Chapter 4 A dangerous game

"Could you h'oblige me with the loan of an 'airpin, yer ladyship?" Parker stood with one hand on the doorknob of the room that, according to the tracking device, contained the missing laptop. Penny passed him the required article, all the time scanning the hotel corridor for passers-by. Once inside the room, Parker quickly located the safe and began to lay out his tools.

"Do you think this will take you long?" Penny queried. They had already ascertained that the room was empty, but had no idea when its occupant would return.

Parker shook his head, scornfully. "A crib like this? I could crack one of these standin' on me 'ead."

Penny remained on look-out by the door, while Parker worked. After a few minutes he gave a little grunt of satisfaction as the safe door opened. Just then Penny heard footsteps approaching along the corridor, and a key was inserted into the lock. The door opened to reveal a burly man, who stopped in the doorway as he caught sight of Parker kneeling with his head in the safe.

The curse that came from his lips was cut short as Penny, standing behind the door, stepped forward and pressed a slim cylinder to his thick neck. "I'm sorry, honey," she murmured in her Texan drawl, " but there is no such thing as honour among thieves." There was a hiss, and the man collapsed unconscious to the floor.

Penny bent to feel his pulse then straightened up. "Quickly now, Parker. That hypodermic is good for an hour – a little souvenir from my last employers. I don't think we need worry about our friend here reporting the robbery, but we can't risk staying here just in case he recognises you. We'd better gather our things and check out of the hotel. I can contact Mr Tracy and have him arrange a rendezvous to collect his property."

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Less than an hour later, Penny's car was speeding along the autobahn. Jeff had been delighted with the news. "My eldest son is on his way to meet you already. He's heading for a small private airstrip about 90km north of Vienna. He'll be on this frequency if you want to contact him when you get there"

Penny sat back in her seat, reflecting on the events of the past 24 hours. It brought back the excitement she had enjoyed in her old secret service days. Maybe she should think about getting back into something like that. She looked at the back of Parker's head. "Parker, when we get back to England, how would you feel about working for me on a permanent basis? I am in need of a new butler-cum-chauffeur, and might find a use for your 'other talents' as well."

Parker glanced at her in the rear-view mirror and opened his mouth to reply.

Just then there was a loud crack and the car swerved violently. "Blimey! " he exclaimed. "Someone just took a pot-shot at us!" He pressed hard on the accelerator and their car surged ahead.

Penny turned to look at the dark blue car that was pursuing them. "How inconsiderate! How am I going to explain bullet holes to the hire company?" She recognised the figure from the hotel bedroom. The man must have the constitution of an ox to have recovered from the drug so quickly.

In the car behind, the Hood gripped the steering wheel with one hand as he aimed the gun again. When he had awoken, he had remembered the American woman's voice. So much for the rich millionaire – he now realised she must be working for some other government, out to steal the plans for nothing.

Luckily, the autobahn was deserted at that time of night, as Parker weaved back and forth across the lanes in an attempt to keep out of the way of the bullets coming from the car behind. As he did, Penny extracted a small pistol from her handbag and, winding down the window, leant out to return fire. Parker couldn't help but admire her coolness.

"The trouble is," said Penny, as she pulled herself back inside, "that when you're shooting from a car, you have to do so at an angle. Ideally, one could do with a car that could do the shooting itself." She paused, tucking in a strand of hair, "then it wouldn't make such a terrible mess of one's coiffeur." She pulled out the small radio that Jeff had given her. "I think it might be time to call for reinforcements. "Hallo there," she said into the radio, conscious that it was not a secure line. "This is English Lady to eldest son. Come in please."

The radio crackled, and a rich, deep voice answered. "Eldest son here. I'm just on my final approach to the airfield. Where are you?"

"We're on the autobahn, about 10km short of the turn-off, but we're having a spot of bother and wondered if you could help." Quickly she summarised the situation.

"OK, your ladyship, I'll be with you in a few minutes."

Parker continued his weaving and dodging, then suddenly the drone of an aircraft engine could be heard above them. Penny watched as the small blue light aircraft flew past to their left, made a steep turn then came in low, cutting between them and the pursuing car, causing it to swerve wildly.

"Cor!" exclaimed Parker. "'e can't 'alf fly that thing."

"The pilot must have nerves of steel," agreed Penny. "Look, he's coming round again." The plane had flown ahead of them, but now turned and came back. In a swift movement, it lifted over Penny's car and dropped almost to road level behind them in a deadly game of chicken.

The Hood suddenly found himself faced with oncoming death in the form of several tons of screaming metal heading towards him at over a hundred miles an hour. He pulled the steering wheel sharply, and the car veered off the road and down the embankment. The plane lifted into the air, turned again and flew over Penny's car, waggling its wings as it did so.

Just then, Parker saw the turn-off for the airfield and followed it. In a few minutes they were turning in through the gates, just as the small blue plane taxied to a stop at the end of the runway. Parker pulled up beside it.

The cockpit opened and a figure stepped out. "Hi," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Scott Tracy."