The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online Page B

H E K I L L I N G G R O U N D
    43
    only a few minutes later, she could see the yellow van pause across the road as Abu got out and came across and the van moved away and parked under the trees.
    Greta nodded. Better to let Abu make a forced entrance. Information on Caspar Rashid? That must be what he was after. She listened to the sudden crash of a pantry window, then retreated to the master bedroom and concealed herself in the refuge.
    She could hear him moving around and finally entering the bedroom. Then he used his mobile phone and spoke in Arabic to Jamal.
    Thanks to her service in Iraq, she spoke fair Arabic herself.
    “There’s no one here. No, wait for me, you have your orders. I’m going to search the study, see if I can find anything for Professor Khan.
    Just stay by the canal.”
    Greta took her Walther from the waist holster and twisted the Carswell silencer on the muzzle. She stepped out into the corridor. He was toward the far end, a pistol hanging in his right hand.
    “Surprise, surprise,” she said softly in Arabic. “Nice of you to call. Dr.
    Rashid is not at home, but I’m her minder.”
    He swung round, thunderstruck, and for a moment seemed dazed.
    She continued in English. “Caspar Rashid isn’t at home, either: we’ve got him, which must make you Army of God people mad as hell. And who’s Professor Khan?”
    It was like an explosion, his face contorted, his hand started to lift, and she shot him between the eyes, a dull thud, and he fell backward, dead instantly.
    She followed procedure as she had been taught, got through to Roper on her Codex Four.
    “Where are you? What’s up?”
    “I’ve got a disposal. I’m at the Rashid house alone. The Abu boy broke in armed. I’d no choice.”
    “They’ll be on their way immediately. He’ll be six pounds of gray ash at the crematorium in a matter of hours.”
    “Should I tell her when I see her at the hospital?”

    44

J A C K H I G G I N S
    “If I judge her right, no. She’s not like us. She’s one of the good people. Corpses aren’t part of her world.”
    T H E Y W E R E E X C E L L E N T , the men in dark suits, they might have been undertakers all their lives. Abu’s head was wrapped, he was body-bagged, and one of the men cleaned the corridor, which luckily was var-nished wood.
    “You’d hardly notice, Major.” He produced a throw rug and laid it down. “There you are.”
    She saw them out, then walked down the track beside the canal.
    Jamal was sitting behind the wheel and she leaned down.
    He started violently and she tapped the Walther on the van. “Don’t try anything,” she said in Arabic. “The Army of God is one man down.
    I’ve shot Abu dead and my people have taken him away. If he’s lucky, all those virgins are waiting in Paradise; if not, you’ve all been sold a bill of goods.”
    “But who are you?” he asked in English.
    “British intelligence. And I’ve got a message for you to deliver. Tell your boss, Professor Khan, we’re on to him. His little army is out of business, starting today, or you’ll all be following in Abu’s footsteps. Is that clear?”
    Jamal said nothing, but his forehead was sweating. Greta turned and walked away, the engine started up behind her and she heard the van squeal off.
    H E R C O D E X W E N T and Roper said, “We’re all set. We even replaced the window and swept up the glass, so there should be no sign of what went on. You okay on your end?”
    “Yes. Tell me, Roper, does the name of a Professor Khan mean anything to you? It certainly did to Abu and Jamal the van driver.”
    “No, it doesn’t ring a bell.”

T H E K I L L I N G G R O U N D
    45
    “I think if you put said professor through the wringer, you might get a surprise.”
    “I might just do that.”
    Which he did and immediately opened an incredible can of worms.
    W H E N M O L L Y R A S H I D came out of the hospital, it was close to eight o’clock and it was wet and miserable out. She slid into the car.