“I told her you were in London. She’s suspicious that she can’t get hold of you on your mobile.”
“Damn.”
A L L T H E C O L O R S O F D A R K N E S S
2 3 9
“I had no choice, Alan.”
“I know. I know. It’s not your fault. I just didn’t think it would all turn to shit so soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter. Just be careful, Annie.”
“That’s what she said, too. And she told me to pass on the same warning to you. She also said you’re the sort of person who does the opposite of what he’s told.”
“So she knew I’d continue the investigation on my own time. She planned on it all along.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Annie said. “But she’s not surprised.”
“I don’t like what’s happening.”
“There was one more thing.”
“What?”
“When she’d finished, Gervaise seemed interested, seemed to think we’d actually got something. She even mentioned that the spooks knew how to use all sorts of psychological weaponry against people.”
“Jesus Christ. She didn’t tell you to lay off, then?”
“Well, she sort of did. Rather she told me the
“Annie, you can get out of this right now,” said Banks. “Just back off and be seen to throw all your energies into the East End Estate business.”
“You must be joking.”
“I’ve never been more serious.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Come home, maybe. You know, what I could really do with right now is a cigarette.”
Annie laughed. “Well, it probably wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen to you. I’m on my third pint of Black Sheep all alone in the snug of the Horse and Hounds.”
“I don’t know what your plans are,” Banks said, “but why don’t you call Winsome, stay at her place tonight?”
2 4 0 P E T E R
R O B I N S O N
“You know, I might do just that,” said Annie. “I’ve certainly had too much to drink to drive home, and it would be nice to have the company, if she’ll have me.”
“I’m sure she will,” said Banks. “Give her a ring.”
“Okay, boss.”
“I’m serious. Remember, be careful. Good night.”
Annie started to say something, but Banks pressed the end-call button. He thought about turning off the phone altogether, then he realized it probably didn’t matter with the new pay-as-you-go. It didn’t really matter with anything, when it came down to it, he realized. If they wanted to find him, they would find him. Or anyone else he came into contact with. They obviously knew he was still working on the case against their orders, and the mess at Sophia’s was a subtle attempt to warn him off. He couldn’t even call Brian. They obviously must know that he had a son and a daughter and an ex-wife, just as they knew about Sophia, but there was no sense in bringing Brian openly into the thick of things. Going to see him tonight would simply be marking him out for special attention.
Banks sat with his hands on the wheel. He didn’t think he had ever felt so alone in his life. He was beyond even music. There wasn’t a song in the world that could alleviate or accompany the way he felt right now. Drink was a possibility. Oblivion. But even that somehow seemed pointless. In the end, he started the car and drove. He had no idea where he was going, only that he had to move on. Bad things happened when you stood still for too long in this game.
13
BANKS DIDN’T FEEL ANY BETTER AT NINE O’CLOCK ON
Friday morning than he had when he had finally fallen asleep at three-thirty. After driving around for an hour or so the previous evening, keeping a close eye on his rearview mirror for any telltale signs that he was being followed, he had checked into the first decent hotel he had seen. He realized as soon as he offered his credit card that if anyone was really serious about tracking him down, that would do it.
By then, he was just about ready to stop caring.
He had thought of going to Mohammed’s B-and-B, but the idea of waking up in a room like the one Derek Wyman had usually rented when he was in town, or even in the
Physically, he felt okay after a long shower and a pot of room-service coffee.
Over a latte and a cranberry muffin at a nearby Cafe Nero, Banks jotted down a list of things to do that
