A side door opened, and a man came out. He wasn’t their quarry, but he was clearly a guest who was dining or staying at the hotel.
Glenville texted Aziz, Found one side exit, checking for others.
* * *
• • •
THROUGH THE SLIGHTEST crack in the side exit door, Teddy watched Glenville’s shadow continue around the building. Then he slipped out the door, and headed in the opposite direction.
Teddy spotted Aziz in the tree just before he fired. That alone saved him. The little man impressed him as someone who did not miss. The rifle had a silencer, and the only sound was the whine of the bullet caroming off the side of the building.
Teddy ruined his assailant’s aim by doing the one thing a shooter wouldn’t expect. He charged straight at him. He ducked to the side, dived into a summersault, and came up behind a potted bush.
He couldn’t see it, but Teddy could feel the rifle swinging in his direction. His gun was in his hand, he had drawn it as he rolled. He fired in the direction from which he judged the shot to have come. A yelp told him he was on target.
There was no clatter from a dropped rifle. The sniper was still armed. A moment later a crash and grunt told the story. The sniper had decided to climb down and fell. He still had his gun, but he’d lost the advantage of surprise. And a rifle was a clumsy weapon for fighting up close.
Teddy shortened the distance between them. He could make out the stocky profile as the little man struggled to his feet.
At that moment, the other man charged Teddy from the side. His shadow wasn’t much of a threat, but the little man was rushing him, too, and he couldn’t take them both at once. He had to shoot one of them. He wanted to keep the little man alive.
Teddy shot his shadow in the head. No wounding, no warning shot, Teddy put him out of the way to go after his prize.
The little man seemed to sense it was a real possibility that Teddy might put him out of action and capture him alive. Teddy was sure the little man didn’t want that to happen. Somehow it would be worse than being shot dead.
Teddy was right. The little man backed into the darkness, even with Teddy’s gun trained on him.
Teddy could have shot him.
He sighed.
He probably should have.
46.
TEDDY RETURNED TO Stone’s house to find him and Dino having a nightcap.
“I thought we lost you,” Dino said.
“You almost did.”
“What?”
“A minor incident. But would you guys mind leaving tomorrow?”
“What!” Dino said.
“Just how minor was this incident?” Stone asked.
“Well, let me put it this way. I’m glad we left by separate doors.”
“Just what happened?” Stone said.
“What happened that we have to leave tomorrow?” Dino said. “I was just beginning to enjoy the place.”
“And I have a dinner date,” Stone said.
“Why am I not surprised?” Teddy said. “I’m afraid something has come up.”
“Oh?”
“I sort of killed someone.”
“‘Sort of’?” Stone said.
Dino put up his hand. “This is not the type of thing you tell a police commissioner.”
“You have jurisdiction in France?”
“Good point.”
“Is that why we have to leave?” Stone said. “Because you accomplished your purpose and you’re going home?”
“Not at all,” Teddy said. “The man I killed is not the man who was trying to kill me.”
“You shot an innocent bystander?” Dino said.
“He’s a member of the opposition, but he wasn’t the hitman. And he wasn’t the mole I was sent here to find.”
“If he’s not the man, why are you leaving?”
“Well, that’s the thing.” Teddy said.
“Uh-oh. You’re not leaving, you’re just sending us home? Is this for our own protection?”
“No, and I didn’t say I wasn’t leaving.”
“You are leaving?”
“I’m getting on the plane with you.”
“Why does that not sound like the same thing?” Dino said.
“Agent Felix Dressler must go home. Too many people are interested in him, and it’s rendered him ineffective. So, for all intents and purposes, I’m leaving with you tomorrow.” Teddy looked at Stone. “Do you have Internet service here?”
“Of course. Why?”
“I need to send an e-mail.”
Teddy sat down at Stone’s computer and sent an encoded e-mail to Lance: Belt is buckled. Coming home.
“Can’t they break that code?” Stone said.
“I’m sure they can.”
“Then they’ll know it was sent from my computer.”
“Yes, which will fit in nicely with my leaving with you tomorrow.” Teddy got up from the desk. “Now, do you mind if I borrow your car?”
“Of course you can borrow my car. Where are you going?”
“To send an e-mail.”
* * *
• • •
TEDDY DROVE TO the nearest hotel and used the computer in the lobby to send an encrypted message to Millie.
He also sent an encrypted message to Kevin. That message was brief:
a) Melvin Melbourne; b) Daniel Remington; c) Arnold Mycroft; d) Claude Fisher. Send only lowercase letter.
Teddy logged off the computer, drove back to the mews house, and returned the car keys to Stone.
“All right, gentlemen, the bait is in the trap. All systems are go. We need to be all packed and ready to leave for the airport at three o’clock tomorrow. We need to be sure the plane is fueled up and ready to go.”
“That goes without saying,” Stone said.
“But there’s a wrinkle,” Teddy said.
“Oh?”
“There are a few extra preparations for this particular flight.”
“Like what?”
Teddy held up one finger. “Okay,” he said, “here’s what I need.”