Dead Centre - Andy McNab [65]
His jaw tightened, like he couldn’t stomach the thought. Apart from that, his face was impossible to read. Talking about watches, lifts, even his HR concerns – it was like he knew what I’d come to confront him with and was doing everything he could to avoid it.
We walked along a short corridor. Our footsteps began to echo.
‘So who’s your superior?’
‘Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, prime minister of the Russian Federation, chairman of both United Russia and the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. A truly powerful man.’
‘And who’s his?’
‘People like me who buy chalets in this village. If he wants to be elected president again.’
As if on cue, Frank threw open another set of doors to reveal a wall-to-wall swimming-pool. It filled the entire footprint of the house. It had been carved out of the mountainside and finished to look like a South Pacific rock-pool. The water was crystal clear. The only evidence of humans ever being near it was a small table. On it lay a colouring book and a set of pencils, and a half-filled-in picture of a pink and yellow fairy.
Frank looked at it and then at me. ‘For all that, I’m still being held to ransom by African fishermen. You have news for me, something you want to say.’
It wasn’t a question.
‘They could still be alive. I heard a recording of Tracy. It wasn’t made for me. It was a generic message. “Help us, we’re in trouble.” This is good news. I could hear vehicles. It means they made it to land safely. But things have gone wrong.’
‘How so?’
‘The two guys who’ve been following me since Moscow. The two I thought were yours.’
I told him.
4
HIS FACE WAS stone as he took the information on board. Not even a flicker as I told him Tracy’s sister was dead.
‘What are you going to do about them, Nick? They are your problem. Mine is Stefan.’
‘They Georgians?’
‘Possibly. You have been working very hard to find that out about me. Enemies, they breed like rats.’
‘So it’s also your problem. They must know Tracy and Stefan have been lifted. They must be wondering if they can get to them before you do. Then they become their captives, to be used as leverage against you. No more supporting the south?’
Frank the machine stood still and listened, his eyes unfocused as he stared at the granite wall.
‘They must be following me because they don’t know which clan have them. They must be hoping I’ll lead them to Tracy and Stefan – then they can jump in and grab them from me. That’s what I’d do.’
He nodded very slowly.
‘But that’s not the important thing, Frank.’
He turned his head. His eyes narrowed.
‘The important thing is, how do they know? Like I said, that’s your problem. Was it the crew? The two lads you got rid of?’
He shook his head. ‘The crew have been with me for years. They know their lives depend on their loyalty. The other two knew nothing.’
‘What about the lads upstairs?’
‘They are the only people I trust. They are also godfathers to Stefan. No, that knowledge has come from elsewhere.’ He jabbed a finger at me. ‘But that can wait. How much do they want?’
‘Three million US.’
He jabbed his finger again. His voice boomed around the granite walls. ‘Give them what they want. I want Stefan back here, and safe. I want this ended before anyone else gets to them.’
‘No, Frank. That’s not how it works.’
His eyes burnt into mine. I wondered when he’d last heard the words ‘No, Frank.’ I had to get past this alpha-male shit.
He jabbed a third time, his face taut, a natural reaction when people are preparing to fight or just plain scared.
‘Do what I say!’
He shouted again, this time so angrily he almost lost it. The sound reverberated like thunder round the pool-room. ‘Do what I say! You will pay what they—’
Mr Lover Man and Genghis pushed their way in, pistols drawn. Frank obviously never raised his voice unless there was a problem.
I stood stock still, arms out, presenting no threat. Frank waved his hands at