Shroud of Concealment (Jake Dillon Adventure Thriller Series) Read Online Free

Dunstan?” Dillon asked pointedly.
    Havelock, unruffled, turned urbanely to Issy. “One might be forgiven for thinking that he’s asking after my dear wife simply out of concern or perhaps even politeness. But it’s nothing of the sort, my dear. It means that he doesn’t trust the purpose of this exquisite meal or the opulence of this fine eating establishment that we now find ourselves in. The mistrusting swine.”
    Isabel Linley, a stunning forty-year-old with a high-flying career in international corporate law, winked but added seriously, “Isn’t that what’s kept him alive all this time?”
    Havelock turned back to Dillon. “Rachel is in Monte Carlo. She’ll be back in a day or two. And, of course, you’re right. There is something that I’d like to pass by you. Might be of interest to Ferran & Cardini, but I’ll let you run it by Edward Levenson-Jones. Would you be interested?”
    “In which case it must be either extremely dangerous, or of an extremely sensitive nature, as usual. Otherwise you would have gone straight to the security services with it.”
    Issy was not only Dillon’s friend and lover, but she was also his greatest admirer and protector since their university days.
    “Now, would I have enticed you along, Issy, if it was anything sinister?”
    Havelock caught the attention of a passing waiter, and ordered another bottle of Bollinger.
    “It’s nothing more than a little snooping around, that’s all.”
    “Then why not let the police deal with it?” Dillon asked.
    “The Home Secretary feels that it’s not for MI5 or even the police to be involved with. He would prefer that Ferran & Cardini took the brief, especially as we would rather keep it under tight wraps. You know that we have high regard for the integrity of the firm, but more importantly, we trust you. And there are few we can say that of.”
    “And you don’t trust your own security service to take it on?”
    Havelock poured vintage Champagne into finest cut crystal. “It’s not their cup of tea, so to speak, Jake. And please don’t think that you’re second best, because you know better than that.”
    “And this comes straight from the Home Secretary, does it?”
    “Well, yes and no.”
    “Which is it, Dunstan. Yes or no?”
    “The Home Secretary does know about it, but the request comes from Simon Digby at MI5.”
    “You are kidding me. That loathsome cockroach. The irony of it. We’ve only just crossed swords over who the new European Network should be reporting to.”
    “You know very well that Digby is only doing his job, and, furthermore, I’m positive that he holds no malice towards you personally. What I can tell you is that he’s had this thrown upon him by MI6. And that he’s now trying to do a favour for our friends across the pond”.
    “The Americans? I should have known. Why can’t they deal with it themselves?”
    “Because the problem appears to be on our soil. I need not have mentioned their involvement, Jake. But, I’m trying to be as honest with you as I am allowed to be.”
    Dillon gazed across the table.
    “There was a time when you didn’t have to try, Dunstan.”
    Dillon finished his glass of Champagne and controlling his agitation, placed the glass ever so gently onto the table.
    “You should know by now, Dunstan, that nothing annoys me more than being taken for a complete fool. Why is it that I’m the one who’s always offered the shit jobs that the police and the security services don’t want? And I suppose that you’ve already spoken to the partners and that they told you to run it by me.”
    “Oh, now look here, Jake. Firstly, it was Sir Lucius Stagg whom I spoke to, and I most certainly do not think that you’re anybody’s fool. But, point taken. And yes, he did tell me to talk directly to you and that, if you said no, well then that would be the end of it.”
    Dillon looked round at Issy, who was sitting beside him.
    “And what do you think of all this?” he asked