even one like Stanton isn’t a good thing to do, that’s a fact. I’ll be glad to talk to Else find out what the right reactions are to doing this kind of work. It’s not what you expect is it?”
“Well I spoke to Else and she said that this isn’t the first time there’s been this level of death and destruction. There have been five or six times in the past when DIC has had agents in such danger and when agents have had to kill under diplomatic. She says it’s rare, but not unknown. We’re just unlucky to be the team on duty when it happened.” Ellie smiled at David when she said it.
She admired him, they all did. She felt camaraderie too. She, Tony and he had killed. She had been keen to get Cobb in revenge for Wally, a man she had admired too, but when she had she was swept over by nausea. She liked the way the killing had made David poignant in outlook. She also worried about Tony, who seemed breezy in spite of the ‘heavy burden of taking a life’. That had been Else phrase and she liked it. ‘The heavy burden’ which she was concerned Tony was carrying with too little effort.
“Listen has anyone got any ideas about where Stanton will pop up next?” David changed the subject in keenness to get the job done.
“We’ve talked it through. He can’t go to Priory Arms. We’ve got an armed team member there.”
“Who’s that?” David asked.
“Liam.” Tony answered.
“Sure I know the guy. So what will Stanton do?” David replied not to be sidetracked.
“Well if I was him I’d have got on a ferry at Dover and left.”
“That doesn’t suit the man I know.”
“You know him, you think?” Jaz exclaimed.
“I saw him on the Inverness CCTV footage, he didn’t stand out and was unclear on the film, he can blend himself in; he’s like a snake, deadly and invisible against the right patterned background. I saw him at Perth on the platform, looked into the eyes. He was bold and not at all panicked. He’s got this far because he’s slick. He’s experienced and a very cool customer. He climbed my roof, was unafraid of me when I had a gun on him and his eyes showed a determination you don’t often see in anyone but terrorist extremists. He’ll carry on. Not because he needs the money, or the help of the employer on this job to help him escape, but because he really believes he can do it. He’s something of a terminator Stanton.” David said clearly focussing his eyes on the face of Stanton in his mind’s eye as he spoke.
They all nodded.
“So assuming he’s coming to London what would he do?” Tony asked.
“Maybe he’s got a contact number or something, a back up place maybe.” Jaz shrugged as she spoke.
“Unlikely. We know his target is high profile so for a million the employer wouldn’t want to be linked so easily if any of them were caught. Add to that the fact that the landlord of the Priory Arms identified Cobb as having been there. There was only one meet point. Now it’s gone. What can he do?” Ellie said and picked up her coffee mug and took a reflective sip.
“You think you know him David, what would you do if you were him?” Tony asked and popped the last part of his sandwich into his mouth.
“I’m not sure, but think bold and clever that’d be the way.”
They were all silent for a moment and Jack Fulton approached them and pulled up a chair.
“I’ve got interesting news. We’ve identified one member of MI6 at the scene of Mason’s killing. I sent the photo to Liam at the Priory Arms on the off chance and the landlord recognised him as a regular.”
There were low whistles and expelled breaths.
“Yes. MI6 are linked to this which probably means Sternway. We’re not getting anything from the listeners, but we’ve got teams ready at four of his favourite cafes and restaurants. We may get something, in the meantime any ideas about Stanton?” Jack looked around at the group.
“We’ve just been discussing that.” David said.
“And?” Jacked looked at each of the faces of a group of what he knew to be very clever people.
“No ideas yet.” Tony replied.
Jack got up. “Well keep working on it. We’ve got one assassin left, we know MI6 are behind this, or at least involved in some way. I’d like us to be there waiting when Stanton gets to his target.”
Chapter 93
London
MI6 Offices
1-45 p.m.
April 19th
“Well any ideas?” Sternway sat back and spread his hands. Joe, Brook and a third operative, Telford, sat across from him looking sheepish.
Lionel Telford was a short neat man, going bald and had subsequently shaved the remaining hair to stubble. He dressed casually in spite of his boss’ liking for neatness. He wasn’t muscular in any way and when he’d had to do ‘dirty work’ always used a weapon. He was a first class sniper, could blend in almost anywhere and a great undercover agent. He had an intelligent and active mind even if he was a little too imaginative for Sternway’s liking, but he was always the man with the clear view of the situation. Sternway considered him a vital member of his little ‘department’.
“He’s the last one. If he can’t make it then it can’t be done.” Telford spoke first.
Joe smiled.
“It’s been a good run though and Stanton’s been really good. DIC have really shown weaknesses here. I can’t believe the mistakes they make.”
“We’ve made mistakes too though. Mason and Cobb were utterly out of control and we lost a very good man.” Sternway’s voice cut the smile from Joe’s face with razor accuracy.
“Stanton won’t go to the Priory Arms. Blimey I won’t go there myself. DIC will be all over that by now. Mason must have talked to that bint he picked up, very bad work all round there.” Brook was shaken in spite of his professional coldness.
He knew it was very nearly himself laying dead in the black Honda. They’d had the car taken away very quickly to cover their tracks. Bentall’s body was in the MI6 morgue.
“What will Stanton do?”
“If I was Stanton, assuming he’s seen the news, I’d know Mason had come from Vauxhall. I’d know I couldn’t go to Priory Arms. I’d know we’d be having a meeting, even if I didn’t know who we were. I’d know that the question was being asked as to where I would go.” Telford spoke and Sternway focussed his ‘cold telescopic eyes’ on the man’s face. Telford felt pressured but spoke his thoughts. “I’d go to the nearest hotel in distance to the Priory Arms and wait there. I might even book in.”
Sternway swung his chair around and looked out the window. They waited as Sternway sifted and weighed his thoughts. They knew him to be a careful and detailed thinker.
He swung back.
“A good thought Lionel, a very good thought.” Joe had already picked up the phone and dialled his secretary.
“Christine get me a list of the closest hotels to Priory Arms Vauxhall, nearest one first on list.” He hung up.
“Of course that assumes he’s still in the UK. The police found a boat in Dover marina with his PSS pistol in, so he isn’t coming in by boat. He must avoid the CCTV unless he disguised himself there and the ‘intel’ we’ve had is that he was spotted and searched for in Dover, but hasn’t been found. By all accounts he’s probably very close to London if not in London now.” Sternway listened to Telford’s reasoning after which there was a silence of consideration.
Finally Sternway spoke.
“Telford and Brook can go to the hotels. Joe get them the list and both of you get cracking. He may be waiting there and if we can reason this DIC can too. I’m sending two of you, though Stanton won’t be looking to
