Archer, Jeffrey - Hidden in Plain Sight

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘I’ll give you a call in the morning and let you know how it all worked out.’

‘Not too early,’ said Christina. ‘My dinner companion is considerably younger than I am.’

William laughed for the first time that evening. ‘Have a good time,’ he said before replacing the receiver. He took a moment to compose his thoughts, and was about to leave the room when he once again spotted the rolled-up twenty-pound note on the desk, which now made him feel more confident. He picked it up and left Faulkner’s study to head back down the corridor towards the hall.

‘Well, look who’s rejoined us,’ said Booth Watson as William reappeared. ‘None other than our newly appointed sergeant – I do apologize, detective sergeant. Not for much longer, I suspect.’ Only Faulkner laughed.

‘Well, detective sergeant,’ said Booth Watson, glancing dismissively at the twenty-pound note William was holding. ‘Apprehended one of the Great Train Robbers, have we?’

‘Far better,’ said William without explanation, as he placed the note in a plastic bag and labelled it ‘Evidence’. He then strolled slowly over to the bust of Faulkner. ‘Only someone with an oversized ego would allow such a grotesque object to be seen in a house full of masterpieces,’ he said, turning to Faulkner.

‘I hope you have another job lined up, detective sergeant,’ said Booth Watson, ‘because I have a feeling your days as a police officer are numbered.’

‘No, I haven’t,’ William replied. ‘But it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a job identifying fake works of art.’ He lifted the bust off its stand.

‘Put that down!’ yelled Faulkner. ‘It’s extremely rare!’

‘Unique, I would hope,’ said William. ‘But if that’s what you want, Mr Faulkner, I’m only too happy to oblige.’ William allowed the bust to slip from his fingers and crash onto the marble floor, where it shattered into a hundred pieces.

Everyone stared, not at what was left of the broken statue, but at a dozen small paper wraps, each containing a white substance, that lay strewn across the floor.

The dogs’ tails began to wag excitedly, while the photographers immediately set about their task. Once they’d finished, a dozen officers began to gather up the evidence.

‘I suspect it doesn’t get any purer than this,’ said a senior drugs officer, holding up one of the bags. ‘I’ll get this lot back to the lab for testing, superintendent, and have a report on your desk first thing on Monday morning.’

Lamont stepped forward, thrust Faulkner’s arms behind his back and handcuffed him. ‘I’ve been looking forward to this for some time, Mr Faulkner,’ he said. Booth Watson made a note. ‘I’ll leave you to do the honours, DS Warwick.’

William walked up to Faulkner and stood directly in front of him. He was so nervous he nearly forgot the words of the caution.

‘Miles Faulkner, I am arresting you on suspicion of being in possession of a Class A substance with an intent to supply. You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but what you say may be given in evidence.’

He accompanied the prisoner out of the house, and bundled him into the back of a waiting squad car. He couldn’t resist waving goodbye as he was driven away.

Lamont picked up the phone in the hall and began dialling. ‘I think I’ll take your advice, Mr Booth Watson,’ he said with a smile, ‘and give Commander Hawksby a call to tell him about my spectacular triumph.’

14

WHEN WILLIAM AND DC Adaja entered the small interview room in the basement of Scotland Yard, they found Adrian Heath already seated on the other side of the table. He looked anxious, and displayed none of his usual self-

confidence.

‘Is Faulkner safely out of the way?’ were his first words, even before the two police officers had sat down.

‘For the time being, yes,’ said William. ‘He’s currently locked up in a local police station, but will be applying for bail on Monday afternoon, and the magistrate may well release him from custody, which means he could be out there looking for you long before the trial takes place.’

‘He will be,’ said Heath, ‘even if he’s locked up. What are you going to do about it?’

‘All in good time,’ replied William. ‘First, we need to ask you some questions, and your answers will determine how much help we’re willing to offer you.’

‘But I kept my side of the bargain,’ protested Heath, who began to shake uncontrollably.

‘You did indeed,’ said William. ‘But there’s one thing that still puzzles me. After you supplied Faulkner with twelve wraps of cocaine, you say he handed over eight hundred pounds in twenty-pound notes.’

‘Yes, but first he opened a wrap, cut a line and snorted it through one of the notes to test the quality, and only after he was satisfied did he finally hand over the cash.’

‘But when the police picked you up after you’d left the house, Mr Heath,’ said DC Adaja, ‘you were only in possession of seven hundred and eighty pounds.’

‘He must have forgotten to put the one he used for snorting back in the pile.’

‘This one?’ said William, holding up the twenty-pound note he’d found on the desk in Faulkner’s study.

‘If you say so,’ said Heath. ‘Now when do I get my money?’

William handed over two cellophane packets containing Heath’s latest addiction – cash.

‘And don’t forget the eight hundred you took off me. That’s also mine.’

‘That’s now part of the Crown’s evidence,’ said Paul. ‘But we’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.’ He paused. ‘That’s assuming you continue to keep your side of the bargain. You’ll get the full amount back the moment the trial is over.’

‘So, what happens next?’ asked Heath.

‘You’ll appear as the Crown’s principal witness when Faulkner comes up for trial in about six months’ time,’ said William. ‘You’ll be questioned in the witness box, and be expected to tell the truth under oath. No more and no less.’

‘I’ve written out the statement you volunteered earlier,’ said Adaja. ‘DS Warwick and I have witnessed it, so all you have to do is sign it.’

‘Before I do, I want to know what I’m getting in return.’

‘Ten thousand pounds in cash, two one-way tickets to Rio de Janeiro for you and Miss Maria Ruiz—’

‘Business class. Plus a passport under a new name.’

‘That shouldn’t be a problem,’ said Adaja.

‘What about the six months before the trial takes place? I’ll be a sitting duck if I’m found roaming around without police protection,’ said Heath.

‘We can do better than that,’ said William. ‘You and Maria will enter our witness protection programme, and be housed at a secret location. After you’ve given your evidence, you’ll be driven straight to Heathrow. So, while Faulkner is in a Black Maria on his way to Pentonville, you and Maria will be flying business class to Rio.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that,’ said Heath. ‘That man’s found more ways to escape than Houdini.’

‘The choice is yours,’ said William. ‘Sitting duck or safe house?’

‘Put like that, I don’t have a lot of choice. So where do I go from here?’

‘There’s a car outside waiting to take the two of you to the safe house.’

‘Where’s that?’

‘Even I don’t know,’ said William.

‘If you’ll come with me, sir,’ said the desk sergeant, ‘I’ll take you to see your client.’

The officer led Booth Watson down a dimly lit brick-walled corridor, past a couple of cells, before stopping outside a door with a young constable stationed outside. The sergeant selected a key from his chain, unlocked the heavy door and pulled it open. The two officers stood aside to allow the senior silk to enter. The constable closed the door behind him and remained in his place, while the sergeant returned to his desk.