The Matarese Countdown (Matarese Dynasty 1)

"Sergeant Major." Montrose leaned forward on the couch, extending her hand.

"I'd salute, Colonel, but that was quite a few years ago." They shook hands.

"It's a pleasure, ma'am, the kids think very highly of you-of both of you." Coleman turned to Cameron; they also clasped hands.

"An honor, Special Agent. We don't get to see many of you chaps."

"The name's Pryce, and I'm not 'special." We don't have 'special agents," Sergeant Major, but I can't get it through Sir Geoffrey's head."

"And I'm Coley, Mr. Pryce, everybody calls me Coley."

"While we're at it, Coley old man, Roger said you'd explain the paraphernalia in those boxes. Please do so."

"With enthusiasm, sir! Y'see, I kept a record of my exits and entries over the past-" "Yes, old chap, the young fellow explained all that, your notebook, et cetera. What are you doing?"

"Well, a week and a half ago I got suspicious, I did. I drove down to Kent one morning-on a rather personal matter-and when I returned late in the afternoon I noticed that the potted azaleas on the front steps had been disturbed, several new buds broken off, actually, as if struck by something. I didn't think much about it; postmen and delivery people often carry large packages, if you see what I mean."

"But you thought enough about it to start keeping a record, is that right?" asked Pryce, studying the old soldier.

"That's it, sir. I wrote down the exact times whenever I left and reentered the house. Sometimes it was only for a few minutes, like down to the market and back, at others I'd wait around the corner for an hour or more to see if any bounder showed up."

"But no one ever did," said Cameron.

"No, sir, and that gave me an idea-in truth, it only struck me the other day. On Thursday, I picked up a phone in here, coughed loudly while pretending to dial, then spoke clearly, saying I'd meet a chap in Regent's Park around noon. I added some nonsense that could be construed as a code and hung up."

"The oldest infantry trick since radios were introduced into combat," said Pryce.

"The assumption based on the probability that the enemy had zeroed in on your outer frequency."

"That's right, sir!"

"Let me finish your scenario. You drove to Regent's Park, picked up a car on your tail, parked, and waltzed through the paths until you saw who was following you-" "You're bloody right, sir!"

At that moment, the three-man intercept unit from MI-5 came down the staircase carrying their equipment. Ian, the team's leader, spoke while reaching the great hall's floor and glancing at his clipboard.

"We found two more in the attic, Sir Geoffrey."

"Coley, look!" shouted Roger Brewster.

"What, lad?"

"The equipment they're bringing down! It's like the stuff we picked up at your friend's shop in the Strand."

"So it is, Roger. Mi-Five wasn't far behind us. They simply got here before us."

"What do you mean, Coleman?"

"Bugs, Sir Geoffrey. There had to be listening devices all over the house! I damn well proved it."

"You proved it and we found them," said Waters, his voice low and laced with suspicion.

"Rather splendid if unusual timing, wouldn't you say?"

"I'm not sure what you said, sir."

"I believe we should have a look-see at your flat, Coleman."

"What for? The new equipment won't be installed for several days."

"We're interested in the existing equipment."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'll be blunt, old chap. This afternoon may be a brilliant performance on your part but I doubt you're aware of the latest technology in intercept tracking."

"I haven't the foggiest what you're talkin' about," said Coleman, his face beginning to flush with anger.

"The listening post for the devices in this house was determined to be in Lowndes Street. Your flat is in Lowndes Street. Need I say more?"

"If you're suggestin' what I think you're suggestin', your title and rank be damned, I'll tear your throat out!"

"I shouldn't advise that," said Waters as the MI-5 unit stepped forward as one.

"Bad form, old man."

"It's a hell of a lot better than yours, y'scum! Brigadier Daniel Brewster was the finest commander I ever served under. He was also the greatest friend I ever had, a friendship I would never have known if he hadn't saved my life in the mountains of Muscat, where the terrorists left me to die! When he passed on, I swore to me self I'd serve the family till m'last day on earth. So how dare you come in here spoutin' your garbage?"

"Your excellent acting is beginning to annoy me, Coleman."

"And your insinuations have got me blood boilin', Sir Hogspit!"

"Cool it, both of you!" ordered Pryce.

"We can settle this very quickly.. .. Sergeant Major, have you any objection to Sir Geoffrey's checking your flat?"

"No, of course not. Asked like a gentleman, I would have said so before."

"When were you last home?" pressed a somewhat subdued Waters.

"Let's see now," answered Coleman, "the children got here late yesterday, and I've been staying upstairs, so it must have been three or four days ago when I checked on my mail. The computerized alarm records, if they're accurate, will show that."

"There. See, it's settled," said Cameron, turning to the MI-5 chief.

"Get the entry code and send your team over, Geof."

"Well, I may have been hasty, Coley, old fellow, but the evidence seemed pretty firm, y'know."

"Yes, well, Lowndes is a pretty big street. Also, I may have been a touch hasty m'self-I try to be more disciplined with my superiors.

Sorry about that."

"Think nothing of it, old chap. I'd have done the same."

"Hey, Coley," Roger Brewster interrupted.

"I like Sir Geoffrey, but he's not your 'superior." He's a civilian and so are you."

"Right!" Angela chimed in.

"I'm thoroughly chastised," said Waters, a warm gleam in his eyes.

"It's hardly the first time. However, except for discovering the bugs, we're back where we started."

"I wouldn't say that, sir," objected Coleman.

"I didn't get a chance to finish, but I recognized one of the chaps who was following me in Regent's Park. He works for the alarm company, a repairman, and I think his name is Wally or Waldo, something like that."

"Run with it, Geof!" Pryce cried.

"Get your people on it. Find the guy, and dig up his whole enchilada."

As if the impersonal instrument had been privy to the words spoken in Belgrave Square, Waters's cellular phone suddenly erupted from inside his jacket. The MI-5 chief pulled it out, pressed the button that stopped the ringing, and brought the phone to his ear.

"Waters," he said, then listened.

"You rang me at the right moment, Mark, I was about to call you, although on an entirely different matter." Sir Geoffrey removed a notebook and a ballpoint pen, began writing, and continued.

"Repeat that please, chap, and spell the names.. .. Oh, they're bona fides, you've researched them already. Very good, I'll be along in a bit.

Now, to the other matter." Waters proceeded to issue his instructions regarding a Wally or a Waldo employed by the Brewsters' alarm company.

"Dig deep but in silence." Waters replaced his cellular phone and turned to Cameron.

"Hereafter, Agent Pryce, this may possibly be in our lexicon 'the day of dual shortcuts."

" "Speak American English, Geof."