Operative 66 by Andy McDermott

Author:Andy McDermott
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781472263803
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

The alarm on Connie’s phone warbled in the bedroom. Reeve glanced at Jammer’s phone. Three in the morning. He had already been up for an hour.

She reluctantly emerged ten minutes later, finding him in the bathroom. ‘Morning,’ she said sleepily – before jolting awake. ‘Jesus!’ She took a closer look at him. ‘Oh, my God. I hardly recognised you.’

Brownlow’s passport was open beside the mirror. Reeve had transformed himself into the face in its photograph. All he had used were simple stage makeup tricks – but they worked. Small dabs of liquid latex glue crinkled his skin into crow’s feet and creases. Connie’s makeup kit had also played its part. Powdered light and shade added eye bags, jowls, wrinkles. Cotton wool in his mouth puffed out the cheeks. His bleached hair had changed colour again, to ginger. He had swept it back to raise his hairline. Not only did he look two decades older, but he indeed resembled Brownlow.

As with his earlier disguises, close inspection would reveal the truth. But in a car, from three metres away, he would pass.

He hoped.

Connie was still boggling at the change. ‘Wow. Are you wearing one of those Mission: Impossible masks?’

‘They’d make life a lot easier,’ Reeve replied. His voice was slightly muffled by the cotton. He pulled the damp pieces out. ‘Are you ready? We’ll need to go in thirty minutes.’

She was wearing an oversized T-shirt with a picture of a cartoon unicorn, hair messy. ‘Do I look ready?’

A joking grimace. ‘I’ll get out of the way.’

Reeve collected his transformation tools and retreated into the lounge. He packed them; they would be needed for the return journey. ‘Where are your car keys?’

‘In my handbag, by the bed. Why?’

‘I want to start loading up.’ He found the keys, then collected the gun and spare ammo. Slipping it under his jacket, he left the flat.

When he returned ten minutes later, Connie was dressed and brushing her hair. ‘I made you some coffee,’ she said.

‘Thanks. You look nice.’ The compliment slipped out.

She beamed. ‘Thank you. But you should see me when I make an effort.’ She glanced at his bag, still on the table. ‘I thought you were loading the car?’

‘Preparing it, really. Want some toast?’

‘Yes, please.’ Another smile. ‘This is all very domestic, isn’t it? Even as we’re about to go to France on a spy mission.’

‘Life’s full of surprises.’ Jammer had a large chromed toaster. He put in four slices of bread and pushed them down.

Twenty minutes later, they had eaten and collected their belongings. ‘Ready?’ Reeve asked.

Connie nodded. She was more pensive now. ‘I hope this works.’

‘So do I. But if anything goes wrong, just tell them I kidnapped you.’

‘Not funny.’ They headed for the car.

Early on a Sunday, even London’s traffic was minimal. They cleared the capital and were on the M2 motorway in an hour. Connie stayed at the speed limit, not wanting to draw attention. On to the M20, heading south-east towards the coast. They reached the Eurotunnel terminal after an hour and forty minutes.

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