“I’m here … you’re safe.”
Cora half sat up. “Ollie …” She looked at Nancy and the memories came flooding back. She brought her fist to her mouth, her eyes glittered with tears. She wrapped her free arm around Nancy’s shoulders, fighting back a sob.
“They took him away …”
“Slow down … who took him away?” Pole had stopped tending Cora’s wound.
“We haven’t got time.” Cora tried to move and untangled herself from the blanket that Nancy had wrapped around her. She tried to place one foot on the ground, barely avoiding kicking Pole in the process and yelped.
“I know it’s difficult and you want to rush to help him.” Pole had placed a hand on her other leg to stop her from moving. “But you need to focus on telling us the story so we can help you.”
Cora noticed the man at the end of the sofa for the first time. She turned towards Nancy for reassurance. “Inspector Pole, he’s a friend … he will help you.”
Cora nodded but remained silent for a short moment.
“Shall I make a cup of tea or bring you some water?”
“No, Nancy please stay.” Cora reached out for her friend’s hand. “Ollie knew they were coming and I don’t know why.”
* * *
“They were looking for something specific.” Jethro had rung Jack back. “It was a professional job made to look like a possible burglary or debt collection of some sort.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The jewellery box has been thoroughly and obviously ransacked, there is no jewellery left and the high-tech equipment has gone … including of course any PC, laptop or even iPad, if they had them.”
“But the search was processed methodically?” Jack ran his stocky hand over his face.
“Exactly, no stone unturned.”
“Shit. That is not what I was expecting.”
“And what were you expecting, if I may ask.” Jethro suppressed a yawn. It was almost 11.30pm in London.
“Biochemical warfare allegations are always a bit problematic when it comes to credibility … Especially when the person making the allegation is a young guy who has barely started in his first job, in a new tech company.”
Jethro took a moment to reply. Jack could hear him swallowing something down. “Sorry, I haven’t had much food today.”
“No worries.” Jack carried on. “The problem for me is that Wilson was a little vague.”
“So why did you persist?” the Station Chief had taken a bite of something crunchy.
“Because when China is mentioned, I pay attention.”
“Now you have my attention too.” The munching had stopped.
“This doesn’t mean I believe what I have been told … but Wilson thought he had stumbled over some illegal transfer of technology, including the development of bio-agents.”
“You mean somebody developing a controversial bio-agent on the sly, without the executive of the firm knowing? How big is the company?”
“That’s the other point … not that big, 30-odd people.”
“Then with a company that size, its executives are in the know …”
Both men fell silent. The munching resumed in London. Jack in Virginia decided on his next step. “Keep me posted … Let’s hope your people find him before something nasty happens.”
“I have put a good team on the case. If he is still in the UK, they will find him.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. Jethro was right. Wilson might have been smuggled out of the country already, and was now being taken to a dark site for interrogation.
* * *
Cora was still shivering. She finally accepted the tea Pole had prepared.
“Why do you think Ollie knew they were coming?” Nancy asked, still holding Cora’s hand.
“He came into the bedroom as I was changing and asked me to hide.” Cora sipped at her tea. “He looked so … scared.”
Pole was listening to the young woman’s story without interrupting. Nancy had been her usual excellent self … once a Queen’s Counsel always a Queen’s Counsel. She had questioned Cora gently, subtly asking the right questions, making the account coherent.
Pole was now certain it was time to call the Missing Persons Bureau at SOCA, to report Ollie missing and a possible kidnapping. The next 24 hours would be crucial if they were to find him … alive.
As soon as she finished her tale, Cora slumped back on the sofa. She looked exhausted. Her attractive Asian features had lost some of their sparkle. The dark rings under her eyes created shadows that had all of a sudden grown deeper.
Pole took his mobile out of his back pocket. “I’m going to call a contact of mine at the NCA. We need to issue a Yellow Notice for a missing person without delay.” Pole scrolled down his contact list. “Do you have a recent photo?”
“I lost it when I ran.” Cora hesitated. “It’s in the backyard … I mean my mobile. Perhaps I could …”
“You won’t be going back there tonight.” Nancy shook her head. “I’ll make sure the spare room is ready.”
Pole was already in conversation with his National Crime Agency contact. He had walked away from the lounge and stood in the kitchen entrance. He ended the call and turned back to the two women.
“Rob is on his way. He’ll contact someone at the Met.”
Nancy frowned, she seemed not to understand the links.
“The National Crime Agency is in charge of kidnapping these days. They’ll establish contact with the Met for logistical support.”
Pole took a few steps towards the sofa. His mobile rang again. His face froze and he turned away to answer. His voice had become tense, perhaps a little angry. He shook his head and took a short moment to face the two friends again.
“There is no easy way of telling you this, Cora. Your loft … in fact your entire building is on fire.”
* * *
“When did
