A Devil Is Waiting - Jack Higgins [80]
“Of course.”
Ferguson sighed. “That’s all I need. Can we see him?”
“Certainly not. He’s dead to the world. Tomorrow, perhaps.” He turned to Sara and smiled. “You appear to have been through the mill again. You really must take care, Captain, accept what you are. There are limitations.”
“I’m fine,” she said. “Any problems and you’ll be the first to know.”
He and Maggie went off, talking in low voices. Ferguson’s Codex sounded. “Ah, Roper,” he said, and put it on speaker.
“What about Harry?” Roper asked.
“It was more complicated than they’d thought, but it’s been taken care of.”
“Well, the Prime Minister will be relieved. Anyway, I’ve just had a call from Harry Salter. Dora’s back from Holland and confirms that the photo Claude Duval took is definitely the same man who asked her for Pernod the night Holley’s Alfa was interfered with. I’ve spoken to Claude, and now that it’s a criminal matter, he’s allowed to forward it to DGSE records in Paris. If there is a match, we should get it soon.”
“Many thanks, Giles,” Holley called, and put an arm around Sara. “Home, or we could go to the Dorchester.”
“Home, I think,” she said. “Check the mail, the answering machine, then I just want to go to bed.”
Ferguson joined them. “You must be incredibly tired, Sara. We must take better care of you. This recent affair just exploded out of all proportion.”
“Well, as we used to say in Afghanistan, General, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Good night.”
Jean Talbot, thinking things over, decided that the best way to solve the mystery of what she had seen at the shop in Shepherd Market was to act normally with Owen and see how he behaved. To that end, she left the house still and called him on her mobile as she walked along Curzon Street.
He answered, and she said, “Hello, darling, are you up for a run in the park this morning?”
“Sorry, love,” he said. “I had some overseas problems come up last night. I’ve had to come into the office at an unearthly hour.”
“That’s a shame. I’d hoped we could finalize which day we’re leaving on the Rubat trip.”
“Actually, I’m not too certain about that at the moment,” he said. “All of a sudden, a hell of a lot’s happening.”
“Well, that’s a disappointment,” she said. “Any particular reason?” She was still walking across to the Dorchester.
“Oh, oil prices again. The Arab Spring, trouble in so many oil-producing countries. Al Qaeda causing mayhem all over the place since the demise of Osama. Look, we’ll get round to it, but just now I’m really pushed. I’ll be in touch, but I’ve got to go.”
All of this was making her feel rather sorry for him. Then she turned into Park Lane just in time to see his Mercedes emerging from the underground garage of his apartment block. She dodged back out of sight as he joined the traffic and moved on.
She was surprised at how much it hurt her, the dishonesty. A kind of betrayal, really. She deserved better, and when she turned to walk back home, she had to fight to control hot, angry tears.
Henri Legrande and Kelly had arrived at Highfield Court to find the drive empty. They parked at the end of the street behind several vehicles that were already there.
“What do you think?” Kelly asked. “Maybe she has gone to the Dorchester.”
Before Henri could answer him, the Alfa turned into the drive. Holley and Sara got out. She looked surprisingly fresh after such a long trip, had changed on the plane, wore a khaki shirt and slacks and a well-cut bush jacket. The cropped red hair looked magnificent.
Kelly said, “The whole thing is ridiculous.”
Henri didn’t bother replying, but leaned forward so he could catch what Sara was saying as she took the key from her shoulder bag. “I’ve never felt so tired. I think I’ll sleep for a week.”
“Then I suggest you do just that,” Holley said, and followed with her bag as she entered the house.
“Do you think he’ll stay?” Kelly asked.
“Who knows, Jack. We must wait and see.”
In the hall, Holley said, “Can I carry your bag up to your bedroom for you?”
“Just leave it there, love.” She moved in close,