The Midnight Falcon

By G.J. Saunders

Give me a boat to sail and love to steer her by and I will find you.

Sachovia needs to re-establish their lost Monarchy. They have Princess Natasha in waiting, all they need is a close protection agent to bring her safely home but Colby is crippled by the scars of an old tragedy and only Valentina, a femme fatale from his past, seems to have faith in him...

• Language: English
• Publisher: G.J. Saunders
• Release date: Apr 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201194802

Book preview

G. J. Saunders.

Chapter 1

Following a successful education at Sandhurst, Colby Linden had taken a commission in the army and had risen through the ranks quickly. By his early thirties and already a Major, he had been one of a handful of  Special Forces men selected to assist the newly emerging government of Sachovia. After the collapse of communism, Sachovia was in an existential struggle to establish a modern democratic regime. For political reasons the UK government felt unwilling to overtly send troops but was convinced of the need to supply certain supportive equipment and a small number of Special Forces agents to assist in the development of what was hoped to become a small but strategically significant West-leaning state.

Colby's time in Sachovia had been successful, he had worked closely with agents of the local Security Bureau as they struggled with a civil war. Colby was eventually called back to Britain and left behind some close friends. One woman in particular had etched herself on his heart and hardly a day passed without him thinking of her as he watched from a distance with growing satisfaction as a tentative peace was finally returned to Sachovia.

Such a background in covert operations made Colby an ideal candidate for another brief mission. For reasons, which were thought important at the time, an agent was needed for a rescue mission. Colby had been chosen and despatched to attempt the recovery of the young son of Jarmal Khamis, a Saudi Consulate official. The child had been abducted for purely mercenary reasons: ransom. An eye watering sum had been demanded for his safe return. The sum may well have been paid, had the UK authorities not seen a potential political advantage in mounting a rescue mission. Major Linden's operation was a solo affair, meant to be under the radar, in and out before anyone could feel the breath of his intervention... But by his second day under the North African sun, it had all turned to custard.

It was not the stinging pain of his shoulder wound that hurt Colby the most, it was the thought that he had failed in his mission; that he had failed to keep the innocent child safe. Only nine years in the world and already the child was confronting his final minutes, his final journey. Colby had pulled the boy behind him, protecting his delicate frame with his own body, but as Colby stumbled as he took the bullet, the second shot had had taken the boy's life. The bullet that lodged deep in the Major's shoulder was seeping dark blood across his crisp white shirt. The stain on his self image was harder to deal with; it was a stain that he would carry for many years, marking him as a failure, culpable, untrustworthy. He could never bring himself to offer any excuse for what had happened. He should have foreseen the assassin standing in the doorway, it was his job to anticipate these things. He should have been aware of the danger lurking in the black shadows of the starkly bright sunlight. The assassin also lay dead now and Colby could take no satisfaction from the vengeance he had wrought on the young mercenary who had paid the price for his actions. He understood that the real villains, the ones who had organised the abduction, would be safely remote from the action, unseen, unnamed, untroubled.

There was nothing that Colby could do for the boy now, he lay still and pale, the bright sun seeming to fill his corpse with life where there was no longer any spark. Colby brushed the hair from the child's unseeing eyes with all the gentleness that the tragedy demanded. If it had been possible he would gladly have traded his own life for the boy’s. When he made the call, his mobile phone felt unnaturally heavy in his hands. The moment of silence from his commanding officer that greeted his words was deafening.

...We were relying on you for this Major. Extract yourself and get back to barracks. There will need to be an in depth debriefing of the affair. We'll inform the Saudi family and local authorities, to arrange transport to get the boy home.

Around Colby's neck, worn and polished smooth, was a silver chain that his grandmother had given him when he was still a child. He slipped it over his head and placed it around the boy's neck. In a moment of sublime irrationality he felt maybe it would keep the boy safe on his last journey. Passed down through the generations, Colby's grandmother had told him that the chain was magic, that it would always keep him safe just as it had brought her father home safe from the trenches of a conflict that had ripped the soul out of another generation.

Colby stood and turned, winced as he tried to move his arm. He could feel the warm blood running down his sleeve, dripping from his cold fingers. As he walked away from the scene of the outrage his vision was blinded by scalding tears, his emotions raged with anger and sadness. Then a dullness fell across his eyes; a dullness that would rob him of his bright military career and leave him broken. Following the enquiry, which absolved him of any culpability, Colby chose to resign his commission, became a civilian and eventually found work at a place he had known of for many years: Equis Security.

