Disclaimer: I own nothing. except the idea, and all 7 books
Blunt is revealed....
He had waited so long for the intelligence that his board members had given him, and when the time came he had struck with lightning reactions, leading to the death of a rising star's career, and the real death of the golden boy of his organisation. No one would believe that that the head of MI6's Special Operations was also the CEO of the world's largest terrorist organisation.
Then came the news that Rider had survived Albert Bridge, even when the sniper had fired a live round. He had pretended to plan everything with his analytical mindset, but he was really annoyed. Then came the final strike. He had set Anthony Sean Howell up with Rothman, told him the date, the time and the location. Ash had finally succeeded. He was almost ecstatic with joy. Almost. Because Ian Rider claimed the guardianship of his test subject, the one who he had waited for.
Time passed, and with each mission the Rider luck prevailed, as Ian managed to survive the many traps and pitfalls he created. At Gunpoint, he had his remaining 10 board members send a hit squad, with the cover to steal the Iraq/Afghanistan withdrawal information. They had failed.
Then as a last resort he had sent the young protégée of John Rider to clear the mess, Yassen Gregorovitch. He succeeded, killing Ian in an ambush not far from Sayle's headquarters.