Archer, Jeffrey - Hidden in Plain Sight

‘What about his workers?’

‘Most of them are illegal immigrants and petty criminals, who Rashidi accommodates in squalid little flats in Block A. If there was any trouble, they’d have to leave by the front door, so you might catch a few of his minions on the way down, but not Rashidi or his right hand.’

‘How often does Rashidi visit the slaughter?’

‘He goes there to collect the cash between eight and midnight every evening from Monday to Thursday. He’s always accompanied by two armed ex-cons, who make sure no one gets introduced to their boss unless they have an appointment.’

‘I need to know who owns the two blocks,’ said the commander.

‘I have no way of finding that out, sir, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Rashidi himself. He’s resourceful and well organized enough, and like all sociopaths, wouldn’t care if you killed his best friend. Come to think of it, I’m not sure he has any friends.’ He paused for a moment before saying, ‘I have nothing more to confess, Father.’

‘Thank you, Ross,’ said the commander. ‘You’ve given me and the team more than enough ammunition to move on to the next phase of our plan.’

‘And there’ll be more where that came from, sir, because I’m determined to be there on the night of the raid. Let me know when you’ve settled on a date.’

‘Will do. But don’t take any unnecessary risks. You’ve done more than enough. The moment you want out, just say the word. An inspector’s position has come vacant in Hackney, and I’d be happy to recommend you.’

‘I’m not sure I could handle being back in uniform, after all this time.’

‘That’s understandable. But if you change your mind, let me know via the usual channels.’

‘Will do, sir,’ said Ross. ‘But I’m hoping you’ll personally arrest me when the boys raid the slaughter.’

‘Nice idea, but I’ll leave Choirboy to do that.’

‘Will I recognize him?’

‘You won’t be able to miss him,’ said the Hawk, with a grin Ross couldn’t see from the other side of the screen. ‘You’d better leave now, and I’ll hang around for a couple of minutes. And Ross, I know it’s inadequate, but once again, thank you.’

The Hawk heard the door swing open and close. He was thinking about how he could get his men all the way up to the twenty-third floor before Rashidi had time to escape, when a voice said, ‘Father, I have sinned, and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.’

Help, the Hawk wanted to say, you’re not my type of sinner. But he satisfied himself with, ‘How have you transgressed, my son?’

‘I covet my neighbour’s wife.’

‘And have you had carnal relations with her?’

‘No, Father, but the Bible tells us the thought is as wicked as the deed.’

Then I’m guilty of several murders, thought the Hawk, including Faulkner and Rashidi among my hypothetical victims. ‘Indeed, my son. You have committed a grievous sin, and you must reject the temptations of the devil and dismiss these unworthy thoughts from your mind.’

‘And if I can’t, Father? Will I be cast into eternal darkness and everlasting damnation?’

‘No, my son. Not if you repent your sins and return to the path of righteousness. Hail Mary, Mother of God . . .’

‘Thank you, Father,’ said a relieved voice, before the door opened and closed again.

The Hawk didn’t waste another moment, as he had no desire to deal with any more unscheduled sinners. He scurried out of the confessional box and almost ran through the outer sacristy on his way back to the vestry, but he had to slow down when he saw the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster heading towards him. He fell to one knee and kissed his ring. The cardinal made the sign of the cross and said, ‘Tell me, commander, have you been about God’s work?’

‘I believe I’ve saved one sinner today, Your Grace,’ he replied.

‘Then let us hope your reward will be on earth, my child, as well as in heaven.’

‘In view of MM’s latest revelations,’ said the Hawk when he chaired the next team meeting, ‘the commissioner has given us the green light. We can call on any resources within the Met’s remit, and we’ve even got a realistic budget. However, there’s one proviso.’

‘There always is,’ said Lamont.

‘The commissioner insists that our priority is to catch Rashidi and his inner circle, while at the same time securing enough evidence to put them away until they’re old men. Simply closing down his drug factory and catching a few runners, even dealers, won’t be enough. Rashidi’s well capable of just walking away and opening up in another part of town within weeks, possibly days. He’s probably got a second factory already set up for just that purpose. Bring me up to date, DS Warwick, on where we are with the investigation.’

‘DC Adaja and I have been working on the ground in Brixton for the past few weeks,’ said William.

‘That would explain why you’re both unshaven and look as if you’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards.’

‘Got to blend in with the locals,’ said Paul.

‘Not only have we confirmed the block where the slaughter is situated,’ said William, ‘but thanks to MM’s detailed intel – and by the way, I apologize for ever doubting him, sir, because if Jackie and I had arrested him and Tulip in Felixstowe, we’d still be picking up the pieces and—’

The commander waved a hand. ‘Let’s get on with the here and now, DS Warwick, and forget the past.’ He winked at Jackie, before William continued. ‘I’ve visited a couple of local estate agents to find out if I can rent a flat in Block A, so I could come and go without raising suspicion. But it’s not possible, because it turns out that the building is registered in the name of a shell company, probably owned by Rashidi.’

‘However, there are two unoccupied flats in Block B,’ said Paul, ‘that are rented by Lambeth council. One of which would be ideal for what we have in mind.’

William got up from the table and walked over to a large whiteboard covered in diagrams, arrows and photographs, one of which showed two tower blocks with a walkway running between them.

‘The flat I have in mind is on the twenty-third floor, not far from the walkway.’

‘Good work,’ said the commander. ‘However, it should be DC Adaja, not you, DS Warwick, who rents the flat, because if he can sneak some of our men in unobserved, when Rashidi attempts to escape across the walkway, he’ll find a welcoming party waiting for him.’

‘Unobserved could be a problem, sir,’ said William. ‘We’d need at least half a dozen men to arrest Rashidi and take out his bodyguards, and it won’t be easy to get a full firearms division up to the twenty-third floor of Block B before Rashidi has time to escape. But I’ll come to that later.’

‘What about the roof?’ asked Jackie. ‘Is that another way he could escape?’

‘Unlikely,’ said Paul. ‘The only way he could get out would be via the fire escape and he’d meet us on the way up while he was coming down.’

‘No,’ said William, ‘the walkway will be his preferred escape route, because once he’s in his flat in Block B, there’ll be no way of linking him with anything that’s going on in the next-door building.’

‘What about the thug who mans the lift in Block A?’ said Hawksby, taking a closer look at the detailed diagram pinned to the wall. ‘Can we disarm him and take over the lift?’

‘Pete Donoghue,’ said William, pointing to a photograph of a man who could have played an extra in The Sweeney without bothering make-up.

‘He’s served time for GBH and armed robbery,’ said Lamont. ‘Last time he was arrested it took three officers to hold him down while I handcuffed him.’