Clockwork Doomsday by Alex Archer

Author:Alex Archer
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Worldwide Library
Published: 2013-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

20

“Ms. Creed.”

Hearing the polite voice, Annja struggled up through layers of sleep to return to consciousness. Someone had draped a blanket over her at some point. When she opened her eyes, one of the flight attendants was gazing down at her.

“Yes?”

“We’re about to begin final approach to Cristoforo Colombo Airport. You requested to be awakened prior to the landing.”

“I did. Thank you.” Annja stripped off the blanket and returned the seat to the upright position.

The attendant took the blanket. “Would you like a coffee? Or juice or tea? We have an assortment of beverages.”

Of course you do. This is one of Garin’s jets. “How soon will we be landing?”

“We’ll begin final approach in ten minutes.”

“Fine. Thanks.”

The attendant started to leave.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“You mentioned coffee?”

“I did. We have a selection of coffees, including lattes and espressos. Do you have a preference?”

“Black. Hot.”

“Very well.”

“The bathroom’s still open?”

“Yes.”

Annja assembled her gear in the seat beside her and got up. She took out her travel toothbrush and headed for the bathroom.

* * *

CRISTOFORO COLOMBO AIRPORT had been built on an artificial peninsula that stuck out from the mainland. The city crowded up into the hills surrounding the coastal area. When the time had come to put in a commercial air service, it had been easier to construct an airport in the sea than to plow through all the surrounding countryside looking for level ground.

Standing at the top of the gantry leading down to the tarmac, Annja paused to inhale the salt sea breeze. It was a lot warmer in Genoa than it had been in Boston, and a lot brighter. She adjusted her backpack and took a fresh grip on the carry-on she’d had to fight the flight attendants to keep.

The city looked cluttered, packed tightly together, and the verdant green hills rolled in all directions beyond it. On either side of the airport peninsula, sailboats and yachts occupied marina slips or cut across the blue-green water. There was no hint of danger. Of course, with Roux and Garin involved, there generally wasn’t until it was suddenly life or death.

A dark sedan waited at the bottom of the gantry. Annja sipped coffee from the disposable cup she’d been given and headed down.

The sedan’s back door opened and Roux got out.

Annja’s heart sped up a little. Even though she’d known from the phone call that he’d been all right, it was just so much better seeing him for herself.

He wore khaki pants, an obnoxious green bowling shirt and a creased fedora. “I take it your trip went well? I tried to reach you, but there was no answer. The attendants said you were sleeping.” He seemed a little put out at that.

Annja ignored his attitude and gave him a beatific smile. “Good morning, Roux. And how are you today?”

He stared at her in puzzlement for a moment, then scowled. “I was nearly killed yesterday by some particularly nasty people. I was counting on you to help me find answers.”

“No answers. Yet. But I have redefined the question.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.