Headhunter Page 25

  ‘Yeah, be honest, Karl.’

  ‘You were in a situation not of your own making and you already had too much blood on your hands. Next option was a black operation and that would have happened, but at the same time Niko was making all sorts of uncomfortable noises and eventually he bore fruit. The deal was to sacrifice Viktor and then Niko would assume complete control of the family and make certain promises.’

  ‘Which were?’

  ‘To dismantle the Bashkim operation from inside. All the guy wants to do is screw himself silly, shove coke up his nose and live off the money accrued. He’s had no real part in the family business anyway and certainly doesn’t need any more cash.’

  ‘What about all those migrants waiting to come across from Africa?’

  ‘He’s killed it. No one will be coming across in boats provided by the Bashkims.’

  ‘What about the money, then … surely that’s all been collected already? What’s he going to do with that – give it to charity?’

  ‘Actually, yes. I’ve arranged a draft to Save the Children. They’ll be three million euros richer just about now from an unknown benefactor.’

  ‘You have been busy. Where is Niko now?’

  ‘On Halcyon, just about to set sail out of Grand Harbour.’

  ‘And your black ops team?

  ‘Turned around … on their way back to the States.’

  Flynn went silent.

  Donaldson said, ‘It’s over as far as you’re concerned, Steve. Viktor’s dead and Niko won’t be coming for you. Go back to your life, keep your head down, grieve for Maria, accept there’s nothing more for you to chase and go fishing.’

  Flynn ended the call, feeling cheated but also relieved. A very heavy lead weight seemed to have suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. He looked across at Molly, who smiled at him. ‘Hey, you ever been on a long sea voyage?’ he called.

  ‘Er, once went from Dover to Calais … Oh, wait a minute, that was on Eurostar.’ She laughed. Flynn liked her laugh.

  ‘Close enough,’ Flynn said. ‘Close enough.’

  Donaldson slid his cell phone into his jacket pocket. He was standing on the quayside at the gate to the jetty leading to where Halcyon was berthed. He watched the beautiful boat draw slowly and elegantly away from her moorings and motor towards the mouth of Grand Harbour.

  Niko, dressed in a loose-fitting linen shirt and trousers, stood at the rail on the lower rear deck, his arm hanging loosely around a very pretty woman dressed in a flowing kaftan.

  He waved languidly at Donaldson, who gave him a mock half-salute back.

  Then the American looked down at the cool box at his feet. He hadn’t had the nerve to look at the horror inside it – Maria Santiago’s severed head packed in ice – and wasn’t entirely sure what he was going to do with it. One thing was for sure: he wasn’t going to let Steve Flynn see it. He picked the box up and walked across to the car that was waiting to pick him up.