Resolution to Kill by E V Seymour

Author:E V Seymour [Seymour, E V]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rough Diamond LLP
Published: 2012-02-01T22:00:00+00:00

The Boxster prowled down Chalk Farm Road. Lights from cafés and bars sprinkled the dusk.

‘So, big boy, what now?’ Clay offered Tallis some gum. Tallis helped himself.

‘We follow the plan.’

‘There is no plan.’ Clay scowled.

‘You’re only sore because your suggestion about using the Alliance didn’t meet with ringing and universal approval.’ Tallis changed up a gear, eyes strained for evidence of speed cameras.

‘You mean you agreed with me?’

‘I think there might be merit in the argument.’

‘Merit in the argument,’ Clay said, pulling off a passable English accent. ‘The Alliance is the expert in hostage retrieval. What’s not to like?’

A lack of subtlety perhaps, Tallis thought. ‘We want people alive, not dead.’

Clay gave a snort and looked out of the window. ‘You can’t negotiate with terrorists.’

‘Primarily because we have nothing they want, nothing with which to trade,’ Tallis pointed out darkly.

‘Last time I checked, we don’t do deals. If the kidnappers wanna kick ass, bring it on.’

Tallis shook his head. ‘You really think that’s what this is all about: direct action?’

‘Don’t you?’

Tallis glanced across at Clay. ‘This isn’t about a lot of pissy women getting their own back.’

‘No?’

‘No.’

‘What, then?’

‘I haven’t worked it out yet.’ Tallis indicated and turned right, trying to assemble his thoughts. ‘If the kidnappers truly want to court publicity, to get their message across, they could have uploaded the tape on to the Internet. Mass publicity. Mass coverage. They didn’t. I get the feeling that the information was meant for our eyes only.’

‘Like Fitz’s arm?’ Clay said.

‘Yes,’ Tallis said, an unexpected chill attacking his spine.

‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’

‘Depends whether you think an amputated limb constitutes proof of life.’

Clay stretched both his hands out in front of him and cracked his knuckles. ‘Hell of a thing doing that to a man. Think these broads took a leaf out of the Al Qaeda manual?’

As Middle Eastern expert, Clay seemed unable to think in any other terms. Tallis shrugged.

‘Not traditionally renowned for their negotiating tactics, are they?’ Clay mused. ‘Far rather chop a guy’s head off and hold it up to a shocked world than talk the talk. More theatrical,’ he snickered.

Tallis drove on, feeling weary. Global gore and violence seemed to be the twenty-first century’s new spectator sport. ‘That remark of yours about the Republicans wanting to pull out,’ he said. ‘Were you serious?’

Clay gave a low laugh. ‘You don’t have to be Republican to hold that kind of view. Most Americans think the UN is a waste of oxygen.’

Most Americans haven’t travelled outside God’s own country, Tallis thought, pulling up at a set of traffic lights. ‘Supposing the Alliance did get involved. How would that work?’

Clay rolled his large shoulders and settled himself in the seat like an actor about to deliver a masterclass to a group of young hopefuls. ‘Take the Middle East as an example. When a series of car bombs goes off we study the locations, find out where Mr Terrorist lived, which buildings he frequented, people he talked to. Most important of all, we determine who is connected to whom.

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