Page 27

CHAPTER 27

NICK

UK Terror Threat at Highest Level Since 9/11

The attack in Moscow shows the threat from ISIS is as high as ever

Terrorist attacks “very likely” in the UAE, the foreign office warns

The headlines read like the world is going to hell.

I click on another news article about Turkey tying support for Sweden’s entry to NATO to goals on security.

Yeah, right. It’s tied to a little something called greed. Everybody wants something.

There’s a knock at the door, and I smile because the woman in the doorway brightens everything, even dismal news.

“You’ve got a visitor.”

“Bloody hell. What now?”

“He’s at the gate. Don’t worry. They followed your rules. You weren’t picking up, so Ash came to the front door. Your guest is peeved. Says he’s a business partner.”

Interesting. All of those want me dead these days, if I’m to believe the so-called messenger.

One drone sent. Quiet for days. What fresh hell awaits?

I click on a small monitor that’s used solely for the security network. I don’t use it for anything else as a security protocol.

The dark-haired Asian man in spectacles and a suit chats with the guard. The monitor doesn’t offer a crystal-clear view, but it’s Jiang Tu.

I ring down to the gate.

“Check the vehicle for explosives. Check under the carriage and trunk. If it’s clear, let him in.”

In the video, a guard comes around the car with a mirror on a stick to check the undercarriage. The black glass window on the limousine rolls down, and another guard circles the vehicle, peering inside. I can’t hear what’s being said, but he doesn’t appear to be fighting my men. I suppose he wouldn’t. He’s aware there’s a target placed on me.

Now, the question is, did he come here to take me out himself? He’s trained in Eastern martial arts.

I open my desk drawer and load my handgun.

“Do you have one for me?”

I stand and tuck the loaded weapon into the back of my trousers and slip on my suit jacket.

At a minimum, there’s a driver with Jiang. The retail magnate has an official net worth in excess of a hundred billion, but his unofficial net worth is likely double. If he wanted to end me, he’d hire.

Scarlet stretches her arm out, palm up as if asking for a weapon. I seize her hand and press my lips to her palm.

With her other hand, she fists my cock through my trousers.

“Let’s keep this gun safe. Where’s another one I can hold on to?”

She is perfection.

“Stop grinning and get me a pistol.”

On the monitor screen, the gate opens.

I call down to the gate. “Send a couple of men up with him. And loop a team behind the house, one on the roof.”

I step past Scarlet, slapping my palm against her bum as I do, and open a long drawer with a variety of handguns. She’s got a wee pistol in her room somewhere, but what’s mine is hers.

“Choose your favorite.”

She lifts a small Remington and checks the chamber.

“Bullets?”

“The drawer below,” I answer, then pause at the door on the way out. “Stay back. Until I understand his purpose, I’d rather he not know you’re here.”

Jiang resides mostly in Shanghai, but given the government watches over him closely, it’s not surprising he’d choose to make a personal visit if he has something valuable to communicate.

She blows me a kiss, and the grin doesn’t come off my face as I stand in the front, awaiting Jiang Tu.

The driver opens the door, and Jiang’s jet-black, unruly mop appears.

As he exits the vehicle, I ask, “What brings you to my gin joint?”

He looks to the roofline. “You’ve got protection?”

“Come to kill me?”

He lifts his shaded spectacles and shakes his head. A smile slowly spreads.

“No. But you’re the only one on the outs at the moment, and therefore the only one I can trust.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can we go in? Logically, I’m aware your property is secure, but I feel exposed.”

“The safest place on the property is in the woods. Trees provide cover. Drones can’t get through.”

“I’m an urban child. I’ll take my chances in an architectural structure.” He gestures to the stone building. “Nice place.”

“You forget I’ve visited your spot in Singapore.” It’s not his permanent residence, but it makes my place look like a poverty-stricken hole. “Do you play pool?”

“If I must,” he says. “I prefer chess.”

“Nah. I want to drink. Chess is a sober man’s game.”

He follows me through the house to the billiard room.

“You know, Nick, I have a couple of designers in London. I’ll send them your way.”

“Wallpaper isn’t my primary concern at the moment.”

When I open the door to the billiard room, I scan the area first, confirm Scarlet isn’t in here, and lead him in.

“What’s your poison?”

“Sparkling water.”

“Seriously?”

“Drink away. I don’t care. But I’ve got thirty minutes and then I’m off to a private tarmac.”

I pop the top on a Pellegrino, give it to him with a glass, then sink into the sofa.

“Let’s hear it.”

“Someone within the alliance is changing course.”

“Explain.”

“Do you remember the stolen cache of chemical weapons?”

“Did you find out who did it?”

“I’ve been looking into it since you called me about the theft. Took some digging, but the trail leads back to the syndicate.”

“That’s not right.”

I mentally run through the agendas that coalesced in the syndicate. Finance-minded people, the lot of them. We convened to maintain a modicum of stability and to influence fiscal and regulatory policy as necessary. If a third world war ignites, markets go to shit.

“I have a theory,” Jiang says.

“Oh, well…that proves it.”

“I flew halfway around the world to discuss this with you. In my car, I have a secure device with the evidence I’ve gathered.”

“Why’d you leave it in the vehicle?”

“Because if I exited with a bag, you’d have held me at gunpoint, and that’s not a way to start this conversation.”

“Noted.”

“What it comes down to is this. What happened in the EU recently? The EMP attack?”

“Right?”

“And the transatlantic wire cutting?”

I nod.

“Tests. Preparing to disable the EU and the United States for an extended period.”

“Why?”

“To allow the authoritarian regimes to take over.”

“I don’t buy it. That’s completely against the syndicate’s directive.”

