Cathy thought of what Edward had said. That friend of mine you met – you know, the one who came down to Brighton with me that day? As you might have suspected, she has good contacts with the police and… security people in general. I asked her to look into your friends in Cahors.
Cathy had started to protest, angry he had brought someone to her house under such false pretences. But Edward had gone on: Now hear me out, Cathy, if only for Teddy’s sake. I’m afraid Liz didn’t discover much that was good about these people. This chap Antoine in particular is nothing but a thug. Please be careful if you have to see them again.
She said carefully, ‘It’s a bit difficult for me right now. I’ve lost my job.’ A lie. ‘The benefits system is hopeless here, and I’ve got a son to raise.’
‘Ah, Teddy,’ said René with a smile that was only fleeting. ‘The petit garçon. He too is missed at the commune. Such a sweet boy.’
‘He is,’ she said, wanting to change the subject.
‘You know, it would be truly awful if anything ever happened to him.’
She couldn’t bring herself to reply.
‘Tu m’écoutes, Cathy?’ he asked, and his smile was now rigid and unfriendly.
‘I hear you,’ she replied.
‘You know, Antoine doesn’t like children. It’s quite unusual – I mean, there are many people who don’t want children, and aren’t particularly keen on them. But Antoine actively dislikes them. I would never want a child of mine to spend time alone with that man. You know his temper…’
Cathy felt fear wash through her veins like iced water; her arms ached and her legs suddenly seemed heavy and leaden. She struggled to stand up. She needed this man to leave, needed him to get out of here right away. At last, she made it to her feet.
But René remained seated on the sofa. He smiled. ‘You’re meant to ask me a question now, Cathy.’
‘What question?’ she said, trying not to stutter the words.
‘How much money we need from you.’ He stared up at her, and there was nothing friendly in his unwavering gaze. ‘The answer is ten thousand pounds.’
She started in surprise, but he said smoothly, ‘Come, come. It’s not all you have. You were very indiscreet the last time we met. It will still leave you enough to feed the boy – enough indeed to keep you off the dreaded benefits.’ He gave a dry laugh.
‘It’s very difficult.’
‘I know it is, Cathy,’ he said in a voice so soothing that it frightened her even more. ‘But it’s hard for all of us.’ He leaned forward and whispered, ‘Remember the cause. It’s bigger than us all. That’s why I know you’ll make the sacrifice.’
She nodded dumbly – anything to get the man out of her house. And she saw to her relief that he was finally getting up. She followed him out into the hall. He opened the front door, then paused in the doorway. ‘I will come in about ten days’ time, Cathy. I’ll ring to let you know precisely when. Have the money ready for me, all right?’
She nodded, wanting only for him to go. As René started to pull the front door shut, he said quietly, ‘Don’t even think of going to the police. Not if you love your little boy. You wouldn’t want Antoine to pay you a visit, now would you?’
Chapter 36
The phone was ringing as Liz came into her flat. She fumbled for the light switch, dropped her bag and briefcase on the floor and made it across the sitting room just in time. ‘Hello,’ she said.
‘Liz, it’s Edward here. Have you got a minute?’
‘Of course,’ she said. She looked around the room, which was messy even by her standards. She’d planned to tidy up this evening, so any diversion was welcome.
‘Cathy rang me from Brighton. She was in quite a state.’
Liz remembered that the French anarchists were due to visit. ‘Is she all right?’
‘Yes – I mean, she hasn’t been hurt or anything like that. René came as planned, but on his own. Though that was bad enough; she’s very shaken up.’
‘What happened?’
‘He asked her again for money. They want ten thousand pounds – a contribution to the cause, he called it. Apparently, they’re planning to disrupt the G20 conference next month in Avignon. Cathy thinks they’re trying to buy guns, and maybe explosives.’
‘Does she know any more – what kind of explosive, or where they’re getting it from?’ This was no longer just a family problem; now it was a professional matter.
‘No, she didn’t get much out of him. But for once Cathy saw sense and said no when he asked for money. She told him she’d lost her job.’
‘Good for her.’ Anything to get that creep off her back. ‘How did René take it?’
‘Pretty badly, I gather. But it’s what he suggested could happen next that upset her. He was threatening that Teddy might be harmed if she didn’t give them the money.’
‘What? Where is he now? Has he gone?’
‘Yes. He’s gone for the moment. But apparently there’s a violent sidekick. A thug called Antoine.’
‘I know – my French colleagues told me about him. Did René say Antoine would hurt Teddy?’
‘More or less.’
‘The police will take a dim view of that.’
‘I know, but the problem is, we’ve only got Cathy’s word against this chap René’s. And he’s probably buggered off by now, back to France. I don’t see what the police here can do.’ Edward paused, and breathed out noisily. ‘That’s why I rang you. I’m awfully sorry, Liz, and I certainly understand if you can’t help. It’s just—’
I know, she thought, it’s just Teddy. But that and the mention of explosives were more than enough reason for her to get involved. She said, ‘Leave it to me, Edward. I think I can help.’
Liz called Isobel Florian as soon as she arrived at the office the next day. She explained what had happened to Cathy, and what else René had told her.
Isobel said, ‘That’s the first firm evidence we have received. We know he has been making trips to Marseilles, but we didn’t know exactly what for – Marcel, our source inside the commune, thought it was probably weapons, but now it sounds even worse.’
Liz said, ‘Obviously the G20 summit has to be our priority, but I am worried about Cathy and her little boy. René threatened that if she didn’t help finance their plans, he would come back – along with this fellow Antoine.’
‘You certainly don’t want that. We’ve checked, and this Antoine has a criminal record a mile long. He’s very violent. But it seems to me that we could easily kill two birds with one stone. If we can find out when those two are going to England, I would arrange a raid on their commune. I’m sure we’ll find plenty there. That would allow us to issue an Interpol warrant for René and Antoine. The moment they set foot in the UK, they’ll be arrested. Until they’re extradited to France, the only part of Britain they’ll see is through bars.’
Chapter 37
At this time of the evening Queensway was crowded with after-work shoppers. The cold wind and rain which had lingered all week, a reminder that winter wasn’t long over, had now given way to a warm southerly breeze and clear skies. As dusk fell traces of pink mingled in the sky with the yellow of the streetlights.
Andy Bokus found Ujin Wong waiting for him at a table in the back of the dim sum restaurant. Bokus had come straight from Grosvenor Square and wore a suit, but Wong was dressed trendily in a cotton jacket and black turtleneck – he could have been a film director, designer or the owner of an art gallery. To Bokus, as they shook hands, Wong was practically unrecognisable from the timid youth he had first known.