Helix and Ethan weren’t Mace’s only off-the-books clients. Helix turned to Wheeler. ‘So that’s who arranged all of this then?’
Wheeler raised his eyebrows. ‘As I said, Major, it’s not what you know. That said, thanks to Captain Finch, I’m not sure my life is going to be as comfortable as it once was.’
‘I shouldn’t worry. You won’t be here for much longer.’
‘Is that your plan, Major Helix, to kill us all? How many more are you going to slaughter?’
‘Anyone who stands in between me, my brother, your ex-wife and anyone else I care about.’
Wheeler stroked his chin. ‘Why are you returning to London? Gabrielle almost let something slip back in the village before you silenced her.’
‘I’d be surprised if you didn’t see your friend, the Home Secretary’s, appearance on the news last night,’ Helix said, slumping into an armchair. He rested his weapon on his thigh. ‘The letter Ormandy claims to have is a complete fabrication. Gabrielle wants to clear her name and I need to do the same.’
‘Why should she care?’ Wheeler scoffed. ‘She’s retired from public life. And with your skills, what’s to stop you both from disappearing completely?’ He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. ‘No, Major, there’s more to it. A lot more. If you were so certain that it was a fabrication and that you could easily disprove it, you would have allowed her to be picked up and you could have pleaded your case together, your redoubtable brother providing supporting evidence. He’s rather good at—’
Helix exploded from the armchair. The punch landed to the right of Wheeler’s mouth, his attempt to duck as useless as it was late. He loomed over him ready to hit him again. In the corner of his eye, the countdown timer on his sleeve display was below the 24-hour threshold, its digits having changed from green to amber. Red would come with the last 12 hours. With Mace out of the game, things were about to get a lot harder.
Wheeler gathered himself. ‘I can help,’ he said, tonguing his spit lip. ‘Whatever it is, I can call her off.’
‘You?’ Helix snorted, backing away towards the chair. ‘Why should I trust you?’
‘Your reticence is understandable,’ Wheeler said, looking at the blood on his fingertips. ‘But if you listen to what I have to say, you might change your mind. You and my ex-wife aren’t the only things that Julia Ormandy is desperate to get her hands on.’
25
22 Hours
Rain replaced the snow, rendering the pristine landscape in muddy shades of grey and brown. Those rooftops still visible through the burgeoning vegetation defrosted, the meltwater and slabs of slimy snow spilling over the edges of detritus-filled guttering. Two weak fingers of smoke rose from the castle through the deluge. The one issuing from the stables gasped its last as the flame faltered and died, its fuel spent. The chimney set into the roof of the gatehouse tower belched and coughed, growing in confidence, winning the battle with the elements.
With Wheeler and Finch sitting on the oak flooring, cuffed to either side of the four-poster, Helix holstered his weapon. He prodded the poker at the extra logs he’d placed into the hearth as he listened to Sofi’s update. It was brief. Everything was quiet. ‘OK. Secure the weapons. Deploy your nano-cams to the approaches and come up here. It’s show time.’ He poured himself a generous measure of Wheeler’s brandy, pausing with the bottle over a second glass, about to pour Gabrielle one. Maybe he should have been more worried about himself remembering that Gabrielle was actually Sofi, rather than the AI forgetting. Although their relationship hadn’t been all roses and chocolates, Wheeler was the one person alive who knew Gabrielle best. He poured a second measure. ‘And don’t forget who you are. Any slip ups and Wheeler—’
‘Fear not, Major,’ she replied. ‘See you on the other side.’
‘OK. You can come up,’ he called, ignoring the shiver that ran up his back. He turned with the glasses in his hands. A faint disturbance in the shadows on the stairs took form. Any concern he might have been harbouring evaporated.
Wheeler leaned around the door as far as the handcuffs would allow. ‘Hello, Gabrielle. Good of you to join us.’
She ignored him, fixed her eyes on Helix and crossed the room. She brushed the offered glass gently aside, reached up on tiptoes and kissed him.
Helix caught himself just in time, going with it, relaxing, allowing her – its – tongue to slip between his lips. ‘Don’t get carried away.’
Their lips parted. She winked at him, accepted the glass and took a sip. ‘Who’s that?’ she asked, gesturing towards Finch with her glass.
‘Captain Elias Finch,’ Helix said. ‘Wannabe member of the special forces, out for a day trip, trying to impress his boss.’
‘You’re looking well, Gabrielle,’ Wheeler interrupted. ‘Every inch the digger it seems.’
‘Get lost, Justin.’ She slumped into an armchair, tossed aside her poncho and crossed her legs. ‘Nice shackles, they suit you.’ She nosed the brandy. ‘Two armchairs, a double bed and matching wardrobes,’ she said. ‘Expecting company?’
‘One lives in hope, Gabrielle.’
‘Yes. But I can’t imagine Julia Ormandy wanting to get her Gucci shoes dirty coming down here.’ She took a sip of her drink. ‘Oh, don’t look so surprised, Captain Finch. Didn’t you know about my ex-husband and the Home Secretary? Quite the scandal. Of course, it was before the inconvenience of his incarceration. But that didn’t last long. Did it, Justin?’
Finch’s eyes darted at Wheeler.
Helix raised his eyebrows.
