Robert Ludlum's the Bourne Evolution - Brian Freeman Page 0,116

you address her. That’s not a mistake you want to make more than once. When I did it, I felt those nails of hers in places you do not want to feel nails, believe me.”

“Okay, that’s good to know, Miss Shirley,” Wall said. “I have to tell you, all of us here are curious about the people you work for. A private equity group with the resources to make a play for Prescix? Impressive. But you know, the members of our little cabal don’t lose very graciously. I think we’d all like to find a way to bring Prescix into our fold. Who knows, maybe we can lure you away from your current employers and get you on our side.”

“Unlikely.”

“Well, wait until you hear our offer before you say that,” Wall replied with a wink.

“Where is Nelly Lessard?” Miss Shirley demanded, cutting him off. “Isn’t she the one coordinating this meeting? I assumed she would be here in person for our arrival.”

Wall gestured into the trees from where the Jeeps had emerged. “Oh, Nelly’s up at the estate with the others. She’s getting everything set up for us. If you know Nelly, you know every detail has to be perfect.”

“And Miles Priest?” Miss Shirley asked.

“Inbound. Weather delayed him and DeRay out of Glasgow, so they didn’t get to Pindling until an hour ago. He and Scott should be arriving at the helipad in a few minutes.”

“Everyone else is here? All of the other CEOs?”

“Oh, yeah. Nelly wouldn’t take no for an answer about attending this meeting. Everyone canceled plans to be here. That’s how important this is, Gabriel. We figured we’d have a little cocktail get-together before we get down to business. We have some serious things to discuss, but serious things usually go better when they’re washed down with a little coconut rum. Of course, I see that you’ve brought along some of the best bubbly, too. We’ll definitely want to open some of those bottles tonight.”

“What about security?” Miss Shirley asked, as if he hadn’t said anything at all. “What measures have you taken?”

Wall shrugged. “Don’t worry about that, Shirley. The island is secure.”

“Miss Shirley. How many men, and what weapons do they have?”

Hon Xiu-Le knitted his brow with suspicion and crossed his arms over his skinny chest. “I’m sorry, but why do you wish to know that?”

“I’m responsible for Gabriel’s safety,” Miss Shirley replied. “If I’m not satisfied with the security arrangements, we’re leaving.”

She snapped her fingers at the two guards who had accompanied the CEOs in the second Jeep. “You two. Over here. Now.”

The guards exchanged glances and then approached the group across the sand. The taller one, who had dark close-cropped hair, seemed to think he was James Bond and gave Miss Shirley a condescending look as he sized up her body in the bikini. The shorter one, who was heavyset and Hispanic, was more cautious and had his hand close to the butt of his gun. He was obviously the smarter of the two.

“You need help with something, ma’am?” the Bond look-alike asked.

“The details of your security. Number of men, where are they located, what is their weaponry.”

The guard gave her a tight smile. “Sorry, sweetheart. That’s confidential. But don’t you worry, we’ve got everything under control.”

Tyler Wall interrupted them. “Trust me, Shirley, I’ve been coming here for years, and there’s never been a problem.”

“That’s two,” she said.

“Sorry?”

“You’ve now called me Shirley two more times following my warning. It’s Miss Shirley. A third time will result in punishment.”

Wall laughed, making his large body shake. “Shit, Gabe, this one’s a hell of a spitfire. You’re a lucky son of a bitch.”

“She’s not kidding, Tyler,” Gabriel told him cheerily.

Wall’s eyes took another slow tour around Miss Shirley’s bikini, and then he rubbed his big hand up and down the handle of his walking staff in a deliberately suggestive manner. “Well, I didn’t get where I am without taking risks. I think I might actually enjoy a little punishment from someone like you … Shirley.”

Miss Shirley sighed.

She wore a white leather Prada purse over her shoulder, and she dug both hands inside the main pouch. When her hands emerged again, she had a gun in each one. She aimed the first gun at Tyler Wall’s throat and fired a single shot that severed his brain stem and spinal cord, dropping him dead to the sand. With the second gun, she delivered a shot to the center of the forehead of the Hispanic guard, and he collapsed with