All eyes were on Haversume as he strode into the clearing.
Sarah Truman and Harry Lawrence walked ahead of him. Haversume kept his gun trained on their backs. He intended to press every advantage he had.
He walked slowly, giving him time to take in the details that were around him.
Eleven armed men in the clearing represented his interests. Nine accompanied Michael. They seemed an evenly matched grouping. Or they would have been, if it were not for Joshua.
It was the location of Joshua that interested Haversume most. He instinctively cast his eyes to the hills. He was not sure why. Haversume knew he would be unable to spot a hidden sniper at a distance of twenty feet, let alone the quarter of a mile Joshua had likely chosen. Still, human nature compelled his gaze to the distant trees.
‘You’re looking a little beaten up, Michael.’
The sarcasm in Haversume’s voice was intentional as he came to a halt, ten yards from where Michael Devlin stood. He placed a hand on Harry’s small, shivering shoulder as he spoke. A reminder of the power he held.
‘I do hope we can settle this without the need for any more bloodshed.’
‘You started the violence, Tony,’ Michael replied. His attitude was defiant. ‘You’re the animal here.’
‘I think Sergeant Best would disagree. What you left of him was hardly the work of a civilised man.’
‘He didn’t leave me a choice. But you didn’t have to do any of this. You’re a murdering piece of opportunistic shit.’
‘Opportunistic?’ Haversume was annoyed. Michael’s choice of words had stung. ‘Have you any idea how much planning goes into bringing down a government? Any idea at all?’
‘A great deal, I’d imagine. But then you had plenty of time on your hands to plan it, didn’t you? What with only being a backbencher.’
Haversume saw the comment for what it was. An attempt to goad him. It would not work.
‘I don’t have time for silly games, boy. Just tell me where the recording is.’
‘The others first.’
Michael indicated beyond Sarah and Harry. Towards the cabin.
‘The deal was everyone.’
‘I don’t have time for more demands, Michael.’ Haversume’s patience was wearing thin. ‘Give me the recording now or people die.’
‘You want it, you’ll do as I ask. Once I know the other three are here and that they’re OK. Then we’ll talk about the recording.’
‘You truly are an intolerable nuisance, Michael.’
Haversume was unsure if he should be angry or amused; Michael Devlin really had proved himself an absurdly determined irritant. He turned to face Sarah, forced down her gag and stabbed a finger in Michael’s direction.
‘Tell him.’
He grabbed her by the back of her neck and forced her forwards.
‘I said, “tell him”!’
‘They’re in there, Michael,’ Sarah spluttered. ‘They’re safe, they’re not hurt.’
‘Thank you.’
Haversume spat the words as he threw Sarah aside. She stumbled heavily to the floor, the binding around her wrists preventing her from cushioning her fall.
Haversume turned back to Michael.
‘Now where’s the recording?’
‘It’s here.’
‘I want to see it. Now.’
Michael hesitated. Haversume thought he knew why. The recording was the endgame. Once revealed, Michael’s hand was played and what would follow would be out of his control.
It was understandable that Michael would want more time, but Haversume would not allow it. He trained his gun on Harry as a final threat.
‘OK, Tony.’ Michael raised his open hands in response. ‘I have it here. Take the gun away from the boy.’
Michael reached into his jacket pocket. He moved slowly. With so many armed men around him, a devastating domino effect would begin if his movement caused a shot. Care was needed, and it was with care that Michael now revealed Mullen’s recording device.
Michael held the device in his right fist. Still avoiding sudden movements, Michael slowly put out his arm, opened his hand and held it out for Haversume to see.
‘This is it. This is what Mullen had.’
‘Play it.’
‘I’m not your butler, Tony. Play it yourself.’
Michael threw the device to Haversume, who caught it in mid-air.
A single glance at the device brought a smile to Haversume’s face. He recognised the technology, and it told him two things. First, Michael had not been bluffing. This equipment could reverse the effect of the voice modulator. Whoever was responsible for handing this over to Mullen was going to answer to him once all this was done.
And the second thing? Well, that would depend . . .
Haversume turned the device over and looked closely at its underside.
His smile widened.
‘You haven’t even listened to this.’
The words were not a question. And they made the colour drain from Michael’s face.
‘What? Of course I’ve listened—’
‘Don’t bother lying to me, Michael.’ Haversume’s smile lingered as he held up the device. ‘This is military hardware. It’s designed to be totally secure. There’s only one way to make it work and you haven’t done it. I can tell from the device. But, more importantly, if you haven’t heard what’s on this then you can’t have re-recorded it, either. Which means this is the only copy. I imagine that was another lie you were going to tell me, wasn’t it, Michael?’
Haversume made no effort to keep the triumph from his voice. He had won. He had the device in his hand, and the only threat Michael could have made – that there were copies of the recordings, ready to be delivered in the event of their deaths – was gone.
It left Haversume with no need to wait.
He raised his right hand high above his head, opening and closing his fist. A very obvious prearranged signal.
But a signal that achieved nothing. No bullet. No gunshot.
Haversume’s confidence wavered. Joshua should have fired.
It made him freeze.
Luckily for Haversume, he did not seem to be alone. For some reason Michael and Liam seemed rooted to the spot. It left all of their followers without leadership. Without direction.
Twenty armed men, facing each other in the clearing. All needed to know their next move. Needed to know if they were to fight or to flee. Needed someone to make a decision.
In the hills above them, someone did.