6. Typhon

6

TYPHON

T he following morning, I rang O.

"Hello, Typhon."

"Oleander. I received your brief."

"I've just left Corradino."

"I'm aware." I hesitated before continuing. My last words to her were a warning about putting her on desk duty with the added threat of removing her from the unit. I couldn't divulge that I'd changed my mind just yet. However, I did need to inform her about the Countess.

"Typhon, I mean no disrespect, but what is the purpose of your call?"

I sighed. "We lost a member of the Unit 23 family last night."

"Who?"

"Philippa Windsor."

O gasped, and I gave her a minute to process the news.

"We identified three candidates to be considered for Unit 23 prior to this news. Verity is one of them."

"The others?" she asked.

"Esencia Heart and Hornet Zak. If Verity accepts, her role within the coalition will change to be more in line with yours. She'll be an advisor as opposed to a member of a specific task force." I waited, but she didn't respond. "I'd like you to be part of the final interview process."

"Where and when?"

"You're at a crucial stage of your investigation. We'll come to you," I offered.

"How soon?" she asked.

"Since Verity has just arrived in the UK, we'll need to wait until she's able to return to Malta. Hornet is already on the main island. I'm waiting for a response as to Esencia's availability."

"I'm surprised she's considering moving to Unit 23. She's been quite intransigent about not doing so in the past."

"I'm aware. That, coupled with Fatale's intention of bringing her into the K19 fold as soon as possible, may mean she's out of the running as we speak. However, I'm prepared to make her an offer attractive enough for her to reconsider."

"You still have two other viable candidates. Keep me posted as to when you anticipate your arrival."

"I will do. Now, let's talk about Mithras' death."

"What of it?"

"You seem, what is the word? Unperturbed."

"The world is rid of someone not worthy of breathing the same air as that of his victims. The immediate lead relating to Pharaoh canceled out my disappointment over my inability to interrogate him. As ideal as that would have been."

"Again, your lack of vexation is surprising."

"Typhon, please, make your point."

"We'll discuss it at greater length once I'm in Malta tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"That is correct." Something else occurred to me that would put Oleander on guard. "Shall I expect both you and Poseidon to join us for dinner?"

"If the invitation is being extended."

"I'll be in touch when I land."

Letting O believe she had the upper hand and giving myself some time to study Poseidon, I held back before entering the bar area of the restaurant where we'd agreed to meet.

I'd heard a great deal about the Maltese task force commander both from Kima and via my international intelligence sources. At one point, I'd considered him for the unit, but decided he didn't have what it took. This would be our first opportunity to meet, and I doubted it would change my mind about him.

When Verity, Hornet, and I approached, Poseidon was the first to extend his hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Typhon," he said. His grip was firm and eye contact steady, but his discomfort sat just below the surface of his feigned calm demeanor.

We'd barely sat at the table when he excused himself to take a call. While he was gone, Hornet and I remained silent and listened to O's and Verity's small talk. Periodically, Oleander's eyes would dart in my direction, then in Hornet's. If she couldn't see me do it, I'd rub my hands together. I had her right where I wanted her.

"My apologies," Poseidon said when he returned to the table. "The call was of a personal nature."

Our conversation was made up mostly of small talk until we reached the end of the meal when I decided to strike.

"Oleander, please bring Hornet up to speed on the coalition's current mission."

Her head cocked. "Is it your intention to have him serve as an advisor to the coalition along with Verity and myself?" she asked.

Hornet cleared his throat. "Not necessarily. However, I'm aware of the events that took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, and I have a network of sources in that part of the world, which would make me an integral part of the team."

When I saw her tense, I decided to alter our plan and drop the name Z had given me. "O, does the name Salvatore Rávdos mean anything to you?"

"It does not."

Her clipped response and unwillingness to make eye contact let me know the name meant a great deal to her. In fact, it may be that Rávdos was the real person she was after.

"What news of Puck?" she turned to Verity and asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject. However, she couldn't deny that the proverbial elephant had just landed on our table.

I half listened, surreptitiously studying the body language of those seated around me.

My ears pricked up when I heard Verity say, "Before I left Shere, I heard Z make two recommendations for the UK task force."

"Who?" Oleander asked.

"Saint and George."

I clenched my fist under the table. Saint? It couldn't be. Z knew how I felt about the man. He'd also been the one to fire him from MI6 when St. Thomas' errors in the line of duty were quickly adding up. Why in the bloody hell hadn't he mentioned something so significant last night?

"I understand he's working for Rile DeLéon," said O.

This was ludicrous enough that I wondered if they were playing me.

"Who is George?" I asked.

"Leighton Marietta. She's with MI5," Poseidon responded.

"What about your replacement should you move to Unit 23?" Oleander asked Verity.

"I've no idea. I suppose that's up to Nemesis and Magnet," she responded.

Was O considering the possibility that, if I axed her, she could take Verity's place? I'd fight it to the death, so to speak, if she did.

"Tell me more about Delfino's involvement with your task force," I said directly to Poseidon. It was a topic I'd meant to address earlier and had almost forgotten.

"She's an integral part of it," he responded.

Since there was no indication he knew of her and my connection, I let the matter drop and stood, making it clear dinner and our meeting had come to an end.