‘We will need to have some seriously hard evidence, to take things that far, Alex,’ Stratton responded sternly. ‘Perhaps, the interrogation of this assassin, might be able to help us. I’ll send Dennis Martin over to Paddington Green, see what we can get out of him. In the meantime, keep me informed about Sir Alistair’s progress.’
It took about another fifteen minutes, then, as Swan and Gable sat in reflection with a cup of tea, the telephone rang, and Swan picked up the receiver. ‘Whitehall 9921?’
On the other end of the line, Janet Ross was eager to hear from him. ‘I’ve just heard what happened, at St Pancras. Are you okay?’
Swan smiled, relieved to hear her voice. ‘I’m fine, Darling, just a bit shocked, we all are. After all, that bullet had my name on it.’ Swan then explained the details of the incident.
Ross was worried. She couldn’t wait until later in the evening. ‘Can I see you, this afternoon?’
‘Yes of course, how about the café behind the Menswear shop, opposite Selfridges? Shall we say two o’clock? That will give Arthur and me, time at the hospital.’
Ross agreed. ‘Take care of yourself, Alex — I love you.’
Twenty minutes later, he sat in the passenger seat, as Gable drove to the hospital.
Earlier, Swan had managed to contact Lady Higgins at the family residence in Tring, Hertfordshire, and she was now being driven in an RAF staff car, dispatched from nearby RAF Stanbridge to be with her husband.
Gable swung the car into the car park at St Mary’s General Hospital and the two men walked towards the Casualty Department.
In Hollenstedt, Fleischer watched out of his office window as one of his new construction vehicles was undergoing the testing of its operating systems by technical staff. The telephone rang and he gripped the receiver. ‘Yes Ingrid?’ His secretary informed him that a Mister Sims, was on the phone from London.
Please put him through.’ Fleischer listened as Baumann informed him of the news. ‘I cannot believe this. So, is Swan dead?’ When given the answer, the German businessman went into a rage. ‘What do you mean, you do not know? You need to find out man! Contact me as soon as you do know.’ Fleischer slammed down the receiver, placing his head in his hands. What do I have to do to be rid of this man? With Trost now in British custody, he suddenly saw his visions for the future of his new Reich, becoming a little distorted. His frustrations all centred on this one man, a man that had now become his nemesis. He sat thinking. If Swan was not dead, what would be his next move? Did his new adversary, suspect his vital operative in place at the London embassy? What would Trost reveal, under interrogation from the British Police, and more worryingly, from the much-publicised brutal methods of their intelligence services?
Swan and Gable sat in the corridor outside the casualty room, waiting for news. A doctor wearing his white work-coat, came out and acknowledged them. ‘Gentlemen, I’m Doctor Joseph. I assume that you are waiting on news of Sir Alistair?’
Swan nodded, then showed his card. ‘How is he, Doctor?’
Joseph sat down beside them. ‘Well, it is good news. We managed to stop the bleeding and we’ve taken the bullet out. Unfortunately, his spleen was damaged by it, so we were unable to save it. He will just have to be careful with any infections in the future.’
‘The bullet? Is it intact?’ Gable asked.
Joseph nodded. ‘Yes, sir. Perfect condition. I was informed by a policeman, the gunman was arrested.’
‘That’s right,’ said Swan. ‘But the bullet will have to be examined for a match to another incident.’
Joseph raised his head. ‘You mean the German chap that was shot by the river? Don’t worry gentlemen, I’m already one step ahead of you. They are sending a chap from the ballistics lab over, to collect it.’
‘That’s good, I have contacted Lady Higgins, and she is being brought here by an RAF staff car.’ Swan added.
Joseph stood up. ‘Thank you, Mr Swan. I’ll look out for her. Sir Alistair, is still under sedation, so I expect by the time she arrives, he will be waking up. He’ll have to take it easy for a while, with some nice long R&R.’
Swan stood and shook the Doctor’s hand. ‘Thank you, Doctor. When Sir Alistair awakes, please do give him our regards, won’t you?’
‘Of course, gentlemen.’ Joseph turned and disappeared down the hall.
Gable sighed. ‘Well, at least he’s okay. My brother-in law had to have his spleen removed, and he still plays tennis every Saturday. He’ll be fine, Alex. But on the bright side, it also looks like we might have Ruger’s killer, at long last.’
Swan nodded. ‘Yes, it does appear so. Dennis Martin is going over to interrogate him, so knowing Dennis as I do, he should be able to get something out of him.’ He rubbed his hands. ‘Right Arthur, old chap, if you could drop me in Oxford Street, then you may as well head home, give Annie a nice surprise, and try to enjoy the rest of what has been an extremely eventful day.’
Janet Ross stepped off the platform at the rear of the Number 13 bus, allowing the striking displays in the windows of Selfridge’s department store, to distract her. She then turned, spotting the menswear shop on the opposite side of the road, and glanced at her watch. She had twenty minutes, before she planned to meet Swan in Rossario’s Café, and there was something that she had been needing to do for a long time. She waited for traffic to pass, crossed the road, and walked into the shop.
Swan looked through the open window of Gable’s ‘Okay Arthur, thanks for this. I’ll see you in the office, tomorrow morning.’ He watched as Gable turned left into Oxford Street, and headed for his home in London’s East End. He crossed the road and walked down the small street by the menswear shop. Half way down on the right was a yellow sign above a café, where some white metallic tables and chairs were positioned outside, shaded by a green, white and red tricolori styled canopy. He walked inside and down the aisle of tables, where people sat having late lunches and spotted Ross, sitting at the far table; a cup and saucer of coffee was next to her, as she read a paperback book with a smoking cigarette trapped between her middle fingers.
Swan looked at the cover of her book. ‘I had an aunt that I used to go travelling with.’
She looked up from Graham Greene’s new novel, put the book face down on the table, and pulled Swan towards her. ‘You have no idea, how pleased I am to see you, Alex. When I heard the news from Dennis, I had to bite my tongue, not to show him how shocked I was.’
Swan smiled. ‘I’m relieved to see you, too. I have had one hell of a day.’
They sat down and Swan picked up the menu book. ‘I can recommend their ham and cheese omelette.’
‘I’ll go with that,’ agreed Ross. She then reached into her handbag and pulled out a small brown paper bag. ‘I bought you a little present, while I was waiting for you,’ she said, handing it to him.
Swan pulled out a navy striped tie. ‘This is very nice Janet. Thank you.’ He reached across the table and kissed her.
Ross sighed. ‘I was getting tired of seeing you in your old Signals Regiment tie, which you have to admit, is getting a bit old and tatty, now isn’t it?’
‘I suppose you’re right, Darling,’ he submitted, causing her to feel very much appreciated.
‘How is Sir Alistair?’
‘Looks as though he’s going to be okay,’ Swan assured. ‘The bullet got his spleen, though — so the poor chap will have to watch himself, with other people’s bugs.’ A waiter approached their table, and they ordered their meals.
Chapter 30