De Payns’ brain roared. Not just with the possibilities of who in Paris had sold them out in the middle of an operation, but the probabilities of the ISI going after Romy, Oliver and Patrick. He couldn’t contact them to tell them to get out of the apartment. And where would they run? And who could he ask at the Company to keep them safe? He could ask Shrek but that just begged the question—who was the mole?

Another thing occurred to him. ‘If the operation is blown, maybe the exfil is too?’

Templar nodded. ‘I booked the flight in cash, but I did it in Paris.’

‘We have to change it,’ said de Payns. ‘We have to go back into Paris separately.’

‘You want the car?’ asked Templar.

‘What will you do?’

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ said Templar. ‘There’s a town up ahead—about two hours’ drive—called Gardez. I’ll get out there, you keep driving.’

They smoked in the dark as they closed on Gardez, through a zone that had been bombed, judging by the craters alongside the road.

‘Tell me about Dr Death,’ said Templar. ‘What happened in there?’

‘He’s a nutter,’ said de Payns. ‘Said there was something off about me …’

‘Imagine that.’

‘Accused me of dishonouring his sister, cuckolding his best friend.’

‘So we’ve got our guy? We had eyes.’

‘Timberwolf is confirmed. He’s the head scientist at the MERC and he’s evil.’

Templar looked at him sideways. ‘What else?’

‘Don’t worry,’ said de Payns, annoyed that someone could know him so well.

‘Tell me. What did else did he say?’

De Payns took a breath. He was feeling very anxious about his kids. ‘The reason he doesn’t have kids is he wouldn’t want them to live in a world where he’s making his bioweapons, is basically what he said.’

Templar laughed. ‘Oh shit. Now I really need a drink.’

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

CHAPTER

FIFTY-FIVE

They stopped to relieve themselves and de Payns gasped as he twisted out of the car.

‘You injured?’ asked Templar.

‘Still have shoulder pain since I sparred with Shrek.’

‘Everyone gets beaten up by Shrek.’ Templar laughed. ‘How is he, by the way?’

De Payns shrugged, zipped and sat on the Passat bonnet while Templar finished.

Templar said over his shoulder, ‘I mean, you and him—I don’t see you together anymore.’

‘He’s working on something,’ said de Payns, unsure if Templar was indoctrinated in Shrek’s trip to Palermo.

‘With Frasier?’

De Payns pricked up his ears. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘I saw them together at the Cat.’

De Payns mulled on that.

‘You okay?’ asked Templar.

‘Falcon,’ he said. ‘Ever wonder why it went like that?’