Meltdown Read Free Page B

manufacturing drugs, but it was
absolutely empty; we don't understand where and
how they're making Meltdown. And the distribution
network is also a complete mystery. I'm
absolutely sure there's at least one much bigger fish
somewhere in Europe who we need to identify
and net. I'm convinced that the only way to get
everything we want is by infiltrating the twins' setup.
But it must be done quickly.'
    Danny was still by the door. He leaned back
against the wall. 'We?' He nodded towards his
grandfather but continued speaking to Dudley.
'I can see why you want him, but where do I
fit in?'
    Fergus answered the question before Dudley
could reply. 'We're a team, Danny. I'm not going
anywhere without you.'
    'We'll mention in the newspaper reports that you
also played an important part in Operation Black
Star,' said Dudley quickly. 'You could be very
useful.'
    Danny laughed cynically. 'Useful? What you
really mean is, if you want my granddad, you have
to take me too. Yeah, that's really useful. And there's
something else you haven't mentioned,
isn't there?'
    Dudley knew what was coming but he waited for
Danny to continue.
    'What about Deveraux? Is she part of this?'
    Dudley sighed. 'You know, I really am truly sorry
about your friend, Miss—'
    'Yeah, right,' snapped Danny. He didn't want to
discuss Elena with Dudley. After all, he had played
his part in her death, even if he hadn't pulled the
trigger. 'Deveraux . . . is she part of it?'
    'Not at all. Miss Deveraux is no longer with the
Security Service.'
    'So where is she?'
    'I think she was expecting to take over my
job. When that didn't happen, she returned to the
Secret Intelligence Service, concentrating on
overseas operations rather than our problems at
home. I'm told she's doing extremely well. This is my initiative, and if you take the job, you'll be
working directly under my control. When it's over,
if you want to, you can walk away, your names
finally and completely cleared. You'll be free to do
whatever you want and go wherever you want to
go. No more looking over your shoulder to see who
might be following.'
    Fergus put down the coffee mug he had been
nursing and looked at Dudley. 'Danny and me need
to have a few words alone.' He nodded towards the
coffee pot that was still bubbling on the stove. 'Help
yourself.'
    It was cold outside the cabin and the shadows were
already beginning to lengthen. They walked
towards the lake and Fergus said nothing until they
were well out of earshot of the cabin.
    'It gives us a chance, Danny. To get this done and
then make a new start.'
    'Because we're a team?' said Danny sarcastically,
echoing the words his grandfather had used
in the cabin. 'Well, that's what I thought until
you let me and Elena down in New York. If
you'd told us you knew that Deveraux had killed
Elena's dad, then Elena would never have been
there. We'd have got out, and Elena would still be
alive.'
    'All right!' said Fergus angrily. 'I did what I
thought was right at the time! Op sec! That's the
way it works. And if you can't get that into your
head, then you might as well get a job stacking
shelves in a supermarket.'
    Danny was ready to fight back as his own anger
boiled over. 'Yeah, well maybe that'd be better than
being stuck here with you! I'm only here because of
you! Doing nothing. Walking up and down this
poxy lake until I know every rock and every
tree!'
    He picked up a stone and hurled it as hard as he
could, far out into the lake. They saw the splash as
it landed and the ripples that went spilling out in
every direction.
    'So this is a way out of here,' Fergus suggested
mildly. 'Let's do it.'
    Danny kept his eyes on the water as he spoke
again, more quietly now. 'Why should we trust
Dudley, after everything that's happened before?'
    'Because he's here. Once they found out where we
were, they could have taken us, Danny; sent a full
team to eliminate us. Dudley's here because he
needs us.'
    'He needs you,' said Danny, turning to look at his
grandfather. 'I'm not