Deception by Peter Burns - HTML preview

EPILOGUE

‘I will get this’ said Adrian Smith in an assuming manner. He called over the waitress in the airport lounge.

He pointed to the four drinks on the table and a few seconds later four drinks were ushered over to him. He gave the young girl twenty pounds and then quickly dismissed her.

A few minutes later, there was a call for their flight and all four men escorted by several mean looking men walked off to their private entrance where their small jet lay waiting for them to fly back to London.

Adrian Smith beckoned Tony and Norman forward while a ‘personal assistant’ followed laden with files jammed into a large black folder.

As they neared the door all four men stopped as news came on reporting on the latest developments in Chinese – European relationships. All four men smiled in knowledge that the plan had worked out.

They were happy that Chinese forces had withdrawn the hand of friendship in the Middle East and Chinese and NATO forces were now activity involved in routing out Islamic groups across Afghanistan, Iraq, Tibet and North West Pakistan.

Furthermore, draconian legislation had been passed outlawing several groups in England and Wales, increasing stop and search provisions and the ability to lock people up for up to 80 days if they were suspected of any terrorism links.

‘Well done everyone’ said Adrian in a tone that made Tony and Norman feel as though his team had discovered the cure for cancer.

Norman made some sort of confused noise that sounded as though he was thanking Adrian for passing him the water at a dining table.

Then as they walked out across the runway all four men grimaced as a North Atlantic breeze blew across their faces.

For some reason Tony started to think about Susan and her sudden departure. She had left a note to say this life was not for her as neither of them could be happy living a life of pretence. She was off to discover tranquillity and serenity helping run food kitchens in Malawi. She knew it would be tough but she wanted to give something back to help those who were less fortunate.

Tony though thought this was more of an irritant and could think of nothing more than having to wait on a bunch of crude harsh people riddled with the after-effects of poverty. He thought her life would not only now be mediocre it would be a massive upheaval in his life too.

He decided when he got back to London he would hitch up with one of the new generation of young women joining MI6 and take his picking from there.

Leaving the crowds behind, the four men walked across the runway towards their aircraft that was preparing to take off. The men could see the captain preparing the aircraft as they boarded the aircraft.

Once inside a very tall blond airhostess welcomed them. Each man began to walk through the interior of aircraft. Selecting a seat each they all sat down in four tan leather seats.

Adrian was the first to sit down and made himself comfortable in one of the seats. With its beige sidewalls, Cream headliner and Beige carpet he immediately pulled out one of those dual fold-down executive tables with its leather inserts covered in high gloss veneer. It looked like something out of Dallas or Dynasty. With all men seated, the tall leggy blond hostess took everyone’s order and then moved off towards mirrored aft dividers and sliding doors. A few minutes later the engines increased their speed and the captain announced over the radio that they were taking off. 

Once airborne Adrian pulled out the Washington Post. Reading the headline a great smile spread across his face as he read about Abdulla Megahit was being transferred from Clairvaux Prison to the UK. At last, they had the bastard.

He looked at his watch closed his eyes and fell asleep dreaming of the great plaudits he would achieve from the Prime Minister once he got home.

A few hours later Adrian woke from his slumber feeling sick. Really sick. A fit of coughing was followed by a multitude of aches and pains. As he came around he realised that he was no longer on the airplane sat in his comfortable seat but he was strapped to a chair next to Norman and Tony. Both men looked in a sorry state.

“Welcome Mr Smith, did you enjoy your little nap”

Before his eyes stood Susan.

“I would like you to watch this TV programme, I think you will find this very interesting. As will your two friends Norman and Tony.”

 The TV programme started.

Martin Brooks smiled at the camera sat next to the Prime Minster.

‘Prime Minister Freeman could I start by going back to that extraordinary moment a yesterday when you knew that you had found out that MI5 and MI6 had been colluding together to assassinate the premier of China. ….’

A few minutes later Susan walked up to the three men and told them that they would be leaving here dead or they would be going to prison. The question they needed to answer was would they want to die honourable or be castrated by the legal system and the media.

She then placed the gun in Adrian’s hand.

‘It’s your call minister’ she said…..

And then she left

A few seconds later three shots echoed through the deserted warehouse where the three men were being held.