‘What’s this?’ Harry opened the flap. Inside were three pieces of paper. They were in French and looked like vouchers. They were headed with an elaborate insignia and the French flag.
‘Travel dockets,’ said Rik. ‘There’s an Air France flight leaving at six thirty in the morning. Isabelle says we can get a seat if we show these. Other nationalities are being evac’d out, too. All except the Americans; they’ve got their own plane coming in.’
‘There’s a surprise. They wouldn’t want Higgins and his mates rolled up by the Russians — they’d never get them back.’ He handed the vouchers back. ‘You’re getting useful in a crisis, did I tell you?’
Rik smiled, then concentrated on his driving.
They passed a row of shops and small businesses behind steel shutters, mostly closing for the day. A supermarket was still open, with a delivery truck pulling away from the side doors. Harry told Rik to pull over.
‘Why, what’s up?’
‘Nothing. We might need supplies in case we can’t get out through the airport. There won’t be time to get them later. Get water, chocolate, sandwiches if they have any and some fruit. And a large torch. We’ll get coffee and tea at the office and make up some flasks.’
‘Got you.’ Rik stopped the car and disappeared inside the supermarket.
When he had gone, Harry texted Maloney on Stanbridge’s mobile.
Cmng out. Stnd by 2 tlk l8tr.’
Rik returned with the supplies and placed them on the rear seat. He’d stocked up with biscuits as well, and fruit juice. They continued on their way, but hadn’t gone two blocks before a shiny black Nissan Patrol pulled in hard alongside, forcing them to slow down.
The driver was Nikolai. Kostova was in the passenger seat.
Nikolai stabbed a finger at Rik to pull over.
FIFTY-ONE
‘ You’d better do as he says,’ said Harry. ‘He’s got the army on his side; we don’t want to piss them off.’ He wondered what had prompted this. It was too much of a coincidence for the mayor and his bodyguard to turn up like this.
Rik pulled in to the kerb and went to turn off the engine. Harry stopped him.
‘Leave it running.’ If they had to leave in a hurry, he wanted to be ready.
He waited, eyes on the wing mirrors. Nikolai had pulled in behind them and Kostova was getting out. The mayor stopped to adjust his cuffs, waved to someone on the other side of the road, a professional politician’s gesture, then walked towards the Mercedes.
‘What do you think they want?’ Rik asked nervously.
‘It’s a social call,’ said Harry. ‘Just sit tight and stay calm.’
Kostova came alongside and stopped by Harry’s door. He smiled broadly as Harry got out to meet him. The mayor seemed in a genial mood, and was puffing on a black cheroot, a picture of relaxation. Although his suit was pressed, his shoes looked scuffed and covered in dust. He’d been travelling.
‘Harry,’ Kostova greeted him, and held out his hand.
Harry shook it, one eye on Nikolai. The bodyguard was wandering along the inner edge of the pavement, eyeing the front of an empty shop. He remembered what Mace had said about the man and decided he wouldn’t care to turn his back on him.
‘Mr Mayor. How are you today?’
‘Please, call me Geordi. Everybody does.’
‘OK, Geordi. What can I do for you?’
Kostova fanned away a cloud of cigar smoke and ducked to look in the Mercedes, nodding at Rik and glancing at the supplies on the back seat. ‘Good car. Very strong — comfortable. You are going back to your Council office, yes?’
Harry nodded. The mayor was playing games; he knew perfectly well that they were no more British Council than Red Cross nuns. ‘That’s correct. I take it you know we intend leaving shortly?’
Kostova grinned and flicked a piece of ash from his cheroot. ‘I did not, but why should I? You are free to come and go as you please. Of course, there are some restricted areas… to the north, for example. But I doubt you will be going there, anyway. Elsewhere?’ He shrugged and pursed his lips, still smiling.
‘The airport?’
‘Airport no problem. Flights are unfortunately restricted, but there are still seats available.’ He paused and glanced at Nikolai, who had walked past them and was watching the traffic. His voice dropped slightly. ‘If you are going, Harry, I think you should do so as soon as possible. This is not a good time to be here. I’m sure you know that.’
‘I do, thank you. Is it true what they say?’ He nodded towards the north.
‘I am afraid so, yes.’ Kostova looked saddened. ‘It is a pity, but…’ He looked towards the sky. ‘Maybe it will be over soon and we can all go back to the way things were before.’
‘I hope so. You speak excellent English.’
‘I was lucky. My mother was a teacher of English. She believed it was the language we should all know for the future. Although now,’ he shrugged again, ‘who knows? Chinese, perhaps?’ He dropped his cheroot and stood on it, adding with almost studied deliberation, ‘A fellow countryman of yours arrived today. Did you know that?’
‘No. I didn’t. Why — does it concern me?’
‘Who knows? It might. His name was…’ Kostova pretended to search his memory, ‘… Phillips? Yes, Phillips.’ He nodded. ‘But I think that is not his real name.’
Latham. It had to be. ‘Are you taking an interest?’
‘We have no reason for doing so. Unless, of course, you know something about him which means we should detain him?’ He lifted his eyebrows, inviting confirmation.
It was tempting, but Harry didn’t bite. ‘I don’t think so. The name means nothing to me.’
‘Very well.’ Kostova appeared to dismiss the subject. ‘Your colleague, Clare Jardine. She is unhappy with her employment, I think. Did you know she has been trying to acquire new papers?’
Harry wondered what stroke this was meant to be. Disinformation or mischief-making? He had no doubts that Kostova was an expert at both.
‘What sort of papers?’
‘Passport… visa… driving licence.’ He smiled thinly. ‘What the Americans call the whole nine yards. She has been meeting with people who are involved in such things. But they cannot help her. They tell me instead. I wonder why would she need these things?’ His eyes twinkled to show that he knew her cover was false.
Harry decided to go with care. Act dumb and Kostova might think he was being played for a fool. Too much outrage and he would see through it. If it were true, what the hell was Clare Jardine doing looking for new documents? Unless she was planning to make a run for it. New papers, new life. If anyone could disappear forever into the woodwork, it would be a member of MI6.
But why would she?
‘Did she ask you?’
‘Only once, and couched — is that it, couched? — in careful words. But definitely a shopping trip, I think you would call it.’ He smiled. ‘You English are so playful with your language. But amusing, too. I like English.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’
Nikolai was walking towards them, eyes on the car and the two men. He seemed to float over the ground, detached. Like a bloody ninja, Harry reflected.
‘Simple,’ said Kostova quickly. ‘We have a lot of trouble coming this way. What we do not need is for you or your colleagues to be — engaged? — in a private internal war. We have enough of that already. Neither do we need the eyes of the world on us should something befall any foreign nationals within our borders. You understand?’
‘I think so.’
Kostova flexed the fingers of one hand and studied his nails. ‘Believe me, it would be better for us all if you left.’
Orders from Moscow, Harry wondered? Perhaps they had reasoned that invading a small state like Georgia was one thing. That would be weathered in time, like so many things Moscow did which aroused the ire of the western world. But being suspected of ‘disappearing’ a number of British nationals working for a seemingly legitimate organization — no matter what their true function — would hardly go unnoticed. The media would love it.