...

The years slid away and ex Major Colby Linden, now 42 still nearly handsome in a rugged slightly disreputable way, was feeling out-of-sorts. It was nothing specific, just the general malaise that had been his constant companion dating back to the loss of the Khamis child. He knew without too much introspection that the recent lack of stimulation from his job at Equis was also a contributing factor. Since leaving the military with his confidence shattered he had taken up the position at Equis with little enthusiasm. Equis Security was a company which dealt with all aspects of modern society's need of security: The mundane installation and monitoring of alarm systems, the escorting of vulnerable goods and personnel, the settlement of hostage situations and, when needed, the provision of close protection officers. Established in the sixties by Anthony Freeman, Equis had grown exponentially until it had risen to be the premium company in Europe in its rather specialist arena.

Anthony Freeman had known Major Linden since he was a young man. He had followed Colby's military career with interest and when his services came on the market, he had offered him a position at Equis. On the face of it this was a perfect match. Colby needed the work, needed to get his head below the radar for a while and Anthony needed the skills that the major could offer. He knew full well that Colby's spirit had been broken by the death of the boy and took it upon himself to help Colby regain his confidence.

Anthony Freeman took Colby under his wing, nurtured his emotional recovery and eventually made good use of the Major's skills. Colby soon became their operative of choice for any challenging commission. It was less than two years after Colby joined Equis that Anthony suffered a serious stroke which left him debilitated. His decline was rapid and within a month he was dead. Anthony's daughter Jane inherited Equis and took the role of chairwoman. She continued the growth and reputation of the company. Although Jane had known Colby since she was a girl, her life had suddenly become very complicated and the support that her father had given Colby seemed to have become lost in the translation to a new and younger head of Equis.

To make matters worse for Colby, it was around this time that the events that lead to Colby's resignation from the military, became public knowledge. The story had been unearthed by some hack from the tabloid press. He gleefully called the tragedy The Khamis Debacle. Searching for a villain, the tabloid journalist passed over the abductors and their hapless gunman who had fired the gun in panic. Instead he had settled on Major Linden as the most newsworthy target. It was claimed that the Major's incompetence was responsible for the death of the child during an intrepid, if ill advised, rescue attempt. Not only was Colby held to be culpable due to his negligence but a fabrication implied that he had accepted a financial incentive to place the child in a vulnerable position. The assertions were unfounded, without evidence but mud is a sticky substance, hard to wash away.

...

One evening after another day of tedium, Colby had sought the company of Penny Havers for an after work drink. They sat in a quiet corner of a local bar making small talk, neither quite sure that the drink represented a date in the true sense of the word.

Can I get you another? He asked. He was not a man who normally sought solace in the bottom of a glass but sometimes a little softening of the edges was unavoidably required. Penny hesitated just slightly too long which put Colby a little ill at ease with his companion. Eventually She responded.

You may Colby, but I hope this is not going to cost me more than I'm willing to pay. She slipped a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. A soft, pink rather engaging ear Colby noticed.

Penny, I would never consider trying to buy my way into your affections; not for the price of a vodka and tonic in any case. He brushed his fingers across her cheek in a genuine attempt at affection. Penny smiled and slid her glass across the table. No longer married, she twisted the third finger of her left hand that had once been imprisoned by her wedding ring. It was nothing more than a habit, a reflex action but Colby could not help noticing. He was trained to be observant.

Colby had been trying to get the rather attractive woman to accept his offer of a drink for months now. In a moment of self sacrificial pity or possibly just weariness she had finally capitulated; how much further she would let the evening go remained for the moment undecided. Her eyes scanned across his still athletic frame as Colby made his way to the bar. Many men of Colby's age would have sunk into a softly corpulent middle age by now. Colby had somehow kept himself fit, quite fit actually she had to admit. To Penny's eyes there was no doubt that he was attractive; dangerously so, but his physical attraction was tempered by a shabbiness that spoke of a yesterday's man and what she understood to be a seriously flawed personality.

