He then called Jim Corcoran, Chief Security Officer at Heathrow. While he was doing so Buchanan was calling someone on his mobile, seated at Paula's desk.
'Jim? Good. Tweed here. I've got a tricky one for you. I'm not going to be your pin-up of the month. In fact, I'm not sure you can do this…'
'Do get to it, Tweed.'
'I have a list of people here and it's important for me to know if they've flown to the States during the past five months.' He read out his list, spelling some names. 'If I had dates that would be helpful. Shall I call you back?'
'No. Hold on. For security reasons, after September 11, and even before then, we have all the passenger manifests on the computer.. .'
He came back quicker than Tweed had expected. He chuckled.
'Bet you thought I couldn't do it. Sharpen your pencil. Here we go. Warner – flew to New York August 20, then back to New York October 12, back to NY November 16. On that trip he flew back from Boston. Palfry – flew to NY September 3 and September 9. Drew Franklin – to NY September 8, back to NY September 18. Nothing on Billy or Martin Hogarth. Nothing on Margesson. Eva Brand -to NY September 9, back to NY January 24, 2002. All the previous ones were 2001. OK?'
'A miracle. Now could you carry out the same exercise for the same names flying to the Middle East up to now?'
'Hang on…'
Again he was back more swiftly than Tweed could ever have expected.
'Computer was warmed up, which helps. These people do travel. Victor Warner – flew to Cairo January 4, 2002. All these flights are 2002. Warner flew again to Cairo January 29. Palfry, oddly enough, flew to Cairo each day after Warner had done. Drew Franklin made one flight – they're all to Cairo – on January 30, then on to Tel Aviv, back to Cairo, returned here February 2. Again, oddly enough, Eva Brand flew to both the cities on the same dates. That locks it up. I'll send you my fee. Better still, give me dinner at the Ritz.'
'Will do. You really are a miracle man…'
'The computer is. Got to go…'
Tweed handed the careful notes he'd made to Newman. Looking up, Newman pulled a face.
'This is going to take some sorting out.'
'Bob,' Tweed played with his pen, 'I suggest you look for anything that strikes you as odd.'
'Which means you've found something and you need me as a back-up check.'
'Something like that.'
He looked across at Buchanan, who was obviously waiting for a chance to speak after his long phone- call.
'Tweed, they have found two of those white vans. Dumped into the river. A fisherman saw vague figures shoving in one van. It was dark, so he huddled down the bank until the men had gone. Probably saved his life. Then, further upriver, he heard a second one being shoved in. When it was quiet he went to the first one. The rear was still protruding from the water, so he took the number plate. I've sent Warden with teams equipped with lifting equipment to haul them out. We should have news soon.'
'Another piece of luck. Now I'm holding nothing back. My next call is to Hereford, the SAS base. I want them alerted.'
Half an hour later Newman reported to Tweed after Buchanan had left for the Yard. Tweed could tell from his expression that he had been struck by something.
'What's the verdict, Bob?'
'The oddest thing is Eva Brand appears to have flown to Cairo, on to Tel Aviv, and back again with Drew Franklin. I don't get that.'
As he spoke Marler walked in, stared at both of them.
'What's up? I can tell something is.'
'I know you've just come in,' Tweed told him, 'but now I have another job for you. I want you to trace the present whereabouts of Eva Brand, then follow her.'
'She could be either at the Ministry in Whitehall or at the Minister's penthouse in Belgravia,' Newman objected.
'So,' Marler told him, 'I phone both places, ask for her and don't say who is calling. Then I'll track her. If I think it's a good idea can I take her out to dinner at the Ivy?'
'Typical,' Newman said sarcastically. 'Probably she won't like you.'
'I'll make her like me, Uncle.' Marler quipped, patting Newman's shoulder.
He then skipped quickly out of the door as Newman, furious, got up to hit him. Newman was only five years older than Marler but if the latter wanted to rattle Newman he called him 'Uncle'.
The door reopened and Buchanan appeared again. He remained standing as he spoke to Tweed.
'I've changed my mind about going back to the Yard. I think we should drive down to the river, take a look at those two white vans dumped into the Thames…'
He stopped speaking as the door opened again, admitting both Paula and Beaurain.
'I'm glad you're here,' Paula said to Buchanan. 'We have data you ought to see…'
Beaurain pulled out the notepad with the diagrams he had drawn in Mrs Wharton's house. He placed them on Tweed's desk while Buchanan and Newman joined them. In as few words as possible he explained the drawings. When he had finished Tweed looked at Buchanan.
'What do you think of this?'
'Don't like it one little bit. Still think we should all go down to the river, check those vans. Is the location easy to find? It was tricky before.'
'No,' said Beaurain, 'so I'll drive us down there.'
37
'Lord, it's a heavy mist,' Paula exclaimed.
With Beaurain behind the wheel, they were driving down the bumpy track after turning off the main road. Paula sat beside the Belgian while Buchanan and Tweed occupied the rear seats. The Superintendent was peering out of the window.
'Worse than mist,' he commented. 'It's fog.'
During their drive there Tweed had produced his map of the district. He pointed out how close the power station was to St Jude's Hospital. Buchanan's mouth compressed. He shook his head.
'If al-Qa'eda are inside that power station we can't launch an attack to check out the place. They'll have a ton of high explosives. If they set them off that hospital – and all of its patients – would end up obliterated. Beaurain, can I suggest you dim your fog-lights? In case they have someone watching on this side of the river.'
'Yes, I can. Then I won't see where we're going…'
'Hold it,' Buchanan went on. 'Turn over the ground to your right. I've just seen a figure waving a torch. Could be Warden.'
Earlier, while in the car, he had used his mobile to contact Warden. He had warned him they would be coming. Beaurain had manoeuvred the car off the track on to the sterile ground to their right. At Buchanan's request he stopped.
Paula was on edge about the situation. The fog was like a dense murky blanket. She could just make out the torch being waved. Buchanan spoke as he opened the door on his side.
'Wait here. I'll check. Don't follow me if you hear shots fired,' he warned, a Walther in his hand as he left the car.
'Take care,' Paula called out.
'My motto…'
The torch was still shining but had stopped waving as Buchanan stealthily approached the vague silhouette. He crouched low.
