Алистер Маклин - Red Alert

‘I wondered when you’d get round to that.’ Karos poured himself a whisky.

‘I’ve made a lot of enemies over the years and several of them have put out contracts on my life. Two attempts have been made to kill me in the last three months alone. Fortunately Boudien was on hand to thwart them. But I can’t go on relying on Boudien to bail me out every time. I realized the only way to get the contracts lifted would be for me to “die”. That would mean starting a new life away from Corfu. But I couldn’t risk withdrawing large sums of money just prior to my “death”. It would be too suspicious. So I went into league with Calvieri. I would cover the cost of the operation in return for a fifth of the ransom money. Well, that’s how it should have worked.’

‘You’ve told us why, not how,’ Graham said.

‘How? It’s really very simple. Carlo and Tommaso Francia used to be stunt men. They know the ins and outs of the film industry. They came up with the plan. The first hundred bullets in each of the helicopter’s two machine-guns were actually blanks. I was rigged up with a series of small explosive charges hidden underneath my jacket. The charges were attached to sachets of blood. My own blood. It made it look more realistic. Boudien was in the control room with the detonator switch so all he had to do was activate the charges when Tommaso Francia opened fire. I fell off the terrace and landed on a safety net which was manned by four of my most trusted employees. He then sprayed the terrace with live rounds to keep you pinned down until the safety net had been rolled up and taken back into the house. So by the time you and Paluzzi reached the railing it looked as though I had landed on the rocks. You both thought I was dead. What better witnesses could I have had?’

‘Ingenious,’ Graham said at length. ‘But how did you know we would be there?’

‘The bank statements in Dragotti’s safe were the bait. I knew you would come sooner or later. So when Paluzzi called to say you were on your way we put the plan into action. As I said, it was really very simple.’

Karos drank the whisky in one gulp and placed the glass on top of the drinks cabinet.

‘Well, now that your curiosity’s been satisfied, we can get down to business. Contact your pilot on the radio and tell him that Boudien and I have surrendered. Tell him to put down on the terrace to pick us up. It would be too risky trying to get us to the runway.’

‘Then what?’ Sabrina challenged. ‘You’ll kill us and have the pilot fly you two to a destination of your choice, then you’ll kill him as well.’

‘That’s a little melodramatic, Miss Carver. I don’t have any reason to kill any of you, as long as you do as I say. I’m only interested in getting away from Corfu.’

‘And if I refuse?’ Graham asked.

‘Then Miss Carver will die,’ Karos replied, indicating the gun in Boudien’s hand.

Graham undipped the two-way radio from his belt, switched it on, and put it to his lips.

‘Graham to Emile, do you read me? Over.’

Sabrina was momentarily puzzled. Emile? Graham must be trying to warn Kolchinsky. But would it work?

There was a lengthy pause then the radio crackled into life.

‘Emile to Graham, I read you. Over.’ Sabrina felt a surge of relief.

‘We’ve apprehended Boudien and Karos. Request that you put down on the terrace to take them aboard. Over.’

‘Message received and understood. Am on my way. Over and out.’

‘Perfect,’ Karos said, then poured himself another whisky. ‘Are you sure you won’t join me?’

Graham and Sabrina remained silent.

‘As you wish. It just seems a pity to waste such a fine whisky. I should have given it to the Francias the last time they were here. They appreciated it.’ Karos turned the glass around thoughtfully in his hands. ‘Tommaso’s taken Carlo’s death very badly. I had to take him off the assignment. He’s become totally unreliable. All he talks about now is revenge. He’ll find you, Miss Carver. You can be sure of that.’

‘Unless I find him first,’ Sabrina retorted.

Karos pondered the thought, then shrugged and took a sip of his drink.

The silence lingered until they heard the sound of the approaching helicopter. Karos activated the door on to the terrace and ordered Graham and Sabrina to their feet.

‘What about the holdall?’ Boudien asked.

‘Bring it,’ Karos answered.

Boudien picked up the white holdall at his feet, then jabbed Graham in the back with the CZ75. ‘Put your hands on your head.’

Graham did as he was told.

‘Now walk slowly to the door. And don’t look round.’

Boudien kept his distance and followed Graham to the door. They disappeared out on to the floodlit terrace. Karos told Sabrina to put her hands on her head as well and, like Boudien, kept his distance, making it impossible for her to disarm him.

The helicopter was hovering close to the railing, facing the terrace.

Kolchinsky had been alerted by Graham’s coded warning but he couldn’t do anything until he knew they were both safe. Then he could play his own ace. But it was all a matter of timing. He had to await his moment, then he would strike.

Karos stepped out on to the terrace behind Sabrina, his face screwed up against the noise of the helicopter’s engine. He gestured for Kolchinsky to land the helicopter. Kolchinsky kept it hovering.

‘Tell him to land,’ Boudien shouted to Graham.

Graham undipped the two-way radio and tossed it into the swimming pool.

Boudien hit Graham on the back of the head with the pistol butt. Graham stumbled forward but Boudien locked his arm around his throat before he could fall and pressed the CZ75 into his neck.

Kolchinsky, who was wearing an integrated helmet and display sighting system, turned his head towards the lift at the other end of the terrace to aim the single missile in the pod on the side of the helicopter. He fired. The lift, and part of the wall, disintegrated in a mass of glass, bricks and mortar which rained down on the terrace.

Sabrina was the first to her feet and grabbed the Beretta which Karos had dropped in his panic to find cover. She aimed it at Karos, who was cowering in the entrance to the lounge. He slowly stood up and raised his hands above his head.

‘Drop the gun!’ Boudien snapped behind her.

She glanced at Boudien, the Beretta still trained on Karos. Boudien, with blood streaming down his face from a gash on his forehead, held the CZ75 on the motionless Graham who lay face down on the terrace. She knew that by surrendering her gun she would be breaking a fundamental UNACO principle, giving in to the demands of a criminal. But if she didn’t, Boudien would kill Graham. She had no choice. Karos grabbed the gun from her hand and shoved her towards a set of stairs which led down to the garage at the foot of the house. Graham groaned and Boudien reached down to haul him to his feet. Graham, who had been feigning concussion, lashed out with his fist, catching Boudien on the side of the face. Boudien grabbed him as he tried to stand up and they both tumbled into the swimming pool, creating a cascade of spray.

Sabrina was about to swing round on Karos when she saw the King Cobra in the shadows at the top of the stairs. It was at least fifteen feet in length. And it was raised up, its hooded head swaying mesmerizingly from side to side. Another few feet and it would be within striking distance. She pretended to stumble, then spun round and grabbed Karos’s arm, propelling him towards the stairs. He saw the snake at the last moment. Its head shot forward, its fangs sinking into his leg. Sabrina remained motionless, ignoring Karos’s pleading cries for help. The snake was still within striking distance. All she could do was wait.