Part 23 (2/2)
Sitting in the study, darkness falling outside, a gas fire burning in the Victorian fireplace, Holley fidgeted while waiting for the call. Selim had once again provided champagne, but Holley's was untouched. darkness falling outside, a gas fire burning in the Victorian fireplace, Holley fidgeted while waiting for the call. Selim had once again provided champagne, but Holley's was untouched.
”You really should drink up, Daniel,” said Selim. ”It'll help you relax. What's wrong? Can you tell me?”
”Not in any detail,” said Holley. ”It's just . . . I'm on the verge of satisfactory resolution to my job here, but-”
”But someone is interfering?”
”How do you know?” Holley asked.
”Because you always do things on your own. You hate any interference, and I can just bet that whoever you're doing this job for doesn't see it the same way.”
”We agreed that we should never meet, that we should only make contact by encrypted mobile, and just now I had some eager young b.a.s.t.a.r.d, together with a sergeant the size of a brick wall, try to put me in a car in Kilburn.”
”Ah, a sergeant. The military's involved, then. Men in uniform, they need to take charge, give orders.”
”Well, not to me.” Holley took the gla.s.s and drank it down in one gulp.
”So what did you do?”
Holley reached to the ankle holster and took out the Colt .25 and laid it on the bra.s.s table. ”Shot the Sergeant in the back of the hand as he gripped the wheel and left his captain to struggle back to the Emba.s.sy with him.”
”Wonderful.” Selim smiled. ”That's the best thing I've heard in years. You're a lone wolf, Daniel, the most dangerous beast in the forest.”
Holley's mobile sounded. It was Caitlin. ”Can we talk?”
Holley glanced at Selim, who pointed to the kitchen, picked up the bottle of champagne, and went out.
”I'm with a friend, but you can speak now. How did it go?”
”They went for it completely. And listen to this: we've already had a stroke of luck. It seems that Ferguson's usual car was damaged in a minor accident last week, so it's away for repair. Henry Pool said it's common knowledge amongst the other drivers because Ferguson was very angry.”
”So he thinks he can be the replacement car?”
”Absolutely certain. Pool says if he asks for it, he'll get it. The dispatcher is an old pal of his.”
”He's not concerned about the hazard?”
”He said it's common to leave pa.s.sengers in the limousine to run errands for them, get a newspaper or cigarettes or sometimes a bottle. He'll nip out, set off the bomb, and no one will be the wiser.”
”And the others are just as enthusiastic?”
”Yes, Docherty is quite happy about handling the Dark Man situation. He lived in Wapping years ago and knows his way round down there.”
”And Murray?”
”No problem. He's going to put a suit and tie on, drive up to Cambridge in the morning with the photo, find where Monica Starling lives, and put a face to the name.”
”And Cochran?”
”He said that he seemed to have less to do than anyone. If I can't find a way to break into a house inhabited by two spinster ladies, he said, I should be ashamed of myself.”
”Excellent. Call Barry and Flynn, too, tell them the good news, and give them the following name: Mikhail Potanin. Have you got that?”
”I've written it down.”
”He is a very experienced guy in this kind of business, and he'll be in touch with them. They have nothing to fear. He'll help in any way he can. This Friday in New York is definitely on.”
”Yes, I've got all that.”
”Get on to them right now. And . . . thanks, Caitlin.”
He called Chekhov next. It sounded like there was a party going on in the Park Lane apartment: music, female laughter. It sounded like there was a party going on in the Park Lane apartment: music, female laughter.
”It's me,” Holley told him. ”What's going on over there?”
”Daniel, old son. Just a few friends.”
”Are you drunk?”
”Never that, Daniel. You insult me as a Russian.”
”We need to talk.”
”And we shall. I'll go into my study, close the door, and silence the chattering of fools.” There was a movement, a certain banging, and the noise died. ”How can I help?”
”Everything's dropped into place. Caitlin and her cell will swing into action here on Friday. As we speak, she's confirming with Barry and Flynn that it's on for Friday. I'll give you their phone numbers.”
Chekhov said, ”If I press a b.u.t.ton, I'm recording this, so just tell me.”
Holley did. ”I'm dropping this in Potanin's lap to watch over them, make sure they're up to it-and, if necessary, clean up any messes.”
”Don't worry, Daniel, he's done this kind of thing many times before,” Chekhov said.
”I gathered that, but make sure he realizes it's serious business. I hear you had Ivanov on your case?”
”He gave me a call, I asked him if he'd spoken to you, and he said not yet. I get the impression he doesn't exactly trust you.”
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