Andy Mcdermott - Temple of the Gods

‘We have to tell Beauchamp,’ said Nina, heading to the phone. Without looking back, she pointed at Eddie. ‘Don’t you even think of leaving.’

‘I’m not,’ he replied. ‘Not until I see how this pans out, at least.’

‘Well, it looks like this’ll get complicated, and I was going anyway, so…’ said Larry.

‘Are you sure?’ asked Nina.

‘I should catch up with Julie before she melts my credit cards,’ he said with a small laugh. ‘But, ah… if I was right about that number, you’ll let me know, won’t you?’

‘Of course we will. Won’t we, Eddie?’

‘I suppose,’ said Eddie, rather dismissively.

‘Okay, then. And about the money Stikes paid me? You were both right; it’s… tainted , I suppose. As soon as I get back to England, I’ll donate it to one of those charities you mentioned, Edward.’ He looked hopefully at his son, but no praise was forthcoming. ‘Well, I’ll, ah, see you again sometime. Both of you.’ Larry gave Nina a brief embrace and Eddie an awkward nod, then departed.

Nina rounded on her husband. ‘That’s it ? That’s all you had to say, “I suppose”?’

‘What were you expecting?’ Eddie replied sarcastically. ‘Big backslapping hugs and manly tears and the whole “I love you, son”, “I love you too, Dad” thing? We’re not Americans. Besides, even if he’s right about Kit’s code, it doesn’t change the fact that he fucked up. He can apologise as much as he likes, but it’ll take a lot for me to get over that.’

‘Even if he helps clear your name?’

He huffed. ‘Stop asking me things I don’t want to answer and call Renée.’

Nina smiled and picked up the phone.

‘Welcome back!’ cried Lola, embracing the newly shaven Eddie as he entered the reception area. Several other IHA staffers gave him a round of applause.

‘Thanks! Thanks, everyone. It’s good to be back,’ Eddie replied. ‘Steady on, the wife’s right behind me,’ he added as Lola kissed him.

A grinning Nina followed him into the IHA offices. ‘It doesn’t take long for word to spread around here, does it, Lola ?’

‘I could hardly keep it to myself, could I?’ Lola replied without a hint of contrition as she released Eddie. ‘It was bursting to get out. Like I wish this little guy would.’ She looked down at her stomach.

‘He’ll have his freedom soon,’ Nina assured her. ‘Or she’ll have hers, whichever it is. Anyway, thank you, everyone.’

People congratulated Eddie and shook his hand, then returned to their offices and labs. He and Nina had work of their own to deal with. ‘Mr Penrose is waiting for you,’ Lola told them. ‘And Ms Beauchamp is ready to take your call when you are.’

They went to the conference room. Sebastian Penrose stood up to greet them as they entered. ‘Ah, Eddie! Glad to see you again, alive and well and a free man. It must be a huge weight off your mind.’

‘You’re not kidding,’ said Eddie as he shook hands with the older Englishman. ‘Although let’s make sure I actually am free first, eh? I still keep thinking a SWAT team’s going to burst in at any moment.’

‘I think this will just be a formality,’ Penrose said, smiling. ‘Now, I understand that Renée is ready for us, so let me set this up…’

The conference room was equipped for videoconferencing. Penrose tapped at a remote control to switch on a large screen on one wall. A view of another conference room appeared, this one at Interpol’s headquarters in Lyons. Renée Beauchamp looked back at them. ‘Good afternoon, Sebastian,’ said the tall French-woman. ‘Or whatever time it is there.’

‘Good morning,’ Penrose replied, amused. ‘Now, I have two people here who are very eager to hear what you have to say, so… I hope it’s good news.’

Beauchamp sighed a little. ‘It is good news for Eddie; not so much for Interpol, I am afraid. Nina, you were right about the number being a Swiss account code. We made a priority check with the bank in Bern, and found that it was indeed registered to Ankit Jindal.’

Eddie noted her formality in using Kit’s full name; she was upset and disappointed in her former friend. ‘When was it opened?’

‘Over two years ago. And a considerable sum of money had been paid into it during that time — over three hundred thousand euros.’

‘Paid in by whom?’ Nina asked.

‘A company in the Cayman Islands, which turned out to be a shell. It ceased trading three months ago — just after Ankit’s death. But I had our financial crimes unit check it, and they found that the company was originally created as a subsidiary of a business owned by Harald Glas.’

‘Glas?’ echoed Eddie, exchanging a brief but knowing look with Nina. ‘He was involved with Kit too?’

Beauchamp tipped her head quizzically. ‘There is some other connection?’

He decided not to let her in on his nocturnal visit to Dalton’s house. ‘His name came up when I was trying to find out who attacked the skyscraper in Tokyo. But I didn’t know he had Kit on his payroll.’

‘Nor did we. It is embarrassing to Interpol; Internal Affairs will have to investigate further.’ She shook her head. ‘Of all people, I never would have believed he would be corrupt. He fought against corruption in India before joining Interpol, and he was always very firm on the need for order. I don’t know…’ Another shake.

‘What about Glas?’ said Nina. ‘Are Interpol any closer to tracking him down?’

‘No. It is as if he has disappeared from the face of the planet. Even though Eddie stayed ahead of us, we knew where he had been, and we were catching up.’

‘You didn’t get me, though,’ Eddie couldn’t resist pointing out.

Beauchamp’s lips briefly twitched into a hunter’s smile. ‘We would have. In time. But Glas… he has completely disappeared. An international red notice was placed on him, but he has not been seen since the warrant for his arrest was issued. We think he was tipped off. More corruption. But,’ she went on, ‘as for another red notice… Eddie, you will be very pleased to know that the one issued against you has been formally rescinded. The new evidence against Ankit proves that he had something to hide — which, with the gun found on the video footage, makes your claim of self-defence more valid.’

‘Thank God,’ said Nina.

‘There will still have to be further investigation into what happened in Peru — and the Peruvian government has outstanding charges against Eddie for assaulting two police officers. But,’ another slight smile, ‘I have persuaded them this is not a matter that calls for extradition.’

Eddie counted names on his fingers. ‘So that’s Zimbabwe, Syria and now Peru I can cross off my holiday list, then. And Monaco, too.’

Beauchamp’s look of curiosity returned. ‘What happened in Monaco?’

‘Uh, nothing,’ Nina said quickly, not wanting to remind Interpol of the couple’s involvement in the crashing of a multi-million-dollar yacht into the middle of the wealthy principality’s annual motor race. ‘But we’ll be happy to cooperate with Interpol to make sure Eddie is fully cleared. Won’t we?’

‘No arguments here,’ Eddie assured her.

‘For now, though,’ Beauchamp continued, ‘Eddie, you are a free man.’

Eddie let out a long sigh of relief. ‘I’m bloody glad to hear that, Renée. Thanks.’

The Interpol officer nodded. ‘I will speak to you again, no doubt. Goodbye.’

She disconnected. Nina turned to her husband. ‘How do you feel?’

‘Relieved. As. Fuck .’ He slumped in his chair. ‘Being on the run really bloody takes it out of you.’