Chapter 9

Nate drove up to Gambilino's gate at exactly nine am and was met at the gate by four armed men, one of which climbed into his car with him and then instructed him to drive up to the main house. Nate did as he was told, then he was instructed to climb out of the car and submit to a search for weapons. Following that he was led into a room which contained a large wooden desk and four comfortable chairs spread out around the room. He was instructed to wait and then left alone as the man left and closed the door after him.

"Nate we are outside and in place to come in when needed." Eliot said over the coms.

"No Eliot you guys stay out no matter what, we need the info and if I don't get out you have to take it and find Sophie. I am trusting you Eliot." Nate said sotto voice. Before he could say anymore a tall well-built older man entered the room.

"Mr Gambilino." Nate said looking at the man. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"I would not say thank you just yet Mr Ford, I have not decided whether I am going to kill you or not." Gambilino said then walked round the desk and took a seat. Two men had followed him in, one of them indicating that Nate should take a seat and then they sat down too.

"All I want is information."

"I see, and to get that information you killed one of my men and injured two. Add to that my good friend Mr Johnny Bosch told me you killed one of his men and threatened him. I don't like it when my men are killed and my friend threatened Mr Ford."

"I understand, but I need that information." Ignoring the sounds from the coms at the news that the man on the boat was not the first Nate had killed in the last six months.

"What information could I have that you would kill for Mr Ford. From what I have been told you are not a killer, yet you seem quite efficient at it."

"You will find Mr Gambilino I am capable of a lot of things." Nate replied.

Gambilino kept his eyes on Nate weighing up the man. He had not had dealings with Nate before, but he knew his reputation and that of his team. However he was a Mastermind a planner not a Hitter so what had driven the man to doing what he had done.

"What information do you need from me Mr Ford?"

"Ah well you did a favour for a British man about a year ago. I want to know who that man was and what happened to the woman whose death he faked and took away." Nate said getting straight to the point and watching the man closely. He could see that Gambilino knew about the man of which he spoke.

"I see, well that is my business Mr Ford and I am not in the habit of sharing information about my business."

"But it is not…your business…" Nate said softly. "You just did a favour for somebody and I want to meet with that somebody."

Gambilino said nothing then nodded to one of his men who stood and pulled his gun placing it to Nate's head and cocking it.

"I don't think you understand your situation Mr Ford."

"Oh but I do. Now you can get your man to pull that trigger and I can't stop you." Nate said calmly. "The woman your friend took, the one whose death he faked, that was my wife. Now I don't much care if I die here today, but my team, whom I know you know, they will cause you more trouble than killing me is worth. I want that information so either kill me or give it to me, either way I am done here." Nate said and he could hear his people on the coms as they exploded cursing him for a fool and asking him if he had a death wish amongst other things.

Again Gambilino said nothing. For five minutes silence reigned, and Nate's team held their breaths, there was nothing they could do if Gambilino decided to kill Nate and they knew it.

"Very well Mr Ford." Gambilino said. "Because it is your wife you seek I will tell you that the man you are looking for is British, which you already knew, his name is Charles Kinnear. He is a high-ranking member of Britain's MI5 or at least he was."

"A spy?"

"Yes indeed a spy or a former one, he now works for whoever will pay. A favour for another friend of mine. As you know Mr Ford this world works on favours, now I have done you one."

Nate said nothing as he thought about what Gambilino was telling him, Sophie was taken by an MI5 operative, but why, for what purpose?

"I wish you luck Mr Ford in your search for your wife." Gambilino said standing up and nodding to his man who put his gun away and stepped back from Nate.

Nate stood and shook the proffered hand. Then turned and walked out of the room with one of the guards accompanying him to his car. Nate pulled out his earbud and picked up his burner phone.

"Nathan what is happening I have not heard from you."

"You are going to tell me what the hell is going on, who the hell you are and where my wife is." Nate hissed into the phone.

"What do you mean Nathan, I have been helping you try to find Sophie, I don't know where she is."

"Stop with the bullshit." Nate softly said his voice full of anger and cold as ice. "Tell me where Sophie is."

"Well Nate it took you long enough to figure it all out and I must say I am fairly disappointed in you." The man said suddenly realising that the game was up.

"Where is Sophie?"

"But Nathan dear chap our game is not over yet." The man replied."

"I will find Sophie and I will find you and I will kill you." Nate hissed out.

"You will try." The man said and hung up the phone.