The Hiss Of The Snake by Morgan Greene

Author:Morgan Greene [Greene, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

They exited the market with Jamie walking in front, the stranger behind, and stepped back onto the street in front of St John’s Church.

He directed her to a bench so they could talk without shouting. The hustle and bustle of people would still drown out their words, but not screaming what was essentially classified information felt like the right choice.

Jamie pulled out her phone to check whether Hassan had texted, and he had, saying he was incoming as fast as he could. Jamie texted him back, informing him to come to the rear entrance, and then stowed her phone, noting that the man was watching her like a hawk.

He sat to her right, folding his arms so that he could keep his pistol in his hand under his jacket, aimed right at her. Just in case.

‘So, Alaiana,’ he said, using Alina’s real name. ‘You have her?’

Jamie just nodded.

‘Safe?’

She nodded again.

‘Where?’

She smirked a little. ‘I’m not telling you. Last time the NCA got wind of that they sent an Armenian hit squad to exterminate me and retrieve her. She’s still the most valuable card you think you have to play and I’m sure a part of you thinks that selling her out to Seda Petrosyan might still make your plan all worth it.’

His silence was answer enough that it’d crossed his mind.

‘I assume …’ Jamie began, scanning the crowd in front of her. It always amazed her how many people pulled their hoods up, covered their faces, at the first sign of civil unrest. The Senedd wasn’t far from here, and the crowd was ambling that way in a big angry river of meat. ‘… that if we’re still talking, it’s because you’re entertaining the idea of working together in some form.’

The man shifted just a little.

‘In which case, I should know your name. Seeing as you already know all about me.’

‘Radcliffe,’ he said quickly.

‘Alright, Radcliffe,’ she repeated back, well aware that it was very likely not his real name. ‘You know who I am, who I work for, what we’re trying to accomplish. And being the shadowy hand that works Mallory’s puppet strings, how do you see all this playing out? Because what’s going on right now … I’m guessing that didn’t factor into your risk assessments. Petrosyan’s gone off the reservation, and the very reason you wanted to meet me is because you hope we have some idea on how to fix it.’

‘There’s no fixing it.’

‘No, but there’s tackling the issue at the source,’ Jamie said. ‘Stemming the bleeding. Seda’s not doing this just to see the country on its knees. My best hypothesis is that she’s weakening the country so she can move in and seize control here and there. With all the people we caught at the bust … There must be lots more we didn’t. People waiting in the wings who’ll now be able to step into power with Seda Petrosyan working them from behind. So if we don’t get her, it’s a fair bet that in the next few months, she’ll be running the country.

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