As personal secretary to Jane Freeman, Penny had access to his file. What she found there, did not make a compelling case in favour of the man's character. He appeared to have a shadow over him and as a result seemed to have been sidelined from the elite team of agents into a rather secondary support role, a desk jockey. What surprised her was that Colby seemed to have accepted this as if it were all he now deserved. Penny found this not to be an attractive trait in a man.

On consideration as she watched him, not quite flirting, with the rather obviously buxom barmaid, she resigned herself to keeping Colby at arms length. He was just too flawed a proposition to risk getting involved with, despite the obvious attractions that rather urged her in a different direction. By the time Colby had extricated himself from the wayward barmaid and juggled his way back to the table with a vodka and tonic and a half of lager. He saw to his dismay that Penny's seat was empty. She had gone, leaving behind her just a slightly warmed leather chair and a lingering hint of Chanel Number 5.

Chapter 2

The following day, on a warm September afternoon Valentina Gussev made her entrance to the foyer of the Equis Security offices.

May I be of assistance? The receptionists asked with a deferential smile.

I hope so. Valentina returned the smile with a softness that may have betrayed a slight nervousness to a keen observer. I have an appointment with Henry Powell for two thirty... If you could let him know that I have arrived. Her English was impeccable, maybe the slightest of accents, possibly Scandinavian the receptionist thought. With blond hair and blue eyes she certainly had the caricatured look of an attractive Scandinavian woman.

One moment... She tapped briefly at the keyboard of her computer. You are Miss Gussev? She asked.

Yes I am. Valentina replied with a genuineness that offered no glimpse of the harshness of life she had endured in recent years.

If you could take a seat in the visitor's lounge I will tell him that you are here.

Henry Powell had been with Equis for five years and was a competent if unexceptional section manager. It took him three minutes to appear, slightly out of breath, at the glass doors to the comfortably elegant visitor's lounge. Valentina was perched on a leather chair and Henry thought he could detect some nervous tension emanating from the woman.

He held out his hand in greeting and escorted his visitor via a brief lift ride into a bright office that caught the afternoon sun. Powell twisted the blinds to soften the glare.

Can I offer you tea or coffee?

There was a pause before Valentina replied as if she were unaccustomed to such pleasantries.

Maybe a little water. She finally said.

Of course... Please take a seat. Powell filled an expensive looking crystal glass from the water cooler and handed it to Valentina before taking his seat. Now how may Equis help you, Miss Gussev?

Valentina sipped the cold water.

Before I say any more I need your absolute assurance that what I am about to tell you will be held in the strictest confidence.

That goes without saying Miss Gussev.

Well it would be nice to hear you say the words. Valentina offered him her most brittle of smiles. There was possibly shyness in the smile but behind it a glimpse of a steel core that made Powell reconsider his initial opinion of the woman.

Well of course you have my word that your business will be held in the strictest confidence, as is the case with all our clients.

I have done my research into your company and would not be here unless I was inclined to believe that Mr Powell. I represent the government of Sachovia and there is a delicate mission we wish to engage your firm's assistance in undertaking.

In what way can we help in this mission?

I do not know how familiar you are with the internal politics of Sachovia. I suspect you have scant knowledge of my country, but there is a popular move to re-establish a constitutional monarchy which my government is inclined to support. The heir to such a monarchy, and there is only one clearly identifiable surviving heir, is in exile. A direct descendant on her grandmother's side, she has been kept safe by my government in secret since the death of her elder brother. Many believe that her brother was poisoned by the anti-monarchists but the official story revolves around a fatal illness. We need to bring the child safely back home to Sachovia. In a country such as yours that would represent no problem, but for my homeland... Let's just say that the niceties of democratic ways have yet to be fully rediscovered. There is a powerful faction, supported in part by the opposition party that does not want to see the return of the monarchy. They are rather fanatical in their beliefs and we feel that an open return would be met by a concerted attempt on the girl's life.

Powell's eyebrows were raised a notch by the revelation.

I see, this sounds to be quite a complicated situation.

Yes, complicated on many levels. As monarchists there is only one chance – if Natasha Kashinka is assassinated then the links to the old dynasty would be lost forever. Short of inventing a new royal family, which seems preposterous, our hopes for re-establishing a monarchy would be lost forever.

Your story is fascinating, Miss Gussev... So I assume you are looking for a group of close protection officers to escort the child to Sachovia.

