Archer, Jeffrey - Hidden in Plain Sight

‘You can’t get anywhere near the lift without him checking you out,’ said Paul. ‘Several of Rashidi’s workers would prefer to take the stairs rather than share a lift with that thug.’

‘Even if you could make it to the lift, there are always lookouts posted here, here, here and here,’ said William, pointing to four crosses on the street plan. ‘If one of them has any doubts about you, the lift disappears to the twenty-third floor, and doesn’t return to the ground floor until the all-clear’s been given.’

‘Like an air raid siren during the last war,’ said the Hawk, showing his age.

‘I’ll take your word for that, sir,’ said Paul.

‘How did you manage to pick up so much information without being spotted by one of the lookouts?’ asked the Hawk, ignoring the comment.

‘Regular journeys on the top decks of buses, sir,’ said William. ‘Numbers 3, 59 and 118 pass by the two blocks several times an hour.’

‘In fact,’ said Paul, ‘the number 118 stops right outside Block A, which is how we’ve been able to pinpoint where the lookouts are posted. I’ve also identified several dealers, because they are the only ones allowed to head for the lift without being questioned. But I still can’t risk getting off the bus in the close vicinity of what is virtually a fortress.’

‘How long would it take for a unit of armed officers to reach the twenty-third floor if they couldn’t make it to the lift in time?’ asked Lamont.

‘MM did it in seven and a half minutes,’ said Jackie, ‘but remember, the lift can get there in forty-two seconds, giving Rashidi more than enough time to escape across the walkway and be back in his flat long before the first officer would reach the front door.’

‘So how do we get to the twenty-third floor in under forty-two seconds?’ demanded Lamont.

‘I think William may have come up with the answer to that question,’ said the Hawk.

25

‘MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES, Miles, on the loss of your unique collection. I know how much those pictures meant to you, and for them to be destroyed in such a cruel way must be devastating.’

‘Thank you, BW. I appreciate your concern,’ said Faulkner, trying to sound devastated.

‘I know of course that you had planned to buy back Limpton Hall, and in time—’

‘The paintings were far more important to me than the house, but I still expect you to get my £500,000 deposit back as quickly as possible.’

‘The paperwork’s already underway. At least the Vermeer is safe in its new home at the Fitzmolean.’

‘Not for much longer.’

‘I don’t understand,’ said Booth Watson.

‘No reason you should, BW. Let’s just say I have plans for it to be reunited with the rest of my collection.’

‘It was kind of you to agree to see me, colonel,’ said William when the two men met in the reception area. ‘I know the commander is looking forward to catching up with you.’

‘Hawksby was one of my better junior subalterns. He would have made a damn fine soldier,’ said the colonel, as he followed William into the lift. ‘It will be good to see the young man again after all these years.’

William stifled a smile as he stepped out of the lift and led the colonel down the corridor to the commander’s office. He knocked on the door, and as they entered, the Hawk sprang to attention. ‘It’s an honour to see you again, sir,’ he said.

‘At my age, I’m always surprised anyone still remembers me,’ said the colonel, as they shook hands.

‘How could anyone forget,’ said Hawksby. ‘My generation was raised on Colditz, Dunkirk and Navarone.’

‘So, it wasn’t David Niven who led that raid?’ said William, playing along.

‘No,’ said the colonel, ‘but I can’t complain. When Niven landed the part it did my reputation with the ladies no harm. So how can I help?’

‘May I ask, colonel, if you think DS Warwick’s idea has any merit?’

‘It most certainly does, and what’s more I know the ideal man for the job. He’s actually already one of your chaps. When Captain Scott Cairns left the regiment, the Met recruited him to set up its counter-terrorist division, which is more or less the SAS in different-coloured uniforms. I think you’ll find it’s fully operational by now, although it’s being kept under wraps.’

‘Then we’ll have to unwrap it,’ said William. ‘How do I get in touch with Captain Cairns?’

‘I don’t know,’ said the colonel. ‘But I wouldn’t be surprised if he was holed up somewhere in this building.’

‘Scotland Yard employs over two thousand people in over three hundred offices on nineteen floors, but if he’s here I’ll have tracked him down before the end of the day,’ said the Hawk. ‘Now all we have to hope is our boys are as good as your lot were.’

‘They’re a damn sight better,’ said the colonel. ‘We were a bunch of amateurs by comparison. This new lot are highly trained professionals, who’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.’

‘But are they just as mad?’ asked the Hawk.

‘Certifiable! It’s still the only essential qualification for the job. But now that I’ve solved your problem, can I ask a favour?’

‘Anything,’ said the Hawk.

‘Since I’ve finally made it to Scotland Yard without being arrested, would it be possible to have a guided tour of the Black Museum?’

‘When’s the baby due?’ asked Christina, as William turned off the motorway and followed the signs to Limpton, which brought back so many memories.

‘Not long now,’ replied Beth.

‘You must both be so excited.’

‘William’s got one or two other things on his mind at the moment.’

‘What could possibly be more important than your firstborn?’

‘Arson and art theft,’ said William. ‘But I hope to have solved both cases before Alexander or Vivien make their presence known.’

‘Boudicca or Leonardo,’ said Beth. ‘As you can see, we haven’t yet settled on the name. But let’s concentrate on arson for the time being.’

‘Proving someone has committed arson is never easy,’ said William. ‘Unless there are obvious, tell-tale signs, like traces of accelerant on a floorboard, or a petrol-soaked rag that’s been dropped through a letterbox – the sort of crass mistake only amateurs think they could get away with.’

‘And the professionals?’ asked Christina.

‘A pile of tissues placed just below a wooden roof next to an immersion heater, and then one match is all it takes. There aren’t many people serving prison sentences for arson, as it’s one of the easiest crimes to get away with. So, we’ll have to concentrate on proving that Miles stole the pictures before the house went up in flames.’

‘Of course he did.’

‘However much you believe that’s the case, Christina, and I’m not saying I don’t agree with you, you’ll still need concrete evidence for a case to stand up in a court of law. Without it, vexatious claims from an angry ex-wife tend to be laughed out of court.’

‘William,’ said Beth sharply, ‘that’s very harsh after all Christina’s been through.’

‘I’m on her side,’ said William. ‘But unless I find what I’m looking for, we’ll all be wasting our time,’ he added, as he turned into the lane that led up to Limpton Hall. This time he drove slowly.

‘So where do we start?’ asked Christina.

‘We go over the site with the proverbial fine-tooth comb.’

‘What are we looking for?’ asked Beth.

‘Anything that’s survived the fire.’

William drove past the abandoned gatehouse and on up the long drive, not quite sure what to expect. He only just avoided crashing into a tree when he first caught sight of what was left of the beautiful Lutyens manor house that had once stood so proudly on the hill dominating the surrounding countryside. All that remained was half an acre of ash and rubble.