Rules of Vengeance

24

“Emma Ransom is our prime suspect in Lord Robert Russell’s murder,” said Kate Ford. “We have evidence that she was at the scene of the crime. No other person could have gained access to his apartment. This case belongs to homicide.”

“It’s a counterterror matter now, DCI Ford,” replied Graves. “Foreign nationals have been killed, including several high-ranking diplomats. The Russians are screaming their bloody heads off for us to take action. Igor Ivanov is a prime contender for the presidency in two years’ time. If he dies, it will sour relations between our countries for years to come. This isn’t a simple murder. It’s a national incident.”

“Be that as it may homicide needs to stay involved.”

“Out of the question. If you don’t like it, take it up with the PM. The Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms are sitting right now. Because the bomb went off so close to Whitehall, they’re trying to decide if it was an attack against government or simply a one-off to take out Ivanov. The home secretary is considering asking for an evacuation of all government offices in Westminster. It’s far beyond homicide.”

“I brought this case to you,” said Kate, slowly and clearly. “I have every right to stay involved.”

“As I recall, I contacted you. It was me was standing in your kitchen this morning.”

“Because of the work my team had accomplished. You knew I was onto something and you wanted my help.”

“I’d say things have changed considerably in the past twelve hours.”

“But Jonathan Ransom can’t help you. Can’t you see that he was telling the truth?”

“Actually, I can’t. All the plastic explosives residue we found on his clothing must be blinding me. After Ransom gets cleaned up, we’re going to make a tour of the spots where he claimed to have met his wife. If he isn’t more forthcoming, I’m taking him back to Hereford to have a full and frank exchange of views with some of the lads from the regiment.”

“You’re going to beat it out of him? That will get you precisely nowhere.”

“We would never touch him, and you know it. But we might do our best to scare him.” Graves peeled back the window sheers. “You see, DCI Ford, I think our doctor is lying,” he said, gazing out over Hyde Park. “I’m convinced that he knows precisely where his wife has run to. I’ve got this theory: the reason Ransom was running toward his wife wasn’t to stop her from blowing the bomb. It was to make her blow it more quickly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ivanov was in the first Mercedes, not the third. Ransom saw him as he passed by and was trying to warn his wife to blow the device earlier.”

“The windows on those cars were dark as night,” retorted Kate. “No one could see through them. Ransom couldn’t have known who was in what car.”

Graves turned, his arms crossed. “I think we’re finished here.”

But Kate stood her ground. “It’s the murder angle that will get you to Emma Ransom before Ransom and all of your intelligence snooping.”

“Will it?” Graves spoke over her shoulder as he walked to the door.

“We must find the woman who sent Russell the video transmission. It was her source that tipped off Russell about Victoria Street. That means her information came from within the organization that was planning the attack. I’d wager somewhere close to the top. It’s all that nonsense about TINs, trusted information networks. If we can find out where she got the tip, we’ll know who gave Emma Ransom her marching orders. The woman holds the key to this.”

“But we’ll never find her. The odds of tracing the message back to its source are nil. I’m sticking with Ransom. You know the saying, A Yank in the hand…’” Graves paused, his fingers curled around the doorknob.

“In the meantime, you’re free to pursue the case as you wish, but it will be independent of my office. We run Jonathan Ransom ourselves.” He opened the door to the hall. Two plainclothes officers ducked their heads around the corner. Graves waved the all-clear.

“What about Reg Cleak?” asked Kate.

“Who?” Suddenly Graves remembered, and his face hardened. “Oh yes, I’m sorry about your partner.”

“When I leave here, I am going to his home. I plan on telling his wife that I’m personally assuming responsibility for finding the individuals and the organization or government responsible for his death. It would help my investigation immeasurably if I could add Five’s resources to my own.”

“Goodnight, DCI Ford.”

“For Reg’s sake,” argued Kate.

Graves moved his face closer to her, so that she could see the brown flecks in his blue eyes, and the conviction behind them. “This is the black world, DCI Ford. We don’t do favors.”