Майкл Ридпат: The Predator

Chris sighed. ‘You’re right. We should do something. But, as I said earlier, it’s not that simple. Who do we talk to? The cops on Long Island? Or in Prague? Or Paris? The only name I’ve got is some guy called Karásek in Prague, but he’s going to have to do a lot of work to put it all together.’

‘Jesus, Chris, we’ve got to do something!’

‘I know.’ Chris thought. ‘What about a lawyer?’

‘A lawyer?’

‘Yes. If we get a good one, he might be able to help us make sure we protect our role in all this. And he’d know the best way round the international legal system. I think that’s the safest way to go.’

‘All right,’ said Duncan. ‘Find one. And let me know what happens.’

‘I will.’

Chris stared at the receiver as he put it down. Duncan was right, there was no time to lose. They were all at risk as long as Eric was running around unchecked. He picked up the phone and called the Fund’s lawyer. She recommended someone who recommended someone else, and within an hour he had an appointment to see a Mr Geoffrey Morris-Jones at his offices in Holborn at nine o’clock the next morning.

Duncan found it very difficult to concentrate. At 12:05 he grabbed his jacket and left the office. He hurried to a pub round the corner and ordered a pint. It tasted good.

Duncan felt better than he had in a long time. He had energy and he had focus. He knew what had to be done: Eric had to be stopped. If this could be done within the framework of the law, so much the better, but he wasn’t at all sure Chris’s plan would work. The police investigation would be slow and cumbersome. Eric would simply hire the best lawyers available and keep quiet. It would take months or years to put him in jail, if they ever succeeded at all. And in all that time, their own lives would be at risk.

Then Duncan thought of Lenka. Her death had to be avenged.

He finished his pint, left the pub and walked fifty yards down the road to a hardware shop. There he bought a large, sharp kitchen knife. If Chris’s plan didn’t work out, he would be ready.

Chris, too, was finding it hard to focus on his work. The Eureka Telecom bonds had risen to 109 and Ollie was in a jubilant mood. He and Chris discussed how they were going to invest RBK’s extra seven million euros. Chris did his best to share Ollie’s good spirits, but couldn’t manage it.

He was worried about seeing the lawyer the next day. He was sure Megan was wrong to put her faith in Eric, but he hated to place her in a potentially dangerous situation without her consent. If Eric ever did find out that they had gone to the police, her life would be in real danger. That thought scared Chris. Perhaps she would be safer if she went back to America. The problem was that Eric seemed to have no trouble leaving dead bodies all round the world: America would be no safer than England. Chris resolved to talk to the lawyer the next day about what steps could be taken to ensure her safety; and his own, for that matter.

He had to speak to Megan again, to try to get her to see that what he was doing made sense. He stared at the phone for a whole minute, then he called her.

She sounded subdued when she heard his voice, but at least she would talk to him. He told her about his appointment the next day.

She was unimpressed. ‘I don’t know why you’re telling me all this. You’re wasting your time. You know I think Eric is completely innocent.’

‘I know. And I respect that. But I wanted you to know what I’m doing. And I want to make sure that you’re safe, just in case you’re wrong.’

‘If you want to keep me safe, don’t talk to the police,’ said Megan.

‘But we have to do something! The riskiest thing is to sit back and do nothing.’

‘OK. But what if I’m right? What if it’s Duncan you should be worried about?’

‘I talked to him again today,’ Chris said. ‘I really don’t think there’s any need to worry about him.’

‘Oh, great,’ said Megan. ‘Well, I’m seeing Eric this evening, and I’ll let you know what I think after I’ve spoken to him.’

‘You what?’

‘I said, I’m meeting Eric.’

‘Where? When?’

‘At the Fort St George. At seven.’

‘You’re crazy. Don’t do it.’ Chris could feel the panic rising in his voice.

‘Look. I’ll talk to him about your theory. See what he says. I know him. I’ll be able to see if he’s telling the truth.’

‘But if you do that, he’ll know we’re still asking questions. He’ll know I’m on to him. It’ll put all of us in danger.’

‘Oh, I see. So it’s perfectly safe for you to talk to Duncan, but it’s dangerous for me to talk to Eric, is it?’ Megan’s voice was rising.

‘It’s not that simple.’

‘Isn’t it? Well, I think it is. Anyway, I’ve already told him you’re planning to speak to the police.’

‘You what! Why did you do that?’

‘I didn’t say it was him you were suspicious of.’

‘But he’ll know! For God’s sake, Megan. Don’t see him this evening. Please. It’s too dangerous. I’m only asking you this because I care about you. I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt.’

There was silence on the line for several seconds. When Megan spoke, her voice was softer. ‘I know you mean that, Chris. And I know I’ve been unfair to you over the last few days. I am sorry about that, I really am. But you’re right; it is to do with Eric. I just don’t know where I am with him, and it’s something I need to sort out. That’s why I have to speak to him. Why I’m going to see him this evening.’

‘Megan—’

‘Sorry, Chris,’ and she hung up.

Chris stared at the receiver in disbelief. He looked at his watch. Twenty past five. He could just make it to the Fort St George before seven. He wouldn’t have time to go back to the flat and get his car, but if he caught a train from King’s Cross, it should work. He had to get to her before she met Eric.

He dialled Duncan’s number.

‘Honshu.’

‘Duncan, bad news. Megan is meeting Eric in a pub in Cambridge this evening. She’s going to tell him everything I’ve discovered. I’m worried about her. I’m going up there right now. Do you want to come?’

‘All right. How are you getting there?’

‘Train from King’s Cross. You can get one from Liverpool Street. We’ll meet at Cambridge station, and then go to the pub. We should get there before Megan if we move.’

‘OK. I’ll call you from my mobile when I know what time my train gets in to Cambridge.’

Chris hung up, said goodbye to the bewildered Ollie, and headed for the door:

The Jaguar whispered up the M11 at just under eighty miles per hour, Terry driving, Eric in the back, composed, neat in a dark suit, white shirt and Ferragamo tie. He was feeling good.

‘I think we’re going to pull this off, Terry.’

‘I hope so, sir.’

‘All I need to do is convince Megan that she should keep her head down and forget about who killed Lenka. I think she’s just about there as it is.’

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to deal with the other two? We don’t want them going to the cops.’

‘I think we’ll leave them to our friend Marcus. He’s primed and dangerous. And without them the police will get nowhere.’

‘Don’t you think there’s a risk he’ll rat on you when he gets caught?’

‘No,’ said Eric. ‘There’s no point. He’ll think he’s killed the man who murdered his brother. And the police will probably believe him, since there’ll be no one left to contradict him. He’ll have no reason to drag me down with him. Anyway, I’ll just deny everything. A good lawyer will protect me, no problem.’

‘So, it’s just Megan, then?’