David shot a warning glance at Mel, who ignored him and sipped her wine, her legs crossed, one foot bouncing in the air.
Dan frowned as Mitch edged a little further away from his right, and recalled Mel’s comment about his temper. He turned his attention back to David.
‘Well?’
‘It took a while to get the forensics from what was left of the boat,’ began David. ‘But we’ve managed to retrieve some of the components that might have been used to fix the bomb to the bottom of your boat. You can imagine the state they’re in. We also found CCTV footage from the bank you’d used to get the money out to pay for the replacement fuel pump,’ he added. ‘And it looks like you were being followed.’
Dan frowned. ‘But I’ve been checking for tails,’ he argued. ‘I’ve seen no-one.’
‘This guy got lucky,’ said Mitch. ‘Trust me, he wasn’t a professional – he wouldn’t have been caught on camera otherwise.’
‘Do you know who he is?’
‘Nasir Abbas,’ said David. ‘Basically, he’s a gun for hire. Algerian by birth, but he’s cropped up all over the Mediterranean – he tends to work for whoever happens to be paying him that day. No allegiances.’
‘Do you know who hired him?’
David sighed. ‘Yes. Harith Gulzar.’
Dan’s mind worked as he tried to recall where he’d heard the name before. It sounded familiar, yet...
He shook his head. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Harith Gulzar is Yasmin Gulzar’s older brother,’ said David softly. ‘You knew her as Antonia Almasi.’
Dan pushed his chair back from the table and stalked across the balcony to the railing.
He wrapped his fingers around the cool steel and closed his eyes, blood rushing to his head as the shock of David’s revelation began to sink in.
Antonia’s brother?
He groaned, the memories painful. The betrayal by a beautiful Iranian agent had cost the life of one of the team, and he’d never forgiven himself.
Was this to be his future? Dealing with a man who sought revenge for his sister’s death?
He turned to find three worried faces staring back at him and exhaled, trying to lose some of the tension that cramped his shoulders.
‘Come and sit down,’ said David. ‘I’ll bring you up to speed.’
He pulled a folded sheaf of papers from the inside pocket of his linen jacket and lay them out on the table so the whole team could see.
‘Gulzar is a computer prodigy,’ he began. ‘More so than his sister.’ He pointed to the first page. ‘This is a copy of a communiqué from the Saudi embassy in Washington.’ He looked up to the three pairs of eyes watching him intently. ‘The Saudis believe Gulzar is going to mount an imminent attack on American soil and sent a copy of their warning to London as well. Their belief is that if Gulzar is successful in the United States, then England will be next.’
‘What is it with that family?’ said Mitch, rubbing his chin.
‘I said he was a computer prodigy,’ said David. ‘I didn’t say he was sane.’
‘The Americans have stepped up checks on their infrastructure?’
David nodded at Dan. ‘Yes, but Gulzar is clever,’ he said. ‘And we don’t want to take any chances. The British government want to get their hands on Gulzar before the Americans do. And, given we have a lot more information about that family on our files than they do, we stand a very good chance of stopping whatever it is he’s got planned.’
Dan tapped his fingers on the table, an uneven rhythm. His mind raced. Was he ready to work with David again?
He glared at Mitch, who for once remained silent.
‘No wise cracks?’
Mitch shook his head and folded his arms across his chest.
‘Mel?’
The analyst shrugged. ‘Your call, boss.’
‘All right,’ said Dan. He turned to David. ‘I’m in,’ he said. ‘But on one condition.’
‘What?’
‘I want to finish what we started here. I want to go to Russia.’
‘You’ve already been cleared for action,’ said David. He leaned across the table and held out his hand.
‘Welcome back, Dan.’