Solo - Jack Higgins [83]
'No thanks,' Morgan said. 'But I'll have another brandy if you don't mind.'
'Help yourself. Is it hurting much, your arm?'
'Like hell,' Morgan told him, which was true and yet he deliberately exaggerated the pain in his face as he poured a generous measure of Courvoisier into a shot glass.
As he swallowed, Baker came back. Ferguson said, 'No problem?'
'None, sir.'
'Good. Mikali's made no attempt to leave?'
'No, sir, I've just phoned our mobile command post in the car park there. The most recent information is that they've just finished rehearsing.'
Ferguson glanced at his watch. 'Six-fifteen. Let me see now. The concert starts with Debussy. L'Apres-midi d'un Faune followed by Haydn's Clock Symphony. That means Mikali will go on around eight-forty-five with the interval at nine-thirty.'
'And we lift him then, sir?'
'After the interval reception would be better, I think. He is guest of honour, remember. It would look a little odd if he wasn't there. Let's keep things as normal as possible for as long as we can.'
'Let me go with you.'
'I'm sorry, Asa. I understand how you feel, but you've done your job. Your involvement ends here. From now on this is police business.'
'All right.' Morgan raised a hand. 'I know when I'm beaten. Presumably I can go now.'
He turned to the door and Baker said, 'Wait for me, Asa, I'll run you home.'
Morgan went out and Ferguson said, 'Knows when he's beaten indeed. It's when he makes remarks like that that I really worry. Take him home. I want round-the-clock surveillance of his apartment until this thing is over.'
'I wouldn't worry, sir. The state he's in, I'm surprised he managed to walk to the door.'
'If you believe that of Asa Morgan, Superintendent,' Ferguson said, 'then you will indeed believe anything.'
When Mikali went into the Green Room at the back of the Albert Hall stage, his shirt was soaked with sweat and he was trembling with excitement. He had been good, he knew that. The hardest two days of rehearsals he had ever undergone and the prospect for the concert itself was now quite stunning.
The door opened and the stage manager came in with a pot of tea, cups, milk and sugar on an old tin tray.
'Did you try Heathrow?' Mikali demanded as he dried himself with a towel.
'Yes, sir. Both afternoon flights from Athens got in, the last one just before the fog descended.'
'Marvellous,' Mikali said. 'Don't forget to make sure Doctor Riley's ticket is ready at the box office and Maitre Deville's.'
As the stage manager opened the door, Previn came in. 'Everything all right?'
'It is now,' Mikali told him. 'Was I good out there?'
'Not bad,' Previn grinned. 'In places.'
'In places?' Mikali laughed out loud. 'Maestro, tonight I'm going to give you the performance you've been waiting for all your life.' He clapped Previn on the shoulder. 'Now, have a decent cup of tea for a change.'
When they reached Gresham Place, Baker told the driver to wait and they went up the steps to the entrance.
Morgan said, 'Do you feel like a drink?'
'Don't have the time.'
He gave Morgan a cigarette, lit one himself and they stood there in the porch smoking, staring out at the driving rain.
'Do you ever wonder what it's all about, Harry?'
'Too late for finer feelings, Asa. About twenty-five years too late in your case.'
'So what do I do?'
'Go to bed before you fall down.'
Another police car drew up on the far side of the street and Detective-Inspector Stewart got out, followed by two uniformed constables. They paused at the bottom of the steps.
Baker said, 'Colonel Morgan here is about to retire for the night. If he changes his plans, tries to leave these premises for any reason whatever, you will take him into immediate custody. One of you can watch this entrance from the car, the other get round to the courtyard at the rear.
'You'll be relieved in four hours,' Stewart told them. They moved away and he turned to Baker. 'Anything else, sir?'
'No, get