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

those just happen to be villains and fences, is that it?”
    “You make your world sound so seedy, Jake. And no, it’s not just because of your acquaintance with those individuals of a criminal persuasion. It’s much more than that.”
    “I’m not happy about the Americans being involved, Dunstan.”
    “Oh come now, Jake. They’re not really involved and they’ve promised not to interfere. You’ve simply got to look at the broader picture – if we turn them down and don’t help out, they’ll simply send in their own people covertly. But if we do, it will bank a large number of brownie points with them and that’s always a positive thing, isn’t it?”
    “You’ve slipped back into that politico speak, Dunstan. Cut the crap.”
    “I’m sorry. But try and look at it this way: suppose it’s not HM Government, but the person who benefits the most from our help? At the very least it’ll take away any suspicion that he may have been involved in one of the largest art heists of the twentieth century. And he’s British, which in itself is enough for us to get involved.”
    “Is this painting valuable? I mean, is it really worth all the aggravation that it’s without doubt going to cause?”
    “Priceless at today’s valuation. But it’s not just the phenomenal value that matters, but who stole it and how it got to the UK in the first place.”
    Issy sat back, resigned. She already knew what was going to happen. And it had nothing to do with Dunstan Havelock, the Americans, a stolen Vermeer painting, any amount of money or any of these things. Dillon always had to think his way through the risk factors and the odds of achieving the objective.
    Dunstan knew this, as she did, and that it would be Dillon’s own assessment of both of these factors, along with his insatiable curiosity that would make his mind up. It would merely be a question of how much he wanted to get involved. And, knowing that Dillon was always searching for his next rush of excitement, the answer was a foregone conclusion. The job sounded like it would be a walk in the park for Dillon, and something that could be cleared up quickly. She only hoped that the sudden sense of apprehension she was feeling, indicated the same.
    “Why is it that you even bother to ask for my opinion when you’ve already made up your mind about something? Don’t get me wrong, Jake. I love the fact that you want my opinion, but you’re so annoying when you do that,” she said, and glanced sideward at Dillon. They were sitting in the back of a cab returning to Dillon’s converted warehouse loft apartment on the banks of the Thames.
    “I love you.” The words sort of tumbled out of Dillon’s mouth, and were completely spontaneous.
    “What?”
    “I said I love you.”
    “Are you drunk, or feeling unwell or something?”
    “No. It’s just that I wanted you to know, that’s all.”
    Issy’s arms went around Dillon’s neck, burning lips brushed lightly against his with impatient passion. And then, as quickly, she broke the embrace, gently caressing his face for a moment, before saying, “I wouldn’t want to lose you, Jake. Not for anything.”
    “I know. And you don’t have to worry; I promise to be careful.”
    “But that’s the problem, isn’t it? Understandably, I do worry, and it’s because the work you do is likely to get you killed one of these days. But hay ho; you’re the only one who can do anything about that.”
    Dillon knew what was about to come and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, I promise that I’ll have a quiet chat with Sir Lucius after this assignment. Perhaps he’ll take pity on me and give me one of those nice safe desks to sit behind.”
    Before Issy could reply, the taxi pulled up outside the apartment building.
    Dillon walked across the open plan living area, pulled back one of the large glass panels, went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a single malt whisky before going out onto the terrace. He stood