We would prefer to keep the operation very low key; we were thinking more along the lines of a single escort travelling with the princess incognito. We cannot risk the opposition becoming aware of what we intend. Once the princess is back home we feel that the people will rise to her support and we believe that the opposition to the monarchy will then evaporate. No party with political ambition would then risk an open attack once she was fully established back in Sachovia.

Until then you feel she would be a vulnerable target.

Very much so... The child is barely thirteen and would not have the resources to take care of herself. Sachovia, as you will know, has only recently embraced democracy and is still recovering from a debilitating civil war. We simply do not have the capacity to undertake this mission without expert professional help.

I fully understand your position. Powell nervously adjusted his tie. The fact is... I find myself a little out of my depth with an enterprise such as the one you have outlined. If you will permit me... I would like to take advice from a senior director.

As you wish Mr Powell.

If you could excuse me for just one moment.

Powell left the client in his office, paced across the hallway and tapped on Derek Penfold's door.

What is it Henry? You look rather flustered.

Henry quickly told him the gist of what his visitor had said.

OK Henry, you did the right thing... This is a job for Jane I think.

He picked up his phone and spoke to the company chairwoman in rather hushed tones.

Yes... in Henry's office... OK.

Derek put down his phone and turned back to Henry.

"She's coming down, you'd best go back and wait with the client.

Jane Freeman rode the lift down and emerged in the lobby of the sixth floor opposite Henry Powell’s office. Best described as petite, Jane Freeman stood five feet four in her tallest heels and weighed as much as a bag of sparrows. It would be a mistake however to consider that she was in any way frail. She wore a dark grey trouser suit and her hair was tied back in a simple short pony-tail. She tapped on the door as a courtesy and entered.

Hello Miss Gussev... Jane clasped the hands of the woman who sat cross-legged with an air of being removed from her comfort zone. I'm Jane Freeman, the chairwoman of Equis; the undertaking you have outlined is well within our capability but Henry was right in seeking advice for something with such a political frisson. Jane turned a smile on Henry. You can leave us to continue Henry; just close the door on the way out.

Henry was rather relieved but also slightly miffed at being ousted from his own office; he decided to take solace in a cup of coffee and maybe something sweet from the vending machine.

Valentina Gussev began her explanation as Jane Freeman listened intently.

"During the turbulent years, as the communist leadership melted away and our country was left rudderless... There was a need for... Some rather specialist undercover work. I was a rather naive twenty five year old back then and was fortunate to have briefly worked with a British officer who was part of a small advisory group sent to aid us. For understandable political reasons the United Kingdom Government was unwilling to overtly commit troops to our cause, but they could see the sense in assisting us in other less obvious ways. I worked in the field with Major Linden on a particular clandestine project... I understand that he now works for your organisation Miss Freeman?"

Colby?... Well yes but these days he has withdrawn from the limelight rather. There was an unfortunate incident while he still worked in the military.

Let me be blunt, Miss Freeman. I am familiar with Colby's apparent fall from grace. I did tell your Mr Powell that I had done my research. The fact is that the Sachovian government has continued trust in Major Linden. He served our country well and we like to keep our friends close. As a man of honour, one might reasonably assume that he chose to resign his commission, to deflect criticism from the special services. We are fully aware that he has fallen from grace but I'm sure neither of us is naive enough to believe what the gutter press has had to say regarding the loss of the child.

No of course not, the facts of the case are not under dispute, Colby was exonerated but his confidence took a beating. I fully accept that you have your reasons for wishing to work with Major Linden again but please bear in mind that he may no longer be the man you remember.

Valentina nodded.

I don't believe people ever fundamentally change, but the fact that he might now be considered less operationally trustworthy might suit us well. This mission will of necessity be clandestine and the lower the profile of those involved the less static they will generate and the less likelihood there is of alerting our adversaries; the mission needs to go undiscovered. Valentina paused and shifted her position in her chair. Miss Freeman, it is no secret that we need to bring the girl home; our enemies are resourceful and vigilant. They are waiting for an opportunity to strike. Should we for example engage an armoured car and a company of heavily armed men to escort her, the anti-monarchists would have little difficulty in mounting a military style attack long before reaching our borders, the same would be the case if we tried to air-lift her into the capital. We need to be discreet with Natasha's escort; the most unlikely man will attract the least attention and if he can bring our princess home unnoticed then my mission will be complete.

