way I can let this pass. The UN’s got to be told – it’s more than just a breach of confidence, it’s a breach of security that’s gotten our people killed.’ She was trembling with a cold fury as she jabbed her finger at him again. ‘You’ll go to jail for this.’
Penrose took a long, deep breath. ‘I . . . will resign my position and turn myself in to the authorities as soon as we’re finished here,’ he said, voice quavering. ‘I always thought this might happen, sooner or later. But you do know that the Group will never allow their existence to be publicly exposed. They’ll either make this go away before it can get close to coming to trial . . . or they’ll make me go away.’
‘Unless you only tell them about Glas’s side of things,’ Nina suggested. ‘I doubt he’ll voluntarily come to court to defend his character.’
He considered this. ‘It would all technically be true, I suppose . . . yes, you’re right. But before any of that, there’s something we have to do first.’
She regarded the case. ‘Destroy the statues.’
‘About fucking time,’ said Eddie. ‘I’ll get a hammer.’
He started for the door, but before he was halfway there the phone rang. Nina was tempted to leave it, but there was an outside possibility that it might be Glas. She picked it up. ‘Yes?’
‘Nina, Larry Chase’s wife is on the line,’ said Lola.
‘Tell her to call back.’
‘I . . . I think you should talk to her.’
The worry in her voice changed Nina’s mind. ‘Okay, put her through.’
The click of a switching line, then: ‘Hello? Nina, hello?’ Julie Chase – on the verge of panic.
‘Julie, what is it?’ Nina asked. She hurriedly put the phone on speaker. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, I’m okay, but – it’s Larry!’
‘What about him?’ said Eddie, giving his wife a look of concern.
‘I just got home, and – and somebody’s broken into the house, it looks like there’s been a fight. And there’s a note, someone left a note. It said that I had to call you, Nina.’
She was startled. ‘Me?’
‘What’s going on?’ cried Julie, almost in tears. ‘Where’s Larry, what’s happened to him?’
‘Julie,’ Eddie said, ‘this note – what does it say, exactly?’
‘It – it says that if I want to see my husband again, I have to call Nina and give her . . .’
‘Give her what? Julie!’
‘There’s a phone number,’ came the words between sobs. ‘It says I have to tell you to call it.’
‘Read it out to us,’ said Nina, getting a pen.
Julie recited it. ‘Swiss number,’ Eddie told Nina quietly, recognising the first few digits. ‘Julie, listen – we think we know what’s going on, but we’re going to have to hang up so we can call this number.’
‘You know where Larry is?’
‘No, but I think we know who’s got him. We’re going to ring the number to see if he’s okay. All right?’
‘What should I do?’ she wailed. ‘Should I call the police?’
‘I don’t think they’ll be much help,’ Nina said grimly. Like Eddie, she already had a very strong suspicion about who was responsible, and that Larry would by now be beyond the reach of conventional law enforcement. ‘Julie, we’ll call you right back, okay?’
‘Can – can you get him back home?’
‘I hope so.’ She disconnected, then started to dial the number Julie had given her.
‘What about the statues?’ Penrose asked nervously. ‘We still need to destroy them . . .’
Nina waved him to silence as the call was answered by a clipped English voice. ‘Hello, Nina. And Chase, I assume you’re there too.’
‘Stikes,’ Nina replied with distaste. ‘What do you want?’
‘I’m sure you already know. Thank you for calling me so promptly, by the way. Mr Warden was getting a little concerned that he hadn’t heard back from you. So I decided to encourage you to reach a decision.’
‘Where’s Larry?’ she demanded.
‘Safe. For now. He’s a little bruised, perhaps, but then my men did warn him not to resist.’ A small chuckle. ‘I considered taking Chase’s niece or sister, but then I decided I preferred the irony of using someone he can’t stand – but won’t be able to allow to come to harm either.’
Eddie stepped up to the desk. ‘I’m going to fucking kill you for this, Stikes.’
‘I doubt that. But I’m sure your father will be absolutely delighted to know that you care enough to threaten murder for him. Anyway, enough of the pleasantries – we have business to discuss.