Aftershock

Fifty-seven

‘Can it be done?’ Adrian St John repeated. ‘Yes, Chief Superintendent, it can be done. It’s an unusual request to be coming directly from a Scottish police force, rather than through Special Branch at the Yard, but we can access that information.’

‘That’s good,’ said Maggie Steele.

‘We can do it, but. . You understand that I’ll need to take it up the line for authorisation. I know I was told to co-operate with you, but this is a bit special.’

‘Adrian, I don’t care if you clear it with the Prime Minister, as long as it gets done.’

‘I won’t have to go that high.’ He laughed. ‘Top floor will do.’

‘How long will that take?’

‘If I’m lucky, two minutes.’

‘And if you’re not?’

‘If I’m not, I’ll come back to you. . or that someone up the line will.’

‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.’

‘If I’m asked why you need this information, what should I say?’

‘That the people under surveillance may be attempting to contact a fugitive from justice.’

‘That isn’t normally our concern.’

‘Come on, now,’ said Maggie, sharply. ‘We’re all playing for the same team.’

‘Yes, but. .’ he paused ‘… if you want to continue with the sporting analogy, we all have different roles. You’re a striker, whereas I’m one of those unsung chaps labouring away in mid-field.’

‘In that case, think of it this way. The boys at the back have let a goal in. I’m after the equaliser.’

‘Indeed? Let me ask you something. Should this task you’ve asked me to undertake lead to me slipping you a scoring opportunity, how do you propose to convert it?’

‘Like any good striker. I’ll improvise.’

‘That may be more difficult than you think. Are you aware of the terms of the new extradition treaty between the US and Britain?’

‘Not really: I’ve never had occasion to use it.’

‘Think yourself lucky. It’s a one-way street. It means that the Americans can have anyone they ask for without presenting any sort of a meaningful case against them, whereas we still have to show solid evidence of guilt. In this case, since the man you’re after has disappeared, your greatest difficulty. . should, by some miracle, you make an arrest. . may be in proving that the man you’ve caught is who you say he is.’

‘Adrian,’ she asked, ‘how do you know who I’m after?’

‘I had dealings with your colleagues a few months ago,’ he told her. ‘On that occasion they were tracing Boras junior. My guess is that you still are.’

‘You’re too clever for your own good.’

‘That has been said, Chief Superintendent. That’s why I’ve been running my own checks on the logged movements of Davor Boras’s plane ever since his son disappeared. If anyone’s made contact, it isn’t him. The thing hasn’t left its hangar since it returned from its unauthorised journey to the USA.’