Читать книгу The Black Sun - James Twining - Страница 20

Location unknown

5th January – 4.32 p.m.

Large damp patches had formed around his armpits and across his back as he leant forward on the long table and stared at the jet-black conference phone that lay in the middle of it, a small red light on one side flashing steadily.

‘What is it?’ The voice that floated up from the phone was calm and cold.

‘We’ve found him.’

‘Where? In Denmark, like we thought?’

‘No, not Cassius.’

‘Who, then?’

‘Him. The last one.’

A pause.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘Where.’

‘London. But we were too late. He’s dead.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I’ve seen the police report.’

‘And the body? Did you see the body?’

‘No. But I’ve seen the photos taken at the autopsy and a copy of the dental records. They match.’

A long silence.

‘So,’ the voice eventually sighed, ‘it is over. He was the last.’

‘No, I’m afraid it’s just the beginning.’ As he spoke, he spun the gold signet ring on his little finger. The ring’s flat upper surface was engraved with a small grid of twelve squares, one of which had been set with a lone diamond.

‘The beginning?’ the voice laughed. ‘What are you talking about? Everything is safe now. He was the only one left who knew.’

‘He was murdered. Killed in his hospital bed.’

‘He deserved a far worse death for what he had done,’ was the unfeeling response.

‘His arm was cut off.’

‘Cut off?’ The question was spat into the room. ‘Who by?’

‘Someone who knows.’

‘Impossible.’

‘Why else would they have taken it?’

Silence.

‘I will have to call the others together.’

‘That’s not all. British Intelligence is involved.’

‘I’ll call the others. We must meet and discuss this.’

‘They’re working with someone.’

‘Who? Cassius? We’ll have caught up with him before he gets any further. He’s been sniffing around this for years. He knows nothing. The same goes for all the others who’ve tried.’

‘No, not Cassius. Tom Kirk.’

‘Charles Kirk’s son? The art thief?’

‘Yes.’

‘Following in his father’s footsteps? How touching.’

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘Watch him. See where he goes, who he talks to.’

‘Do you think he could…?’

‘Never!’ the voice cut him off. ‘Too much time has gone by. The trail is too cold. Even for him.’