The next couple of hours were tied up with reconnaissance of the Belgravia residence and the surrounding district. Colin didn’t stand around in any one place too long in case the local neighbourhood watch reported a down at heel character in the vicinity. He travelled over to Harley Street to familiarise himself with where Athena’s mother was coming for her appointment. He made copious notes of tube and bus time tables; he identified a couple of short cuts that might prove useful. At about ten o’clock he found a pub and had a beer; then he found himself strangely drawn to the Pizza Express. He was powerless to resist. It was just the thing to help a man have a good night’s sleep — exercise, beer and a pizza. He slept like a baby and dreamt not of Athena but a cuddly comedian from Dudley, West Midlands.
Athena had endured the commuter packed journey from Bath to Paddington and had been swept along by the crush of people leaving the platforms and making their way down into the bowels of the earth. She hated this mode of transport, she much preferred the car. Preferably something with a bit of a growl under the bonnet; if it was open topped even better.
The problem was that these days London was a nightmare for a car driver travelling in from the sticks; congestion zones, bus lanes and nowhere to park that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. The train and tube were a necessary evil; made even more horrid because of her experiences six years ago.
Athena cut herself off from the world in general, and the horns and sirens in particular, with some white noise through her headphones. Nobody ever looked up or talked to anyone nearby on the underground anyway. She just hoped she didn’t run into a face from the past. This trip was a quick dash into her parent’s house, wait for them to get home and then give her Mum moral support tomorrow, when she had that worrying appointment with the specialist. As soon as they knew exactly what they were dealing with, then she would decide on a plan of action with her father and return to Larcombe Manor.
The next stop was Sloane Square; she had opted for this as it was handy for her family home plus she could pick up a few things at the shops as she walked to Vincent Gardens. She must get her Mum some flowers and a bottle of wine for herself for a start. Perhaps milk, bread and a few basics would be sensible too; her parents had been out of the country for a while. Athena doubted the fridge would contain anything edible. Her list was growing as she headed out of the station and made her way home.
Meanwhile just around the corner from Vincent Gardens, Colin was keeping watch. Dressed in a natty shirt and sweater combo with dark slacks, he felt like a tailor’s dummy, but at least he blended in. While he was sat in this trendy street café, nursing a hot cup of coffee, he was fine. Once he had got his fingers warm he would put his fleece jacket back on and go outside and brave the elements again. Mercifully, it was dry; but boy was it cold this morning!
Colin had chosen this spot because it gave him the best view of Athena’s home and the adjoining main street, without actually being stood on her doorstep. There was no way she could slip by without him spotting her. Just as he thought he should go and ask for a refill, there she was!
The sight of Athena striding down the street with a couple of shopping bags reminded Colin of that first day at Larcombe. A galleon in full sail indeed! Erebus had been right; other pedestrians seemed to scatter before her. Nothing or nobody got in her way. She marched into the side road, skipped up the steps to the bright red door and although she fumbled with her keys, ever so slightly, she was safely indoors in seconds.
“Nine point five from the Swiss judge” said Colin quietly. He finished his coffee, picked up his fleece and made his way to the door of the café. A moving target was the order of the day. He walked further down the street and bought a paper in the newsagents.
It wasn’t something he particularly fancied reading, but the Financial Times would prove a useful screen if Athena suddenly reappeared and took a second look at the man wandering up the pavement opposite.
Time goes very slowly on a stakeout Colin discovered. One advantage of being in London was that there was always traffic and there were pedestrians by the hundred, so he never felt exposed. The odds of someone looking out of a window and thinking ‘who is that man lurking outside?’ were a million to one.
The seventeenth taxi to turn into Vincent Gardens delivered Athena’s parents back home. Athena appeared in the doorway within seconds of the cab pulling up; she hugged her father and helped her mother indoors. Father was left to try to persuade the cabbie to lug a couple of heavy suitcases from the cab to the hallway and then pay up. Colin thought that judging by the cheery wave the taxi driver gave him as he left, he must have given him a tip that would go some way towards paying for his hernia operation.
After the door had closed on the family Athena, Colin hoped he would have an hour or two free; he fancied a bite to eat and getting inside in the warm again would be a bonus too. There were plenty of places for people to ‘do lunch’ in the area and it didn’t take long to get sorted.
Athena was listening to her parents attentively as they told her everything they’d been up to over the past few months. They asked her how she was and did she still enjoy her job working for the charity. Athena was more interested in finding out what was wrong with her mother.
“Mummy” she said “the charity work keeps me very busy, but it’s so rewarding. We help so many people; I can’t tell you. Now that’s enough about me and all the beautiful people you’ve met this summer, what about you? Daddy tells me you’ve not been well.”
Her father sat on the arm of the chair by her mother and laid a hand on her shoulder.
“We’ll know more tomorrow when we see Dr. Ramanayake. He’s a consultant cardiologist and he’s top drawer; your mother has been diagnosed as having coronary artery disease. She had been getting chest pains; she was a little short of breath now and then too.”
Her mother squeezed her husband’s hand and took up the story.
“I had a few dizzy spells and nearly came a cropper in the shower several mornings. Your father said it was the champagne cocktails! In the end there was nothing for it; we had to see a doctor in Monte Carlo. He told me to stop smoking, change my diet and start exercising of all things! My dear, if I have to start taking Zumba or Pilate’s classes you might as well kill me now.”
Athena asked what they though Dr. Ramanayake would suggest be done.
“If making ‘minor’ lifestyle changes” said her mother throwing her hands up in mock horror “isn't enough to manage my heart disease, I’ll need medication help my heart work more efficiently. In due course I’ll have bypass surgery. The surgery isn’t a cure, but provided I make some of the adjustments they’re talking about it should be manageable.”
Athena went over and hugged her mother. They both had tears in their eyes. Neither was a familiar occurrence; open displays of affection and emotion were not family traits. Athena could only remember a handful of occasions when her mother had held her close; when a grandparent had died or the first time she went away to school; other than that, they were few and far between.
Inside the house the family continued to talk and to bond. Outside, Colin Bailey maintained his vigil, fully replenished after his lunch break. The evening drew closer and lights were coming on all around him. He had to be vigilant. Would Athena and her folks dine at home or would they go out to a restaurant?
Colin tried to imagine Athena in the kitchen; he attempted to conjure up a scene of domestic bliss behind that bright red door, but it was no good. They would be coming out later on, he was certain of that; he wouldn’t be able to go off duty until they were home again and tucked up in bed for the night.