.

Nina leapt at her.

Driven by rage, she smashed the gun from Sophia’s hand before slamming a brutal blow into her face. Sophia