The katana was all. It should be worshipped. Knowing what would happen she reached out and held it high, expecting her men to bow their heads and smiling when they did so.
“Make arrangements to fly straight to London,” she said. “And let Gilmore run his mouth for now. We’ll deal with him in the UK and it’ll hit any would-be insurgents all the harder.”
The Scotsman looked happy, a rare event outside payday. The thought made her think of the very near future when they caught Crouch in the act of uncovering millions of dollars worth of riches. It made her think of the worship, respect and loyalty it would implant into her men. It made her think of other things she could aspire to do outside this world of backstabbers and thieves.
It made her dream. She sliced the katana through a series of complicated moves.
The future was at her doorstep. All she had to do was cross the threshold.
THIRTY
London basked in shameful sunshine, ensuring the streets were filled with tourists and locals, businessmen out for brief walks and office workers heading for the closest Pret or Eat or any number of thousands of small lunchtime eateries. Traffic clogged the roads as much as people jammed the walkways, its roar and hum and constant throb the beating heart of the thriving city. Alicia strode ahead, exiting the underground station of Marble Arch and stopping briefly to get her bearings. Humanity flowed around her.
“That way.” Crouch pointed and she saw the ceremonial arch briefly to their right before it was obscured by several passing double-decker buses. The team set off and Russo fell in alongside.
“Sure hope the boss has a plan. It’s not like a supposed treasure that has remained hidden all these years is gonna jump up through a trapdoor somewhere.”
Alicia shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Umm, for instance?”
“Well, you not fancying a roll in the sack with me for a start.”
“You think that’s strange? Boy, do you have an odd view of the world.”
“Sure I do. You’re right, I do have an odd view of the world, but that’s what makes me me.”
“I think sometimes it’s all an act.”
Alicia gave neutral laugh. “When? And why?”
“When you want to distract somebody from discovering the real you.”
“Shit, Russo, what are you? A closet psychiatrist?”
“I studied psychology in college.”
“No way! Do not tell me you’re another freakin’ geek too.”
“Nah. I’m fucking a little with you. I dropped out of college after starting my degree. Six months. Pissed the hell outta my folks.”
“Joined the Army? I was there at sixteen and have been running ever since. Hey, look at us — both survived this far.”
“And for much longer.”
“Statistics state we don’t live long enough for this to be the right way, Russo. Shouldn’t it be about having fun? You know — one life, live it.”
They paused at a set of traffic lights that would let them cross the busy junction at Edgware Road to reach Marble Arch. Russo nudged Alicia. “I thought we were having fun.”
“I guess we are, but it’s all going to fall apart,” Alicia said seriously.
“Ah. Your breakdown. It doesn’t have to be so hard.”
“If I don’t fall hard I doubt that I’ll get back up.”
Russo hushed as they crossed the road in front of traffic that was straining at the leash. Ahead, the arch and the area around it sat waiting. Crouch and Caitlyn were striding forward, already scanning the structure as if the Hercules might mysteriously and suddenly be revealed. Healey stayed close to Caitlyn as if appreciating her energy and cheerfulness.
Alicia stopped before the white-colored arch, gazing up toward its uppermost reaches. Bright blue skies dazzled her eyes. The top was flat, no quadriga or any other statues sat up there. Four thick columns stood across its width and the only markings she could see were several carvings above the gates. The gates themselves were open wide, admitting the masses. Smaller gates stood inside archways to either side. After a while Crouch suggested they walk through to the other side.
“Not sure what I expected,” he said. “I realize we need more in-depth research but it’s always good to see your current nemesis in the flesh.”
The other side of Marble Arch was as ornate and unremarkable as the first. The carvings did not reveal Hercules, or even a horse, although some did suggest a Roman flavor. It was Caitlyn who opted to form a new plan.
“Over there,” she pointed across Park Lane, “is a small pub with free Wi-Fi.” She squinted. “Let’s hit the keys and also see if there’s a way to gain entry to these arches. We’ll check their history. Their provenance. Those who are associated with them. Something has to turn up.”
Crouch nodded. “As ever your enthusiasm is our guide.”
The pub appeared busy from the outside; all the small, unsteady tables were crowded with people enjoying loud conversations, each one trying to outdo the next, but once inside the shaded interior Alicia found they had their pick of tables. Crouch chose a semi-circle booth in the far corner and they were soon comfortably seated with waters and sodas in hand and nibbles on the way. This was about as close to normality as Alicia ever came and it made her slightly uncomfortable.
“Let’s get on with it,” she said. “I don’t exactly feel safe here.”
Russo peered at her. “In that odd way of yours I know exactly what you mean. Give me a dark alleyway, an Uzi and a set of night goggles any day.”
Alicia raised her glass in salute. “To the simple pleasures of hunting desperados and gangsters.”
Russo clinked. “And to destroying them all.”
Healey joined in at the last moment, clinking hard. Caitlyn had Crouch’s attention further around the highly polished table. “So, Marble Arch was actually designed to be the state entrance to the three-sided courtyard at the newly rebuilt Buckingham Palace. Clearly, a structure given great honor. It stood there until 1851 when it was relocated here.”
Crouch tapped at the screen. “This is interesting. Many sculptures and friezes were made for the arch which subsequently were never used. A frieze of Waterloo and the Nelson panels were later used at Buckingham Palace. Others were sent to the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. Again, based on the Arch of Constantine it commemorated the Duke of Wellington’s victories against Napoleon. It is hollow,” he stressed excitedly, then looked disappointed. “Three rooms inside were used as a police station until 1968.”
Alicia sipped her water. “That doesn’t rule out the possibility of more rooms.”
“No, but it’s so small. There would be no easy way to view a statue inside so what’s the point? The inner rooms are public knowledge too. And it’s situated at the heart of a large traffic island.”
“As is Wellington Arch,” Caitlyn pointed out. “Why would they do that?”
“A good question,” Crouch said. “Does it say why they moved the arch away from Buckingham Palace?”
Caitlyn flicked through various pages. “Not conclusively and not officially. Another dead end. They built a new east range on Buck Palace which today is the public façade, helping to shield the inner façades from view.”
“These people just love creating conspiracy theories,” Healey said with a grin.
“Unnecessarily,” Crouch agreed. “Through all their pomp and circumstance. But I do wonder about their positioning of Marble Arch…”
Alicia agreed. “So incongruous,” she said. “And hard to reach for many.”