by Mark Arundel
I called Charlotte and told her we had taken off. ‘Did you see Grace?’ she asked.
‘Why did she come?’
‘She told me she wanted to say good-bye.’
‘She wanted to make sure we left,’ I said.
‘Forget about Grace,’ Charlotte said, ‘and begin thinking about London and how we’re going to save Meriwether.’
‘When I called him last to tell him about the sanctioned termination I told him to contact Xing and ask her for help and protection.’ Charlotte was quiet while she thought.
‘I’ll meet you at the airport,’ she said. ‘In the meantime, I’ll work on trying to find him. If Xing is with him, it might help me.’
A little while later Luana brought us our meals.
‘How cold will it be in London?’ Snowy asked from around a mouthful of steak. ‘I’m not used to cold weather.’
‘We’ll buy you a coat,’ I said.
‘Where will I stay in London?’
‘We’ll sort everything out when we arrive,’ I said.
‘What’s going to happen?’ he asked. That question I could not answer.
I finished the meal, reclined my seat all the way down, closed my eyes and fell asleep. As holidays go, the only positive thing I could say about my trip to Rio de Janeiro was that I was returning home alive.
22
MONSTROM “MONTY” CLAYMORE
Monstrom Claymore or “Monty” as he liked people to call him sat comfortably in the top seat and viewed the man to his left with the expression of a wealthy uncle entertaining his favourite nephew.
Robert Treadwell stared back with an expression that was less than grateful. Monty knew that Robert Treadwell was pleased with his promotion. He knew too that he wanted to do well in the job of head honcho at the sanctioned termination office. However, Monty also knew that he was not so pleased with his first assignment or the interference that came with it.
Treadwell’s heavy shoulders flexed inside his ill-fitting jacket and the material pulled tight and creased inexpensively. Monty found it difficult to look at the cheap suit without feeling offended that manufacturers had permission to produce such garments. If Monty was going to have to see Robert Treadwell then, he thought, the man really should get himself a decent tailor if only out of consideration for others.
Treadwell was thinking about something. Monty could see it on his face. He wondered if it was the missed day. Bad weather had delayed his flight home from the family skiing holiday in the Alps. It rankled with him. It was a costly day. He wondered if he was a man who often experienced bad luck.
Sometimes the sealed meeting room could feel oppressive. Monty saw the pressure creeping up on Robert Treadwell. The man took a breath and shifted again in his seat. ‘We’ll find him,’ he said. Was he trying to convince them or reassure himself?
Monty inclined his head positively. ‘I know you will, Robert,’ he said. ‘I know you will.’
Thornton Talbot pressed his fists against the table top and hunched forward in his seat. The spotlight in the ceiling made his flushed neck stand out like a traffic signal. Monty moved his gaze from one man to the other. It was easy for him to let Thornton Talbot play the bully. ‘Treadwell, we were expecting you to complete this assignment quickly and easily.’ Talbot shook his head with disappointment. ‘Now you tell us that the target has disappeared.’ He leant further forward and glared. ‘It’s a little difficult to sanction someone if you don’t know where they are.’ Talbot widened his eyes aggressively to dramatize the point.
Monty did enjoy it when Talbot got mad. However, this was a serious business and Monty knew that now Meriwether was aware of the sanction he was not going to make it easy for them. ‘Perhaps we should consider broadening our remit,’ Monty said.
Talbot nodded as far as his thick neck would allow. ‘Yes, yes, perhaps,’ he said. ‘If he’s hiding then he’s probably organised protection too.’
‘We must consider every option,’ Monty said. ‘We need not rule anything out. You do understand, Robert?’ Monty’s dislike of Bartholomew Meriwether was a long list of resentful loathing and competitive rivalry. The feud endured through every year of their joint time with the British intelligence service. The excuse to finally rid himself of Meriwether, take revenge and exert his position of superiority and power was too great an opportunity for Monty to pass. ‘What about that soldier Charlotte seconded; what’s happening with him? Does Meriwether still have him on his payroll?’ He turned to Treadwell. ‘You came across him in Tenerife I recall.’
