Chapter Nine
Opening the briefcase, Donovan unzipped a compartment, withdrew a red cellphone along with a small metal box and called 999.
“What is your—”
“My name is Bjorn, I am on holiday,” Donovan exclaimed breathlessly in a thick Norwegian accent. “In the trees North of Elsworth Village are men with guns holding a boy. It is just past the first sharp bend on the left. Please, be quick.”
Immediately ending the call, Donovan opened the phone, removed the SIM card and slid it through a slot into the metal box.
“But, Donovan, even if that thing destroys the SIM card can’t they trace the phone?”
“Nope. There are a number of ways to prevent tracking, you just have to know what they are.”
“My God. You’re James Bond.”
“I taught the man everything he knows,” Donovan quippeid with a grin. “Now I have to call Sam.”
“Wait….”
“Why?”
“Sorry, but I need a hug. A big one.”
“I thought you loved this stuff. You said you’re an adrenalin junkie.”
“I am, but—uh—seeing that gun pointed at that kid’s head—sorry—I can’t stop shaking.”
“No, I’m sorry,” he replied, lowering his voice and leaning across the console. “Sometimes I forget you’re not Superwoman.”
As he wrapped his arms around her as best he could, she buried her head in his shoulder and let out a heavy sigh.
“At the trauma ward I dealt with some pretty gruesome stuff,” she mumbled, “but that was different. Even hidden behind those rocks I could feel his terror. Those people are monsters.”
“And we’ll get them,” he promised as he pulled back. “You’ll have the satisfaction of seeing them hauled away and locked up.”
“Alexi Koslov wasn’t.”
“True, but men like him live in their own kind of hell. Their enemies are like rabid dogs and they’re always threatening.”
“I hope so.”
“Feel better?”
“A bit, but I really need to be in bed with you.”
“I second that, and you will be soon.”
* * *
During the drive to Hawthorne Hall Jimmy had been afraid to speak. His minder looked like an evil warlord, and his physical appearance matched his despicable deeds. He wasn’t just powerfully built, he had a scar over his lip that gave him a permanent sneer, and his eyes were frighteningly, icy blue. But as they approached the stately home and Jimmy saw the blazing lights he felt a ripple of relief. It would be impossible to enter the grounds.
“Uh…I don’t think we can…”
“You’re not here to fucking think,” the brute barked. “Pull over.”
As Jimmy rolled to a stop he continued staring at the house. There were only two possible explanations. Either Lord Hawthorne knew the painting had been taken from the basement and was taking extra security measures, or he’d been warned he was about to have unwelcome visitors. If that was the case, it meant someone had witnessed the horrendous scene in the woods. Though the thought was reassuring it was also unsettling. Who could have been there, and why?
“Has it ever been lit up like that before?” Oleg demanded, breaking into his thoughts.
“Yes, many times,” Jimmy lied. “Lord Hawthorne has been doing that for a while. I was told he can be paranoid.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you say something before we came here?”
“I was freaking out! It didn’t even occur to me!”
“Fucking moron,” the goon grunted as he snatched up his phone and touched the screen. “Hey, boss, we can’t get in. Lights are everywhere. It’s like a fucking football field. No shadows, no cover anyplace. I’ll stay in the area until you call me back. We can always try again tomorrow. Okay, moron,” Oleg grunted as he ended the call, “we’re going to your place and staying there until I get my orders.”
Jimmy was elated. Once in his humble cottage he might have a chance to get the better of the ugly brute. But keeping a straight face, he started up the sleek, black Mercedes SUV and drove slowly down the road.
* * *
Donovan and Phoebe were still locked in each other’s arms when the phone rang. Glancing at the screen and seeing Peter’s name, he sat back and accepted the call.
“Hello, Peter, how is everything?”
“Donovan your plan worked! They didn’t even leave their car!”
“Are you sure it was them?’
“I was watching the monitors. When I saw someone stop across the street I zoomed in on the windshield. I recognized Jimmy Pike behind the wheel but I didn’t know the man with him. He looked rough though, and they left quickly.”
“Did you get the license plate number?”
“I most certainly did.”
“Excellent, please text it to me, and what kind of car was it?”
“A black Mercedes SUV.”
“By any chance do you have Jimmy Pike’s address?”
“I do…it’s somewhere around here…” he muttered. “Ah, here it is. Bird Cottage, 5 Mulberry Lane. It must be one of the dead-end streets past the village. What should I do now?”
“Keep things just as they are, and you can get some sleep. They won’t be back tonight. They might try again tomorrow but the security team I organized will be there in the morning, and so will Trevor Martin, or rather, John Martin, as you know him. You and Jane will be able to rest easy.”
“I’m very grateful to you, Donovan. What’s the latest on your front?”
“We’re waiting to follow the van. What we do after it arrives in London will depend on what I find, but I have plenty of backup there.”
“Thanks, again Donovan. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Peter.”
Ending the call, Donovan settled back behind the wheel.
“It won’t be long now,” he remarked. “I suspect those goons were waiting to hear from Jimmy before heading back to London.”
“And you’re right again,” Phoebe exclaimed as the van drove by. “How do you know this stuff?”
“Experience. We’ll wait a couple of minutes before we start following. They’re moving slowly.”
“Long enough for another hug?”
“Long enough for this,” he replied. Sliding his hands into her hair, he placed his lips on her and devoured her mouth in a crushing kiss. “Now I must talk to Sam,” he declared as they broke apart.
Lifting the phone from the mount he studied the tracker for a moment, then placed the call.
“Donovan. What’s the news?” Sam demanded.
“I found the art thieves playing Russian Roulette with some kid in the woods and placed an untraceable 999 call. ”
“I don’t understand,”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll explain later. Right now we have an opportunity to pick up one of the gang who probably knows a few things, but you have to act fast. Do you have anyone in the area?”
“I can have a team there in an hour.”
“Great, make it happen. I only have a first name. Oleg, and he’s with the kid who initially took the portrait, Jimmy Pike. The address is Bird Cottage, 5 Mulberry Lane. What the hell…?” he suddenly muttered, hearing the sound of an approaching helicopter low in the sky.
“Donovan? What’s happening?”
“I think the cavalry have arrived!” he replied, smiling across at Phoebe, and a moment later a line of black cars sped past them.
* * *
It began with a huge, bright spotlight shining down on the gang of thugs in the woods. As one of them shot off an urgent text to Craig, a bull horn ordered them to surrender. Though they scattered and ran through the trees the police had surrounded the area and they were quickly apprehended. When the officers reached Nigel they found him lying face down with his ankles and wrists cuffed, trembling and completely overcome.