Page 10 (2/2)

'It's quite thin, so letof the woh the crack at the base of the door

'Many thanks, good lady,' Dash said in his Irish brogue 'Well, I must be off to dry my hands I was just out of the bath when you knocked'

'I thought I heard the water running,' Mrs Covarrubias said 'I'll see you in the , Mr O'Hara'

'Indeed you will,' Dash chuckled, then listened with an irritated frown as she walked away, not bending to retrieve the envelope until he was sure she was gone

A plain white envelope nestled inside the larger one A first-class British stamp and a London postmark Antonia had opened the letter, read it, then resealed it Dash slit it open again with a fingernail He took out a sheet of paper and unfolded it to discover a handwritten e Dash always insisted on handwritten requests-an extra insurance policy

The note was from Mikis Menderes, better known as the Turk Menderes had been born in Turkey but had lived in London for most of his life He'd hired Dash twice before On the second job, Dash made the kill-a crooked police officer ouldn't be et'stiated and he'd had to spend a lot ained for in order to keep his name out of it He blaet had been elily war of words until Dash relented and offered a twenty-five per cent discount The Turk argued him up to a third and they hadn't been in contact since

Dash read the letter while standing by the door, and again a fewdown It was curtly written, in the style of the Turk's previous letters

My woman has been seen on the arm of another s set aside for you If you're agreeable, move in and wait I will be in touch

It was signed Mikis Theopolous Menderes, and there was a north London address printed beneath

Everything seehtforward The Turk's wife or mistress-Dash wasn't up to date with Menderes's personal life-was having an affair, and he wanted Dash to kill either his woman, her lover or both

Dash was reluctant to accept the assignet messy when a loved one was involved Ee of heart and act irrationally He liked it when his pay as hi husbands

But if Dash rejected the hit, the Turk e Dash did a reasonable amount of business in London and didn't like the idea of the Turk bad- and hard to establish hiht that he let personal feelings get in the way of his decisions, businessasked to do, but if he accepted the assignment, the bad blood between the down the tight-fisted gangster

Dash slept on the ed his flight He had been booked to fly back to Switzerland-he hadn't touched base in two months-but home could wait Business was business

Next, he rang Antonia and told her he was popping over to London for an arts festival

'Will you hook up with your Turkish friend?' Antonia asked

'I iine so,' Dash replied

'When can I expect you back? I' you'

Dash grinned Antonia was as emotionally distant as hi hu it won't be more than a week or two'

'And if anyone asks after you while you're away?'

'Take a e Tell them to be patient'

They said their goodbyes and hung up Dash stood over the phone a hed and shook his head He orking too hard What use was money if you didn't have the ti so his welco, but if you weren't careful, it could be the death of you