pouring down.
“Is there a problem?” Hussein asked.
“Hampstead, Sara, her parents. Surely our primary task, the most important to our cause, is the assassination of General Ferguson and this man Salter, if possible. If we go to London with that in mind, we could succeed because, as you rightly point out, the authorities have no idea that you’re in England. In light of this, I’m in favor of us going to London, but not of a visit to Hampstead. Sara and her parents are a sideshow, cousin. What would you do, shoot her parents? I shouldn’t imagine she’d thank you.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Hussein told him.
“Or break in the house, kidnap her? Then how would you smuggle her out of the country?”
“Professor Khan, the Army of God, the Brotherhood, they all would offer their services. Between us we would find a way.”
“Do you honestly think the fate of this young girl is of the slightest importance to these people? No, but Ferguson ’s head on a platter, the British Prime Minister’s most valued security adviser. That would be a triumph.”
Much of what he said made sense, but Hussein was unable to let go. “I’ll phone Khan now and see what the situation is, then it will be my decision.”
IN ANSWER TO ALI HASSIM’S CALL, Khan had gone round to the shop to discuss the latest development, and it was there that he received the call that he had, if truth be known, been dreading for some time.
He put a hand over his coded mobile and whispered to Ali Hassim, “It’s him, Hussein Rashid himself, and he’s in England.”
“Allah be praised,” Ali said.
Khan returned to the phone. “Where are you?”
“ Dorset -Peel Strand with one of the Broker’s people. A cottage called Folly Way. Khazid and I landed this morning. We intend to come to London.”
“Can this be wise? Your face’s in so many newspapers.”
“That’s been taken care of, no one will recognize me. Trust me in this. Now tell me what the situation is with the Rashids.”
“We monitored them closely, my network of sweepers and informants, even used a motorcycle unit so that cars which left their house in Hampstead could be followed. Because of this, I have the address of the enemy’s safe house in Holland Park. We know where Ferguson and Dillon live, which would obviously be of importance to you.”
Hussein cut in on him. “Get to the point. You appear to have some bad news for me. Spit it out.”
So Khan told him the worst.
Hussein said, “They’ve gone, spirited away you don’t know where and the circumstances indicate only security classified travel?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“You didn’t mention the plane.”
“Ali looked it up-a Hawk.”
“A good old workhorse of a plane. I flew one in the badlands in Algeria. I think if they’d been venturing very far, say cross-Channel, they’d have used more than that. I would say the Hawk indicates relatively local travel. Somewhere in the countryside, a reasonable distance from London.”
“Which would be impossible for us to discover,” Khan said.
“So Ferguson and Dillon visited the house in Gulf Road. Anyone else?”
“Yes, Professor Hal Stone.”
“The archaeologist from Hazar. I wonder what he wanted?”
“I think he was saying good-bye. One of my men, Jamal, followed him to King’s Cross, where he caught a train to Cambridge. He’s a professor at Corpus Christi College there. It’s now turned out he’s Ferguson ’s cousin.”
“Is he indeed? He’s been involved in this affair intimately. I’ll bet he possesses all the information we need.”
“You could be right.”
“I think I am. Ali Hassim-tell me about him.” Khan did and when he was finished, Hussein said, “Is he to be trusted?”
“Completely. Few people actually know how important he is.”
“Then I’ll have his address. He may expect me at any time.”
“What is your intention?”
“I’ll visit this Hal Stone at Cambridge University today. Bournemouth is close by to where I am. We’ll go by train.”
“To Cambridge? You’d have to change in London. Is this wise?”
“My dear professor, even I don’t recognize myself. I’ll be in touch.”
He turned and found Khazid watching him, face troubled. “I’ll explain it all later when we’re on the train,” he said. “But I must speak to the Broker.”
HE LIT A CIGARETTE after pressing the panic button and waited, calm and in charge of himself again, and the Broker called him instantly. Very quickly, Hussein explained the situation and his intentions.
“Do you approve?”
“I must say I do. I can’t access the departures from Farley like I used to be able to. It has a special security system. I can only wish you luck in Cambridge. Are you sure of your safety in traveling? Is Darcus that good?”
“Yes is the short answer to that. Good-bye.”
He brushed past Khazid and found Darcus in the kitchen. “We need to get to Bournemouth. I presume there’s a reasonable train service from there?”
“Yes, excellent. When would you be leaving?”
“As soon as you like.”
“Not me, love, I’ve got prostate problems you wouldn’t want to hear about. Our doctor only looks in twice a week, that’s up in Peel Strand village. It’s only half a mile so I usually walk.” He looked at the time. “Ten o’clock and he doesn’t arrive until after lunch.”
“So what’s the alternative?” Khazid asked.
“You can take my car, leave it in the car park at Bournemouth Station and leave the key in the glove compartment. I can’t say fairer than that. I think you’d have to change in London to get to Cambridge, though. Anyway, it’s been great meeting you. Makes life so much more interesting.”
“And lucrative for you?” Hussein said.
“Of course, love, we all need to earn a crust.”
THEY WERE FULLY CLOTHED, flight bags in hand and on their way within fifteen minutes. An old Mini car awaited in the rain by the garage.
“The key’s in, good luck,” Darcus shouted and closed the door.
Hussein got behind the wheel and Khazid slipped off his wristwatch, put it in his raincoat pocket and leaned down. “Sorry-I left my watch in the bathroom. I’ll just be a minute.”
Darcus had told them as part of his good-bye chatter that they’d have to change trains in London for Cambridge, but the only mention of Cambridge had been in Hussein’s supposedly private conversations when he and Khazid had been on the porch, which meant Darcus had been listening.
Khazid stepped onto the porch, opened his flight bag, took out a Walther and screwed on the Carswell. He also eased open the door to the hall, aware of the voice whittering on.
