Execution

SIXTY-TWO

‘It’s over.’ It was Ballatyne’s voice echoing down the wire. He sounded tired. ‘Two bodies were found on the shore near Canvey Island late last night. The descriptions match our two Russians.’

‘What happened?’ Harry felt an odd sense of relief. He’d done enough chasing and shooting recently; all he wanted now was for this to end.

‘The locals heard a lot of gunfire coming from an abandoned fisherman’s cottage. One was a former armourer and recognised automatic fire. He called in some of Crampton’s pals. When they got there they found two dead and a lot of spent shells.’

‘It wasn’t your lot, then?’

‘No. This was an execution; the two dead men got off a couple of rounds each, but if they hit anyone there were no signs of it. A couple of dog walkers further back down the road remember two cars going by at separate times, but it’s a public road and popular with young couples. The cops are trawling any cameras in the area for footage, but they don’t hold out much hope. They’re writing it up as a gangland shooting, to keep the press happy.’

‘It’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? Why would the Russians eliminate their own people?’

‘Possibly to get rid of an embarrassing situation. If Gorelkin and his two hoods were operating off the books and without official sanction, no matter how high up the orders came from, nobody this side of the next ice age is going to say otherwise. We can’t prove who they were, and Moscow will deny any knowledge until the vodka runs dry. In the end it’ll be forgotten.’

‘And Gorelkin?’

‘Already gone. He was escorted onto a plane at Heathrow by two embassy security types late yesterday afternoon. He didn’t look well.’

‘You didn’t stop him?’

‘Why bother? He was here as a private citizen, and nobody wants to pursue a case of entering the country under false papers, which is all we’d get him on. We have to watch the pennies these days. In any case, my guess is he’s going back to a far worse punishment than anything we could dish out. How’s your neck?’

‘My neck’s fine. We were lucky. . they weren’t trying to kill us, just put us off.’ Harry was convinced that the ramming hadn’t been accidental. The timing had been too perfectly executed, when all their attention was on the car in front. It had taken skill, but even Bruce had agreed that it was possible, given the right training.

‘You still think that?’

‘I do. Any news about Paulton?’

‘He’s keeping his head down if he has any sense. There’s now a charge out on him for suborning a member of the security services to gain information under the Official Secrets Act, and the murder of the same individual.’

Harry let it slide. There was something Ballatyne wasn’t telling him; something to do with Paulton, he was certain. Maybe it would come out in time.

‘And Deane?’

‘Resigned. She’s decided to pursue another line of deviousness elsewhere.’

‘Did you have anything to do with that?’

‘I couldn’t possibly comment.’

Harry changed tack. ‘I tried calling Clare. She’s not answering. Do you have the address of the clinic where she’s being treated?’

‘I do, but I hear she left the clinic and has gone away with Balenkova. I think they’re off somewhere hot for some rest and recuperation. Can’t say I blame them, to be honest. Don’t worry, Harry, I’m sure she’ll call one day.’

Harry wasn’t sure. Clare had no reason to call him. What had been between them was an incident in history, now over and done. She had a future to work on. All the same, he couldn’t forget the words she had uttered in Vienna, about Paulton: ‘If you don’t get him, I will.’