Hitman: Enemy Within by William C. Dietz

Author:William C. Dietz
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: video game
ISBN: 9780345471321
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 2007-08-28T06:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

BLACK CORAL KEY, THE GULF OF MEXICO

The deHavilland Twin Otter DHC-6 circled the small, kidney-shaped island as the pilot sought clearance from the ground. Reefs of dark rock could be seen just below the surface of the gulf's sparkling blue water, where they served to protect the tiny bay from intruders, all but guaranteeing the island's privacy.

Most of the key was brown and desolate, but The Agency's retreat was marked by an oasis of green, made possible by a state-of-the-art desalinization plant. Aristotle Thorakis, like all the members of The Agency's board, had been a guest on previous occasions. Back during happier times, before he'd been forced to borrow money from the Puissance Treize.

Now, rather than enjoy the comforts to which he otherwise would have been entitled, the shipping magnate was a hostage to his own fear. A terrible gut-wrenching worry that seeped into his mind during the day, haunted his dreams at night, and had grown steadily worse with the passage of time. The Agency knew it had been betrayed and was determined to identify the person or persons who were responsible.

Hence the surprise summons to Black Coral Key.

Thorakis could have refused, of course, but to do so would have been to focus more attention on himself rather than reduce it, and potentially hasten exposure. Not to mention the fact that Pierre Douay had insisted that he attend, so that he could find out what The Agency was up to.

It was a truly hellish cycle from which there could be no escape until he found the means to repay the Puissance Treize, they destroyed The Agency, or he was assassinated.

Which, all things considered, he richly deserved.

Such were the businessman's morbid thoughts as the twin-engine plane banked, began a steep descent, and came in for a picture-perfect landing on the key's pristine bay. There was a gentle thump as the aircraft put down, followed by a loud roar, as the pilot put both props into the reverse–or “beta”–position in order to slow the seaplane down.

No sooner had the deHavilland touched the surface than a sleek launch was dispatched to meet it. The boat's bow split the gulf water into two creamy waves and the inboard engine rumbled gently as the coxswain cut power and allowed the classic Chris-Craft to coast up to the plane.

Cheerful greetings were exchanged between the copilot and the boat's neatly attired crew as the businessman's TUMI suitcase was transferred to the launch.

Then it was time for the shipping magnate to step across the narrow strip of water that separated the plane from the boat. Something he did without assistance, thanks to all the years he had spent on and near the water.

Once seated in the Chris-Craft, with the wind whipping through his hair, Thorakis was able to enjoy a brief interlude of worry-free pleasure as the boat cut across the bay and pulled up alongside a floating dock. A smartly uniformed member of the retreat's staff was there to welcome him with a casual salute and an ice-cold glass of lemonade.

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