by KJ Griffin
***
The Guildhall, 9:25 a.m.
Clayton was standing in front of the Guildhall when MacSween and Knox found him. The air was damp but mild, and despite the aggregations of uniformed police manning the outer perimeter of steel barricades, the lack of traffic contributed to an air of uneasy calm across Parliament Square.
Knox handed Clayton a plastic cup of coffee.
‘You've got your backing for another TV interview, Max. The Prime Minister's just been on the phone. He wants your pal to make further concessions in return, though.’
Clayton looked sharply at Knox then at MacSween.
‘You mean you want me to speak to Bailey again?’
‘That's right,’ MacSween agreed. ‘You've got yourself the job of chief negotiator.’
‘OK, Gerry. In that case, I'll need a favour.’
‘Go on.’
‘The girl you brought in from Oxford last night, Sophie Palmer: I need to see her.’
‘When?’
‘Now. Before I talk to Bailey.’
‘As you wish, Max. I'll let the interview team know you're coming along.’
‘Good,’ Clayton said crisply, realising that he sounded anything other than delighted as he slurped at his coffee. ‘Anything else?’
‘We've got an ID on the body we found in the tunnel,’ said Knox, looking behind his shoulder towards Victoria Street, from where a steady rhythm of whistles and drums could be heard.
Clayton raised an eyebrow and took another sip of coffee.
‘Former IRA man, name of Aidan Hennessy,’ MacSween continued. ‘And funnily enough, when we asked your young Oxford student about him, she came up with the same name too. That's why we've decided to keep the girl a little longer; see what else she knows.’
Clayton could feel his cheeks turning white. Not even the coffee could revive him now. He tried to change tack but could feel his voice faltering.
‘They meant to use the tunnel to get out of there, I'll bet.’
MacSween chuckled.
‘That's what we thought, too. But they've been lax sealing it off at their end. Loquart's already got six men through it. They're in position now on top of the Speaker's Residence. That's why we're allowing one last interview and a little more negotiation. While the terrorists are busy with their speeches and publicity, Loquart is going to try and get the rest of his team into position. The meeting with him has been put back till 3:00 p.m., accordingly. If Loquart thinks he can pull it off, we might have cleared the Commons by this evening.’