Rashid s imminent arrival. He was worried, and it showed.
What the hell are we going to do?
Well, for one thing, we still keep quiet about the Dark Man affair and the business with the woman last night, Henri told him. Failure is the last thing Abu wants to hear about, so not a hint to Rashid. So we tell him we ve been making a general reconnaissance, checked out the Salters pub, followed Holley from the Dorchester to Highfield Court, where the woman lives, sussed out the situation at her house.
And you followed them to Hyde Park, Kelly said.
Exactly. Not bad for two days.
There was no time for more, because the bell sounded as the shop door opened and Owen Rashid called, I m here. Where are you?
Henri produced a bottle of Beaujolais and three glasses. They sat around the workbench, and Owen told them exactly what Abu had said. Henri offered the defense he and Kelly had prepared, pointing out that he had followed Sara and Holley to Hyde Park and witnessed Ali Selim s speech and the riot that had followed.
We ve been on the case surely you can see that?
I can, but that isn t the point. I ve told you what Abu said. The bullet in the back, the car bomb.
I heard you, Henri told him. Fire from heaven.
And can you handle that?
Henri got up and went to a door in one corner. He reached up to a lintel, found a key and opened it, and switched on a light. Have a look, why don t you?
Owen was amazed. There were three shotguns, two Lee Enfield rifles and an AK-47, ranged neatly against one wall on racks. A shelf on the other side displayed a number of handguns. There were boxes of assorted ammunition and several large tin boxes painted khaki green.
What s that? Owen asked.
Semtex in one, pencil timers in the other. I ve had this stuff for years. The guns came from house sales. It s astonishing what turns up in the antiques business.
Kelly was examining a Beretta. This is in lovely condition. He replaced it on the shelf and took another.
Walther PPK with a Carswell silencer. Real stopping power.
Owen said, When did you last use any of these?
This particular weaponry? Never. It just came into my possession through the house sales, as I told you. The Semtex is a different matter, but I ve kept it carefully preserved. I m sure Jack has told you my story. It was last used many years ago when I sought retribution for a great wrong.
They went out, and he locked the door, then poured them each another glass of wine. Owen said, Fire from heaven, a spectacular to ruin the President s visit and demonstrate the power of Al Qaeda. Would you be up for that a car bomb?
I don t see why not.
It would be like old times to Jack here, he was involved in so many similar affairs during his IRA past. But why are you sure of yourself?
So Legrande told him. As Jack knows, I have a cancer. Six months is all I ve got.
Owen pretended shock. My God, that s terrible.
No it isn t, it s a fact, so I don t give a damn about anything anymore. That s why I took on the job.
And if the woman were involved?
To me, my friend, she is no longer a woman as you mean it. She is a soldier, and a damn good one, so she is just another member of Ferguson s team.
Owen nodded. So what do you intend to do?
I haven t the slightest idea what Holley plans for this evening. With a man like him as my quarry, I ll certainly wear a bulletproof vest. I may be on borrowed time, but there s no need to hurry things. All I can say is that if a suitable opportunity presents itself, I ll take advantage of it, but Abu must understand that I can t promise anything.
Which is perfectly reasonable, Owen said.
The only problem there is that he s the most unreasonable sod I know. He stood up. I d better go and leave you to get on with it. I ll be in touch, and he went out.
Lunch at a Lebanese restaurant in Shepherd Market had been so convivial that it lasted until three.
Nine-thirty tomorrow morning at Holland Park, Roper said as Tony Doyle loaded him into the van, Dillon already on board.
Well, that was nice. Sara slipped her hand inside Holley s arm as they started the short walk to the Dorchester.
What shall we do tonight?
I haven t the slightest idea.
They arrived at the small art-house cinema on the corner, the Curzon. She paused to look at the posters and said, Hey, they re showing Manhattan.
Woody Allen. A great movie, Holley said.
She was checking the performance times and turned, delight on her face. It s starting in fifteen minutes. I truly adore this film, Daniel, all that glorious Gershwin music.
Then let s go and see it. He put an arm around her, pushed open the door, and they went in.
It was a quarter to six when they came out, happy, into the early-evening darkness and walked back toward the Dorchester.
What are you going to do? Holley asked. Come up to my suite?
Love to, but it might be a good idea to check the house out, since Sadie is away get the mail and so on.
Fine by me, he said. I ll tell them to bring the Alfa round.
Standing on the steps a few moments later, handing his car keys to the doorman, Sara at his side, he was immediately spotted by Jack Kelly, who had taken turns with Henri to stand on the corner of the side street where they d parked the Citro n. He watched them for a moment, then hurried back to the Frenchman, who sat behind the wheel with a magazine, the silenced Walther in his pocket.
They re here, he said, and got in the Citro n.
About time. What are they doing? Henri asked.
It looks like they re waiting for the Alfa to be brought round.
Then let s be ready, Henri said. You drive. Take me round to South Audley Street to wait for them. My bet is they re going to her home. I ll get ready in the rear.
There was a magnet on the lid of the cake tin box that he held on his knees. He removed the lid, revealing the block of Semtex, three scarlet-rimmed pencil timers in a small box beside it. He sat back.
A few moments later, the Alfa passed him, and Kelly went after it.
Don t follow them into Highfield Court, Henri said. Drop me at the entrance of the street, then continue into Grosvenor Square and wait for me. It will all happen very fast, so be ready for a quick departure.
The Alfa swung into the drive of the house and the security lights came on. Holley switched off the engine. Sara got out, taking the key from her shoulder bag, and as she went up the steps, a lean brown Burmese cat meowed and brushed her feet.
On your way, Samson, she said, and glanced at Holley as she turned the key. From next door. An absolute rascal.
She went into the hall, switched on the light, and Holley followed her, closing the door behind him. The security lights died as she started to take off her coat.
Henri had been waiting for the dark. He gave each pencil timer a half-turn, inserted them into the Semtex, replaced the lid, and left the Citro n quickly, crouching as low as possible to avoid activating the lights, dropped on his knees, and reached under the Alfa with the cake box, the magnet clicking firmly into place. At the same moment, Samson, who had been crouching underneath, let out a loud wailing cry and fled, bounding up the steps and leaping onto the balustrade of the side terrace, the security lights turning the darkness into day.
Holley had just helped Sara off with her coat. Samson again. What s wrong with him? She glanced out through the window beside the door and saw Henri as he rose up. Daniel, there s a man outside, she said, and reached for her Colt, which she was carrying in a spring holster against the small of her back.
Holley moved on the instant, reaching to open the door with one hand, drawing his Colt with the other. Henri,