‘Yes, I did,’ Treadwell said.
‘He’s in Brazil, Rio, on holiday,’ Talbot said.
‘Oh, pity, you might have had the chance for a re-acquaintance.’ Treadwell decided not to respond. ‘Well, then...’ Monty said, ‘...what other protection could he have organised in such a short space of time? We simply need to locate his hiding place, that’s all.’ Monty casually adjusted the cuffs to his tailored shirt and while doing so admired his wristwatch. ‘Charlotte may very well know where he is.’ He turned his eyes on Treadwell. ‘I take it, Robert, that you know her location.’
‘Yes, we’re tracking every movement.’
‘Good. There is an excellent chance, I should have thought that she will lead us to him. When she does it may present us with an ideal opportunity.’
‘Opportunity,’ repeated Treadwell. ‘How do you mean?’
‘The opportunity,’ Monty said, ‘to kill two birds with one stone.’
23
FRIDAY, 14:51—16:59 (local time)
It was Friday afternoon in London when we flew over a sheet iron Thames on our runway approach. A persistent wind coaxed the surface into a roll of lapping waves. The more we descended the more it looked like a bubbling cauldron of “double, double, toil and trouble”.
Snowy had his nose pressed against the glass as he stared out excitedly across the town he thought he loved so much. ‘Can we visit Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Hyde Park...?’ he asked without taking a breath. He knew all the sights.
‘St. James’s Park is better than Hyde Park,’ I said. ‘It has great views especially of Buck House and Westminster.’
‘I want to see it all. Will you take me to St. James’s Park?’
‘If I can, yes,’ I said. Snowy grinned at me.
The K106 rang. It was Stephen “Billy” Bradshaw calling. ‘Have you recovered from that bang on the head?’ he asked.
‘Do I know you?’ I replied. Bradshaw laughed.
‘Are you still in Rio?’
‘No, I’m just about to land back in London,’ I said.
‘Ah, has Meriwether brought you home so you can protect him?’
‘Not exactly,’ I said.
‘Oh, why’s that?’
‘I don’t suppose you know where he is?’ I asked. Bradshaw chuckled hoarsely.
‘Don’t tell me he’s hiding and forgotten to tell you where.’
‘Yes, something of that sort,’ I said. Bradshaw chuckled and this time, it caused him to hack.
‘Well, if I know Meriwether he won’t have left London. He’s most probably held up in one of the top West End hotels under an assumed name while he tries to work it out.’
‘...which hotel is his favourite?’ I asked.
‘How should I know?’ Bradshaw said. ‘There aren’t many. If he is in one of them then Charlotte ought to be able to find him quite easily I should have thought.’
‘Why have you called?’ I said.
‘Oh, yes, I have two new pieces of information for you. I now know who’s replaced me at the S.T. office. Do you remember Treadwell, Robert Treadwell? He and Andrew Baines were both with me in Tenerife.’
‘Yes, I remember him,’ I said.
‘Well, he’s my replacement.’
‘Is that good?’ I asked.
‘He doesn’t like you.’
‘He doesn’t know me.’
‘He knows you ju
mped him and then knocked him unconscious.’
‘Does he know Meriwether?’ I asked.
‘He knows who Meriwether is, but I don’t think they’ve ever met.’
‘So, it doesn’t make any difference then,’ I said.
‘No, I suppose not. I thought you’d want to know.’
‘What’s the other piece of information?’ I asked.
‘You know I told you about my new position. Well, there’s something already coming up. It’s only at a very early stage and it may not go anywhere, but if it did I thought you might want to get involved.’
‘What is it?’
‘Dark deeds,’ said Bradshaw in a low, conspiratorial voice. ‘I can’t tell you any more at the moment.’
‘What would I have to do?’
‘Employ those skills of which you are uniquely blessed,’ he said.
