‘Not just yet,’ said Lamont.
‘Why not?’ asked Hawksby.
‘Because if Jackie or I were to turn up at Faulkner’s house, we wouldn’t get past the front gate. But if we were to send an inexperienced, wet-behind-the-ears young constable to deliver the painting, there’s just a possibility he might get a foot in the door.’
‘Fair point,’ said Hawksby. ‘But why not just yet?’
‘Faulkner is booked onto a BA flight to Monte Carlo next Monday, and he won’t be back for at least a month.’
‘How can you be sure of that?’
‘He’s a creature of habit. Every December he leaves for his home in Monte Carlo, and rarely returns before the end of January.’
‘And how do you know which flight he’s booked on?’
‘BA security is run by a former Met officer, who keeps me well informed, sir.’
‘Something else that might be of interest, sir,’ said Jackie. ‘He won’t be traveling with his wife this time. Sitting next to him, her ticket paid for with the same American Express card, will be a Miss Cheryl Bates.’
‘She could be his secretary,’ said Hawksby.
‘I don’t think typing is her speciality, sir,’ said Jackie as she passed a photo of Miss Bates in a bikini across to the commander.
A ripple of laughter broke out among the team, but order was quickly restored when Hawksby said, ‘So when Warwick turns up with the copy of the Rembrandt at Faulkner’s home in Hampshire, he will already be in Monte Carlo.’
‘Correct, sir, but his wife will still be in Hampshire,’ said Lamont.
‘Good, because I have a feeling that Mrs. Faulkner might turn out to be a little more accommodating than her husband,’ said the commander after taking a second look at the photograph of Miss Bates.
14
‘I’m in real trouble,’ said William as he turned on the ignition.
‘With the Hawk or Lamont?’ asked Jackie, as she fastened her seatbelt.
‘Far worse. With Beth. I told her I’d be back in time for supper this evening, and now I’m on my way to Barnstaple with another woman.’
‘I think this calls for a dozen roses,’ said Jackie. ‘And I know just the person to solve your problem.’
As they passed through Earls Court, Jackie said, ‘Pull over.’
‘But it’s a double yellow,’ said William, ‘and we’re always fair game for traffic wardens.’
‘We’ll only be a couple of minutes. And in any case, it’s official police business.’
Jackie got out of the car and William reluctantly followed her into a flower shop.
‘A dozen roses,’ said Jackie, ‘and make sure they’re fresh or I’ll arrest you for impersonating a florist. And we need them delivered.’
The florist took his time selecting each rose before asking for a name and address.
‘Beth Rainsford, the Fitzmolean Museum, Prince Albert Crescent,’ said William.
‘Rainsford... Rainsford... Why does that name ring a bell?’ said Jackie.
‘Do you want to add a message?’ asked the florist, handing William a card and a biro.
Sorry, something came up. Can’t make this evening. William x
‘I thought you liked this girl,’ said Jackie, tearing up the card. ‘Sounds as if you’re writing to your sister to let her know you’ve got the mumps. Try again.’
Miss you. Will call this evening and explain. Love William xx
‘Not a lot better, but I’ve just spotted a traffic warden, so we’d better get moving.’
‘That will be two pounds,’ said the florist.
William handed over a couple of pound notes.
‘Thank you, Mike.’
‘My pleasure, Jackie,’ said the florist as they ran back to the car.
‘So what’s the plan once we get to Barnstaple?’ asked William, when they joined the traffic on the motorway heading west.
‘First, we find out where Carter lives, then check into a one-star hotel or guesthouse nearby.’
‘And what are we looking for?’ asked William, as he’d never taken part in a stakeout before.
‘Visitors, especially those who obviously aren’t locals. Not that I think Mr. Big is likely to come down to Barnstaple just to please us. But we’ll need to take photos of everyone who goes in or out of the house, and when we get back to the Yard we’ll check to see if they match up with anyone in our rogues’ gallery.’
‘Anything else?’
‘Number plates of every car parked near the house, or any suspicious-looking vehicles. We can check them out on the police national computer later. And don’t assume the person we’re looking for will park right outside Carter’s front door. Police work isn’t that convenient.’
‘Do we split up or work as a pair?’
‘That will depend on whether we can watch the house from the car without being spotted. Either way, it will be hours of patient surveillance, with no certainty of anything to show for it.’
‘Do you think we’ll find out what he’s up to?’
‘Unlikely,’ said Jackie. ‘But you can bet there’ll be a surprise or two, when we’ll have to think on our feet.’
‘Who decides when we go back to London?’
‘Lamont.’
‘Then we could be stuck down there forever.’
Jackie laughed. ‘I don’t think so. Don’t forget he expects you to accompany him when he visits Pentonville to interview Eddie Leigh. And you’ve also got to take the copy of the Rembrandt back to Faulkner’s home in the country.’
They drove on for some time in companionable silence.
‘Does Lamont have any family?’
‘He’s a triple disaster,’ said Jackie. ‘Three ex-wives, and five children. His first three marriages lasted six years, three years, and one year, and I’m not sure the latest will survive for much longer. God knows how he can afford the alimony. It would be cheaper to take the occasional lover, like the rest of us.’
William laughed. ‘What about the Hawk?’
‘Married to Josephine for over thirty years. Three grown-up daughters, who’ve got him wound around their little fingers.’
‘I’d like to see that,’ said William. ‘But then you have a daughter,’ he said, hoping Jackie was feeling relaxed enough to exchange confidences, but she didn’t respond. He glanced to his left to see that she had fallen asleep. Always catch some kip whenever possible, wherever possible, she’d advised him often enough.
Jackie hadn’t wanted to answer any more questions, so she closed her eyes. She had known within days of William joining the team that he was destined for higher things. Far higher than she could ever hope for.
Reporting an inspector who’d placed a hand on her thigh when she was a young constable hadn’t improved her chances of promotion. And taking six months off after her daughter was born only ensured that when she returned to work she found herself once again back on the beat. It hadn’t deterred her.
However, when Ms. Roycroft was named as co-respondent in a senior officer’s divorce, the local commander suggested that perhaps the time had come for her to consider early retirement. She didn’t point out that she was only thirty-four, and had no intention of giving up the job she loved, well aware they couldn’t sack her. She clung on, but accepted that detective sergeant was probably the highest rank she was likely to attain.
William was different. He may have been naive and a little too smooth, but after she’d introduced him to the real world, where criminals didn’t say please and thank you, she was sure he would progress quickly through the ranks. But she’d still have to watch his back whenever he came across less capable colleagues who would be only too happy to let him carry the can for their mistakes and, being a public schoolboy, he wouldn’t sneak.