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He opened the back door of the taxi and waved the gun at Martinez to indicate that he should get out

“This is theup the bag

“Hoping to catch me at Heathroere you?” If it was the full amount, Rafferty kneould have no choice but to spare his life “Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds?”

“No, but there’s over twenty-three thousand Just a down payment, you understand The rest is back at the house, so if we head back—”

The chauffeur knew that the house in Eaton Square, along with Martinez’s other assets, had been repossessed by the bank Martinez had clearly hoped to make it to the airport before the IRA discovered he had no intention of fulfilling his side of the bargain

Rafferty grabbed the bag and threw it on the backseat of the taxi He’d decided to inally planned After all, he had nothing else to do for the next hour

He waved the gun in the direction of a wooden chair that had been placed directly below the lightbulb It was already splattered with dried blood from previous executions He pushed his victim doith considerable force, and before Don Pedro had a chance to react, he had tied his arms behind his back, but then he’d carried out this particular exercise several tiether, then stood back to admire his handiwork

All Rafferty had to decide noas how long the victi, he had to be at Heathrow in tiht to Belfast He checked his watch He always enjoyed seeing that look on the victiht be a chance of survival

He returned to the taxi, unzipped Martinez’s bag, and counted the bundles of crisp five-pound notes At least he’d told the truth about that, even if he wasback up and locked it in the boot After all, Martinez would no longer have any use for it

The area commander’s orders were clear: once the job had been completed he was to leave the body in the warehouse and another operative would deal with its disposal The only thing required of Rafferty was to e ready for collection” After that, he was to drive to the

airport and leave the taxi, and the -term car park Another operative would be responsible for collecting it and distributing the cash

Rafferty returned to Don Pedro, whose eyes had never left hiiven the choice, he would have shot him in the sto died down, before firing a second bullet into his groin More screaun into his mouth He would stare into his victi, pull the trigger But that would have o unnoticed, but three would undoubtedly attract attention in the ht So he would obey the area co

The chauffeur smiled at Don Pedro, who looked up hopefully, until he saw the gun heading toward his mouth

“Open up,” said Rafferty, like a friendly dentist coaxing a reluctant child One co teeth

Martinez resisted, and sed one of his front teeth in the unequal struggle Sweat began to pour down the fleshy folds of skin on his face He was only er was pulled, but all he heard was the click of the hammer