The Killing Ground

“Would you accept contracts on Ferguson and on Harry Salter, who is responsible for what happened to Chekov?” Volkov asked.

“Absolutely. Believe me, there are old IRA hands in London who can still do the business, bomb or bullet. The Irish quarter, Kilburn, never goes away. You want sleepers working in the city or in publishing or on some newspapers? I can supply them. The Muslims think they invented it-they only discovered it. When do you want it sorted?”

“Tonight would be fine.”

“Good God.”

“But not absolutely necessary. There is one thing you could do as soon as you like. Kill someone in Dublin. He’s an ex-agent of mine called Igor Levin. Your man Popov was his sergeant. I should warn you, he’s a highly dangerous man.”

“We eat dangerous men for breakfast.”

“Terms to be agreed in all cases.”

“Levin will be my gift to you, General, this very day.”

“I expected nothing less. We’ll do great things together.”

Fly

“I’m taking over all security services at Belov International, so you’ll be working for General Volkov again. He’s in charge of things now. Max Chekov had an unfortunate accident.”

“That’s marvelous, the General, I mean. Is there any way I can be of help?”

“You can help right now. This friend of yours, Igor Levin?”

“Ah, yes, we worked together in the GRU.”

“I’d like to have words with him. It’s a confidential matter. I might be able to throw a bit of work his way.”

“I don’t know about that. I should tell you he’s quite rich. A bit difficult.”

“Well, you know what they say in the Mafia: I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Popov agreed reluctantly. “What do I do?”

“Tell him I’d like to see him on business. Take him down to Riley’s Bar in Crown Street by the river. It’ll be closed, but just knock on the door and tell him I’ll be waiting. Have him there and you clear off. Say you’ll be at the café at the end of the street. Call him now. Go, use your mobile. I’ll see you later. I’ve things to do.” Popov gone, he murmured into his own mobile, “That you, Riley? I’m sending a disposal. Deal with him. The usual people will pick the body up.”

ALONE IN THE COMPUTER ROOM, Fly

“Ah, we know that bastard Ferguson from the old days in Belfast, Dillon too, though what the hell he’s doing mixed up with bowsers like Ferguson I’ll never know. Salter’s your average gangster. He probably started off sticking up grocery stores as a kid, then graduated to a gun in his pocket and thought he was a big man. People like that are criminals, Michael, not like us at all.”

“I’m just tapping some photos and background info into your computer. There you are. Call me when you come up with something.

There’s real money in this. A hundred thousand pounds, my word on it. Don’t screw up, Jimmy.”

LEVIN GOT THE CALL that changed everything from Mary O’Toole before Popov arrived at his apartment. She was determined to do what was right. Yes, Fly

Levin was not only grateful, he believed her. He immediately phoned Chomsky and found him in his car in the city center and told him everything.

“Are you going to go? You’re being set up, that’s obvious. And this stuff she’s told you about Dillon, the Salters, Ferguson -this is serious business,” Chomsky told him.

“As we who served in Afghanistan and Chechnya know, Sergeant, and isn’t it great? I’ve been sitting on my backside too long.” The bell went for the front door. “Sounds like Popov now,” Levin said.

“I’m in my car only five minutes away. I’ll crash the party.”

Levin opened the door and expressed surprise on seeing Popov and listened to his story with simulated interest. “I wonder what he wants? Maybe it’s something to do with a job in the firm.”

Popov said, “I told him I didn’t think you’d be interested. I mean, you know, not with your money.”

“Come in, let me finish dressing.” Levin led the way into the sitting room. “Get yourself a drink.”

He went into his bedroom, found a tie and tweed jacket, then went to his desk, standing in the bow window with the river view, opened a drawer, felt in the back and produced first one Walther, then two, both with silencers. He put one in each pocket and went back to the sitting room as the doorbell rang again, and opened the door to Chomsky, who stood there in his raincoat. Levin slipped a Walther into one of Chomsky’s pockets.

“Hello, there, you’ve just caught us. Popov and I have to meet a man called Riley-Riley’s Bar, Crown Street.”

“I was just passing, so I thought I’d check to see if you were free for lunch.”

Popov looked put out. “I’m not sure.”

“Oh, come on, it’ll be good,” Levin told him. “We can talk over old times after I’m finished with Fly

They were already down by the river, turned into a maze of streets with what looked like old warehouses lining them and came to Crown Street. Chomsky parked behind a truck. There wasn’t much choice.

“The café must be at the other end,” Levin said.

“I’m supposed to wait down there,” Popov protested.

“But we’d miss you,” Levin told him. “And here we are.”

There was a wooden door, paint peeling, shutters at the windows, a narrow alley down one side. Chomsky said, “Excuse me.” He disappeared down it.

Levin said, “Go on, open the door.”

Popov said, in a panic, “It’s locked.”

“No, it isn’t.” Levin turned the knob, opened the door and pushed Popov in.

Halfway along the alley, Chomsky found a door, opened it into a kitchen with a table, chairs, another door. He pushed it gently. Farther along at the bottom of some stairs, a man in blue overalls was holding a silenced pistol and looking toward a green curtain at the far end. There was the sound of a voice and the man fired twice, a dull thud each time. Popov came through the curtain headlong and fell on his face.

Chomsky shot the man in the left shoulder, spi

Levin checked Popov. “Our old friend seems to be dead.”

“No old friend of mine. This bastard’s had it, too. What do we do?”

“Unfortunately, shootings are common occurrence in Dublin these days. People think because of old IRA hands who can’t get out of the habit. So this, alas, will be just two more. Off we go, nice and steady up the street, and away.”

It was absolutely pouring. They got in the car, and Chomsky drove off. “Now what?”

“Back to my house to pick up a few things and dispose of the weapons.”

“Why?”

“Well, we can’t take them to London. I mean, the security people don’t like that these days, even if you fly in privately.”