The Alex King Series by A BATEMAN (free ebook reader for ipad TXT) ๐
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- Author: A BATEMAN
Read book online ยซThe Alex King Series by A BATEMAN (free ebook reader for ipad TXT) ๐ยป. Author - A BATEMAN
Undoubtedly.
โI think itโs a good idea,โ he said. He touched her hand. โI know you need to do this.โ
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him closely. Her breath was warm in his ear and her perfume, the way it clung subtly to her body, stirred him. He pulled back and kissed her, but he could already tell she was in Georgia. She was with Interpol, planning her first move.
โWhat will you do?โ she asked. Her eyes were moist, and they glistened like diamonds, but it was more than that, there was renewed vigour, more life behind them. As if his consent, or at least acceptance of it had lifted her.
โWell, if MI5 are handing out sabbaticals, I think Iโll take one of my own,โ he said. He watched the television screen for a moment. The Russian president was waving at the top of the steps about to board his plane back to Russia. He had conceded nothing. The recent biological attacks killing former KGB agents turned British informants had been vehemently denied. Deals had been restructured to secure pricing and supply of natural gas. It had been an awkward accord, but all the King could see was that Russia had taken a big slice of cake and eaten it in front of the rest of the world.
โSabbatical? You?โ Caroline said, almost laughing. โWhere would you go? What would you do?โ
King watched the man who had raped Helena Milankovitch turn and step from view into the airplane. Maybe fate always played a part in life. Maybe action and consequence were inextricably linked to fate. He watched the door to the plane close, the ticker-tape on the bottom of the screen round-up a summary of the Russian presidentโs visit. Could this one man have led to Helena having people killed, of taking Caroline prisoner? Of taking over the concessions of the other men who had been a part of it? Of the girls trafficked, heinously abused and dehumanised? And now, Caroline was a part of it. She had lived a nightmare, was going off to live many more in her quest to redress the balance and look for justice, a stop to this outrage. One manโs actions a dozen years ago, destroying and claiming so many lives all these years later.
King watched the plane taxi onto the runway. The ticker-tape highlighted the success of the presidentโs visit. King just saw a series of scraps the Russianโs had tossed a country who had to be seen to keep face but was desperate for what they could get in a post-Brexit world. A world where the alliance between the countries it once surrounded itself with were uneasy towards its new-found independence. Russia increasingly took no notice of NATO, America or indeed, the rest of the world. It was a country with no allies, no friends, and nor did it care. It was a country that bullied the world but heeded nothing. A country whose president merely shrugged at the footage of ballot-box discrepancies and of blatant vote rigging. A president who intimidated the opposition. Who failed to sanction investigations into the disappearance of his political opponents. A leader who merely did as he chose, dared countries to respond and taunted governments at their lack of resolve. A man who considered himself untouchable.
โDo you believe in fate?โ he asked.
โSort of,โ she replied. โI suppose thereโs a case for it.โ
King nodded. โDo you believe it catches up with you?โ
โWhat, like cheating death?โ
โI suppose,โ he said. โThe cards get dealt. Iโve known some of the best operators in the field catch an unlucky bullet. Iโve seen rebels with no training, discipline or skill fight and live through hell on the battlefield. Sometimes it just boils down to fate.โ
โYouโre sounding distinctly profound tonight,โ she said, digging him the ribs with her elbow. โAre you worried I cheated fate? Worried that my true destiny lies in Georgia?โ
King smiled. โNo. I think youโll take care of yourself.โ
She edged a little closer, rested her head on her shoulder and watched the television. The Russian presidentโs plane was nearing the end of its taxi to the runway. A picture of him appeared in the top righthand corner, the ticker-tape relaying his position on the discovery of biological nerve agents that killed the two Russian KGB defectors.
โSo, tell me more of this sabbatical idea,โ she said softly.
โI thought Iโd go to Russia,โ he said.
โRussia?โ
King nodded. โI hear itโs a beautiful country,โ he said. โMight be worth it.โ
โI guess so,โ Caroline paused. โBut donโt go worrying about fate. I donโt think you can change it anyway. When your time is up, your time is up.โ
King knew that was all too true. But he had commanded a degree of fate. He had served it up to many people over the years. Some deserving; others less so. Maybe you couldnโt beat fate, but you could guide it towards others.
โI agree.โ King stared at the picture of the Russian president on the
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