Games Traitors Play

59

Marchant saw Meena up ahead and drew alongside Shushma, who was walking swiftly, her small feet barely lifting off the ground.

‘This is Lakshmi, she’s with us,’ he told her as Meena approached. ‘You can trust her.’

Meena stopped, expecting them to slow up. But Shushma kept moving, head down, as if she was trying to shut out the world, an approach to life that Marchant reckoned didn’t look too out of place in a temple.

‘A car’s waiting for us outside,’ Meena said, catching up with them. She turned to Marchant with raised eyebrows. Hadn’t she expected him to close the deal, to appear with Shushma?

‘She’s American,’ Shushma said quietly, still walking fast.

‘Don’t worry,’ Marchant said. ‘We’re going to London. I promise.’

‘Please, relax,’ Meena said, speaking in fluent Hindi and slipping an arm through Shushma’s. For a moment, she resisted, but after glancing at Marchant, who managed a smile, she let Meena’s arm stay interlocked with hers. ‘We’re here to help you,’ Meena added.

Satisfied that Shushma was in safe hands, Marchant looked back down the crowded colonnade. Again he thought he saw someone slipping away, disappearing behind the pillars. He was certain it was Valentin.

‘I thought your people were taking care of the Russian,’ he said.

‘They were. Why?’

‘He’s behind us. I’ll catch you up.’

‘Daniel, we need to get her out,’ Meena said, a sudden urgency in her voice.

‘You don’t know this man. Get her into the car. I’ll find you.’

Before Meena could protest further, Marchant had peeled away and was heading back down the colonnade. He knew it wasn’t part of the plan — Meena was meant to neutralise any threats — but Valentin wasn’t going away. He should have pushed him under the train.