The King's Deception

The retort sent the people engulfing him into a frenzy, which blocked the Beefeaters from reaching him. He turned, saw Gary, and motioned for them to leave, slipping the gun into his pant pocket. Everything happened in a matter of seconds, the next few critical, so he told himself to calm down, blend in, use the chaos to his advantage.

He gently grabbed Gary’s arm. “Nice and slow. Draw no attention.”

Gary nodded and they turned right at the Thames and followed the concrete walk away from the Tower. Loud voices and congestion loomed behind them. A sea of excited people acted like a moat, guarding their flank.

His heart raced.

They kept moving back toward the busy street, where Antrim flagged a taxi.

They climbed in and sped away.

He caught the driver’s attention. “Take us to any tube station a few blocks from here.”

The Underground was the fastest and safest way back to the warehouse. A station was located less than half a mile away from it. Though Daedalus knew its location, there were things he needed.

Like Cecil’s journal.

If he was quick, he could stay ahead of them.

“That was brave, what you did,” he said.

“You needed help. That woman was behind you.”

“How did you know about her?”

“I went into the Jewel House and saw you talking to her.”

How much else had he seen or heard? Could not have been much. No one had been nearby when he spoke to Denise. And he hadn’t seen Gary inside.

Let it go.

He gently grabbed Gary by the shoulders. “You saved my hide.”

The boy smiled. “You would have done the same for me.”

Fifty-one

Kathleen stayed low and made her way to a door that opened from the viewing booth into the tennis court. Her gaze alternated between the scene before her and what might be behind her. She doubted the two from the break room would be awake anytime soon. Both were going to need a doctor. A familiar surge of adrenaline charged her nerves. One she liked. Or at least that’s what the therapist had told her and she’d not disagreed. Right now the rush helped her think, making decisions that her life may depend on.

But she liked it that way.

Relying on herself.

Cotton Malone was in a tight spot. Thomas Mathews had him corralled. And though Malone held a weapon, it would do him little good.

“What now?” Malone asked, his eyes locked on the two armed men standing ten meters away.

Mathews stood to Malone’s left, between him and where Kathleen was hiding.

“It would seem,” Mathews said, “that two of you will be shot and a third will walk away.”

The old man was right. The best Malone could hope for was to take down one.

“What’s the point of this?” Malone asked, still staring at his problem.

“This is not personal, Cotton. Strictly business. That, you surely understand.”

“All I care about is making sure my boy is okay. The rest of this is your mess, not mine.”

“Are you aware that Blake Antrim performed a DNA test on himself and your son?”

* * *

Malone was shocked by what he’d heard. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I actually know the results of that test.”

Was he hearing right?

“I told you that Antrim maneuvered your initial stateside involvement with Ian Dunne. He wanted you and your son in London. Once here, he managed to divert you off in search of Dunne while he kept watch over your son.”

“He found Gary, after he’d been taken.”

“It was all staged.”

“For what?”

“The DNA test showed that Antrim is Gary’s birth father.”

“I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

“I assure you, Cotton, I speak the truth.”

And something told him that was the case.

“I was unaware of your personal situation,” Mathews said, “until recently. Your son is not biologically yours. A fact you did not know until a few months ago.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Antrim has been watching your ex-wife for several months. We monitored calls made to a person in Georgia he employed for surveillance.”

“Why would he do that?”

“It seems your ex-wife despises him. She refused him any contact with the boy. So, apparently, he decided to create his own opportunity for them to meet.”

Reality slammed him hard.

Gary’s birth father was here?

“Does Gary know this?” he asked.

Mathews nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

“I have to leave.”

“I can’t allow that,” Mathews said.

* * *

Kathleen listened to the conversation. apparently, there was a direct connection between Blake Antrim and Malone’s son.

One that Malone had clearly been unaware existed.

Knowing Antrim, she was not surprised. He’d fathered a child? And the mother hated him? Probably because he’d pounded her at some point, too.

The two men with guns continued to aim their weapons at Malone.

She decided to even the odds and burst from the darkened viewing box, firing, taking down one of the armed men with a bullet to the thigh.

The other man instantly reacted to her attack and readjusted his aim.

Toward her.

* * *