The Avenger by Mark Dawson

Author:Mark Dawson [Dawson, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unputdownable
Published: 2023-01-03T16:00:00+00:00

BOURNEMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM

42

They got back into the car, and Milton drove to Bournemouth airport. Pope had thought about flying out of Gatwick, but the convenience of being close by was outweighed by the fact that it was a larger facility with better surveillance. The drive would take two hours, but, although Pope was anxious to be on his way back to France, it gave him a chance to catch up properly with Milton.

Neither man was by nature effusive, but they had years of shared history, and Milton was happy enough to give Pope an idea of the life that he had led since leaving the Group. Pope, for his part, was more taciturn. Milton asked about Isabella, but Pope deflected his question. Milton was astute enough to see that he wouldn’t discuss it and so left it alone.

Pope had been surprised that neither Latimer nor Control had asked him about Isabella, so much so that he was convinced that they didn’t know. Vivian Bloom had always danced to his own tune, and with research that was potentially worth billions—trillions—he wouldn’t have been surprised in the least if the work that Daedalus was doing had been sealed within the most secure firewall imaginable. Control couldn’t have known. He doubted that he would have been allowed to leave if she did.

Milton pulled up at the drop-off.

“Thank you,” Pope said. “For everything.”

“You need anything else?” Milton asked him.

Pope would have dearly loved to have Milton’s assistance, but it was impossible. Milton was more trustworthy than Control, but it made no sense to widen the circle of those who knew about Isabella any more than was absolutely necessary. Knowledge could be dangerous, and it would have been unfair to put Milton in harm’s way.

“Michael?”

“I might need more of Ziggy’s help.”

“Try to keep him out of it. I’ve never seen him so intrigued. Whoever it is who’s been looking for you is obviously someone he’d like to find out more about.” Milton paused. “This guy—Atari. Why does he want to get hold of the girl?”

“Do you remember her mother?”

“Beatrix? Yes, of course.”

“She was sent after Atari. She came across kompromat on him, and he thinks Isabella has it.”

“Does she?”

“No. But he won’t believe that.”

That wasn’t true. Pope didn’t like lying to Milton, but there was nothing else for it.

Milton took Pope’s hand and shook it. “It’s good to see you.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’m off to South Africa,” he said. “I’ve got unfinished business there.”

Pope knew what that meant; whoever Milton was planning to visit was going to find his or her life becoming very much more difficult.

“Be careful,” Pope said.

“And you.”

Pope got out of the car and watched as Milton drove away. He reached into his pocket and took out the new passport that Control had provided. There was a flight to Montpellier in an hour. He would arrive back in France in three hours, hire a car at the airport and then drive to the farm in Cazevieille to equip himself.

They would have to move again, but he would discuss that with Isabella when he found her.

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