‘When you talk like that you sound like Meriwether,’ I said.
‘It might get you back inside the military,’ he tempted. ‘I can’t promise anything, but it’s possible. It would mean leaving Meriwether, but events may force your hand on that anyway.’ It was appealing. Having an opportunity to return to the army was what I wanted. If it came, I would take it. Even via the intelligence service and by way of covert operations if it meant re-joining the regiment I was there. As before, I told myself to remain realistic. Getting back in was still a long way away.
The wheels of the Gulfstream jet gave the runway a gentle smack and then lost speed easily.
‘Give it some thought,’ Bradshaw suggested. ‘I’ll keep in touch. Good luck finding Meriwether.’ Then he finished the call.
‘Who was that?’ Snowy asked.
‘A man I once came very close to killing,’ I replied.
Off the jet and inside the terminal the preliminaries of our arrival passed smoothly. We thanked and said goodbye to Luana. ‘I hope your face soon gets better,’ she said to me.
Adjacent to the exit I saw Charlotte. She was dressed in a Russian hat with matching coat and boots. The London afternoon air had a bite that went to the bone.
She looked closely at my bruised and swollen face, but the only comment she made was to say that whenever she came to meet me off a plane I was always wearing a tourist’s t-shirt.
‘The one I was wearing before,’ I explained, ‘got blood on it.’ Charlotte’s response was silence. Snowy met her implacable expression with his colourless eyes.
‘This man saved my life,’ he said with the delivery of an actor playing Macbeth. Charlotte breathed out through her nose.
‘The motorcar is just over here,’ she said. We followed.
‘Who is she again?’ Snowy asked.
‘One day she’s going to be chief of the British intelligence service,’ I said.
‘She’s like Grace,’ Snowy said, ‘except she talks less.’ He was right. There were similarities between Charlotte and Grace. Both women possessed the ability to change from compassionate friend to ruthless adversary without a second’s hesitation. The morality behind these decisions seemed integral to the machinations of espionage. I missed being a simple combat soldier. For a moment, I thought about Stephen Bradshaw and his phone call and possibilities.
‘Your name is Leonardo Horacio Cavaco da Silva?’ Charlotte said, asking for confirmation. Sitting inside the leather upholstered car her voice was full and the clipped vowels distinctive. Snowy confirmed his name and Charlotte continued: ‘I’m going to take you to a house here in London where you will stay while we debrief you and decide what’s best for your...’
‘...best, what is best?’ Snowy interrupted.
‘It’s essential we make the right decisions concerning your future arrangements,’ Charlotte said and then smiled. ‘It’s important to us that you remain safe.’ Snowy nodded and his face brightened. He appeared reassured by Charlotte’s comforting words. Charlotte continued: ‘First, though, I would like to ask you some questions.’
‘Yes, okay,’ Snowy said.
‘When did you become aware that someone was using the information you were passing to Grace to make derivative transactions on the international currency exchanges?’ Snowy took many seconds before he answered.
‘I could not know, but the timing and fluctuation of exchange rates made me think it,’ he said. ‘Of course, the bank monitors exchange rates and it seemed likely that someone was making big speculative future trades that they could only base on secret bank knowledge.’
‘What did you do about it?’
‘I told Grace,’ he said.
‘What was her reaction?’
‘She was surprised.’
‘What did she do?’
‘She said that she would tell London.’
‘Did she tell London?’
‘She said that she did, but it did not stop.’
‘What happened after that?’ Charlotte asked.
‘There were unscheduled and unusually thorough security checks at the bank. It was then that I thought they had discovered my unauthorised activities and I told Grace. She did not want to believe me, but I was right.’
‘Did you pass any of the information to anyone other than Grace?’ Charlotte asked.
‘No, I did not. It was only Grace.’
‘Who do you think was making the trades?’
‘How do I know?’ Snowy said and shrugged. ‘Why do you not know?’ The fact was Charlotte thought that she did know, but she hoped for a different answer.
