man in an expensive suit talking at a news conference. Tina recognized him instantly. It was Garth Crossman, wealthy businessman and husband of one of the coffee-shop bomb’s victims. He was telling the assembled reporters of his much-publicized plan to form a new independent political party that would campaign on a pro- business, anti-crime platform. ‘Our People First’ was his slogan.
She slowed down to watch it. Crossman sounded passionate as he talked about his dead wife and his desire for her not to have died in vain.
The barman was watching him too, as was a customer sitting on one of the stools. There was something in the way he spoke that grabbed people’s attention.
‘I reckon he’s going to be a real breath of fresh air,’ said the barman, looking at Tina. ‘Better than the rest of that bloody shower in Westminster.’
‘Who knows,’ she said, and turned away to follow Mike out of the door.
But something Fox had said to her just before she’d shot him suddenly crossed her mind, and she stopped.
Mike turned round. ‘What’s wrong, Tina? Having second thoughts about my curry?’
She remembered something else Fox had said, when they’d first met in the prison interview room. He’d told her that the ultimate aim of The Brotherhood was to get into politics.
Could Garth Crossman be something to do with them?
She dismissed the idea immediately. She was getting paranoid.
‘Course not,’ she answered, smiling at Mike. ‘I’m starving. Come on, let’s go.’
She slipped her arm through his, and they walked out of the door together into the last of the day’s dying light.