Your reasoning makes a good deal of sense to me Miss Gussev, but only if the man you chose as an escort is as competent as you assume Colby Linden to still be.

Well yes... I hope you are not suggesting that he is no longer a capable operative.

I would not go that far... Jane was suddenly alarmed to realise that she had no idea how Colby Linden was these days. In the early days after her father's death, she had often sought his wise counsel on difficult matters but somehow he had slowly slipped completely off her radar screen.

Miss Freeman, I have put my cards on the table, can we approach the minor matter of your fee should you wish to assist us?

The fee for our services depends on how much resources we need to apply to the operation. There will need to be a calculation before I can suggest any figure. What I can say is that we would expect a fifty percent advance, non-refundable in other than exceptional circumstances, with the balance payable on successful completion.

That would not be a problem. Sachovia's economy is starting to flourish... we will be willing to offer your company a substantial financial incentive if you are prepared to undertake this simple mission on our terms. We have assumed a figure not exceeding five million Euros.

Jane Freeman leaned back in her chair. Five million was an astronomical figure; much larger than any single contract had ever attracted before.

I'm sure we can accommodate you for a little less than that, Miss Gussev. Jane said as she successfully kept her burgeoning smile in check. I can fully understand your reasoning Miss Gussev and I can assure you that we are well equipped to satisfy your needs. The problem I have is with Mr Linden... I am not sure he would even be willing to undertake the job... A matter of confidence you understand. Although his early time with us was marked by success, his self assurance took a battering after the incident to which you have alluded and the similarities between that commission and the one you have proposed may be too much for him to accept.

I think maybe you underestimate Colby... Or am I wrong, do you maybe overestimate him?

Jane tapped her nails on the desk.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that... In any case I want to select the best man for the job. We have several low profile close protection officers who would be more than competent enough to escort a child across Europe.

We believe that Colby Linden is the best man for the job. I know for a fact that he would put his life on the line to protect Natasha... Would your alternatives make the same commitment?

Jane smiled, she was unused to negotiating with such a determined client but was unwilling to show how unsettled she had become.

"Look miss Gussev, let me talk to Mr Linden... If he is willing to undertake the commission then I will, with some reluctance, agree to your request. But you must understand that in this business, reputation is everything. Should Colby Linden be seen to have failed to protect one of our clients, then my company would lose reputation... I cannot let that happen... If you insist on using this man, then we may have to keep the involvement of Equis in the operation out of the public gaze.

That would not be a problem, Miss Freeman. So would Colby be available to speak with me now?... My instructions are to get this undertaking resolved as quickly as possible.

I would like to talk to Mr Linden in private first... Could we perhaps meet again tomorrow?

My schedule is quite tight, Miss Freeman... I suppose I could delay until tomorrow morning.

Can you be here at ten Miss Gussev? Or I could come to your Hotel... I will have discussed the matter with Mr Linden by then.

Valentina nodded with apparent satisfaction and indicated that she would return on the following morning. Jane elicited Henry Powell’s assistance in escorting her visitor back to the lobby and then quickly returned to her own office. She found her secretary under a mound of paperwork and asked her if she could call Colby Linden and ask him to come up to her office... Straight away please Penny.

Jane sat at her computer and brought up Colby's file. She had first met the Major when she was little more than a girl. It was at one of her father's dinner parties and she had been momentarily swept off her feet by his charm. She still had an undeniable soft spot for him. In her father's time he had been held up as an exemplar, the sort of man that should be head hunted by Equis. The Gussev woman, whatever her true motivation, had certainly got close to the truth in suggesting that Colby had made himself the scapegoat over the child's loss. As far as Jane was concerned, Colby had done all he could to complete the mission and save the boy. There was nothing to suggest any operational failure on Colby's part. Her musings were interrupted by the man himself.

Colby, come in, sit down. It's a while since we've spoken. He seemed to have aged since they had last met. Maybe the fact that he bore a day's growth of stubble on his cheeks and was wearing what appeared to be a suit that he might have inherited from his grandfather added to the rather down at heel appearance. She wondered if they were paying him enough. Her eyes scanned his file and alighted on the salary figure. She was appalled.

When did you last get a pay rise Colby?

Er... Not sure, money has not been a priority for me, Miss Freeman.

"Call me Jane for