Page 107 of Tell No One
Delaney smiled. “There’s your answer. Jealousy. Tell him I’m not under consideration and it will make me feel happier. You have a long career still ahead of you. I’m really not interested, Henry.”
“Understood. Good luck.”
Delaney ended the call. Luck could play a part in any operation, but meticulous planning was critical, following protocol and taking precautions had probably saved his life without him even knowing. And yet Delaney acknowledged that luck had likely saved him too. Now he needed professionalismandluck to play their part. In an hour, he’d start making his way to London City Airport. The game was on. Cliché as it sounded, failure was not an option.
Delaney had been told by Barker that he didn’t need to arrive too early for the flight, because they had people on the tarmac watching to see who was going on the jet with him, but Delaney went early anyway, though not directly to the area he’d been told to go to. As it happened, it was impossible to see the entrance to the private jet facility from anywhere he was able to easily access.
The only person in reception was a man behind a desk. Delaney managed to ascertain that no other flight was taking off before theirs or for ninety minutes after, so everyone who would be joining him in that room would be flying to Scotland.
Feely arrived and shook his hand. “Morning, Vadim.”
“Good morning. Please tell me little shit is still in your hands and not done disappearing act again.”
“We still have him.”
“Excellent. Who is coming with us?”
“I’ll introduce you as they arrive.”
“How many?”
“Six of us including me.”
Norbury’s superstition yet again meant it was going to be an even number. Though Delaney would have preferred four.
Feely pushed to his feet when a man came into the reception. “Good morning, Jeremy. How are you?”
Delaney absorbed as much information as he could from looking at the newcomer. Shorter than him, bulkier, older and English. The others arrived soon after. Alec, Matt and Yves. Alec was English, Matt American and Yves French. They all had weapon cases but only one had a metal case like Delaney. Matt was the one to watch.
When it grew closer to the time that they’d be boarding, Delaney went to use the bathroom. He texted the men’s names to Henry, then deleted the evidence. He flushed the toilet and came out to see Feely at the sink washing his hands.
“We ready to go?” Delaney asked as he held his hands under the soap dispenser.
“You brought that in here with you?”
“I brought everything in here with me.” Delaney wanted no one touching his SSG 3000. He didn’t really want anyone to see it until the day of the hunt.
“What’s your weapon of choice?” Feely asked.
“Wait and see.”
Delaney was out of the doors behind Feely when it was time for boarding. One of the pilots loaded his two cases into the luggage area at the back of the jet and Delaney chatted to him as the others brought up their bags.
“Two pilot?” Delaney asked.
The Citation XLS could be flown with one but Delaney hoped for two. He didn’t think anything would kick off in the plane, but he couldn’t fly a jet.
The pilot nodded. “Company policy.”
Delaney nodded and climbed on board after Alec and Matt. The cabin had six fully reclining leather seats plus a two-seat, sideways-facing sofa andan on-board toilet with a ninth seat next to it. Delaney sat with his back to the cockpit so he could see everyone in the cabin. He wondered if a Citation with a cockpit door had been a special request, because not all had them. Alec and Matt sat facing each other on the other side of the jet. The Frenchman sat opposite Delaney, Jeremy and Feely on the seats behind. After the safety information had been relayed, and the jet readied for take-off, the door to the cockpit was closed.
Feely stood up. “I’d like to welcome you all on aboard. Feel free to chat. We can’t be overheard. Once the captain has turned off the seat belt sign help yourself to drinks and snacks. Flight time one hour forty-five minutes. Transfer by helicopter to our destination another twenty minutes.”
He sat down and fastened his seat belt.
No one spoke until the plane was in the air.
“Done this before?” Yves said to Delaney.
