Death Run by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online Page A

straw-coloured liquid. “Like the Banker, no one knows who he really is, what his name might be. But the Banker, one gets the impression, has some morals. He never deals with terrorists or gets involved with the businesses he handles. He charges a fair price for his services. Up until now he has been efficient and reliable.”
    â€œAnd now you want your money back,” Rich said.
    Ralph laughed. “It would be nice. But no, that isn’t really an issue. Neither Scevola nor I had very much money involved. Yes, the Banker handled matters for us. Now the Tiger, again, is different.”
    â€œSo tell us about the Tiger,” Dad said. “I’ve heard the stories, of course. But what’s the truth?”
    â€œAlways a good question,” Ralph conceded. “The Tiger – where to begin? Perhaps if I told you that the most unpleasant, the most violent, the most outrageous stories that you might have heard are the most likely to be true. Or that if you have ever heard anything good or redeeming about the Tiger, then forget it.”
    â€œHe’s a gangster?” Rich asked, glancing quickly at Ralph.
    Ralph caught the look and laughed. “Nothing so honest.”
    â€œHe’s an investor,” Dad said. “He invests money in criminal activity. Organised crime. Blackmail rackets. People trafficking and slavery. Arms sales and mercenaries. And terrorism. Thought to be British or at least European. He started out as an investor, or so it’s said. Came from a business background and applied his knowledge and talent to crime.”
    â€œBut you said the Banker kept away from all that,” Jade reminded them.
    â€œThe Tiger is the exception.”
    â€œWhy?” Rich asked.
    â€œBecause he used the Banker right from the start. Didn’t want to dirty his hands, wanted to keep one step removed from the actual business of crime. For this reason, even back then, he kept the Banker at arm’s length. Not even the Banker has ever met the Tiger – he deals always through intermediaries. It was later, when the banker already worked for him, that the Tiger expanded his reach into the less pleasant activities.”
    â€œ Even less pleasant,” Jade qualified.
    Ralph raised his glass to her, conceding the point. “And having worked for the Tiger, the Banker knewthat he couldn’t step away. He knew what would happen to him if he did. The Tiger is probably the only one of his clients who knew who the Banker really was, from the old days when they were both starting out. It may be because of the Tiger that the Banker finally decided to retire.”
    â€œNot an easy job to retire from,” Dad pointed out. “Which is why he made the death run.”
    â€œThe what?” Jade asked.
    â€œDisappeared,” Ralph said. “Started a new life. Risky, but if you pull it off it can be worth it. The death run is the closest some of us get to a retirement plan. But somehow the Tiger found out what the Banker was planning and had him brought to Mont Passat.”
    â€œYou want to take the story from there, Dad?” Jade raised her eyebrows.
    He shrugged. “Not a lot to tell. OK, so I did a bit of business in Mont Passat. That was why Ardman sent us there. I wasn’t going to tell you and spoil our break, but it was fairly clear it was a condition of the holiday that I get the Banker away from Mont Passat.”
    â€œSo you went into the casino, all guns blazing,” Rich said.
    Dad smiled. “Hardly. I walked him out and put him in a car.”
    â€œAnd the drinking and gambling?” Jade said.
    â€œPart of my cover. Had to do it.” He grinned. “It was hell, you know.”
    â€œOh, I know,” said Jade sarcastically. “We saw the security footage.”
    â€œAnd that,” Ralph said, “is why you are here.”
    â€œOh?” Dad held out his glass for more wine. “I haven’t seen them, but the