Tracers

but we’re currently trying to find out where it might have moved to. There are also a couple of other interested parties looking for it. They could be official.’

‘I’m sure they are. Don’t worry about that.’ Jennings didn’t sound at all perturbed at the idea.

‘There’s also,’ Harry added, drawing raised eyebrows from Rik, ‘something you need to know about the main package: its source of origin is not where we were told.’

‘Go on.’

‘The brief said Israel. . and academic in nature.’

‘So?’

‘Try further east. It also arrived via Frankfurt under different papers and was picked up from Heathrow. It was obviously a prearranged collection. None of that fits the brief.’

Jennings brushed off the revelation. ‘I think you’re mistaken.’

‘Oh, come on!’ Harry exploded. Jennings was treating him like an amateur. What did the man think they’d been doing all this time, for Christ’s sake — playing dominoes? ‘We talked to somebody with the same background.’ He was beyond caring about client relations now. Too much had happened. If Jennings didn’t like his tone, he could go jump. Across the table, Rik was smiling encouragingly. He decided to dispense with caution. ‘How does Iraq grab you?’

‘Impossible.’ Jennings’ response was automatic. ‘Your informant is mistaken.’

‘How the hell-?’

‘Mr Tate,’ Jennings cut in sharply. ‘I’d be grateful if you would inform me when you find this Archer person. As to the events of yesterday, they’re no longer part of your brief. Call me the moment you have a location.’ He rang off without saying goodbye.

TWENTY-FOUR

‘Cheeky bugger,’ Harry growled, drawing a look of disapproval from an elderly lady who had just entered the cafe.

Rik was grinning in wry triumph. ‘He doesn’t want to hear what we found crawling about under the stone, does he? Probably because he already knows.’

‘If he does, he knows more than we do.’ In spite of all the evidence of bodies and documents, they were no further forward in their knowledge of Silverman’s true background. The guards’ passports were unlisted in any of the databases Rik had accessed, and the mobile number was a pay-as-you-go disposable with no address and no previous call record. Whatever real history the two dead men had possessed was now a closed book.

Harry got to his feet and nodded towards the building across the road. ‘Come on, Boy Wonder. You’ve got work to do.’

By the time they pushed through the glass doors in the Corpos building, he had banished all thoughts of Jennings from his mind. The foyer was peppered with posters of muscular men and women engaging happily with complicated equipment, and the decor was a mixture of fancy Greek tiles, thick carpets and tinkling fountains, with soft mood-music issuing from speakers. A corridor ran off to the left, with an arrow pointing to a studio, sauna, fitness rooms and administration. Unlike Park’s Gym, a subtle smell of air-freshener and soap hung in the air, along with the merest hint of perfume.

The receptionist looked up and gave them a flash of white teeth. ‘Hello, gentlemen. Welcome to Corpos.’

Harry nudged Rik forward and veered off to study a notice board.

‘Hello. . Mandy.’ Rik gave her his best boyish grin and eyed the name badge on her chest. She followed his eyes and almost blushed. ‘I wonder if you can help?’ His tone made it perfectly clear that she could, and even if she couldn’t, it would be fun finding out.

Harry wasn’t sure what Rik’s precise game plan was, nor did he need to hear the lurid details. Just as long as they got the information they needed: confirmation that Joanne Archer was a member and, if possible, her current address.

Mandy seemed to lose some of her anticipation as Rik spoke, her face taking on a look of concern. Moments later, she was clicking away down the corridor on high heels, her bottom twitching fetchingly under her white coat. They watched her go, heads tilted in admiration. If she’d had eyelashes painted on her rear, Harry decided, they’d both have been winked to death.

He had already checked for security cameras and found none. The moment Mandy was out of sight, he signalled for Rik to slip behind the desk to check the monitor. From a brief glance, it appeared to be a standard client registration screen with spaces for the insertion of personal details.

‘You didn’t promise her anything, did you?’ he said, as Rik typed Archer’s name into the query screen. The machine clicked and built into a frenzied hum. He hoped it was a fast program.

‘Why? You jealous?’ Rik flashed him a smug look.

‘Not really.’ Harry moved to give himself a view of both the main entrance and the corridor. ‘Just that Mandy looks the sort to expect seconds.’

‘I asked for the name and address of the company’s lawyers,’ Rik explained, tapping his fingers impatiently. ‘Said I’d slipped and fallen in the shower a couple of days ago, and needed details of her people so my people can contact their people.’ He smiled proudly at his inventiveness. ‘Places like this are terrified of lawsuits.’

‘But you’re not a member.’

‘They won’t know that,’ Rik pointed out, ‘until they check. And she didn’t ask. I’m hoping we don’t have to hang around long enough for it to get that far.’

They had discussed tactics earlier. They needed to gain access to the club’s customer records, and Rik had volunteered to handle this without disclosing the specifics. He’d made whatever he’d got in mind sound fiendishly cunning, but to Harry, this solution was like Indiana Jones flashing a silk handkerchief instead of his trademark bullwhip.

‘That’s it?’ he muttered, unimpressed. ‘You slipped in the shower? I thought you’d come up with something. . I don’t know. .’

‘What?’

‘Bold. Dazzling, even.’

The computer fan stopped. In its place they heard a familiar clicking of heels along the tiled corridor. Mandy was on her way back. But they could also hear the low murmur of a male voice and the sound of heavier footsteps. She was bringing reinforcements.

Rik was staring at the screen as if willing it to do something. Harry figured they had thirty seconds at most, probably less. He started forward, ready to intercept the receptionist and whoever she was bringing with her. If they got no luck here, they’d have to think of something else.

He glanced towards Rik just as the screen flickered and revealed a new template.

‘Got it. Go!’ Rik hissed, signalling for Harry to lead the way and hitting the back button to return it to its original place. They made it to the street just as Mandy turned the corner.

‘Archer’s got a place near here,’ Rik told him. ‘She’s obviously keeping up her fitness routine.’

Harry nodded. Old habits died hard. ‘You’ve got all that from one quick look?’ He was impressed.

‘Look at screens all day and it gets to be second nature.’

Back at the car they consulted an A-Z. The address was a short distance away, off Battersea Park Road.

Hughie had been right after all.

The address was a small flat above a letting agency, on a busy parade of shops. Access was by a flight of open metal stairs from a service yard at the rear.

They couldn’t tell if anyone was in, and the approach up the stairs was too open to risk going near. If Archer’s involvement with Silverman was anything less than innocent, two men showing up on her doorstep might be enough to set her running again. And next time they might not find her so easily.

Rik found a parking space a hundred yards away from the flat, giving them a clear view of the stairway. Harry left him on watch and walked a slow circuit of the block, picking up a feel for the area and the flow of people. The