The Blood Royal(54)

‘How could she? We didn’t!’ Inspector Chappel voiced his exasperation. ‘As far as she knows, she’s got clean away. Damn it! All the hankies she could use and a lift out of there!’

‘Followed by the sympathies of the crowd.’ Bacchus voiced his derision. ‘And she will therefore be feeling quite at liberty to take the next step in this escalating series of political murders.’ He made an effort not to sound triumphant. ‘Well, we are where we are. Snakes and ladders is a mighty good training for this sort of exercise. Welcome back to square one, gents!’

‘No. Welcome to the start of a fresh game,’ said Joe. ‘But this time we play with loaded dice. We look on this as a chance to move forward and up. Before we leave this room we’ll have exact plans in place for the next throw.’

Everyone nodded. Spines straightened, not unfriendly glances were exchanged across the table. The Branch men managed an easy smile.

‘And the scenario we have in mind? The list of targets we’ve supplied?’ Bacchus’s voice took on a chill drawl as he added: ‘I wouldn’t like to think our information was going to waste. A good deal of trouble – ours – and pain – others’ – went into the acquisition of that list. MI5, to whom we handed it, gave it very careful attention. The Home Secretary has commented.’

Joe spoke firmly. ‘It’s not being ignored by us either. The prime minister has had a copy, of course. But I’m not convinced that it was presented to Lloyd George with the right degree of urgency by our emissary. He was allowed space to dismiss it with a merry quip and a flourish of his usual Welsh panache. Rather preoccupied with the Russian menace, I’m afraid. I shall catch him myself at breakfast first thing tomorrow morning and draw his attention with some emphasis to the three names remaining. This calls for a degree of drama. Perhaps you could supply me with a fresh copy, James? A neat one. With heavy crossings out and asterisks by the last three?’

‘A little blood spatter with that, sir?’ Bacchus asked. ‘We can supply.’

‘No need.’ Joe didn’t hide his amusement. ‘One of those three names at least should give him pause. Might even make him choke on his toast and marmalade.’

He turned to the superintendent. ‘Hopkirk, I want your squad to continue to handle the admiral’s death as a civil case. Revisit the scene. Liaise with the press. Keep them on side. Make frequent mention of the Met’s involvement. This may be the moment to adopt the French style of crime reporting. The Branch has to hide itself from the public eye but there’s no reason why the CID shouldn’t show its face. Everyone loves a hero. Next time the flash bulbs pop, present your handsome features to the camera lens instead of the palm of your hand, Hopkirk.’

Bacchus peered across the table at the superintendent, affecting an interest. ‘Full face or side on, sir? In view of the idiosyncratic nose-line, I wonder if you have a preference?’

Joe chose to take the question seriously. ‘Full face. And take your hat off, Hopkirk. One look at your leonine head and the country will see a battered Beowulf. And feel itself in safe hands. Didn’t he promise to return to his people in their hour of need?’

‘That was King Arthur, sir.’

‘That was Sir Francis Drake, sir.’

Bacchus and Fanshawe offered simultaneous information.

‘Never short of a hero at any rate, this country of ours,’ said Joe comfortably. ‘Someone always steps forward. And just think, Hopkirk, what one compelling image did for Lord Kitchener!’

‘Sir!’ Buoyed by Joe’s tongue-in-cheek flattery, Hopkirk felt cheerful enough to offer the table his version of the famous Kitchener glare and a parody of the Kitchener gesture. ‘And I’ll remember not to give ’em the finger.’

‘Oh – and better to convey the clear impression we are looking no further. Stress that we have the villains under lock and key. We have their confessions. The next man to deliver judgement on the matter will be Sir Archibald Bodkin.’

‘Wearing his little black cap,’ said Fanshawe with relish.

‘James … time, I think, to narrow our focus and let the Branch loose to do what the Branch does best – anticipate, protect, save lives. And we’ll start by reinstating the security squads we’d set up.’

‘In the light of events, I don’t anticipate any opposition this time round.’ Bacchus grinned. His expression grew more sombre as he murmured: ‘Even from Winston. Though he’ll be a dashed awkward subject. Old soldier that he is, he expects to look after himself. And he can. I wouldn’t want to try conclusions with him.’