Richard Wiseman - To Kill Or Be Killed

“We’ve just been discussing that.” David said.

“And?” Jacked looked at each of the faces of a group of what he knew to be very clever people.

“No ideas yet.” Tony replied.

Jack got up. “Well keep working on it. We’ve got one assassin left, we know MI6 are behind this, or at least involved in some way. I’d like us to be there waiting when Stanton gets to his target.”

London

MI6 Offices

1-45 p.m.

April 19th

“Well any ideas?” Sternway sat back and spread his hands. Joe, Brook and a third operative, Telford, sat across from him looking sheepish.

Lionel Telford was a short neat man, going bald and had subsequently shaved the remaining hair to stubble. He dressed casually in spite of his boss’ liking for neatness. He wasn’t muscular in any way and when he’d had to do ‘dirty work’ always used a weapon. He was a first class sniper, could blend in almost anywhere and a great undercover agent. He had an intelligent and active mind even if he was a little too imaginative for Sternway’s liking, but he was always the man with the clear view of the situation. Sternway considered him a vital member of his little ‘department’.

“He’s the last one. If he can’t make it then it can’t be done.” Telford spoke first.

Joe smiled.

“It’s been a good run though and Stanton’s been really good. DIC have really shown weaknesses here. I can’t believe the mistakes they make.”

“We’ve made mistakes too though. Mason and Cobb were utterly out of control and we lost a very good man.” Sternway’s voice cut the smile from Joe’s face with razor accuracy.

“Stanton won’t go to the Priory Arms. Blimey I won’t go there myself. DIC will be all over that by now. Mason must have talked to that bint he picked up, very bad work all round there.” Brook was shaken in spite of his professional coldness.

He knew it was very nearly himself laying dead in the black Honda. They’d had the car taken away very quickly to cover their tracks. Bentall’s body was in the MI6 morgue.

“What will Stanton do?”

“If I was Stanton, assuming he’s seen the news, I’d know Mason had come from Vauxhall. I’d know I couldn’t go to Priory Arms. I’d know we’d be having a meeting, even if I didn’t know who we were. I’d know that the question was being asked as to where I would go.” Telford spoke and Sternway focussed his ‘cold telescopic eyes’ on the man’s face. Telford felt pressured but spoke his thoughts. “I’d go to the nearest hotel in distance to the Priory Arms and wait there. I might even book in.”

Sternway swung his chair around and looked out the window. They waited as Sternway sifted and weighed his thoughts. They knew him to be a careful and detailed thinker.

He swung back.

“A good thought Lionel, a very good thought.” Joe had already picked up the phone and dialled his secretary.

“Christine get me a list of the closest hotels to Priory Arms Vauxhall, nearest one first on list.” He hung up.

“Of course that assumes he’s still in the UK. The police found a boat in Dover marina with his PSS pistol in, so he isn’t coming in by boat. He must avoid the CCTV unless he disguised himself there and the ‘intel’ we’ve had is that he was spotted and searched for in Dover, but hasn’t been found. By all accounts he’s probably very close to London if not in London now.” Sternway listened to Telford’s reasoning after which there was a silence of consideration.

Finally Sternway spoke.

“Telford and Brook can go to the hotels. Joe get them the list and both of you get cracking. He may be waiting there and if we can reason this DIC can too. I’m sending two of you, though Stanton won’t be looking to bite the hand that can haul him out of the sewage tank. Still go armed and watch out for each other.” Sternway gave them a ‘why are you still here’ look and they rose and got moving.

Sternway sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. The plan was working and if he could just get to the end of it he’d get what he wanted and a few other things besides. It all depended on Trevor Stanton.

Euston Tower

2 p.m.

April 19th

McKie sat in his office, which he now shared with Liam, for the duty rota duration. Liam was at the Priory Arms. David roved over the CCTV footage for the area. His roving through cameras took him along the Wandsworth Road. His eye was caught by a single building, white with a Greek portico. He squinted at the screen and saw the name ‘Chelsea Guest House.’ The light bulb went on in his head and he called Jack’s office.

“Jack here.”

“It’s David. His next move if he couldn’t make the pub would be to find a nearby hotel. That might even be a backup plan. They’d know that’s what he’d do. We should stake out the hotels nearest the pub.”

“It’s a good thought, but it’s a long shot. Alright I’ll send you in two’s to the nearest hotels. Do the run around and check. Give them a number and wait nearby.”

“I’ll generate a list of hotels in a two or three mile radius.” David offered.

“Okay David, good brain work.”

Magda called up the pool cars. David met the other two teams in the lobby with the list and maps he’d very efficiently found at high speed.

“We’ll take the Chelsea Guest House.” Tony stood with Ellie.

“We’ll get the Comfort Inn there’s two buildings either side of the road.” Terry offered.

“That leaves me the Belgrave Hotel on the Clapham Road.” Said David thinking he’d got the short straw in the draw.

“You can’t go alone David.” Ellie looked at the map print out he had given her with the list. “Look it’s right near Landsdowne Road, call in at the pub and collect Liam. The landlord can call your Satellite phone if Stanton turns up there.”

David looked dubious.

“Do it Davey. It’s safer, you can’t go alone.” Jaz expressed her concern earnestly and David was moved by the words of support in favour of his safety.

All having agreed on what to do they made their way to the waiting cars. David was disappointed to see the driver get out and hand him the keys at the front of the building.

“Aren’t you going to drive me?” David asked and the pool car park attendant laughed.

“I’m no driver I’m just the attendant. We’ve got staff all over London at ‘Priory’ named locations. The drivers are all out collecting them and bringing them back. You’ll have to drive yourself Mr McKie.”

David got in and sighed. He hated driving and he’d never driven in London before. He steeled himself, switched on the Satnav and pulled out into traffic, knowing he was just going to have to try really hard not to take a wrong turn. The Satnav took him straight towards the Vauxhall Bridge.

London

2 -15 p.m.

April 19th

A short while later Terry and Jaz sat in the lobby of the Chelsea guest house waiting patiently. They had covered the distance quickly, avoiding the Vauxhall Bridge. After showing badges, the photograph of Stanton and explaining the situation they were given a cup of tea and a place to sit. They waited patiently.

At the Comfort Inn Tony and Ellie had had to make a difficult choice. The Comfort had buildings on both sides of the road. They had thought of splitting up, one each side, but for safety’s sake they had left a number with reception on one side and decided to sit in reception on the other. They too had done the badge, photograph and explanation routine. Tony sat bored reading the hotel literature.

“Double rooms are cheap for a night here.”

“Really.” Ellie’s voice was humorously sarcastic. “What of it?”