The Last Enemy(50)

‘But why do it?’

‘Because I needed you to think I was the victim here. And I needed you to keep telling the police that, while at the same time I was telling them I was fine. It’s called confusion, Jake. And it also meant the police were getting more and more irritated by you, and more and more suspicious of what your motives were. You were my scapegoat, Jake, right from the very beginning. Even before I shot Alex Munro. I assume your friend, Mr Findlay-Weston, told you that was me.’

‘Yes,’ said Jake. ‘But I don’t know why you did it?’

‘Like I said, I needed a scapegoat, someone to take the heat off me, and you were perfect for it.

‘When Alex Munro contacted me to ask about The Index, and about the Order of Malichea, he told me there were three people who knew more about it than even he did. You, your girlfriend, and Gareth Findlay-Weston of MI5, whose cover was as the Head of the Department of Science Press Department. I must admit I thought it was a bit strange him telling me all this, but I discovered that was his style: a pretend openness. Telling me the bits he thought might pull me in.

‘Unfortunately, by doing that he was signing his own death warrant. Once I knew that, and that Munro didn’t have the information, I decided to bring you into the game. But as Munro had already told me you were a wild card, you had to be handled with caution. So, I decided to put you in the frame for killing Munro. Along with me, of course. I thought that would make sure we met.’

‘How were you able to shoot Munro?’ asked Jake. ‘He always had bodyguards with him.’

‘I set up a situation where he’d make a good target,’ said Guy. ‘I’m a pretty good shot. I was brought up to shoot. I’ve been using a rifle since I was eight.’ He grinned. ‘Being able to handle a gun has got me out of trouble on more than one occasion. It was a difficult shot. I guessed it had to be a head shot just in case Munro was wearing body armour, or something.’ He chuckled. ‘It was perfect. His head exploded like a melon!’

‘So that was you who sent me the text about meeting at Muswell Hill?’

‘Of course.’

‘How did you manage to get my name along with yours into his schedule for the meeting at Crouch End? I suppose you hacked into his diary?’

‘No need,’ said Guy. ‘I told him I’d been in touch with you, and you had agreed to come along. Much simpler. He was very pleased.’

‘What about the Mexicans?’

Guy grinned.

‘Ah, the Mexicans!’ He smiled nostalgically. ‘Manolo, Pedro and Almador. Wonderful chaps! It was them I was working with when I landed in jail in Mexico.’ He chuckled. ‘Well, when I say “working with”, what I really mean is, I was ripping them off. Unfortunately for me, they found out about it, so when they discovered I was going to be released, they pointed out to me that I owed them.’ He shrugged ruefully. ‘And they didn’t mean just the money I’d planned to take off them. They meant my life.’ He gave a shrug. ‘Injured macho pride. Revenge. Whatever you like to call it, it meant the same thing. They wanted the money I’d promised them, and then they were going to kill me.’

He let out an unhappy sigh and fell silent.

‘So?’ prompted Jake quickly, desperate to keep him talking.

‘So, when they realised that I was involved in something back in England that could mean big bucks, mucho dollars, they insisted they come along too. They saw me as an investment. Of course, I was happy to go along with that until we got back here.’ He chuckled. ‘Believe me, Jake, if I hadn’t gone along with it, I wouldn’t have got out of Mexico alive.’

‘And, once you were in England, you double-crossed them.’

‘They were going to kill me, Jake!’

‘And what about Pierce Randall?’

‘Ah, yes. Pierce Randall!’ And Jake could hear the smile in Guy’s voice. ‘The most powerful firm of lawyers in the world! People who think they have absolute power are always the easiest to fool.’

‘How did you do it? Manage to convince the police you were with Pierce Randall, while you weren’t?’

‘But I was working with them, Jake!’ said Guy, his voice full of fake protest. Then he chuckled. ‘At least, they thought I was. Remember, I was bailed into their custody, but that didn’t mean I had to stay with them. And, because Pierce Randall were keen to keep me happy, because they wanted me to find The Index for them, they let me do my own thing as far as where I stayed while I was out on bail.’ He laughed again. ‘All right, I wasn’t exactly honest with them about where I was, or what I was up to, but these are lawyers. And with very dubious morals, as I’m sure you know. So you could say I played them at their own game.’