“No, it’s not.” He stands and paces back and forth in front of the hearth. “I’ve thought about this. Think back to Davos. The philosophical discussions between socialism, communism, and democracy.”

“We agreed maintaining order would be the best way to ensure stable markets. None of us are pro-Russia or pro-China.” I wouldn’t have joined the blasted group if they’d been remotely pro-Russia. Fuck Putin and his narcissistic blowhole.

“No. It’s not Russia or China.”

“North Korea?”

He chuckles.

“Iran?”

“Please. No, I think authoritarian governments may benefit initially from a world adjustment. NATO disbanded. A weak United States government and Western Europe give authoritarian governments free rein for expansion. But I don’t think that’s the reason for the syndicate’s strategic shift.”

“All right. Get on with it. What’s your theory?”

“I believe a small number with outsized influence are maneuvering the chessboard, and many of our members are too busy to notice.”

“Explain that.”

“Well, for one, the last several weeks, all of our communications have been about you. By the way, you have a few friends.”

“Good to know.”

“Geoff Mansueto from the US, Pearson from Canada, and Droga from Ireland. They all refused to approve the initiative to remove you from the syndicate.”

“And you?”

“I missed the roll call.”

“Why?”

“Because they didn’t have the votes to excommunicate you, and I preferred to keep my stance private.” He rests an arm on the mantle. “Xi has requested a meeting.”

Right. We all understand Xi will always take priority if Jiang wishes to continue breathing.

“Other than kicking me to the curb, what are they planning?”

“That’s the thing. If they were serious about assassinating you, you’d be gone. Someone is looking to get us focused on a noncompliant member while they pull off a plan that would never be met with approval.”

“Because an attack like you’re describing would kill the markets.”

“Precisely. But I believe whoever is behind this has a long-term strategy.”

“Does your theory include who these someones are?”

“The Moores. Undoubtedly. Halston led the charge against you. He’s constantly messaging. Putting everything in writing. It’s unwise. That’s another reason I suspect him. He’s smarter than that. It’s part of his plan.”

Bloody bastard.

“Dorian?”

“Absent.”

Doesn’t mean he doesn’t support his father’s machinations.

“What about Amir?”

“Amir Nooyi voted to keep you in, but he also voted against influencing the investigation into Titan Shipping. He wants it to proceed.”

“They’re competitors. He’s hoping to swoop in and buy the company at a discounted rate.”

“Agree. Amir’s allegiance is transparent. His goals are short-term. That’s why I don’t believe he’s the culprit.”

After what he did with my sister, he’s a rat bastard. His vote is immaterial.

“So, if I’m hearing you correctly, you believe someone has a monstrous plan, and you believe those someones are Halston and Dorian Moore. Two Americans who have a tremendous amount to lose if the United States goes dark. Not to mention, sources claim Dorian is in consideration for the next chief of staff. The current blowhard is at odds with the president, and rumors abound he won’t make it through the term. Do I have all that right?”

“Perhaps Dorian cares more about growing Zenith than politics. Think about it. If the world order is disbanded, if existing satellites are wiped and he’s prepared, he stands to have customers worldwide with skyrocketing defense budgets.”

That’s an interesting point. In university, Dorian recoiled at the idea of a political life. But his father harbored hopes for him. If Dorian is in the administration as chief of staff, and there’s an attack, martial law could be declared. How would the Moores benefit?

“An attack is imminent. Multiple sources have validated the intel. I believe someone within the syndicate is orchestrating the plan, so I’m coming to you.”

“The one member who’s clearly not behind it?”

“Precisely.”

“What about the others?” His blank expression says he’s not following. “Manseuto, Pearson, Droga? Why not go to them? They still have sway.”

“Voting against your excommunication means they are less likely to be in on it, but with twisted logic, who knows? They might have voted to keep you in because they wanted to scapegoat you. Until about a month ago, if anyone within our network wanted to buy weapons of any sort, they’d come to you, right?”

“Did someone fill my role?”

“There are obviously arms dealers. No one is offering a syndicate discount. Halston’s putting together a replacement.”

“And that supports your theory. When we had a master negotiator, we had a handle on the black market. And we’re kept abreast of military expenditures from inside sources. If Halston is behind this plan, then he’d want access to the intel?”

He nods. “I might not have it all right. But I’m telling you, my gut says it’s one of our own behind this. This business with you might not have been a part of the original plan, but the guilty party is simply playing the hand to their advantage.”

“I agree.” I’d tell Jiang about the mysterious message alerting me to Leo being a mole, but that would require admitting Leo was a mole.

“There’s a limit to what I can do. China reads every email. I get around it, but I’m not immediately available. If you need, I have a couple of squads right here in merry old England. At your disposal. I’ll leave you a number.”

“I have resources, too.”

“Better not rely too heavily on the Interpol chaps. You need someone who isn’t bound by laws and directives.”

Bloody hell. How does he know about Interpol?

“I’ve got someone,” I say.

“Really? Your name is shit at the moment.”

“I’ve got someone.”

“I’m going to be honest with you.” Jiang crosses an ankle over his knee. “This one stinks.”

“If all your theories are correct, your country comes out ahead if the plan succeeds. Why are you interfering?”

“When I joined the syndicate, I didn’t join to make China stronger. Quite the opposite. I don’t hold any hope I’ll see the regime in China fall in my lifetime, but I can certainly use my leverage to prevent them from growing stronger. If I’d thought the syndicate would veer…” His words trail.

“To quote Thomas Paine, 'No group of men without accountability can be trusted.’”

“It’s one or two.” He’s thoughtful. “And the rest are too oblivious or self-absorbed to notice what’s happening beneath their noses.”