The Sacred Vault_ A Novel - Andy McDermott [83]
Eddie squeezed past the policewoman as she shouted more orders, reaching the edge of the crowd. Zec emerged behind him, angrily tugging the case free of the crush. ‘Jesus,’ Eddie said as the limo pulled away. ‘Who’d be fucking famous if you have to put up with that all the time?’
‘Who was that?’ Zec said.
‘Grant Thorn.’ He got a blank look in return. ‘The film star?’
Zec shook his head. ‘I don’t watch movies. No realism any more.’
‘You’re a fun guy, aren’t you? Okay, I hope you’ve got a car. I’m not paying for a bloody cab all the way upstate.’
15
The drive took over an hour, Zec at the wheel with Eddie beside him, gun in hand. The briefcase sat on the back seat, untouched by either man during the journey.
They reached a private airfield, where a security guard waved them through the gate. A jet waited on the runway, armed men standing nearby. Eddie steeled himself as Zec stopped beside the plane. He might be shot the moment the Bosnian turned over the briefcase . . .
‘Get out,’ said Zec. Eddie stepped into the cold wind blowing across the runway. The jet’s hatch was open; a figure appeared at the top of the steps. Pramesh Khoil.
The guns of the men around the car were all now aimed at Eddie. Shrugging, he pocketed the revolver and advanced as Zec retrieved the case. ‘All right, Khoil,’ he called, ‘where’s Nina?’
The Indian ignored him. ‘Do you have it?’ he shouted to Zec. The mercenary nodded, holding up the briefcase. ‘Bring it to me.’
Eddie reached the steps. ‘Hey! I asked you a question. Is Nina in there?’
Zec pushed past him. Khoil backed up to let him into the aircraft, then looked contemptuously down at Eddie. ‘No, Mr Chase, she is not. She is still in India, and now no longer necessary. Like you.’ He gestured to his men. They advanced on the Englishman.
‘Just a sec,’ Eddie said, covering a surge of cold fear with cockiness. Khoil, who had been about to retreat into the cabin, paused. ‘You might want to check your merchandise.’
Khoil whipped round to face Zec, expression accusing. ‘It’s in the case,’ the mercenary protested. ‘I looked before we left New York. It never left my sight.’
‘Open it now,’ Khoil ordered. ‘Open it!’
Zec set the briefcase down and flicked the catches. Khoil shoved him aside and yanked it open. He stared at the contents for a long moment . . . then ran down the stairs. ‘Where is it?’ he almost screeched.
‘No idea,’ Eddie replied, truthfully. ‘A mate of mine’s got it, and I told him to put it somewhere I didn’t know about. Just to be safe.’ His expression hardened. ‘So. Where’s Nina?’
The shocked Zec emerged from the cabin, holding the case’s contents: several dumbbell weights fastened together with duct tape. ‘I - I don’t understand,’ he told Khoil. ‘The Codex was inside! How did he do it?’
‘Doesn’t really matter now, does it?’ said Eddie. ‘But I thought you’d try something like this, and as soon as I heard the satellite delay when I was talking to Nina I knew I was right. So I wanted some insurance.’ He leaned closer to Khoil. ‘The deal still stands. I get my wife back, and you get your book. But fuck with me, and it’ll be destroyed. Understand?’
Khoil’s lips were tight. ‘Come inside.’ He stalked back up the steps, almost barging Zec out of the way. Eddie followed, relieved to have survived his triple-cross.
The question now was: how desperately did Khoil want the Talonor Codex?
He entered the cabin, an armed guard following. Inside, another Indian man standing between him and Khoil gave him an unpleasant smile, exposing jagged teeth. ‘Is the Codex intact?’ the billionaire demanded. ‘Have you damaged it?’
‘Not yet,’ Eddie said. ‘I told you, I don’t give a shit about your book or what you want it for. All I want is Nina. If I get her back unharmed, you’ll get it the same way. Sound fair?’
‘Yes,’ Khoil hissed.
‘Great. Now I want to talk to her.’
Khoil went to one of the luxurious seats. Eddie expected him to pick up a phone, but instead he pushed a button, and a flatscreen monitor smoothly emerged from the chair’s arm. The blank black eye of a webcam was set