Away from the airport, Charlotte drove us west along the Thames. She cut off at the Isle of Dogs, went through Wapping and into Holburn. The house was on a small, residential street of lined terraces, neat front gardens and parked cars. The grey, block construction and black painted door made it look like all the others. The windows were clean and the pathway swept.
Charlotte parked on the road several doors down and switched off the engine. ‘I’ll take him in,’ she said to me. Snowy held out his hand and I took it.
‘I owe you my life, senhor,’ he said. ‘You are strong and brave like a Tupi warrior.’
I watched Snowy walk away. It felt good to think he was still alive. Charlotte led him further along the street before turning down an alleyway between the houses. Entering at the back was more secure than using the front door.
My wait only lasted a few minutes. Charlotte reappeared on the pavement alone. She pulled shut the driver’s door and settled into the seat.
‘What’s the procedure?’ I asked.
‘It’s quite straightforward,’ she said. ‘A small team will look after him in the house while they run through a standard debriefing exercise. Once that’s complete we’ll decide what to do with him.’
‘Can I see him again?’
‘Yes, if you want to. The security risk is low now that he’s here in London so we won’t have difficulties making an arrangement. Why do you want to see him again?’
‘I promised to show him St. James’s Park,’ I said. Charlotte’s eyes stayed on my face for a moment, but any comment she had about my promise she kept to herself.
‘You may find time is a problem,’ she said. ‘You and I are going to be very busy.’ Charlotte started the engine and pulled away. We drove for a minute in silence. ‘Have you ever heard of a Tupi warrior before?’
‘No, I haven’t,’ I said. Charlotte’s eyes left the road while she glanced at me.
‘The Tupi people are the indigenous race of Brazil. Did you know that?’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘The settling Portuguese wiped almost all of them out. Before the Portuguese, the Tupi lived in warring tribes. When one tribe captured the warrior of another they would perform a ritualised killing and then eat him.’ Charlotte paused and looked at me again. ‘Why do you suppose they ate him?’
‘Did he taste good?’ I suggested helpfully.
‘The reason they ate one another’s captured warriors was they believed in so doing they were absorbing the strength and bravery of their enemy.’
‘Well,’ said Charlotte, ‘let’s hope not.’ There was a pause.
‘What’s the latest on Meriwether?’ I asked. ‘Have you found him yet?’
‘No, not yet,’ she said, ‘but I did find Xing.’
‘Xing,’ I repeated, trying to keep my voice neutral. ‘Where did you find her?’
‘She was in the West End staying at the Ritz.’
‘How did you find her?’ I asked.
‘I knew the identity we gave her when she flew back with you from Hong Kong so I ran a search and it showed up.’
‘Have you spoken to her?’ I had to wait for an answer while Charlotte negotiated heavy traffic before turning south onto the Embankment.
‘No, she had already checked out,’ Charlotte said. ‘She didn’t fly back to Hong Kong. She must have gone straight to the hotel.’ I wondered why she had done that.
‘Was Meriwether with her?’ I asked.
‘He wasn’t a registered guest as far as I could tell. I don’t know.’
‘Why did Xing stay in London? She and Meriwether both told me she was returning to Hong Kong.’
‘He told me the same thing,’ Charlotte said.
The traffic along the Embankment was heavy and we rolled to another stop. I looked out over the Thames to one of the world's tallest Ferris wheels on the opposite bank. The breeze from earlier had dropped and a cold, river mist had risen, which cloaked the London Eye in a chiffon veil. ‘Bradshaw called me again,’ I said. ‘He told me that Robert Treadwell was his replacement at the sanctioned termination office.’
‘Yes, I know,’ said Charlotte. ‘He was likely to get that promotion. It doesn’t change anything for us.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘To yours so you can change.’
‘How are we going to find Meriwether?’ I asked.
‘I don’t know, but if we can’t find him then neither can Treadwell.’ It was then that I realised something.