Jack Higgins - Day of Reckoning

lowed. They stood, looking down.

'Well, there you go, Blake. He's paid the price. You've got your revenge now.'

Blake said, 'Not really. Fox gave the order, but Falcone boasted to me that it was he and Russo who killed my wife.' 'And where are they?' Billy asked.

'Come with me and I'll show you,' Dillon said.

He went and opened the front door and stood at the top of the steps, and Billy and Blake followed. A moment later, there was the sound of an aircraft engine as a plane passed over.

'There they are, Billy: Falcone and Russo getting out while they still can.'

As they turned to the door, an RAF Land Rover drove into the courtyard, Hannah Bernstein at the wheel and Ferguson and Harry Salter in the rear.

Standing by the fire in the hall, Harry Salter said, 'Are you okay, Billy?'

'He's better than okay,' Dillon said. 'Fox shot me in the back twice. Only my flak jacket saved me, and Billy blew the bastard away.' He turned. 'That's three, Billy, you're an ace.'

'So what happens now, sir?' Hannah Bernstein asked. 'Shall I notify the Cornwall constabulary?'

'I think not,' Ferguson said. 'Leave this for the caretaker to discover. Fox and these other two rogues are on Scotland Yard's intelligence information computer. This whole thing is obviously a Mafia feud, therefore it's nothing to do with us.'

'But, sir,' Hannah said.

'Superintendent, be sensible. That would be the best way of handling it, so don't let's argue. Now let's get out of here and back to St Just.'

On the Golden Eagle, Falcone called Don Marco on his mobile. The Don was about to board his Gulfstream in New York.

Aldo, what news do you have for me?'

'Terrible, Don Marco. How can I tell you?'

Don Marco said, 'By getting on with it.'

Afterwards he said, 'Poor Jack, so stupid, so headstrong.' 'What shall I do, Signore?'

'Nothing at the moment. There is obviously a matter of family honour here, but we'll discuss that later when I'm in London.'

'As you say, Don Marco.'

On board the Gulfstream bearing Dillon and the others to Farley Field, Ferguson's mobile sounded. He hesitated, then passed it to Dillon.

'I think you need to deal with this.'

Roper said, 'I had a call from Hannah, so I know what's gone down. I'm glad you're still with us.'

'So am V

'I've trawled the Solazzo family affairs. The Golden Eagle just landed at Bardsey, with two passengers, Falcone and Russo.'

'Anything else?'

'Well, you'll love this. Don Marco Solazzo is en route from New York in one of the family Gulfstreams. Booked in at the Dorchester.'

Dillon laughed. 'Well, that really is going to make it old home week,' and he switched off.

LONDON

There was fog at Heathrow airport, and Don Marco's Gulfstream was diverted to Shannon in Ireland. It was several hours before it was once again in the air. It eventually landed in the private aircraft section at Heathrow, where Falcone and Russo waited with the Don's favourite car, a Bentley.

Falcone kissed the Don's hand. 'My condolences, Don Marco. Everything that could be done was done.'

'You don't need to tell me, Aldo. Let's get going, then we speak.'

Russo did the driving. Don Marco said, 'A little brandy, Aldo.'

Falcone opened the small bar in the rear of the Bentley,found the right bottle and a glass. Don Marco sipped a little and nodded. 'Fine, so now tell me — tell me everything.'

Later, in the Oliver Messel suite at the Dorchester, he stood at the open French window, rain drifting across the Mayfair rooftops to his terrace.

'Get me a cigar,' he told Falcone. 'In the crocodile case.'

Falcone nodded to Russo, who quickly opened the case that was on the sideboard. He took out a Romeo and Julietta Havana, clipped the end, and gave it to Falcone, who warmed it with a large match and passed it to the old man. Don Marco lit up.

'Jack was stupid, Jack was greedy and headstrong, but Jack was also my nephew. Half of him was Solazzo, flesh and blood. All men are a mixture of things, Aldo.'

Rain swept across the roofs with considerable force. The curtains billowed and Don Marco nodded.

'Jack could be foolish. He was certainly a thief, whatever you mean by that. But he was also a war hero and served his country.'

'We all know what Signor Fox was,' Aldo said.

'And we all know how he ended, on his face at the hands of these people. This Dillon, Johnson, Brigadier Ferguson.' The Don turned, not even angry. 'There is a matter of honour here. A debt must be paid. Money isn't everything in this world, Aldo.'

'Of course, Don Marco.'

The old man bit on the cigar, took out his wallet, and extracted a card that carried some phone numbers.

'I think the third one is Ferguson's office at the Ministry of Defence. Try it.'

It was two-thirty at the Dark Man and they were all there in the end booth, Harry and Billy, Baxter and Hall against the wall, Dillon and Blake, Ferguson and Hannah.

Hannah's mobile rang and she answered. 'All right, tell me.' She switched off. 'Priority intelligence at Scotland Yard, keeping me informed. It seems there were three killings in Cornwall, all known members of the Mafia.'

'Well, there you are,' Dillon said.

Billy was laughing. 'Surprise, surprise.'

Harry said, 'Here now, you watch it doesn't go to your head.'

'Billy the Kid,' Dillon said. 'In the Battle of Britain, he'd have earned a DFC.'

Dora brought a bottle of Bollinger and glasses on a tray, thumbed off the cork and poured. Billy said, 'That's it, then.'

'Not really, Billy.' Dillon took a glass. 'I mean, why is good old Don Marco Solazzo flying to London? To see his doctor, to get measured for a new suit in Savile Row?' He shook his head. 'Vendetta, Billy. Kill'one of our own, we kill you.'

Harry said, 'You think that?'

'I think that,' Blake said.

'So it isn't over?' Harry said.

'Last act.' Dillon shrugged. 'You'd need Shakespeare to write it.'

'He's not available, he's bleeding dead,' Billy told him.

It was then that Ferguson's mobile rang. He listened, then switched off. 'The Ministry of Defence. Don Marco Solazzo wanting a word. He's at the Dorchester.' He turned to Hannah. 'Would you mind getting him for me, Superintendent?'

Dora brought her the bar phone, and Hannah called the Dorchester and asked for the Don.

'Solazzo here.'

'I have Brigadier Ferguson for you.'

She passed the phone to Ferguson, who switched to audio so they could all listen. 'What a surprise.'

'I doubt that, Brigadier.'

'Condolences on the death of your nephew.'

'And congratulations to Dillon, I suppose?'

'Not at all. Your nephew was disposed of by an East End gangster from a family that isn't in the least intimidated by the Mafia.'

'Don't let us play games, Ferguson. This affair has gone on long enough, and my nephew is dead. I think it's time for us to meet and arrange a compromise.'

'That sounds sensible. When do you suggest?'

The old man was tranquil. 'That's up to you, but I think it should be just the two of us. I don't want Dillon and Johnson there.'

'I'll call back.'

Hannah Bernstein said, 'He's lying, sir.'

'Of course.' He turned to Dillon. 'Well?'

'He said he didn't want me and Johnson there. That means he does. If he knew Billy had killed Jack Fox, he'd want him there. This is a Mafia thing. Honour, family, revenge. He'll kill us all if he can. It's funny. We talk capitalistic values in society, but this kind of thing is the ultimate example of money being of no value.'

'So what are we talking about here?'

It was Blake who answered. 'I'd say a face-to-face meet where he'll have his people, obviously Falcone and Russo, and he'll take it for granted that you'll do the same. Not that he'll think I'm much help, but there's Dillon, and who knows.'