Free Shroud of Concealment (Jake Dillon Adventure Thriller Series) by Andrew Towning

Regiment. From another section, he picked up an assortment of theatrical props, including various wigs, false beards to match, and an assortment of hats, jackets and trousers. He placed everything into a large canvas holdall, and walked back out to where Vince was sitting on a swivel chair at a long workbench.
    “Strewth mate, you must be worried,” he said, delving his pudgy hand into the holdall. “Where are you going, a fancy dress party?”
    “Let’s just say that Jake Dillon may need to disappear for a while, and quickly, without any hassle,” Dillon remarked.
    He picked up the holdall, and walked off to his office to phone Issy. He asked her to run a check on Hart through the national legal database to see if he might have an involvement, or sit on the board of directors, of any UK companies. He hung up before she had a chance to say no or argue with him. He logged on to the firm’s secure server and instantly,the computer screen in front of him opened with the Ferran & Cardini home page. He clicked on one of the icons and was immediately viewing the latest update of ‘who’s who’ in the UK and Europe, but found nothing on Charlie Hart. It was becoming clearly apparent to Dillon that Hart was something of an enigma and most likely wanted it to stay like that.
    Dillon drove back across the city to his home, parked and carried the canvas holdall inside, dumping it in the guest bedroom in case Issy saw it. He went round the apartment checking all window locks, and tested the alarm; he was becoming paranoid, which annoyed him.
    He went into his study and mused over the plans for the next stage of the theatre’s refurbishment. That evening he cooked pasta, finding this an immensely enjoyable way to unwind at the end of a busy day.
    When Issy came home she found Dillon in the kitchen, went straight to him and gave him a big hug and kiss and then led him through into the living room for a well-deserved pre-dinner drink.
    “Dinner will be another five minutes, I’m waiting for the Pappardelle to cook.”
    “Pappardelle?”
    “Tagliatelle to you. Got it fresh from Max at the Italian restaurant round the corner.”
    “And what do you call this dish of yours?”
    “I hadn’t really thought of naming it. It’s simply Pappardelle, with skinless fillets of smoked trout, flaked into large chunks, tomatoes and garlic. Oh, and a tad of what Max calls ‘his secret seasoning’.”
    “Sounds interesting, but I’ve got something important to tell you. Charlie Hart had one of his people contact me today.”
    Dillon almost choked on his single malt whisky. Before he’d recovered, Issy added, “He, through his intermediary, wanted to know if I would be interested in taking on some work for him.”
    Dillon didn’t say anything for a while, then he asked, “And what did you say?”
    Issy laughed.
    “He’s really got to you, hasn’t he? And I do believe that he’s actually outsmarted you, Jake Dillon.”
    She sipped at her gin and tonic and then added, “That element of uncertainty that you like to have over your opponent. He’s playing the same game.”
    “Then he will not be expecting you to turn him down, will he? And be in no doubt about one thing: he’ll compromise you if you do anything for him. You know as well as I do that he’s only approached you for one reason – to antagonise me.”
    Dillon took a gulp of his drink
    “Well, he’s certainly done that, hasn’t he? Just listen to yourself and the state you’re getting into over it all.”
    “It simply doesn’t add up, Issy. Why is he taking this all so personally and what’s he got to hide? Because that’s the real issue here.”
    “I agree, he is an odd one. But to be honest with you, Jake, I like the sound of what he wants me to undertake. It’s right up my street, and the fee income wouldn’t go amiss either. One or two of the more senior partners have been rattling their sabres at my lack of new client input. Apart from Ferran &