The Will Of The People

  * * *

  Rebane sat at Erdenheim’s bar toying with an early breakfast of eggs and bacon, eyes heavy with lack of sleep. McDowell pulled up a stool to sit beside him, a steaming mug of black coffee in hand, happier now the loose ends were finally being tidied away.

  “Helene,” McDowell reported, “has picked up Saunders’ car from Freiston Shore; she should be back from East Midlands in a few hours. Carter’s already working on the flight adjustments.”

  “And Anderson,” Rebane asked, “I trust he’s still alive?”

  “I was careful. A few bruises is barely enough for what he did to Morton; the poor bastard’s got a fractured jaw and broken nose – I should have done the same to Anderson.”

  When Rebane merely gave a tired nod of understanding, McDowell continued, “Why not just save all this effort and kill them both now? You can still dump them in the North Sea.”

  Giving Anderson free reign in the hope he would get bored had proved to be foolish and Rebane would have been happy enough to follow McDowell’s advice if it hadn’t been for the problem of Jessica Saunders; he certainly had no wish to wipe out the entire Saunders’ clan unless it became absolutely necessary.

  “We need Charlotte to keep up the pretence with her mother,” explained Rebane with a hint of annoyance.” If Jessica Saunders becomes suspicious – what then? Kill her as well? The police can hardly ignore two deaths and a missing daughter. We’ll simply be focusing everyone’s attention back on Marshwick and then Erdenheim. Is that what you want?”

  “Just checking,” McDowell said, not bothered by Rebane’s sarcasm.

  “Jessica Saunders is in Dublin for a while longer,” Rebane said wearily, hand rubbing his brow in an attempt to focus his thoughts, “then on to her brother’s in the south. Whether we like it or not, we need to leave her alone. Charlotte will co-operate, if only to protect her mother.”

  “Whatever you say,” McDowell said unhelpfully. “If she’s anything like the other two, then I just hope you’ve got a back-up plan.”

  “I always have a back-up plan,” Rebane replied, with a half-smile. “Sometimes even a second reserve...”