The feeling was like nothing Haversume had ever experienced. From the height of elation to the pit of despair in an instant.
He needed to take control of the situation.
Without a word he noted down the number on the telephone screen and disconnected the line. Next he reached for his second handset. His secure handset. He entered the same digits and activated his voice modulator.
If Michael had been surprised by the disconnect and then the immediate recall he did not show it.
‘Some reason you don’t want to speak on an open line?’
Michael’s tone was mocking. It did not improve Haversume’s mood.
‘I just didn’t expect you to be so effective, Michael,’ Haversume replied. ‘You’ve been quite a surprise.’
‘I’m a surprise? You murdered your own godson, Tony. That was hardly expected.’
‘Believe me, it wasn’t something I wanted to do.’
‘That makes it better, does it?’ Michael’s voice was raised. Filled with disgust. ‘You killed Daniel – a man you claimed was like a son to you.’
‘I did what I had to do for the good of my country.’ Haversume kept his voice steady. His feigned righteousness was well practised. ‘I was willing to lose a son. I was willing to pay that price.’
‘Oh, you’ll pay a price. You’ll pay a price for Daniel and for everyone else you’ve killed. Believe me on that!’
Haversume listened to the rage in Michael’s voice with growing regret, knowing that Michael’s determined fury had an inevitable consequence, one he had hoped to avoid. Michael must know that Haversume had Sarah, and yet he had taken an aggressive approach. It suggested that Haversume could not rely on Sarah being sufficient collateral. A fact which made a further bargaining chip – a more certain one – necessary.
Daniel’s family.
He made one last attempt to avoid it.
‘I think you’re forgetting something, Michael.’ Haversume’s tone was still calm. It hid his desperation. His hope that this final gambit could still prevent the unthinkable.
‘I think you’re forgetting that I have your lady friend.’
‘You think I give a shit about her? We just met, Tony. Do what you want with her. I’m coming after you for Daniel.’
It was the wrong answer. The choice was made.
‘I don’t believe that for a moment, Michael,’ Haversume replied. ‘But even if it were true, do I need to remind you of the whereabouts of Daniel’s family? Of Claire. Harry. Hugh. Deborah. You do know where they are, don’t you?’
Michael was silent for a moment before answering. It told Haversume that the additional threat was unexpected.
‘Where are they?’
The resentment and anger in Michael’s voice had been replaced by fear. It brought a smile to Haversume’s face. As did Michael’s next question.
‘What have you done to them?’
‘I’ve not done a thing. Not the slightest thing. But that could change, Michael. Depending upon what you do from this point.’
Michael was silent again. Haversume could picture the whispered conversation with his brother that was sure to be taking place.
When Michael spoke again his tone was different. Slower. He came straight to the point.
‘If you release them all – Daniel’s family and the girl – this can all still go away. I’ll let it go. Daniel. Matthewson. Everything. I’ll let it all go and I’ll fade away. We all will. So please, just let them go.’
‘You’re making me an offer?’ Haversume could not suppress a laugh. ‘You have nothing to offer. So we’ll be doing this on my terms.’
‘Actually, Tony, I think you’ll find I do have something to offer. Something you might want.’
‘Oh you do, do you?’
Even through the voice modulator the answer was sceptical. Haversume’s patience was wearing thin.
‘And what might that be?’
‘It’s a voice recording,’ Michael replied. ‘Robert Mullen recorded almost every conversation you ever had. A digital record of every call. And you know how this works as well as I do. I can have the recording analysed. I can have it confirmed that it’s your voice on there, giving Mullen dates, times and details of terrorist attacks. How do you think that will play out in your leadership campaign, minister?’
‘Really?’ Haversume was almost amused by the weakness of Michael’s gambit. ‘And how do you propose to identify the voice when every single call used the same electronic disguise I’m using now? I’m not a fool, Michael. What you have – if you have it – is worthless.’
‘I thought you’d say that.’ Michael’s voice remained confident. Unflustered. ‘But Mullen wasn’t as dumb as you seem to think.’
‘What the hell are you talking about?’
‘I’m talking about the fact that whatever kit you’re using to disguise your voice, it’s not flawless. It’s military ordinance, isn’t it? And it can be bypassed – reversed – by equipment of the same grade.’
Haversume said nothing. He felt his confidence falter.
‘Which is exactly what Mullen laid his hands on,’ Michael continued. ‘Through your own organisation. Whoever it was you had supplying him with what he needed to fake those attacks, they also supplied him with a recorder that could decrypt your voice modulator.’
‘I . . I . . . I don’t believe you.’ For the first time in as long as he could remember, Haversume was truly scared. ‘None of my people would—’
‘For now, let’s just assume I’m right, shall we? Let’s assume I do have what you want.’
Haversume could not quite believe what he was hearing. But it was a threat he could not ignore. If it was true? His heart quickened at the thought of another weakness. Another threat to the success that – moments ago – was in the palm of his hand.
He thought quickly before continuing.
‘Then it looks like we’re at an impasse, Michael. Because if you’re telling the truth then you do have something I want. And in that case this negotiation is not as simple as I first thought. So what do you propose we do next?’
‘We meet. Any deal we do, we do it face to face. I’ll bring the recording. You bring Sarah and Daniel’s family. We exchange and we walk away. But anything out of the ordinary and I’m gone, and this recording goes to the press. Understood?’
Haversume had no choice. So close to success, the recordings could ruin everything.
‘You realise I won’t come alone, Michael?’
‘Neither will I. Bring whoever you like.’
‘Where and when?’
‘Somewhere neutral. Eamon McGale’s family had a cabin in County Wicklow. I’m sure you know all about it from back when you were brainwashing the poor guy.’
‘I’m aware of it, yes.’
‘Then we’ll meet there. Tonight at 7 p.m.’
‘A poignant choice. I’ll be there,’ he replied. ‘Just make sure you are too.’
‘You don’t need to worry about that, Tony.’
The line went dead.
Haversume sat frozen for a moment. The sensation of his heart racing was unfamiliar; confirmation that things had taken a turn for the worse.
Mullen’s recordings would be fatal for the campaign. And for his liberty. So the mere possibility that they might exist and be in the hands of Devlin and Casey left him with little choice. For now he would comply with Michael’s demands.
But only for as long as it suited him.
Haversume had already thought of how he would use Michael’s conditions against him.
His best asset – Joshua – gave him an advantage with which the brothers just could not compete. An advantage he would bring to bear. The terrain had been chosen by Michael, but it best suited Joshua. It was a place where he would make short work of Haversume’s enemies, finally bringing this nightmare to an end.
Haversume smiled. Michael had made the wrong choice. A choice that would be his last. It was a thought that should have pleased him, but the smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. Because Michael’s choice had done something else. It had ensured that, tomorrow night, what was left of the Lawrence family would share Daniel’s fate.
And for that Michael Devlin would pay.