‘I’m sure you’re briefed on McManus,’ he went on. ‘Well, he’s working with us now. He’s got no choice,’ and he smiled grimly. ‘He’s been told that if he doesn’t hear from Jackson, he’s to drop by the club at about twelve thirty and try and find him. If Jackson’s going to meet the lorry he should make a move any time from one o’clock onwards. We’ve got an armed team standing by and we’re going to conceal a couple of surveillance officers by the entrances to each of the industrial estates to warn us of who’s coming in. We’ve got all the comms and the cameras coming in to us here, so this is Mission Control,’ he said with a grin. ‘But what I want to know from you is what’s happened to your band of terrorists. I gather they didn’t turn up in Paris.’
‘No,’ said Peggy ‘but we’re pretty sure they’re out there somewhere and intending to meet up with Zara. What we don’t know is what they’re planning to do.’
‘Well, let’s hope we find out before they do it,’ said Lazarus, sucking his breath in through his teeth with a faint hiss. ‘Now come and meet the people.’
They walked side by side across to the desks. At the first desk was Lazarus’s deputy, a balding man with a pate that gleamed in the bleaching glare of the overhead strip lighting. His headphones were hanging round his neck. Lazarus said, ‘Andy’s got all the surveillance comms on his desk. What’s happening at the moment, Andy?’
‘Not a lot,’ was the reply. ‘The ship’s just docked.’ Andy turned a knob and the sound of the A4 teams at Harwich, talking to each other and to A4 control, floated into the room.
Peggy and Lazarus moved along the line of desks meeting all the officers. A young woman Detective Sergeant, Emily something, was monitoring the cameras that Technical Ted and his team had placed at the warehouses. ‘Do we know yet which warehouse they’ll be going to?’ she asked Peggy.
‘No. ’Fraid not,’ Peggy replied. ‘Could be any of them. The one in Denton seems to hold all the paperwork of Lester Jackson’s club, but the one in Eccles has beds.’
‘Let’s have a look, Emily,’ said Lazarus. She leaned forward and clicked her mouse. Suddenly the screens on the bank of monitors on the wall cleared, replaced a moment later by views of the warehouses. Two were old brick buildings that looked pretty run-down; the Denton facility was a long, hangar-like building and the Eccles one was a large aluminium shed that was indistinguishable from those dotting the outskirts of every town in England.
Technical Ted and his team had put cameras inside and outside each warehouse, and Emily panned through the pictures from each.
A curly-haired man called Ames who had his headphones on sat up quickly and raised his hand.
‘Yes?’ said Lazarus.
‘McManus has heard from Lester Jackson. Jackson wants to meet him at Slim’s at midnight. McManus wants to know if he should go.’
No one said anything for a moment. To Peggy’s surprise she saw they were all looking at her. Yes, she thought, it was a question for her to answer.
‘He should go. Definitely,’ she said. ‘I don’t know why Jackson wants McManus there, but it gives us an opportunity to know where Jackson is while we wait for the lorry.’
Ames said, ‘Jackson may suspect McManus.’
‘Good point.’ It was Lazarus now, giving his view. ‘But we’ll have to take that risk. It would only create more suspicion if McManus refused to meet him.’
‘But what if Jackson doesn’t go to the warehouse?’ asked Ames.
‘If Jackson leaves the club, McManus should tell us right away.’
Ames asked, ‘Should he follow him?’
Lazarus turned to Peggy again. ‘No,’ she said. ‘Far too risky. But at least we’ll know from McManus when Jackson’s on the move. Probably just as the lorry arrives. Or at least we hope so.’
Chapter 54
Slim’s Club was full. On a week night the customers were beginning to drift home by midnight, but this was Friday, and people seemed happy to stay out late. McManus found a space at the very end of the car park and walked back towards the club’s entrance. He could hear the loud music from the dance floor while he was still fifty yards away. He nodded at the bouncers standing by the front door and went through into the restaurant, surprised to find that most of the tables were still occupied.
Lester Jackson, in an elegant dark suit with cream shirt and crimson tie, was sitting in his usual place against the back wall. He nodded almost imperceptibly when he saw McManus, who walked over and joined him, sliding in behind the table to sit on the banquette next to his host.
‘Bang on time,’ said Jackson without looking at McManus.
‘Have you ever known me to be late?’ The waiter came to the table. McManus saw that Jackson was drinking his usual fizzy water with a slice of lime. ‘Whisky and soda,’ McManus said, thinking it would look odd if he ordered anything other than his usual. ‘So what’s happening?’ he asked casually.
Jackson didn’t answer at once. He was looking around the room, as if counting heads – or the money the heads would bring in. He took a small sip of his water and said, ‘I got a nice little deal proceeding.’
‘That’s good,’ said McManus, as if it had nothing to do with him.
‘Big delivery. From abroad.’
‘Girls?’
Jackson shrugged and pulled one of his cuffs. ‘And then some. I could use a little help with this one.’
McManus said nothing. The waiter came back with his drink, and he took a large swallow, then put his glass down. ‘I’ve been meaning to speak to you.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘I’m going to be retiring soon.’
‘Retiring? You ain’t that old, man.’ Jackson’s voice had suddenly lost its polish.
‘My pension says I am.’ McManus tried a smile. ‘Things are going to change.’
‘How’s that?’
‘Well, once I’m no longer working I’m not going to be much use to you, am I? It’s not like I’ll know what’s going on.’
Jackson looked amused. ‘You’ll still know plenty as far as I’m concerned. And you’ll know how to find out what you don’t know. Your buddies will still be working in the department, won’t they?’
McManus didn’t say anything. He sensed this was not the time to push the story of his retirement.
Jackson said, ‘You’re gonna help me tonight, aren’t you? Or you getting cold feet in your old age? Looking for your bus pass maybe.’
‘I’m OK,’ said McManus resolutely. ‘What is it you need me for?’
‘I got a dude collecting something from me, only I haven’t done business with him before. I want backup – in case he gets some odd idea of lifting one over me. I just need you to be there. Right?’
‘Since when did you need extra firepower? I know you’re carrying.’ He gestured at Jackson’s jacket. ‘I’m not. What use am I going to be if things get rough? Or are you expecting me to arrest him?’
‘It’s not about shooting – or arresting. I just want you there. OK?’ It was not really a question; the expression on Jackson’s face was telling McManus it had better be OK.