Assassins Read Online Free Page A

walk away.
    Intellect clashed with emotion as Ravinder tried to rationalize. He was aware Edward was right; there was no one who knew Leon better. And Ravinder could easily visualize the consequences if Leon succeeded in killing either Zardosi or Masharrat on Indian soil; the severity was an undisputed nine on the Richter scale. Indo-Pak relations were always precariously teetering on the edge of a deadly cliff; the slightest push could unleash the dogs of war. The thought of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors was terrifying. However, Ravinder’s emotional flux and insecurity maxed even that.
    â€œNo, Edward. Perhaps it is not. I’m sorry.” Ravinder stood up and moved away, suddenly eager to distance himself from the spymasters. Though unable to suppress a twinge of guilt, Ravinder was firm, hardened as much by his mistrust of Kurup as by his desire to steer clear of anything to do with Binder. “I do understand the magnitude of the problem, but I want nothing to do with it.”
    Kingsley opened his mouth to protest. And Kurup looked as though he were about to explode. That’s when Kurup’s mobile began to ring.

 
    FOUR
    Fatima Basheer could appreciate neither the luxurious fourth-floor suite of Delhi’s Maurya Sheraton hotel she’d checked into on arrival from London fifteen minutes ago, nor the beautifully landscaped garden outside her window. She was hyperventilating; her worst fear, that Binder would refuse to proceed with the mission, was coming alive. She’d been dreading that since she had discovered Cherry Rehmat, the SOB financial controller, had leaked information to MI6 about their hiring Binder.
    â€œIf there is a leak at your end I will call it off and keep the retainer.” She remembered Leon’s warning when he had taken on the assignment.
    â€œWhat exactly did he say, Mr. Verma?” She tiredly rubbed her well-sculpted face, for once unmindful of the makeup. “Tell me again.” Worry lines creased her peachy skin. Even her lush black waist-length and usually immaculately coiffured hair were disheveled. Right now she was showing every one of her forty-four years.
    Mindful of the huge sum of money Fatima had promised him, and aware he was already in too deep, Ashok Verma, deputy director NIA and one of Kurup’s principal aides, stifled his exasperation and repeated, “Very little actually … once I told him you were reaching Delhi today.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYes. He was livid about the security leak at your end.”
    â€œDid you tell him that we have…” Fatima floundered, searching for palatable words. She hesitated to say it out loud, though she had felt great satisfaction in having Cherry killed. “… ensured there would be no further leaks?”
    â€œI tried. I did everything you asked me to, but he did not seem inclined to listen.” Uncomfortable with such a dangerous conversation on his office phone, Ashok was in a hurry to end the call. “He said the damage had already been done.”
    Fatima sensed his reluctance to talk. Exhausted by the long flight from London and already freaking out at this latest setback, she snapped out of control. “Tell me exactly what he said,” she hissed coldly, wanting to remind Ashok she was in charge.
    It did.
    Now regretting that he had allowed himself to be talked into this thankless task of being the conduit between Binder and Basheer, Ashok elaborated. “ He said that since MI6 and the NIA have been alerted, it would be too risky to even make an attempt. Not to mention the Special Task Force hunting for him.”
    â€œBut did you remind him that there are only five days left and now that we have eliminated Goel, the task force chief, they are completely disorganized … hardly in a position to stop him?” But Fatima realized the futility of this conversation; it was Leon, not Ashok Verma, she needed to