“That was just a small indulgence on my part,” said Varndon, backing up against the wall and wiping the blood from his face. “You’ll have to excuse me.”
“You’re fucking crazy.”
“Maybe.”
Harper coughed and spluttered as his lungs fought for more oxygen. The white glare from the lights began to hurt his eyes and he squinted to relieve the pain.
“If it was up to me, you’d be dead by now,” said Varndon, pulling a syringe from his pocket and sticking it into Harper’s arm. “But some people think it is more prudent to keep you alive.” Harper felt his vision blur and a relaxing sensation washed over him. The tension in his muscles began to disappear and the pain from the bullet wound evaporated.
“I hope that feels good,” said Varndon. “Because that’s all you have to look forward to now.” Varndon’s voice seemed to get quieter and Harper’s eyes dropped closed. “I’m going to have to go. I need to get back to London. I’ll give your regards to the Deputy Commissioner. I’m sure she’ll be keen to know you’re comfortable in your new surroundings.”
- Chapter 42 -
The Recruit
A couple of students stood in the reception pointing at the screenings board as Alpha walked in. The plastic letters were crudely tacked on and one of the films was spelt wrongly. He walked up the red-carpeted stairs to screen number two. A car sped along a Caribbean beach in an advert on the screen. He looked over and saw Bailey sitting in the corner.
Alpha shuffled along the row and sat beside her. “Will we have company?”
“I gave the guy some cash. He’s not selling any more tickets.”
Alpha took his coat off and placed it on the arm of the seat. “Your people made a real mess in Hong Kong.”
“You’re blaming me for that?”
“I’m not blaming anyone. It just wasn’t helpful.”
“Well, I tried to stop them.”
“Well, maybe you should’ve tried harder.”
“What did you expect me to do?” said Bailey, raising her voice and immediately lowering it again. “They acted off their own back.”
“I’m starting to doubt your usefulness to be honest.”
“I’m not God over there. The most I can do is exert some influence.”
“Quite.”
The advert changed. A group of nubile young couples ran down onto a beach and stripped off their clothes before breaking out a case of soft drinks.
“You do remember why we have this arrangement, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“It wouldn’t be difficult to publicise your daughter’s brush with the law.”
Bailey said nothing and watched the screen.
“The headlines wouldn’t be pretty.”
“I gave you Harper, didn’t I?”
“Eventually. If you’d been more plugged in earlier, maybe I would still have my Russian assets alive.”
“UC ops are kept within a tight circle.”
“So it seems. A circle you aren’t part of.”
“I need to be careful. They’re not stupid.”
“With your people, the bar isn’t very high on that score.” Alpha offered Bailey a boiled sweet. “Don’t worry dear, I have big plans for you.”
“What plans?”
“I want you to take over from the Commissioner.”
Bailey turned to look at him. “What?”
“I want you replace him. Head the Met.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s very simple. When I take over my little patch and start to make some changes, I will need a friendly face in the Commissioner’s chair. That’s you.”
“And do you think the Commissioner will just allow that?”
Alpha placed some files on Bailey’s knee. “These are transcripts of the Commissioner leaking confidential information to a reporter. I will make sure certain politician friends of mine give it the publicity it deserves. And I would like you to hand it your people in internal affairs.”
“Where did you get this?”
“It’s not important. What’s important is that you climb to the top of the tree when he is knocked off. And that your daughter is left to enjoy the rest of her formative years…unharassed.”
- Chapter 43 -
The Puppet Master
Morton sat with his hand wrapped around a whisky glass. He glanced up and the barman added another generous measure. Music from the fruit machine was the only sound in the pub. He waved at Cohen and Russell as they came in and pointed them to the back corner booth. They noticed the tiredness in each other’s eyes as they sat down.
“You look like shit Guv,” said Russell.
“I know. I haven’t had much sleep. They shoved me in a cell and the scumbags across the hall knew I was old bill. Someone must have tipped them off. They didn’t shut up all night. How did you two get on?”
“They put us in together, but it was pretty quiet.”
“Good for you.”
Morton looked over Russell’s shoulder towards the door. A young couple walked in and stood at the bar, laughing and giggling with each other. “They’ve been following me since I walked out of the station.”
Cohen lowered his voice. “Who are they?”
“Bailey’s people maybe. Special Branch. Spooks. I don’t know. I’m not sure it even matters anymore to be honest.”
“Shall I offer to buy them a drink?” said Russell. “Spike it with Rohypnol.”
“Probably not wise,” said Morton.
The couple bought their drinks and walked over to the opposite corner of the pub. The barman brought two more whiskys over and placed them on the table.
“So anyway, it looks like we’re fucked,” said Morton.
Cohen took a sip. “They gave you the same offer then?”
“Retire or retire in disgrace. Not much of an offer.”
“We could go to the press,” said Russell.
“We could,” said Morton. “But the Commissioner is tight with a lot of the editors. I doubt they’d give us the time of day. Besides, the evidence all points to us acting unilaterally. I don’t think it would turn out well.”
“What about Harper?” said Cohen. “Where did they take him?”
“I don’t know,” said Morton.
A few more customers walked in and sat at the bar. Morton lowered his voice. “Let’s slip out the back. There’s no reason why we should make things too easy for them.” The three men walked into the back bar and out the fire escape onto a narrow road. They walked through a few alleyways and emerged outside a small shopping arcade.
“Look, I’m sorry for putting you both in this situation, I really am,” said Morton. “But it seems we only have two options now. We can try to go quietly into the night or we can go out fighting. I propose the latter.”
“I’m with you Guv,” said Russell. “All the way.”
“Cohen?” said Morton
“I am too Guv, but it’s difficult, I’ve a got a mortgage, and a baby on the way. I have to think about them too.”
“I know you do,” said Morton. “If you want to walk away now, that’s your call. No hard feelings.”
Cohen sighed heavily. “The problem is they aren’t going to let us walk away, are they? Unless we finish this, we’re going to spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders.”
“I agree,” said Morton. “It’s gone too far. There’s too much at stake.”
“So what can we do?” said Russell.