Rogue by James Swallow

Author:James Swallow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

FOURTEEN

‘You made the intelligent choice, Henri.’

McFarlane’s assistant stepped up to walk alongside Delancort.

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

Delancort quickened his pace up the wide spiral staircase leading to the Rubicon tower’s apartment levels.

Finlay showed an expression that he seemed to think was friendly.

‘It’s not easy to do what we do, is it? Be the confidant, the aide-de-camp? They expect our loyalty.’

‘And who are you loyal to?’

Delancort cut him dead with his waspish retort.

A few steps behind them, Lau and one of his black-jacketed thugs were following, but the old man moved with effort and it slowed him down. Lau and his men couldn’t hear the exchange going on ahead of them.

‘I put my employer first.’ Finlay’s fake emotion dropped off his face. ‘Don’t you?’

‘I suppose that depends who exactly is writing your cheques.’ He shook his head. ‘Why are you even here?’

‘To keep an eye out.’

Finlay gave an arch sniff as they entered the next atrium, and gestured towards Solomon’s executive rooms.

‘He’s in there,’ he told Lau. ‘Just where you left him.’

Delancort saw another black-jacket standing in front of the door to Solomon’s apartment. The man had a canine look about him, and he was holding a gun out and ready in his right hand, his arms crossed before him.

‘Where are the police?’ said Delancort, but he already knew the answer.

They were elsewhere because Lau didn’t want Monaco law enforcement to see what was happening.

‘How does the server key operate?’ Lau was a little out of breath, but his tone was severe. ‘Explain it to me.’

‘An electronic card.’ Delancort knew there was no point in refusing or delaying his reply. ‘It enters a code, it reads my thumbprint. Then there is a voice authentication.’

‘You and Ekko must both do this?’ He nodded, and Lau pursed his lips in thought. ‘I will need to persuade him.’

The man guarding the door stepped aside as they approached, and Lau led the way in, his cane tapping across the floor.

Solomon rose from where he was seated in the middle of the open living room, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.

‘Ah.’ He took in Delancort’s face with a curious expression. ‘It is done?’

‘You’re out of a job, Mr Solomon.’ Finlay couldn’t help himself, laying on a little smirk with the pronouncement. ‘The board voted.’

‘Of course they did.’ Solomon kept his eyes on Delancort. ‘Steps had to be taken.’

Lau halted by a wall, idly examining a Xhosa wood carving.

‘I want your Grey Record, Ekko. Surrender it.’

‘You know I will refuse.’

‘And you know I can find ways to compel you.’ Lau cast around, his gaze finding McFarlane’s assistant. ‘Are you going to make me prove it?’

For the first time, Delancort understood why Finlay was really there. Lau had to keep Delancort intact to use his key card, but the haughty Scot had no such protection. One of the black-jackets reached inside his coat and came back with a hand knife with a wide, spade-like blade.

Finlay blinked. He had yet to catch on.

‘You believe you hold the advantage, but you do not,’ said Solomon.

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