Page 122 of Tell No One
Matt chuckled and took over the lead.
By the time they heard the helicopter, Feely was back with them, slightly out of breath. Matt kept walking up the slope. That the helicopter had taken to the air meant that Henry and the team weren’t yet in position and Delaney was more than annoyed. It was likely that Lincoln was dead. What more evidence did they need?
“They should have used drones,” Delaney said to Matt’s back.
“Yeah.” Matt stopped and turned to Feely who was on the radio. “Well?”
“They thought they caught a glimpse of someone near the top of the next ridge.”
“Thought?” Matt muttered. “Jesus! Now the pilots are fucking amateurs, too?”
When the three of them were faced with a slope of small stones, the American said, “One or both of them came this way. See the disturbance? Looks like one person.”
Delaney saw no point in disagreeing. “Yes.” To follow the same path would be dangerous. To go last would be dangerous, but if he went first, he’d be showing them the technique to traverse this type of terrain.
In the end, Feely went first and Delaney knew he was going to get into trouble. He needed to go with the flow and not fight it, but Feely was trying to slow down and the slope wouldn’t let him.
“Go across,” Matt shouted. “Not down. And run.”
Delaney had hoped for the slope to swallow Feely’s feet and ankles and break them. Matt launched himself across and sent more rocks cascading down towards Feely who was knocked off his feet.
Delaney didn’t wait to see if he was going to make it. He set off higher where the rocks were undisturbed and stayed high. By the time he joined Matt, Feely was crab-walking towards them and finally got off the slope. Delaney was amazed he’d not broken bones.
“Shit.” Feely was breathing heavily. “I really want this fucker dead.”
Matt laughed. “Better hope you spot him first.”
Still three of them in pursuit, but Feely was slow and limping. Delaney and Matt were several hundred metres ahead.
“We could do with knowing if we go in right direction,” Delaney said. “Why don’t we take break and ask him to call for helicopter?”
“Okay.”
Delaney drank from his bottle and ate the sandwiches that they’d been given. Slowly. Matt sat at his side and did the same. Not slowly.
“What’s your background?” Matt asked.
“Spetsnaz.”
“Russian Special Forces?” Matt twisted his mouth.
“No longer, of course. You?”
“Ex-military like you. And we’re with a team of hopeless amateurs.”
“You must have already killed men just as I have.”
“Yeah, but pursuing one who knows you’re after him? I bet he’s shitting himself. I’m surprised he’s managed to get this far ahead. They should have only given them fifteen minutes’ head start.”
Feely reached their side and took out his water.
“Call the copter,” Matt said. “Let them find him for us.”
“Let me have a drink first.”
When there was no response to Feely’s call, Delaney really hoped that meant those at the castle had been incapacitated.
“Let me try my radio.” Matt took his out and a moment later, he swore.
