But nobody gets to be president without the Group’s approval.’
‘They fix the elections?’ said Eddie dubiously.
‘They don’t need to. Anyone they don’t like is eliminated from the process long before then. All those scandals that come out of the woodwork during the primaries? The Group sees that they’re exposed, leaving only the candidates they approve of. From both parties.’
Eddie’s interest in American politics was limited, but even he was shocked by Dalton’s revelation. ‘Wait, so when you were president . . . you were working for these guys? They told you what to do?’
He shook his head. ‘It’s nothing that blatant. It’s more like they make . . . suggestions. Advise that one policy direction would be preferable to another. From their point of view, at least.’
‘So what have they got to do with Takashi?’
‘You haven’t worked that out?’ Dalton said with a cutting laugh. ‘He was one of them!’
‘You wanted him dead?’
‘I want them all dead, to be honest. Those bastards could have saved my presidency. But instead they left me to twist in the wind, and that jackass Leo Cole took my job. That backstabbing son of a bitch.’
‘So Takashi was one of them,’ said Eddie, waving the gun to focus Dalton’s mind on the matter at hand. ‘Who are the others?’
Another snort. ‘If I gave you their names, I’d be dead within twenty-four hours.’
‘You could be dead a lot sooner if you don’t. And you gave me Takashi’s.’
‘Anything that might have connected him to the Group will already have been wiped from existence. You don’t know how powerful these people are, Chase. Or what they’re capable of doing. What they’re actually planning to do – with your wife’s help.’
Eddie narrowed his eyes. ‘Meaning what? What do they need Nina for?’
‘It’s something to do with those statues. She—’
‘I want more than fucking “something”, mate. What?’ There was a lengthy silence. ‘Well?’
‘I . . . don’t actually know, precisely,’ Dalton admitted. ‘Only my partner does.’
‘Doesn’t sound like much of a partner if he keeps secrets from you,’ Eddie scoffed. ‘More like a boss.’
‘It’s an alliance of convenience,’ said the politician, prickling. ‘We have a mutual enemy – the Group.’
‘What’s he got against them?’
‘They tried to kill him.’
‘Well, yeah, that does tend to piss people off. Why?’
Another pause. ‘He was a member,’ said Dalton. ‘The statues are part of their plan – something to do with earth energy, I assume. He was opposed to it, so they tried to eliminate him. But he escaped, and has been in hiding ever since. He arranged the helicopter attack in Tokyo. The statues and your wife were the primary targets, Takashi was the secondary, and you were . . . Well, he didn’t even know you were there. That was entirely down to me.’
A frown creased Eddie’s brow. ‘You know, I’m having a really hard time thinking of reasons why I shouldn’t just shoot you in the face.’
‘I can think of one very good one,’ said Dalton, with a smug smile. ‘Nina.’
‘What about her?’
‘You think this is over? She’s the key to the Group’s plan – they can’t achieve it without her. So I’m afraid my partner will still be trying to have her killed. Instead of threatening me, you should be trying to protect her. And you won’t be able to do that without my—’
Eddie exploded from his seat, lunging across the room to grab Dalton by his throat and slam him backwards on to the bed. He thrust the gun hard against the ex-president’s cheek. ‘I want this fucker’s name in five seconds, or you die! Four, three, two—’
‘Glas!’ Dalton squealed. ‘His name’s Glas, Harald Glas!’
To Eddie’s surprise, he knew the name. ‘But he’s something to do with the IHA . . .’
‘One of the – non-executive directors,’ Dalton managed to gasp. ‘He has a lot of involvement with the UN. He’s in the energy business – oil, gas, coal, even nuclear.’
‘So where do I find him?’
‘I don’t know – I don’t know!’ he repeated with considerably more fear as the silencer was rammed harder against his face. ‘I told you, he’s in hiding. And I don’t know how to contact him – he always contacts me. But I do know that he’s already tried to kill your wife again. In Rome, earlier today. One of my people in the State Department told me.’
Cold shock froze Eddie. ‘Is she . . .’
‘She’s all right. She has the same damn charmed life as you.’ He sat up and rubbed his bruised cheek